Sen. Blakespear Introduces Legislation to Improve Transportation for Large Events
SB 1136 would require better coordination among transit agencies so passengers can more easily and conveniently access large events
SACRAMENTO – Sen. Catherine S. Blakespear, D-Encinitas, has introduced legislation to require transit agencies to be prepared to provide reliable, coordinated rail services for large public events, such as sports events, concerts and other large-scale activities.
SB 1136 aims to break down obstacles for passengers using rail for heavily attended, regional public events. Even though rail is ideal for moving large numbers of people, it is often not easy for passengers to purchase tickets between transit networks, plan departures and arrivals with ease, or even find schedules to plan their trip around.
All this makes taking rail inconvenient and limits the number of people who take rail when its service is most needed to help a region handle an influx of commuters to an event. Ideally, riders should only have to buy one ticket and should have a direct train that arrives on time.
“We need to optimize rail service during events like the Olympics, the World Cup or big concerts or sporting events,” Sen. Blakespear said. “SB 1136 will improve transportation planning for large events, so passengers can more easily and directly use rail services to get to them. A more customer-friendly approach will boost ridership and operator revenues.”
Along the southern portion of the LOSSAN rail corridor, there may be only one Pacific Surfliner train that arrives in Los Angeles or San Diego in time for a major event. If that train is sold out or unavailable, passengers in Orange and San Diego counties are left cobbling together a transfer in Oceanside between Metrolink and COASTER, adding uncertainty, extra time and complexity.
Faced with that inconvenience, many riders choose to drive instead, further clogging freeways due to avoidable inconveniences. SB 1136 would require Pacific Surfliner, Metrolink and COASTER to coordinate service planning, equipment and schedules to minimize transfers, maximize available capacity and make rail the easiest choice for event travel.
Specifically, the legislation would require Interagency Transfer Agreements for state-supported intercity rail to include service planning for heavily attended events located within one mile of an intercity rail station. In addition, annual business plans would have to include detailed operating information for special event service.
The bill would require regional rail services that share a station to adopt a plan that allows passengers to travel directly to large events within one mile of a station without having to transfer trains, when a transfer would otherwise be required.
Taken as a whole, the changes will help increase rail ridership and reduce traffic congestion to and from heavily attended events.
SB 1136 is part of Sen. Blakespear’s ongoing efforts to improve management, planning and support for public transportation. SB 1098, passed and signed into law in 2024, aims to revitalize the rail corridor that runs from San Diego to San Luis Obispo with management reforms to strengthen infrastructure and boost performance and service.
Sen. Blakespear represents Senate District 38, which covers northern San Diego County and southern Orange County. To learn more about the district and Sen. Blakespear, visit her Senate website.