Transportation from
RJD – San Diego
Directions to the Bay Area, Central California (Sacramento to
Bakersfield), and Southern California (LA and San Diego)
Updated: 10.10.16
CONTENTS:
1. LEAVING PRISON
2. BEYER BLVD TROLLY STATION
3. Santa Fe Depot
4. Purchasing Tickets at a Greyhound Station
5. PURCHASING TICKETS AT AMTRAK
STATIONS
6. TRAINS TO LOS ANGELES
7. Traveling around LA using Metrolink
8. TRAINS TO BAKERSFIELD
9. TRAINS TO BAY AREA AND SACRAMENTO
10. Getting Around the Bay Area Using BART
11. EMERGENCY SERVICES
Getting home from prison can be difficult and expensive, and you may have no more than $200 to pay for
the return trip. This guide is intended to provide information on transportation options from prison.
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LEAVING PRISON:
On the day of your release, you will be taken to Receiving and Release, where you will be provided
clothing, identification, and gate money.
Clothing: The prison will provide you clothes for your release. There are some clothes that have been
donated, and you also may purchase clothes from PIA using your gate money.
If someone has sent dressouts, they will be waiting for you at Receiving and Release. An individual must
send the items thirty days prior to your release, write “dressouts” as well as the person they are being
delivered to.
Identification: You may keep your CDCR-issued identification, and
this will likely be the only identification available. However, recent
legislation has required CDCR and DMV to supply individuals leaving
prison with identification. Starting January 1
st
, 2015, AB 2308
requires the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
and the Department of Motor Vehicles to ensure that inmates released
from state prisons have valid identification cards (pictured right).
If you are leaving prison, and you meet all the following requirements:
1. Previously held a CA driver’s license or ID card.
2. Have a usable photo on file with the DMV that is not more than 10 years old.
3. No outstanding fees due for a prior CA identification card.
4. DMV verified your name, date of birth, social security number, and legal presence in the US.
Then, you should get an identification card. Prior to release, speak with your counselor about getting
your CA ID. Identification is in important to get public benefits, housing, and other important necessities.
Gate Money: Deuel Vocational Institution started issuing debit cards as gate
money (pictured left) instead of cash. This debit card should have your $200
gate money, in addition to the money in your trust account.
Asking for help: “My advice would be to ask for help. I asked for directions
from anybody I could once I got to San Francisco. I actually asked directions
from three police officers. I left with another guy, and he was freaking when I
approached the police. I told him, ‘Relax we’re not doing anything – we’re free.’” – Mark Self, released
from Solano 2015.
Electronic Tellers: Americans now purchase many items from electronic tellers. “The weirdest
experience I had was going to a store and there were no tellers – just go in in and check yourself out. That
was crazy,” recalled Daron Jones, who served thirty years and was released in 2015. Electronic tellers are
discussed extensively in this packet.
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Beyer Boulevard Trolley Station at San Ysidro: If you do not have someone scheduled to pick you up,
you will likely be taken to the Beyer Boulevard Trolley Station It looks like this:
It is the Southernmost station on local San Diego public transport. Purchase a ticket in the same way you
would purchase a ticket. The process for purchasing a ticket is very similar to the Metrolink, described
below. You will take the train to Santa Fe Depot, the last stop on the BLUE line.
Santa Fe Depot: Located in downtown San Diego, the Amtrak and Greyhound stations are run from the
same building, which looks like this:
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PURCHASING GREYHOUND TICKETS FROM AN AGENT
At the Greyhound station there will likely be a uniformed
ticket agent at the counter (see right). They will help you
buy a ticket to wherever you are going. You may have to get
off the bus and onto other buses on your trip. If possible
make sure you buy all tickets needed for your Greyhound
trip at your first Greyhound station, rather than purchasing
separate tickets at each stop, however do what the ticket
agent instructs.
PURCHASING TICKETS USING THE GREYHOUND KIOSK MACHINE
If the Bus/Greyhound station you are at does not have a
ticket office/agent, you can purchase bus and train tickets at
the Greyhound kiosk machine as shown to the left. You may
have to get off the bus and onto other buses on your trip. If
possible make sure you buy all tickets needed for your
Greyhound trip at your first Greyhound station, rather than
purchasing separate tickets at each station you stop at.
