El Cajon Transit Center was the northern terminus of the East Line (now called the Orange Line) for six years after it opened in June 1989 with the Green Line joining in 2005. In September 2012 it become the terminus of the Orange Line again after trains were cut back from Gillipse Field with only Green Line trains continuing north. The reason is simply low-ridership. The station has the standard 2 low-level (3 inch high) side platforms with their tactile warning strips. The station platforms' southern ends are at the grade crossing with Palm Avenue and they gradually extend north and rise up over the existing street grid requiring ramps and staircases down to the other entrances and requiring red fences. The San Diego-bound platform has 4 wooden canopied squares with a single red column holding the canopy up. It has additional entrances from Front Street. The Santee-bound platform has a grand central wooden canopied area in the middle of the platform with a wooden El Cajon sign above it where the main staircase (and there is a ramp) leads down to the station's major bus loop with 15 connecting lines beneath. These bus lines all surround a central plaza with a wooden depot building in the middle of it that contains restrooms and some concessions. North of this area a 469 space park & ride lot stretches north along the Trolley Line to Main Street which the trolley crosses over on an overpass.
Photos 1-10 taken on 15 March, 2007, 11-22 taken on 22 March, 2011
Amaya Drive