[8] Funding for right-of-way acquisition and construction costs came from TransNet, a 1987 measure that imposed a 0.5% sales tax on San Diego County residents for transportation projects.
[10] In July 2006, TransitAmerica Services took over the day-to-day operation of the commuter train, based on a five-year, $45 million contract with NCTD.
[13] San Diego County voters extended the TransNet sales tax through 2038, which includes funding for rail track upgrades.
[14] As part of the broader North Coast Corridor project, approximately $1 billion is planned to be spent on new segments of double track between San Diego and Orange County.
[19] One of the routes tunnels under the Del Mar Fairgrounds, which is opposed by the local community[20][21] More than 20 Coaster trains run on weekdays,[22] with additional service on the weekends.
More weekend services operate during summer months and when there are special events, such as home games for the San Diego Padres.
"[26] As a replacement for the original "Compass Card," the Pronto fare system allows for a tap-on, tap-off approach, so riders on Coaster can tap-on when entering the station platform (using one of the station's validators), and tap-off when arriving at the destination stop, in order to deduct the correct fare.
[29] Coaster previously utilized the aforementioned contactless "Compass Card", made possible by Cubic Transportation Systems, Inc.
[citation needed] In June 2018, the North County Transit District (NCTD) Board approved the purchase of five Siemens SC-44 Charger locomotives to replace their existing five F40PHM-2C locomotives that were remanufactured by Morrison-Knudsen, with $10.5 million of the estimated $53.9 million cost earmarked from statewide gas tax and vehicle registration fees.
[36] In September 2020, the NCTD Board approved the purchase of two more SC-44 Chargers, for a total of nine; planned for delivery in April 2023, they will be used to expand service.
[43] In July 2020, the NCTD Board approved the purchase of eleven new Bombardier BiLevel passenger cars (consisting of eight coaches and three crash-energy management cab-cars) that will be used to add two trainsets to regular service and support SANDAG expansion upon delivery in late 2022.
The main maintenance and storage yard, located at Stuart Mesa on Camp Pendleton, just north of the Oceanside Transit Center.
[citation needed] From the service's inception in 1995 until 2020, NCTD used Tracks 25, 26 and 27 of the MTS 12th and Imperial yard to store trains during midday.