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| ARTICLE- San Diego Freeways & Highways As the automobile is the primary means of transportation for the region, the greater San Diego area is served by an extensive network of freeways and highways. This includes Interstates 5, which runs north to Orange County and south to Mexico; 8, which runs east to Imperial County and Arizona; 15, which runs north to Riverside County; and 805, which splits from I-5 at Sorrento Valley and rejoins it before the Mexican border. Notable state highways are the 54 in the South Bay; the 125, 94, and 67 in the East County; the 56 and 78 in the North County; the 52 (La Jolla-Santee); and the 163 (Downtown-Miramar). The San Diego-Coronado Bridge, which spans San Diego Bay, is signed as part of California State Route 75. Several regional transportation projects have been undertaken in recent years to deal with increasing congestion problems on San Diego freeways. This includes a massive expansion of Interstates 5 and 805 around "The Merge," a notorious rush-hour spot where the two freeways meet. Also, an expansion of Interstate 15 through the North County is underway with the concept of high-occupancy-vehicle (HOV) "managed lanes" in the freeway median. A tollway (The South Bay Expressway) linking State Route 54 and Otay Mesa, near the Mexican border, is also under construction and is expected to open in 2007. [edit] Public mass transportation See also: Public transportation in San Diego County, California San Diego Trolley at San Diego State University (SDSU) San Diego Trolley at San Diego State University (SDSU) Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner at the Old Town Station Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner at the Old Town Station The Old Town trolley The Old Town trolley San Diego has trolley, bus [4], Coaster [5], and Amtrak service. They primarily serve downtown, the surrounding urban communities and Mission Valley. The Amtrak and Coaster trains currently run along the coastline, and connect with MetroLink trains which go further inland to the east and north. New inland Sprinter (which connects directly with Coaster and Amtrak) service begins in 2008. A planned trolley extension along the 5 Freeway will link up to the UTC/UCSD areas. Newly expanded Trolley routes and a new underground stop at San Diego State University opened in 2005, with more Coaster train stops and services to be added in 2007 and beyond. The bus is available along almost all major routes within the city proper, although they tend to be concentrated in downtown, various transit centers and the transit corridors of El Cajon Boulevard and University Avenue. Typical wait times vary from 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the location and route. Trollies arrive every 5 to 15 minutes (depending on time of day), with lines extending from Old Town all the way south to the US-Mexico border in San Ysidro, and west-east from Old Town, traversing Mission Valley all the way to neighboring El Cajon and Santee. Ferries are also available every half hour crossing San Diego Bay to Coronado.
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