San Ysidro/Tijuana Transit Center (also called San Ysidro/International Border) is the southern terminus of the original opening day segment of the San Diego Trolley, which began operations on July 19, 1981 and revenue collection on July 26, 1981. In addition to being one of the terminuses of the line that began the Light Rail Transit (streetcar) renaissance in the United States, it is extremely unique because it is the only rail based transit station in the Americas to serve an International Border. This is the busiest border crossing in the world into Tijuana, Mexico, an easy walk by just continuing south beyond the trolley tracks with a small US exit immigration post (no need to stop unless your a foreign national needing proof of exit) leading to a short path to a wide high exit turnstile right at the border and then another inspection station for the Mexican authorities.
The station has been modernized at some point after it was built and is the only station on the original blue line that has slightly elevated platforms. During 2015 these platforms were raised from 4 inches to six inches to allow the operations of low-floor S70 cars, starting on January 27, 2015. The platform layout at the station is two side platforms with an island platform in between. This layout, requiring trains to open there doors on both sides was required for ADA compliant operation of the U2s and SD-100s because the wheelchair lifts could only open on the right side of the trains. Trains change direction using a cross-over before entering the station and can platform on either track in either direction.
Photos 1-12 taken on 22 March, 2011; 13-24: 29 December, 2019
Beyer Blvd