The San Diego Trolley is undergoing a $720 million upgrade, but construction is proving to be frustrating for passengers.
The overall Trolley improvement project started in 2010 and will include new low platform cars, tracks and much more.But right now, construction around 5th and C Streets downtown is causing some pretty big headaches for regular passengers.
Nancy Kirk, who gets around in an electric wheelchair, said she gets on and off the trolley and buses six times a day.
The construction zones have made it more difficult for her to get where she needs to go because
buses have been re-routed, causing confusion frustration and more delays.
“It's been a mess. It's been ongoing too long,” said Kirk. “And then I have to travel maybe three or four blocks just to get to a station that's open.”
Other passengers told NBC 7 San Diego the construction has caused delays in service and they feel that the construction is taking much longer than planned.
Metropolitan Transit System says it is sensitive to passenger concerns.
“We're definitely aware that this has impacts on customers and we're really trying to do everything we can to get them prepared,” said MTS spokesperson Rob Schupp.
They say delays vary but are running about 5-minutes and there are also bus stop closures because of the construction.
It hasn't helped that posted signs show inaccurate completion dates: ranging from October to November.
MTS officials said it's been a difficult project around 5th Avenue because of unanticipated underground infrastructure issues. They said they’re sensitive to passenger concerns, but insist the wait will be worth it – they're just asking for passenger patience in the meantime.
