San Diego MTS Passes FY25 Operating Budget
During the budget process, MTS staff was informed that $284 million new State grant funding was being frozen indefinitely as the State continued to balance its budget.

The newly approved budget fully funds current service levels on all three Trolley lines and more than 100 bus routes.
Photo: MTS
The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) board approved a $448.2 million operating budget for Fiscal Year 2025.
The newly approved budget fully funds current service levels on all three Trolley lines and more than 100 bus routes. The budget also funds MTS security improvements implemented earlier in the year, increasing the number of officers, improving visibility and response times.
The New MTS Budget
During the budget process, MTS staff was informed that $284 million new State grant funding was being frozen indefinitely as the State continued to balance its budget. This was significant news to MTS as the initial draft of the FY 2025 operating budget included $19.7 million in Senate Bill (SB) 125 Transit and Intercity Rail Capital (TIRCP) funds.
As a result, the agency postponed Trolley and bus service increases funded by SB125 funds until the future of those funds is more certain. If the funds are released, MTS is ready to advance the service enhancements as planned.
The FY 2025 total budgeted revenue is projected at $448.2 million, and total expenses are projected at $448.2 million, resulting in a balanced budget for FY 2025.
In addition to the operating budget, MTS also has a $250.1 million Capital Improvement Program budget in FY 2025 that will greatly enhance bus and rail state of good repair efforts, as well as fund facility and construction projects, rail infrastructure improvements, and other major initiatives. In total, 66 projects will be funded by the Capital Improvement Program.
More Management

WMATA Debuts 'Fares Pay for Service' Awareness Campaign
The campaign was highlighted during a media event at the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit Center in Silver Spring, where WMATA’s GM/CEO Randy Clarke joined Metro Transit Police officers, WMATA management team, board members, and staff to expand fare enforcement and customer education efforts on Metro Bus routes throughout the region.
Read More →
Managing Complexity: HDR’s Brian Buchanan on Delivering Major Transit Programs
HDR’s transit program management lead discusses the challenges of overseeing large capital projects, adapting to cost and supply chain pressures, and the capabilities agencies need to build for the future.
Read More →
Seattle’s Sound Transit Adopts Updated ST3 System Plan
The updated system plan incorporates cost savings across the agency, including new revenue sources and financial policies, to set the agency on a sustainable path for the future.
Read More →
Audit Finds Regional Coordination Across California's East Bay Transit Agencies
The State Auditor further concluded that while collaboration among transit agencies is functioning, the Bay Area’s public transportation systems face mounting structural fiscal pressures that threaten future service levels if sustainable funding solutions are not secured.
Read More →
Biz Briefs: Foothill Gold Line Award, Matawan Contract, and More
From strategic partnerships to acquisitions and service expansions, the industry continues to evolve at a rapid pace. Find out all the latest here.
Read More →
Inside Look: EMBARK Expands Fare-Free Transit Program Through New Public-Private Partnership
The OKC transit agency says sponsorship helps subsidize the Third Friday Free initiative while reducing barriers for first-time riders and boosting ridership across buses, streetcars, and river cruises.
Read More →
Oregon's TriMet Adopts Major Budget Cuts to Address Financial Shortfall
The board adopted the agency’s fiscal year 2027 budget, approving approximately $64.5 million in spending reductions, including about $53 million in administrative cuts and roughly $11 million in service reductions.
Read More →
OCTA Sees Growing Adoption of Wave Fare Payment System
Since launching in October 2025, the Wave system has steadily replaced previous fare media with faster, more flexible payment options designed to streamline boarding, improve reliability, and help riders more easily access fare discounts and cost-saving benefits, said OCTA
Read More →
North Carolina's Metropolitan Transit Commission Concludes Decades of Leadership
To commemorate the occasion, current members of the MTC were presented with a custom painting of the Charlotte Transportation Center in Uptown.
Read More →
Montana's Mountain Line Named Nation’s Best Transit System by CTAA
The award was presented to Mountain Line representatives at the CTAA Expo in mid-May, with bus operator Bryan Ursery, who has worked at Mountain Line for more than two decades, accepting the award on the agency's behalf.
Read More →