Coastal Rail Suspension and Downtown Detours Highlight Sunday Commute Challenges

Significant Rail Disruptions and Coastal Delays

Commuters and weekend travelers should prepare for a major service interruption today, Sunday, February 22, 2026, as all coastal rail service between San Diego and Oceanside remains suspended. The North County Transit District (NCTD) has halted the COASTER service to facilitate routine maintenance and critical infrastructure work. This absolute work window allows crews to perform bluff stabilization near Del Mar and bridge preservation at Batiquitos Lagoon and Miramar Hill. Regular service is scheduled to resume on Monday morning, February 23. During this closure, no passenger or freight trains will be running, though construction equipment and test trains will remain active on the tracks.

Major Freeway Maintenance and South Bay Impacts

On the roads, motorists in the South Bay should expect heightened activity along the I-805 corridor. Caltrans is currently engaged in a massive multi-million dollar rehabilitation project targeting aging infrastructure from San Ysidro to Interstate 15. While much of the work is scheduled for nighttime to minimize impact, lane reductions and ramp closures may persist through the morning. Interstate 5 is recommended as the primary detour for those traveling north or south through the South Bay region today.

Surface Street Closures and Community Events

Navigating neighborhood streets will require extra care due to several recurring events and street fairs. Expect the following closures:

• Hillcrest: University Avenue is closed from Herbert Street to Park Boulevard, and Center Street is restricted from University to Robinson for the Hillcrest Farmers Market until 4:00 PM.
• Gaslamp Quarter: The 400 and 500 blocks of 5th Avenue, along with portions of Island Avenue between 4th and 6th, are barricaded for the Gaslamp Artisan Market until 5:30 PM.
• Old Town: Harney Street is closed between San Diego Avenue and Congress Street for the weekly Harney Street Market until 4:30 PM.

Public Transit Detours and Service Alerts

San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) passengers should be aware of several active detours. Route 11 is on a specialized Sunday detour to bypass the Hillcrest market, affecting stops on University Avenue at Herbert and Normal Streets. Additionally, Route 105 continues to operate with southbound stop closures at Morena Boulevard near Asher and Napier Streets due to ongoing pipeline construction. For those in the East County, Route 855 Northbound remains on detour near Calavo Drive and Jamacha Boulevard. Passengers are advised to allow for an extra 15 to 20 minutes of travel time when using these routes.