The Greyhound kiosk machine uses a touch
screen. To purchase tickets using the
Greyhound kiosk machine, follow these
instructions:
Press the One Way button.
Press the Purchase Tickets button
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Press the first three letters of your
destination, the press the Continue button in
the bottom right corner.
Press your destination on the screen and
then press the Continue button in the
bottom right corner.
Press your departure date (probably
today’s date) and then press the
Continue button.
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Press the > (arrow) button next to the type of
tick you would like to buy. Then press the
Continue button.
Press the least expensive price of the trip you
would like to take. When the machine asks
“Would you like to accept this fare?” press
Accept.
Type your first and last name into the
machine. Then press the Continue
button. It will then ask you to “Review
your Itinerary and Charges.” Make sure
everything is as you want it to be then
press the Continue button. It will then
take you to “Terms and Conditions.”
Press the Accept button in the bottom
right corner.
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Swipe your card in the slot on
the right of the machine the
way shown in the picture.
Your ticket should print and
be delivered below the screen.
Congratulations! You’re on
your way.
Press the way you would like to pay.
This likely with “credit card” unless
you have cash. You can use the card
CDCR provided upon release.
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PURCHASING TICKETS AT AN AMTRAK STATION USING A TICKET MACHINE
The Bus/Amtrak station does not have a ticket office. Instead, there is an
electronic kiosk where you can purchase bus and train tickets (pictured left).
Make sure you buy a ticket all the way to your final destination, rather than
purchasing separate tickets for each leg of the journey.
The Quik-Trak machine uses a touch screen. To purchase tickets using the Quick-
Trak Machine, follow these instructions:
Step 2: Touch “Create
Reservation” and select
the location where you
would like to go, and
when.
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UNDERSTANDING YOUR AMTRAK TICKET AND TRIP
Your Amtrak ticket should look like one of the following shown below. They list your name, departure
and arrival location, departure and arrival time. To find the boarding gate where your train is leaving ask
an Amtrak employee or look for a monitor that lists it. These monitors will usually list the boarding gate
15 minutes before the departure time of the train. Make sure to get on your train as soon as possible -
some trains will not let you on if you don’t board 10 minutes before the departure time. You may have to
get on multiple trains to get to your destination. For part of your Amtrak trip you may have to take a
Thruway Bus. If you cannot find something make sure to talk to people. Try to find someone who works
at Amtrak, but you can always ask for help from a stranger.
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TRAINS FROM SANTA FE DEPOT TO LOS ANGELES AND BAKERSFIELD:
To get from San Diego to Los Angeles, take the Pacific Surfliner, which leaves at 6:06am, 6:57am, 8:23am,
9:18am, 10:41am, 11:57am, and at other times. It will cost approximately $40. For a more expensive
ticket, you can get all the way to San Luis Obispo this way. Here is a limited listing of the schedule:
To get to Bakersfield, take the train to Los Angeles, and then transfer to a bus at Los Angeles Union
Station. This should cost approximately $66. Be sure to purchase tickets all the way to Bakersfield from
Santa Fe Station.
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TRAVEL AROUND LOS ANGELES AREA USING METROLINK:
Once you make it to Los Angeles, you can get around the area using MetroLink:
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Purchasing Metrolink Tickets with Ticketing Machine:
Metrolink tickets are not sold onboard the train, and must be purchased prior to
barding the train. Ticket vending machines (pictured right) are located on
Metrolink train platforms. To purchase a ticket, follow these instructions:
Step 1: Using the buttons
surrounding this screen,
select “Buy Ticket From
Los Angeles”
Step 2: Select the
first letter of your
destination.
Step 3: Select
your destination.
Step 4: Select One
Way trip.
Step 5: Select the ticket
type. If you are over 65 or
disabled, be sure to get a
reduced fee ticket.
Step 6: Select “Credit” as your payment type and
put your gate money card into the machine.
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TRAINS TO BAY AREA AND SACRAMENTO
To get from San Diego to the Bay Area, take the Pacific Surfliner to Los Angeles, described above. Once
you are at Union Station, there are a few options.
LA AMTRAK STATION (UNION STATION) TO BAY AREA
At 10:10 am, you can take the Coast Starlight directly to Oakland. It costs $81 and take approximately
eleven hours.
