SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The Metropolitan Transit System's brand-new "Copper" Trolley line welcomed riders for its first day up and running on Sunday. The new alignment opened to the public two months after it was unanimously approved by the transit agency's Board of Directors, starting trips between the four stations it services bright and early at 5:12 a.m. MTS officials pitched the "Copper Line" earlier this year in an effort to address longstanding issues of reliability tied to a stretch of track from the Gillespie Airport to Santee stops. Only one track exists for both directions of travel in this corridor, MTS officials said, contributing to frequent delays which ripple through the entire Trolley network. To offset these holdups, MTS added service on the Green and Orange lines were often abruptly stopped before the last stop. High-speed train project chugs ahead as $3 billion in Nevada funding gets OK The Copper Line hopes to mark the end to this variability with the Trolley's East County-bound lines — and the system at large — by taking over the responsibility of shuttling passengers from Santee to El Cajon, allowing the Orange and Green Lines to avoid the one-lane track all together. “MTS wants to make taking transit more reliable not only for East County residents, but for riders across the entire system. With the Copper Line, we are doing just that,” MTS Board Chair and San Diego City Councilmember Stephen Whitburn said in a release ahead of its debut. The new segment will run every 15 minutes every day for most of the day, hitting the four stations between the El Cajon Transit Center and Santee Trolley Station. The transit agency also anticipates the new Copper Line will allow the Green Line's schedule to extend later at night, and open it up to service stations beyond the College Area on Sundays. Drivers should also see benefits of shorter wait times and less traffic in Santee at Cuyamaca Street's intersections with the train track. A map of the change to MTS’ Trolley service can be found below. (San Diego Metropolitan Transit System) “This weekend marks a significant milestone in East County’s efforts to improve our ability to connect riders to their destinations,” Ronn Hall, MTS Board Member and city of Santee councilmember said Sunday. “It is [a] collaborative effort that brings this to fruition with MTS and regional leaders all supporting a common goal – a better transit system for everyone." "The Copper Line is not just a service enhancement; it’s also a system efficiency that saves taxpayer dollars at the same time," Hall continued. "Overall, that’s a win-win for transit and taxpayers.” To celebrate the new alignment's kickoff, Copper Line riders Monday can grab a free donut, coffee and a collector's pin or coffee mug from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. at the El Cajon Transit Center.