Albertsons to be Exclusive Outlet for Compass Card

Editor’s Note: The following is a news release from the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG)

Effective Jan. 20, Albertsons will replace Vons as the exclusive grocery store outlet for Compass Card, the region’s smart card transit pass for bus and rail services provided by the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) and the North County Transit District (NCTD).

Riders can purchase and reload Compass Cards at Albertsons beginning Jan. 20. Albertsons has 42 convenient locations throughout the San Diego region. Compass Cards can be purchased at Albertsons customer service counters, which are open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

To minimize customer inconvenience, the transition to Albertsons takes place after most people have purchased their January passes and before sales of February passes begin. Riders who need to renew a 30-day pass before January 20 can do so in several ways: 

• Online at www.511sd.com/compass
• The Transit Store at 1st Avenue and Broadway in downtown San Diego, which will have extended hours (8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.) from Jan. 9 to 13 and from Jan. 17 to 19.
• Customer service centers at the Oceanside, Vista, and Escondido Transit Centers
• Ticket vending machines at Trolley, SPRINTER, or COASTER stations
• Big Ben Market in National City
• Business Matters in Market Creek Plaza in Southeastern San Diego
• Convenience stores at the El Cajon, San Ysidro, and Old Town Trolley Stations
• Call 511 and say “Compass”

MTS ambassadors will be available at select transit stations Jan. 6 to 19 (7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday-Friday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday) helping patrons use ticket vending machines to purchase or reload Compass Cards. 

MTS ambassadors will be located at the following transit stations: 12th and Imperial; City College; Civic Center; H Street; Palomar; San Ysidro; Old Town; Fashion Valley; Euclid Avenue; El Cajon; and Grossmont.