By Nicole Garcia Delgado

I saw her board the trolley, probably heading home after a long shift at work. She was a middle-aged señora in a well-worn uniform, with eyes that begged for sleep. The Blue Line to San Ysidro was packed, as usual—but, miraculously, she was able to grab a seat. Then, nearly as soon as she sat down, sleep overcame her, though she jolted awake every few minutes to ensure she hadn’t missed her stop. 

I have seen that kind of exhaustion before—on my mom, who worked in a Tijuana maquiladora.  I see it on the faces of my fellow transit riders: Mothers with their children, elders with grocery bags, workers lugging heavy equipment, and students with stuffed backpacks, standing up for the long journey home.  

If you commute to work in an air-conditioned car, you may not have seen us. But transit riders make this city run. We are the cleaning crews and maintenance workers; the daycare staff and home health aides; the roofers and road workers. We are parents, working two to three jobs to support our families. We are students, like me, trying to make a better life for ourselves. 

We are among the one-third of Americans who can’t drive–or can’t afford to drive–because of age, income or disability.  

And we are tired. We are tired of long waits, missed connections, and hours-long commutes after exhausting days of work and school. 

My personal transit journey began in middle school. I was just 13 years old when I first boarded the Orange Line, then the Green Line, then a bus to Mt. Everest Academy. The trip took an hour and a half on a good day. On a bad day, I’d take an unaffordable Uber or simply not go. Sometimes I didn’t have the fare and jumped the trolley. I was always terrified of getting into trouble since I had seen many transit users receive hefty penalties or just be forced to get off the bus or trolley and harassed by security. 

Now I am a student at City College, preparing to transfer, pursuing a degree in sociology and Chicano studies. Between a full load of courses, work-study, an internship, and time spent as a student organizer, my days are packed. And then there’s my daily commute from Alvarado on the Green Line to City College on the Blue—roughly an hour and a half to two hours each way. At about 18 hours each week, my commute is the equivalent of a tiring, unpaid part-time job. 

Like 78% of MTS riders, I don’t have a car to drive. As a former foster youth, it is not a reality that I’ll have that kind of cash anytime soon.  

Besides, it’s not like San Diego needs more cars on the road. Our highways are already choked with vehicles spewing toxic air pollution. As a result, the communities south of the 8 Freeway – where many transit riders live – suffer some of the worst air quality in our region. And our car-based transportation system is responsible for 41% of local climate-changing carbon emissions. 

What we do need is fast, reliable transit. That’s why I’m voting yes on Measure G, the Let’s Go! San Diego transit measure, which will appear on the November 2024 general election ballot. If it passes, we’ll get more frequent and round-the-clock service on all MTS transit lines. The measure will add a Blue Line Express from South County to Downtown, and a Purple Line from South County to Sorrento Valley to relieve congestion on the 805. Importantly, it will provide no-cost transit for seniors, youth, disabled people, and veterans.

The Let’s Go! San Diego measure would pay for these upgrades with a one-half cent sales tax. That investment would reap so many rewards: Cleaner air, reduced traffic congestion, and a healthier climate. Even those who commute to work by car can appreciate those benefits. 

For me and my fellow transit riders, the measure could be life changing. It would mean shorter trips on less-packed trollies and buses. It would mean more time for our dreams, for our loved ones, and for the hard-earned rest we desperately need. Please join us in voting yes on G in November.