July 2026 Luncheon with MTS’s Heather Furey
On July 8, Railway Association of Southern California gathered at the Caltrans District 11 Office in San Diego to hear the latest updates in San Diego transportation from Heather Furey, Senior Director of Capital Projects at the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS). Heather gave us just a taste of the ambitious steps MTS is taking to modernize its network, navigate transit funding hurdles, and execute the "Rail Ready" Orange Line Improvement Initiative.
State of Good Repair took center stage. For MTS, that’s the Orange Line Improvement Initiative, a comprehensive effort begun in 2025 aimed at replacing aging infrastructure to dramatically increase system safety and reliability. The program upgrades tracks, signals, and grade crossings, making the line easier and more cost-effective to maintain for the next 30 years.
Some specific projects MTS has in mind include upgrading the signaling system, implementing reverse-running capabilities, installing a new diamond crossover at the Baltimore Wye, and improving critical track drainage infrastructure at El Cajon Station. Sounds like a rail design engineer’s dream.
The initiative is funded by two distinct grants, so the project is structured into two overlapping phases. To meet accelerated spending requirements dictated by the grant specifications, the team utilized early material procurement for specialized track components and signal houses.
Phase 1 is well underway at 70% completion, with 2 out of 4 signaling segments operational and 8 of 11 Automated Work Zone Warnings (AWW) completed.
Phase 2 is designed with construction planned for Fall 2026.
Community outreach is a big part of these procurements, and the team is maximizing productivity by tackling secondary track upgrades while service is offline. Heather was happy to report that the project is prioritizing local labor, which currently stands at an impressive 72%.
Beyond the Orange Line, Heather noted that MTS has experienced a massive post-COVID ridership resurgence, currently boasting more than 250,000 weekday trips. This rebound has earned MTS the distinction of being the #2 fastest-growing transit ridership in the country.
Ridership demographics show that nearly 50% of riders are under the age of 30, a key economic driver for special events like Padres games, SDSU events, and Comic-Con.
Despite booming ridership, MTS is not immune to the industry-wide funding crisis. Agencies across the country are bracing for a projected fiscal cliff in FY 2029. To keep the wheels turning, MTS has had to make tough strategic pivots, including:
· Delaying major system expansion plans.
· Deprioritizing the transition to zero-emissions and green energy.
· Shifting non-critical capital funds into operating budgets to sustain daily service.
· Implementing fare increases and diverting more energy toward fare enforcement.
Heather told RASC that MTS is determining exactly how to scale the system if new funding arrives, and how to defend core service if it does not, and the option of a 2028 ballot measure to secure long-term, dedicated transit funding.
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Huge thank you to RASC Vice President J.P. Ziegler for arranging the event. Special thanks to the Heather Furey for giving us her time, and to Caltrans District 11 for the generous use of their offices. As always, thank you to our attending RASC members, and our 2026 Gold Sponsors GHD and Olsson and our Silver Sponsor Earth Mechanics, whose participation makes our scholarship program not only possible, but robust!
Huge thank you to Dave Simpson and Herzog for arranging the tour and providing lunch. Special thanks to the OCTA/Herzog Team for the behind-the-scenes tour: Kelly Hart, Cleve Cleveland, Ben Burns, Louie Pelicano, and Gracie Guerrero. As always, thank you to our attending RASC members, and our 2025 Platinum Sponsors HDR and Moffatt & Nichol, our Gold Sponsors GHD, Olsson, Jacobs, Mott MacDonald and Zephyr Rail, and our Silver Sponsor Earth Mechanics, whose participation makes our scholarship program not only possible, but robust!
RASC is committed to the education of the next generation of rail engineers, with the goal to provide scholarships for undergraduates interested in transportation. Funds raised from these luncheons support that initiative directly.
Join us! Sign up now to become a member of the Railway Association of Southern California, 2026 RASC Membership, and be first in line for the next program.
Sponsor us! Help us grow our scholarship base. Contact Mark Chang, machang@HNTB.com for more information or follow this link RASC 2026 Sponsorship.
