San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) and Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) officials started running San Diego’s first gas-electric hybrid SuperLoop buses Monday, June 15. Transportation officials announced last April they would get an early start running the high-tech prototype buses every 10 to 15 minutes along a circular route called the SuperLoop that runs through University of California San Diego (UCSD) and along the edge of La Jolla to UTC. “The full SuperLoop project — featuring traffic-light priority and bus-only lanes to further quicken service — is scheduled to be complete in fall 2010,” SANDAG reported in a press release. MTS operates the SuperLoop pilot program service, which utilizes about 11 35-foot-long hybrid buses and existing bus shelters along the route while construction begins, according to Dan Martin, SANDAG’s project implementation manager. Orange SuperLoop buses start service at 5 a.m., running at 10- to 15-minute intervals until 10 p.m. Transportation officials also added SuperLoop signage to existing shelters, according to Martin. “There are 13 SuperLoop stations proposed to be located in University City,” the website reported. As of Monday, the SuperLoop completed nine stops, including UCSD/Gilman Transit Hub, Gilman/Villa La Jolla, La Jolla Village Square, Nobel/Lebon, Nobel/Regents Road, UTC Transit Center, Executive Drive Transit Center/Regents Park, UCSD East Campus and Scripps Hospital. While the new buses start service, SANDAG and MTS officials will begin construction on existing bus shelters, which city crews are scheduled to start this winter, according to Martin. “Starting in winter 2009 we’re going to be constructing the full-blown stations, which will reach east to Judicial [Drive],” Martin said. “In fall we’ll launch the ultimate service. We are working with the university and MTS on how the service complements [UCSD].” For more information about SuperLoop stops and future SuperLoop service, visit www.keepsandiegomoving. com.