Folsom, CA:
How much did SacRT actually test the Gold Line 15-minute service to Folsom? With all the problems, it seems like no testing was actually done and I have my doubts that 15-minute service will ever work.
Reply: SacRT recognizes the tremendous impact recent scheduling impacts have on our riders and are actively working on solutions, including testing different timepoints and schedule across the system.
Please know that extensive simulated testing was conducted prior to launching the expanded Folsom service frequency in January 2025. Keep in mind that we operate within a very tight window for the 15-minute service, because there is only a single sidetrack at Glenn/Robert G. Holderness Station and not a double track along all the stations in Folsom, trains have to wait for the other to pass. Also, real-world conditions introduced variables that were not replicated in a controlled testing environment.
With the official launch of 15-minute service to Folsom, we have encountered some of those conditions that have negatively impacted the overall service reliability customers are currently experiencing. Some of these outside factors include power outages; weather and high winds that cause debris to fall on the lines; and system constraints such as street traffic in downtown, illegally parked cars, and traffic signals. These cause delays that unfortunately have created a ripple effect across the Gold Line system. When this happens, there are some trips that require passengers to exit one train at Sunrise and transfer to another and may result in 30-minute service for affected riders.
The SacRT team is actively working on solutions, including testing different timepoints and schedule across the system. Our operations team continues to monitor and adjust the service to improve reliability and minimize disruptions and we hope to have this resolved soon.
We appreciate your patience during this adjustment period and will continue communicating service notifications through our Alert SacRT app, website, social media, station message boards, and onboard announcements to help our customers make more informed decisions.
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Rancho Cordova, CA:
When will the gold line be entirely S700 fleet?
Reply: With the current new train delivery and testing schedule, we should have all new low-floor S700 light rail vehicles on the Gold Line by spring 2025.
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Sacramento, CA:
A rider informed me that the Green Line will be suspended in April due to the construction of a new Railyards Boulevard Station. If that’s true, what changes to Route 11 is Regional Transit looking to make? For example, will the route finally be extended via Natomas Boulevard and West Elkhorn Boulevard to Sacramento International Airport? Will the span of service hours for Route 11 begin earlier and end later starting in April? Will the AirPort Express Route 142 then likely be eliminated due to operating cost constraints and no longer having a route that is redundant to the YoloBus Route 42-A/B? Thank you.
Reply: We originally planned to suspend the Green Line and enhance Route 11 in April 2025 to accommodate construction in the Railyards area. However, due to construction delays, this plan has been postponed.
Once we have a clearer timeline for the construction start date, we will revisit these plans.
The goal was to make minor improvements to Route 11 to serve as a temporary replacement for the Green Line during construction, as both operate along the same corridor. Given budget constraints, any adjustments would be minimal to keep project costs low.
We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available.
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Elk Grove, CA:
When do the new contactless fare payment devices debut aboard trains and buses?
Reply: SacRT will begin installation of the new contactless fare payment (Tap2Ride) on board all SacRT buses later this month. We anticipate the system to go live in March following Board approval of necessary fare structure changes to accommodate on board fare payment. The current Fare Vending Machines at stations can be used for contactless fare payment, until the new Tap2Ride devices are installed at stations at a later date. The devices won't be added onboard trains.
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Rancho Cordova, CA:
How are things going with regards to the comprehensive operational analysis? Anything coming up that the riders and the communities can weigh in on? Thank you.
Reply: We recently kicked off our contract with Nelson\Nygaard consulting associates and will be gearing up in the next couple months for initial outreach. We’ll be doing both a short-range and a long-range plan update, so stay tuned for announcements and opportunities to learn more.
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North Sacramento, CA:
Could you provide a timeline on the Globe Avenue Station rehabilitation project and if it still appears at this point if the last bus bridge weekend is March 1st and 2nd, or will that be extended due to last weekend’s rain, which did not allow for any work to be done? Also, on a related question, what station is next, once Globe is reopened sometime in March? Thank you.
Reply: Since we had rain last weekend, the schedule shifted down one week. The contractor is now set to have the station done and opened by 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 9th, if it does not rain on the next few weekends. After Globe is complete, we are moving to platform modifications at Alkali Flat / La Valentina Station. We will continue to update riders at sacrt.com/stationclosure.
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Rancho Cordova, CA:
How are things going with regards to new low-floor trainsets? Are there enough now out in service such that the gold line is now exclusively low floor trains, or are there still legacy trains that continue to operate on the gold line?
Reply: With the current new train delivery and testing schedule, we should have all new low-floor S700 light rail vehicles on the Gold Line by spring 2025.
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Sacramento, CA:
I have heard in the past that Sacramento does not receive the committed local funding that areas like Los Angeles receive, and that to be highly competitive and successful for precious state and federal transportation dollars that another local funding measure need to appear on a ballot in the near term. What efforts are taking place to get something in 2026 on the June 2nd and/or November 3rd ballot(s) and how can folks assist in getting the good word out that this is so needed - and not just exclusively voting YES on Election Day itself?
