The City of Carlsbad is committed to helping people move around our city safety and efficiently using whatever mode of travel they prefer.

Public transportation

In the City of Carlsbad, local public transportation, including train, bus and shuttle services, is provided by the North County Transit District. The Carlsbad City Council appoints a representative to sit on the NCTD board, and our two agencies work closely together to ensure projects are coordinated and the public has access to the information they need.

Amtrak provides train service from San Diego to points north (be sure to check for current service interruptions due to track repairs).

Walking and biking

In 2015, the Carlsbad City Council approved a new general plan, which includes a chapter called the Mobility Element. This chapter describes the city's policies for street design, which represent a change from focusing on cars to the goal of creating streets that balance the needs of all users.

The city's Sustainable Mobility Plan outlines all the projects and programs the city is working on to achieve this goal.

The city also has an extensive trails network for residents to enjoy.

Airports

McClellan-Palomar Airport is in Carlsbad, but owned and operated by the County of San Diego. The Airport noise office handles complaints about airport noise. The county recently approved an airport master plan, which serves as a blueprint for future development of the airport. Funding has not been identified to implement projects in the master plan at this time.

San Diego International Airport is operated by the San Diego Regional Airport Authority.

Carpooling

The City of Carlsbad encourages all residents and employers to utilize carpooling and other types of ride sharing to reduce the total number of cars on the road. 

Try the city's Carlsbad Commuter app and website to find ways to get around Carlsbad that are better for the environment and help easy traffic.

RideLink offers a range of other transportation options region-wide.