SANDAG, Caltrans, and NCTD Celebrate Rail Station Improvements at Poinsettia Station

Carlsbad CA— State and local leaders joined SANDAG, NCTD, and Caltrans early Thursday morning to celebrate the completion of the Poinsettia Station Improvements project with a ribbon cutting ceremony at the station’s new underground rail crossing.
The Carlsbad Poinsettia Station improvements include new shelter enhancements, a pedestrian undercrossing, lengthened passenger platforms, fencing between tracks for added safety, and better customer amenities. The project broke ground in April 2018 and has improved regional train service, traveler times, and customer safety.
“The completion of these safety and capacity improvements is vital to people in the region who use this corridor to get to and from work every day,” said SANDAG Board Member and Carlsbad City Councilmember Cori Schumacher. “The Poinsettia Station and North Coast Corridor serve as examples of how the strategies in SANDAG’s 5 Big Moves can work together to enhance connectivity, increase sustainability, and improve quality of life in our region.”

The Carlsbad Poinsettia Station improvements are part of a larger inter-agency regional initiative to provide nearly $1 billion in infrastructure improvements to the San Diego segment of the Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) rail corridor.
“The LOSSAN rail corridor is the second busiest intercity rail corridor in the nation and is a critical economic link and lifeline for the movement of passengers and freight goods in the San Diego region,” said NCTD Board Chair and Encinitas City Councilmember Tony Kranz. “Station improvement projects like this will help NCTD improve the overall rider experience by further expanding and integrating services.”
The improvements at Poinsettia Station are part of a larger effort known as the North Coast Corridor Program, a 40-year, $6 billion balanced set of transportation, environmental, and coastal access projects administered by SANDAG and Caltrans to improve the quality of life for residents, create a stronger local and regional economy, and enhance the coastal environment.
“The Poinsettia Station Improvements project serves as another shining example of a successful North Coast Corridor project,” said Caltrans Deputy District Director of Planning Ann Fox. “This project will complement additional planned improvements to enhance connectivity and mobility in North Coastal communities.”
At the celebratory event, a representative for Assemblymember Tasha Boerner Horvath presented the project team with a congratulatory certificate recognizing the importance of providing residents with substantial transportation options and the value that a modern and accessible LOSSAN rail system adds to the regional economy.
The Poinsettia Station is also home to the Carlsbad Connector, an app-based shuttle service that transports commuters from the transit station to nearby workplaces. This Flexible Fleet service can be accessed by a smartphone to hail rides between Poinsettia Station and local employment centers.
The $33.7 million Poinsettia Station Improvements project was funded through a combination of federal, state, and local sources, including TransNet, the regional half-cent sales tax for transportation improvement projects.