East County trolley infrastructure is part of a regional flood-preparation effort that includes clearing drains near La Mesa and planning a new drainage pipe beneath the El Cajon Trolley station, according to a Nov. 8 report by The San Diego Union-Tribune.

The Metropolitan Transit System has positioned pumps, acquired flood barriers and worked with cities to clear drains, including at 70th Street near the San Diego-La Mesa border. The newspaper reported that the agency had spent more than $700,000 on preparations following damage from the January 2024 floods.

El Cajon Councilmember Steve Goble proposed a formal arrangement for cities unaffected by flooding to send equipment and personnel to those needing help. Other MTS Executive Committee members supported the idea, but the report described a proposal, not an agreement already in place.

The planned El Cajon station pipe is a longer-term project intended to connect with the city’s drainage system. MTS officials said that work would not be ready to help during the coming El Niño season; it is separate from the immediate preparations.