San Diego MTS reaches trolley line naming agreement with local health system

The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) and UC San Diego Health agreed to rename the agency's Blue Line trolley route.

Expected to expand to UC San Diego's La Jolla campus and beyond, the line will now be called the "UC San Diego Blue Line."

"The UC San Diego Blue Line extension will not only provide a great new way to travel to campus, but UC San Diego Health will realize exceptional opportunities to increase awareness of its world-class medical facilities via the naming rights for 30 miles of light-rail service," said MTS Chief Executive Officer Paul Jablonski in a statement.

The 30-year agreement includes naming rights to three stations along the line. MTS will receive an annual fee, beginning at $675,000, with increases tied to the project's completion and the local consumer price index.

Funding for the sponsorship will come from non-state sources, MTS officials said.

MTS is currently working with local stakeholders to develop and complete the 11-mile Blue Line extension by 2019.