The SPRINTER light rail/rail trail project is a complete revitalization of a 100 year old rail line which provides alternative transportation along a 22 mile corridor extending from Oceanside to Escondido. The project parallels SR 78, and serves Oceanside, Vista, County of SD, San Marcos and Escondido with 15 fully accessible stations providing commuters with an inexpensive solution to leaving their cars behind. At the western terminus the SPRINTER connects with the COASTER, AMTRAK and METROLINK as well as intercity buses. All stations have Breeze bus connections and there are designated stations at Palomar College and San Marcos State University.

The SPRINTER uses state of the art European vehicle design and all stations were engineered to be functional, aesthetic, comfortable and low cost. The SPRINTER is the lowest cost/mile new light rail system in the United States and has been widely praised by its patrons. Vehicles are level boarding, ADA accessible and bicycles are allowed on board. In the Escondido to Vista area there is a continuous rail trail adjacent to the tracks. The next leg of the rail trail extending to Oceanside in now under design.

The service began in March 2008, and has already been awarded the Urban Land Institue (ULI) Smart Growth "Catalyst" Award (2008), Womens Transportation Seminar (WTS) Project of the Year (2008) Award , The Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) Project Achievement Award (2008), American Public Works Association (APWA) – Project of the Year (2008), APWA Best Environmental Project under $2 million, Harmony Grove Restoration (2007). Additionally many ancillary Transit Oriented Development projects are now in the design phase which seek to maximize the benefit of accessible and reliable transportation. The SPRINTER was a specifically named project in the origianl TRANSNET sales tax initiative approved by the voters of San Diego County, and will provide residents reliable, safe and affordable transportation for decades to come.

Few can argue about the timeliness of this important addition to our regional transportation infrastructure.

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