SDSU parking pass vs. riding the trolley (how much, transfer) - San Diego - California (CA) - City-Data Forum

thepinksquid · 02-17-2010, 09:57 PM

I may be going back in the fall for grad school at SDSU. I was looking at the rates for parking and it seems that a one semester pass from SDSU is $135; alternatively I could get a trolley pass at the college student price for $147/semester.

I live about a 10 minute walk from the Fenton trolley station, and the SDSU station is on the same line (there would be no transfers). According to the MTS site, it seems the trip would take 9 minutes, which is pretty great. We have one car between my husband and I, so it would be nice to free up the vehicle for him if I'm going to be at school all day (however, he works from home, so it's not essential).

I've never taken the SD trolley, nor do I have much experience with public transport in general, to be honest. I've heard conflicting reports on the safety of the trolley. I honestly don't want to have to deal with weird sketchiness (just being honest). Does anyone here that has gone to SDSU know how much of a pain parking is there? I know my undergrad college had AWFUL parking most of the time and I would have gladly taken a trolley/bus to evade the circling of the parking garages if I lived closer.

Any thoughts/input?

NYSD1995 · 02-17-2010, 09:59 PM

If you are in Mission Valley, definitely take the trolley! Parking is a nightmare and getting in / out of the campus on College or Montezuma road is also a disaster. You've been warned!!!!

thepinksquid · 02-17-2010, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sassberto

If you are in Mission Valley, definitely take the trolley! Parking is a nightmare and getting in / out of the campus on College or Montezuma road is also a disaster. You've been warned!!!!

Awesome! That definitely will make my life easier. Yeah, I am thinking back to my undergrad days at a college about the same size and, well, I don't want to have to deal with that again.

oBak · 02-17-2010, 10:27 PM

I would suggest taking the trolley as well. You won't have to worry about your parking permit being stolen if you take the trolley.

Jenkay · 02-17-2010, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sassberto

If you are in Mission Valley, definitely take the trolley! Parking is a nightmare and getting in / out of the campus on College or Montezuma road is also a disaster. You've been warned!!!!

Yeah, seriously, you will save yourself SO much hassle. It'll take you longer to find parking once you get to campus than the 10-minute walk and 9-minute ride combined. It was bad when I was there 6 years ago, and from what I understand it's just gotten worse. I pretty much gave up after one semester and bought a bus pass- the number 11 from North Park took me about the same amount of time total trip, and with a lot less headache.

As for safety, the only time I've seen sketchy folks on the trolley was on the Southern route, through the 'hood, and even then there were generally enough other people around (especially during daytime hours) that it wasn't a big deal.

thepinksquid · 02-17-2010, 10:34 PM

Yes yes yes! I am so happy that others have found this to be a good idea. I absolutely hate trying to find parking and circle for what feels like hours. Trolley it will be!

djxpress · 02-17-2010, 10:43 PM

The trolley is fine. A lot of students take it to SDSU.

Kris000 · 02-17-2010, 10:46 PM

Parking is horrible at SDSU. I would usually have to park in lots that were on the far outskirts of campus and then take a shuttle to get to where I needed to be. On top of that, despite paying for parking permits, I somehow managed to still get parking tickets. So the cost of parking at SDSU ended up being pretty ridiculous.

mongoosedn · 02-17-2010, 11:12 PM

I've never had much issue with parking at SDSU. Maybe it's the times that I get to and leave school, but I can at least always get a spot in the surface lot in the back. It's a little hike to the top, but I don't have to wait in line to get into one of the parking structures which seem to be where all the traffic is. I also come in off of 8, so I can avoid College and Montezuma.

But I don't think that you can go wrong with the trolley either. You wouldn't be the only female student taking it, so I don't think you have to worry about your safety too much, especially since you are just going between SDSU and mission valley.

kettlepot · 02-18-2010, 04:57 PM

And one last thing, isn't the trolley stop practically in the middle of campus? That would eliminate the hike from the outer fringes of the parking lots to the center of campus where your classes would be. So, you can hike to the Fenton trolley stop, or you can hike from the parking lot into campus.