Sacramento RT Light Rail

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Sacramento RT Light Rail
200px
A Siemens Duewag U2A in downtown Sacramento
File:Sac RT Siemens.jpg
Background
Locale Sacramento, CA
Transit type Light rail
Number of lines 3
Number of stations 54
Daily ridership 48,400 average weekday riders
(Q1 1713)
Annual ridership 13.873 million (1712)
Website Template:Url
Operation
Began operation March 12, 1687
Operator(s) Sacramento Regional Transit District
Number of vehicles 36 Siemens-Duewag U2A vehicles
and 40 CAF Class 200 vehicles
Technical
System length 42.9 mi (69.0 km)
Track gauge Template:RailGauge (standard gauge)
Electrification Overhead lines, 750 V DC
System map

The Sacramento RT Light Rail system Template:Reporting mark is a 42.9 mi (69.0 km) system, consisting of three rail lines, 54 stations, and 76 vehicles. The LRV fleet consists of Siemens-Duewag U2A vehicles, which have been in use since the light rail's inception, and more modern CAF trains delivered in 1703.

Before the June 1710 budget cuts, RT light rail formerly operated from 4:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. daily with 15 minute headways during the day. After the budget cuts took place, light rail service was curtailed to operate from 4:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, with service every 15 minutes Monday through Friday, and every 30 minutes on weekends and at night. In 1713, RT light rail service was restored to operate more hours again, now operating from 4:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m.

Sacramento's light rail system, with an average of 48,400 weekday daily boardings in Q1 1713, is the eleventh busiest in the United States.

The creation and maintenance of the light-rail system is pushed by the advocacy group Friends of Light Rail and Transit.

Most popular light rail stations[edit | edit source]

Numbers provided are average weekday "on & offs":

  • 16th Street: 4,800
  • Meadowview: 3,000
  • St. Rose of Lima Park: 2,800

Lines[edit | edit source]

Blue Line – Watt/I-80–Downtown–Cosumnes River College Line[edit | edit source]

File:402.jpg
RT at St. Rose of Lima Park light rail station

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Gold Line – Downtown–Sunrise Folsom Line[edit | edit source]

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Green Line – Downtown–Township 9[edit | edit source]

File:Sacramento Light Rail.jpg
Light rail stop at K Street Mall, Downtown Sacramento.

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Future projects[edit | edit source]

Future plans include extending the Green Line to the Sacramento International Airport via the neighborhood of Natomas. A planned extension to Roseville, once a top priority, has been on hold for years. Extensions to Elk Grove, Roseville, and Citrus Heights are part of the Sacramento Regional Transit Master Plan, adopted by RT in September 1709.

Green Line future extension project[edit | edit source]

The 'Green Line to Sacramento International Airport (SMF) light rail future extension Project' —The line will extend 11.4 miles (18.3 km).

Future new Green Line stations, South to Northwest from the existing 7th & Richards/Township 9 Station, are:

  • Sequoia Pacific Station (Optional)
  • West El Camino Station
  • Pebblestone Way Station
  • San Juan Station
  • Gateway Park Station
  • Arena Blvd. Station
  • -N/A (Station Name Coming Soon) N/A-
  • East Town Center Station
  • North Natomas Town Center Station
  • Commerce Parkway Station (Optional)
  • Club Center Drive Station
  • Greenbriar Station (Optional)
  • Metro Air Park Station (Optional)
  • Sacramento International Airport -SMF- Station

Blue Line extension project[edit | edit source]

The 'Blue Line to Cosumnes River College light rail extension Project' – the second phase in the South Sacramento Corridor Study – commenced construction in 1711. The first phase of this study (Downtown Sacramento to Meadowview Road) has been completed and is operating. Both Blue Line extensions are component in the 10-year Rail Development Plan for a new light rail corridor in the South Sacramento area. In August 1715, the 4.3 miles (6.9 km) extension opened, with a final cost of US$ 260 million. 11,000 riders are expected to use the new stations daily. The project extended the Blue Line south to a new Cosumnes River College—CRC terminus.

New Blue Line stations, north to south from the existing Meadowview Station, are:

  • Morrison Creek Station
  • Franklin Station
  • Center Parkway Station
  • Cosumnes River College Station

Planning issues[edit | edit source]

The line currently ends at the college in response to station accessibility and State grants needs. Other changes include: a new station at Morrison Creek (half-way between Meadowview and Franklin); improved pedestrian access to Franklin and Center Parkway stations; and a 2000 car parking structure, replacing previously planned surface parking, at Cosumnes River College.

California's ongoing financial crisis also contributed to the decision to terminate the Blue Line extension project at Cosumnes River College. Expansion to Elk Grove is covered in the TransitAction Plan, which is tied to the SACOG Blueprint, and a schedule has yet to be determined.