California’s Oceanside City Council voted to advance the proposed plan to redevelop the Oceanside Transit Center, marking a significant step forward in North County Transit – San Diego Railroad’s (NCTD) broader transit-oriented development strategy. 

“The Oceanside City Council’s decision advances our efforts to improve the customer and employee experience at the Oceanside Transit Center while bringing much-needed housing and economic development to the area,” said NCTD CEO Shawn M. Donaghy. “NCTD is committed to better serving our communities through the redevelopment of our stations, providing a more welcoming introduction to our transit services.” 

The Oceanside Redevelopment Project 

The Oceanside Transit Center Redevelopment Project is managed by Toll Brothers Apartment Living, which will oversee construction and property management of the site after completion. 

The project represents nearly $100 million in private investment into public transit, including features designed to enhance the rider experience through the inclusion of a dedicated customer service center, a park-like Station Plaza, enhanced public waiting areas, a new public parking structure, and the relocation of the bus island to provide direct bus-to-rail connectivity and reduce passenger walk times roughly 50% when compared to the existing configuration.

The project also includes 170 hotel rooms, nearly 30,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space, and 547 residential units — 15% of which will be dedicated to affordable housing for low- and moderate-income households. 

The integration of housing and retail at the site creates a gateway to downtown and provides economic development opportunities for the city.

Additionally, the NCTD Headquarters will be relocated from its current location to the new Oceanside Transit Center, creating an additional opportunity for 206 mixed-income units, including 31 for low- and moderate-income households. The Mission site will also be redeveloped, according to NCTD officials.

Impacting Multimodal Transit 

The Oceanside Transit Center is the hub for transit services in North County, connecting communities to San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange County, and North County inland cities. It is the only station served by SPRINTER hybrid rail, COASTER commuter rail, Amtrak intercity rail, Metrolink commuter rail, BREEZE fixed-route bus, and LIFT paratransit services.

 The Oceanside Transit Center Redevelopment Project is the first of 11 planned redevelopment projects at NCTD’s rail stations. Collectively, these developments are expected to generate approximately 2,341 housing units — 884 of which will be designated affordable — along with 275 hotel rooms in coastal areas and an increase of 55,800 square feet of retail space. 

Advancement of this project aligns with a policy adopted by NCTD’s board in 2016 directing the agency to pursue the development of select real estate assets. The goal of these redevelopments is to increase transit ridership, reduce reliance on automobiles, and expand access to jobs and affordable housing, agency officials said. 

Toll Brothers Apartment Living was selected as the developer for the Oceanside site in 2020 after a public procurement process. The Oceanside Transit Center Redevelopment Project will proceed to the California Coastal Commission for final review in 2026.