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California Coastal Trail

Oceanside Transit Center

Season 1 Episode 6

The majority of San Diego's coastline may be developed, but it's fortunate enough to also be hugged by a major rail artery. Multiple trains come and go, with some traversing as far as 300 miles north to California's Central Coast. Not only that, the county's coastal cities and agencies have all agreed to build the Coastal Rail Trail, an ambitious bikeway project. Here's what you can grab from this important transit hub:

Coastal Rail Trail

When finished, the goal of this 44-mile bikeway is to be a robust mix of bike path and protected bikeway between Oceanside and downtown San Diego generally following the rail corridor (there will be some on-street bike lanes and routes throughout). As of spring 2015, It's nearly half way complete in separated segments. Want to take advantage of what's out there now? The GoBikeSD interactive map can deliver you to plenty of places along the coast with existing bicycle infrastructure.

Coaster

As its name suggests, the Coaster spans most of the San Diego County coastline running over 20 trains on weekdays and a modified schedule on the weekends. It takes about one hour to travel the whole thing, so good thing there are plenty of coastal views to take in for most of the ride.

Pacific Surfliner

One of the busiest Amtrak lines in the country, the Surfliner climbs up and down the coast between downtown San Diego and San Luis Obispo, hitting major stations in Anaheim, Los Angeles, and Santa Barbara. While it doesn't stop at every station in San Diego County, it can be used for some local commutes.

Metrolink

Usually associated with the Los Angeles metro region, two of Metrolink's routes dip into San Diego County at Oceanside: the lines from Los Angeles Union Station and the Inland Empire.

Sprinter, Breeze, and more

The Oceanside Transit Center also serves as an important hub for inland commuting. The Sprinter is a light rail travels to Escondido while the Breeze bus service offers numerous routes in the north county region. Additionally, Riverside Transit offers a commuter express options to here.

Support Provided By
Santa Barbara
4:27
Santa Barbara and the California Coastal Trail are windows into a fascinating history.
Bici Centro: Connecting Santa Barbara's Bicycling Community
5:59
The Coastal Route is the heart of the bicycling system in Santa Barbara.
Gaviota Coast: SoCal's Celebrated Rural Shoreline
6:23
he Gaviota Coast features one of the most coveted shorelines in the state.
Protecting Ventura's Open Space
5:30
Protection of Ventura's unobstructed landscapes is crucial to its residents.
Carpinteria: Matt Moore's Rincon Design
6:09
With its world-class surfing, Rincon attracts people from around the globe.
Ventura: Channel Island Views and Laid-Back Shores
6:12
Home to Channel Islands National Park, Ventura prides itself on its pristine views.
The Steward of Ormond Beach
6:31
Ormond Beach Bird Refuge hosts migratory birds from as far as South America and Alaska.
Santa Monica: A Fortunate City With a Bright Future
6:10
Santa Monica is one of the most viewed beaches in the world.
Restoring Surfer's Point at Seaside Park
5:46
At Surfer's Point in Ventura County, coastal erosion underscores the shore's fragility.
Manhattan Beach: A Sense of Freedom, a Taste of Reality
4:46
Manhattan Beach is one of the several cities along the Marvin Braude Bike Trail.
Hermosa Beach
4:53
It's hard to imagine Hermosa Beach without The Strand, the bike path straddling the beach.
Rancho Palos Verdes: Nature Preserves and Natural History
6:41
Palos Verdes Peninsula is host to a bounty of human history.
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