At 6:00am, 9:40am, 12:35pm, 1:40pm, 4:15pm, and 10:00pm, you can take a Greyhound bus to Oakland.
It costs approximately $65 and takes between eight and ten hours.
You can also take a Megabus from Los Angeles directly to Oakland. It leaves at 9:40am, 1:40pm, 4:50pm,
and takes approximately eight hours, and costs approximately $40. Megabus stops are located outside of
Union Station, and may be difficult to find.
LA AMTRAK STATION (UNION STATION) TO SACRAMENTO
At 10:10 am, the Coast Starlight will take you to Sacramento. It costs $91.
If you cannot make the 10:10, you will have to take a bus to Bakersfield, then transfer to a train, which
you will take to Stockton, and transfer to a bus for Sacramento. It costs $59. If you decide to do this,
purchase the tickets ALL THE WAY through to Sacramento, instead of each individual leg of the journey.
At 9:50am, 12:15pm, 1:00pm, 2:30pm, 5:40pm, and 10pm, you can get a Greyhound bus directly to
Sacramento. It costs approximately $80 and takes between eight and ten hours.
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TRAVEL IN THE BAY AREA USING BART: Once you are in Richmond, you can transfer to Bart. BART
stands for Bay Area Rapid Transit. BART operates five routes on 104 miles (167 km) of line, with 44
stations in four counties. With an average of 373,945 weekday passengers, 176,616
Saturday passengers, and 119,247 Sunday passengers in January 2013. The BART logo
looks like this:
BART CARD: This a BART card (pictured right). Insert it into the turnstile
(pictured below) on both entry and exit.
Once you exit, the funds are removed based on the length of your travel. You
can know how much money remains on your card by looking next to the arrow,
where the remaining amount is printed.
The BART system is complicated,
but you can get to most
destinations in the Bay Area.
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EMERGENCY SERVICES
These service providers can help you in the event of a problem:
SACRAMENTO:
For all services, dial 2-1-1 on any phone.
Emergency Shelters for men:
Union Gospel Mission
400 North Bannon Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
Ph. (916) 447-3268
Provides a seven 7-night stay for single men. Be there at
the black metal gate by 5:30 p.m. for a first come/first
serve basis. You can have 7 nights in, then stay out for
three nights, and come back for 7 more days. Preference
usually given to "first timers" or new people, so let the
staff know if this is your first time.
Salvation Army
200 North B Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
Ph. (916) 442-0331 x0
Emergency shelter provided for single men or women
only. You must be at their B street lobby at 1:00 p.m. for
placement onto the waiting list. Offers a 30 to 60 day
shelter assisting in employment and housing
independence.
Adult Shelter VOA
1400 North A Street, Building B, Sacramento, CA 95814
Ph. (916) 448-5507
You must show up the first time to have your name placed
on the waiting list. Check in each day 9:00 a.m. to 12:00
p.m. - Intake is at 1:00 p.m. Call in each day for check-in
after your name is on the list. When your name is close to
the top, then show up or if you call in the staff will tell you
to show up if you may receive a bed space.
OAKLAND
Food:
Alameda County Community Food Bank
Call 510-635-3663 to get registered to pick up food.
Their address is 7900 Edgewater Drive Oakland, CA 94621
Shelters: Dial 2-1-1 on any phone, and someone will direct you
to a shelter. Also try:
City Team
722 Washington St., Oakland, CA.
510.452.3758 and wait to dial 26
Healthcare: Dial 9-1-1 if it is an emergency.
1411 E 31st St, Oakland, CA
(510) 437-4800
SAN FRANCISCO
Food: Glide serves over 1,000 meals daily.
Glide Memorial Church
330 Ellis St.
415-674-6000
Shelter: Dial 2-1-1 on any phone, and someone will direct you to
a shelter.
Healthcare: Dial 9-1-1 if it is an emergency.
San Francisco General Hospital
1001 Portrero Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94110
415-206-8000
LOS ANGELES: For all services, dial 2-1-1 on any
phone.
Shelters:
Year Round Emergency Shelter
(800) 548-6047,
TTY: (800) 660-4026
SAN DIEGO: For all services, dial 2-1-1 on any phone.
BAKERSFIELD: For all services, dial 2-1-1 on any phone.
Shelter and Food:
Bakersfield Homeless Center
1600 East Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA
(661) 322-9199
