Oceanside City Council has advanced a 100 million dollar plan to redevelop the Oceanside Transit Center with housing, retail, a hotel, and new transit upgrades. The project now moves to the California Coastal Commission for final review in 2026.
The Oceanside City Council has authorized the next phase of the Oceanside Transit Center Redevelopment Project, a major mixed-use proposal that now moves to the California Coastal Commission for final evaluation, according to information released by the City of Oceanside. The initiative is part of North County Transit, San Diego Railroad’s long-term transit-oriented development strategy.
The plan is led by Toll Brothers Apartment Living, which will manage construction and operations after completion. The project represents nearly 100 million dollars in private investment directed toward public transit facilities and on-site development. Central components include a new customer service center, expanded public waiting areas, and a landscaped Station Plaza. A new parking structure and the relocation of the existing bus island are designed to improve circulation and shorten transfers between bus and rail services by an estimated 50 percent.
The redevelopment integrates residential, hospitality, and commercial elements. The proposal includes 547 housing units, with 15 percent designated for low and moderate income households. It also incorporates 170 hotel rooms and nearly 30,000 SF of ground floor retail that will connect the station area to downtown Oceanside. Project planners describe these elements as part of a broader effort to activate the surrounding neighborhood and expand access to public transit, employment centers, and visitor services.
The agency’s headquarters will also shift from its current site at 810 Mission Avenue to the new transit center at 235 S. Tremont. Redevelopment of the Mission Avenue parcel, to be carried out by the same developer, is expected to allow construction of 206 additional mixed income housing units, including 31 affordable units.
The transit center currently serves as a major regional mobility hub, with connections to San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange County, and inland North County. It is the only station in the region with service from multiple transit modes including SPRINTER hybrid rail, COASTER commuter rail, Amtrak, Metrolink, BREEZE bus routes, and LIFT paratransit.
The Oceanside project is the first of 11 planned redevelopments across the agency’s rail system. Collectively, these projects are anticipated to add about 2,341 housing units, including 884 affordable units, 275 hotel rooms, and roughly 55,800 SF of retail space. The work aligns with a 2016 agency directive to leverage real estate assets to increase transit ridership and reduce automobile dependence. Final review by the California Coastal Commission is expected in 2026.