Orange Line Shutdown and Major Rail Suspensions Lead Saturday Traffic Impacts

Significant Transit Disruptions on the Orange Line

San Diego commuters and weekend travelers should prepare for a major service disruption on the MTS Orange Line. Starting today, Saturday, March 7, and continuing through Sunday, March 8, 2026, there will be no trolley service on the Orange Line between the Courthouse and Massachusetts Avenue stations. This closure is part of the ongoing Orange Line Improvement Project aimed at replacing aging infrastructure and enhancing safety.

MTS has deployed dedicated shuttle buses to bridge the gap for riders. These shuttles will serve all closed stations, including Massachusetts Avenue, Encanto/62nd Street, Euclid Avenue, 47th Street, 32nd and Commercial, 25th and Commercial, and the 12th & Imperial Transit Center. For those traveling within downtown San Diego, the UC San Diego Blue Line remains operational and is the recommended alternative for navigating the city center. Regular Orange Line service is scheduled to resume in time for the Monday morning commute on March 9.

Amtrak Pacific Surfliner Corridor Closure

In addition to local transit changes, regional rail travel is severely restricted this weekend. A corridor-wide closure has suspended all Amtrak Pacific Surfliner service between San Diego and San Luis Obispo for March 7 and 8. This suspension is due to extensive track maintenance and construction projects coordinated by Union Pacific, Metrolink, and the North County Transit District (NCTD). Unlike the trolley disruptions, there are no bus bridges provided for the Pacific Surfliner during this period, and travelers are advised to seek alternative regional transportation.

Highway and Roadwork Alerts

On the roads, Caltrans continues its massive $235 million rehabilitation of the I-805 in the South Bay. While work is primarily focused on off-peak hours, drivers should expect lane reductions and potential ramp delays between H Street and Telegraph Canyon Road. Additionally, if you are planning to head north toward Orange County, be aware that the northbound I-5 connector to the northbound I-405 in Irvine is scheduled for closure during night and early morning hours through today, which may affect early morning commuters returning to San Diego.

Downtown Street Closures for Events

Several local events will result in street closures today, impacting surface street traffic in popular neighborhoods:

• Little Italy: West Date Street is closed from the cul-de-sac west of Kettner Boulevard to Front Street for the Little Italy Mercato until 2:00 PM. North/South streets remain open to through traffic.
• Gaslamp Quarter: The 400 and 500 blocks of Fifth Avenue are barricaded for the Gaslamp Artisan Market, which runs from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
• Downtown/East Village: Increased pedestrian and vehicle traffic is expected near 100 Park Boulevard for the San Diego Festival of Science and Engineering.

Commuters are urged to allow at least 20 to 30 minutes of extra travel time if using the Orange Line shuttle system or navigating through the downtown core.