Reply: Thank you for your inquiry and support for transit funding. SacRT is starting the process of community and stakeholder engagement to garner feedback around transportation priorities and initiatives in Sacramento County and cities within SacRT’s service area. This data will provide a roadmap in determining support/tolerance for a future ballot measure.
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Folsom, California:
When SacRT installs new contactless fare payment devices aboard trains and buses, will that, in essence, replace ConnectCard, or will ConnectCard continue because that is a regional multi-county fare card and not just Sacramento?
Reply: SacRT will begin installation of the new contactless fare payment (Tap2Ride) on board all SacRT buses later this month. We anticipate the system to go live in March following Board approval of necessary fare structure changes to accommodate on board fare payment.
Additionally, we plan to go the Board in June 2025 with a contract for a new account-based ticketing system that will eventually replace both ZipPass and Connect Card for SacRT and the regional transit partners. Rollout of the new account-based ticketing system is expected to occur later in 2025 and the phase out of Connect Card will begin after the new system is up and running.
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Midtown Sacramento, California:
What are the district’s plans for service to and from Sutter Health Park the next three to four baseball seasons? Both the RiverCats and the A’s will be playing practically everyday once the seasons begin. To help with parking and reduction of vehicle miles traveled (VMT) will Regional Transit offer ballpark service that the operating cost is covered by partners and area businesses? Both myself and others would love to catch Major League Baseball in Sacramento over the next three to four years, even if it is just as a test and trial basis to see if the region can get a future expansion team.
Reply: Thank you for reaching out with your suggestion! At this time, SacRT does not have the funding available to operate additional service across Tower Bridge to Sutter Health Park. However, we do offer convenient public transit options nearby. Fans can take SacRT light rail or bus service to downtown Sacramento and either walk across Tower Bridge or take Yolobus for a quick and easy ride to the ballpark.
We’ve been coordinating with our partners at Yolobus and the City of West Sacramento, and we believe the most convenient and affordable way to get to the games is to take SacRT light rail to downtown and transfer to Yolobus for service across the river. Yolobus operates several routes to West Sacramento, including Routes 37, 40, 41, 42, and 240.
We appreciate your enthusiasm for Major League Baseball in Sacramento and your interest in sustainable transportation solutions.
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Natomas, CA:
Hello,
I've noticed with school back in session that our bus system is becoming more crowded with unruly kids doing everything from playing loud music to vaping on the bus. While some drivers actively stop this behavior when they can, it seems dangerous to have the driver monitoring behaviors of the bus while driving down the road - and the driver does not engage. How does SacRT handle these activities from non-fare paying students?
Reply: Our operators strive to address inappropriate behavior when possible, but their primary responsibility is ensuring the safe operation of the bus. When recurring issues arise, operators report them, and we work closely with school principals to address concerns directly with students and their parents. Our goal is to provide safe, reliable transportation while fostering a respectful and welcoming environment for all riders.
To further support this effort, SacRT has transit ambassadors and security personnel who help monitor behavior and reinforce our code of conduct across the system.
We also encourage passengers to report serious or ongoing concerns through the Alert SacRT app or by contacting customer service, allowing us to follow up appropriately.
Thank you for your feedback and for helping us maintain a positive experience for all riders. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any further questions or concerns.
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Sacramento, CA:
What would the "account-based ticketing system" look like? Would there be a physical card or just a smartphone app? Not all riders have smartphones or would want to carry their smartphones due to risk of theft.
Reply: The account-based ticketing system will be implemented in phases. The first phase will include a new mobile app that will include new features, like trip planning, fare capping, expanded retail sales network and improved customer notifications. Passengers should expect to be able to electronically validate their mobile tickets on the new Tap2Ride hardware, improving boarding times and reducing unnecessary operator interactions. Once this integration is complete, SacRT will look to add physical cards to the mix, effectively replacing Connect Card as well, however, we believe that the vast majority of passengers will likely choose the convenience of the mobile app over the physical card.
Also, please keep in mind that the new Tap2Ride system being deployed in March will allow passengers to purchase fares directly with their contactless credit/debit card. Those who choose this method of fare payment will no longer need Connect Card as well.
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South Natomas, California:
I ride both Routes 86 (San Juan Road) and Route 88 (West El Camino) to work. My workplace (State of California) recently moved our office to the new May Lee State Office building on Richards Boulevard at North 7th Street. Would Regional Transit, in its next set of service changes, please take a look at realignment of these two routes that I mentioned to travel via Interstate Five, Richards Boulevard exit, and North 7th Street into Downtown so that folks boarding these buses in their respective neighborhoods are able to get to work by way of a 1-seat ride. My neighborhood and my neighbors do not live near Truxel Road, and so we do not have the luxury as those riders do to yet achieve this 1-seat ride like they do. Thank you for looking into this much needed service change and adjustment. My neighbors and I would greatly appreciate this.
Reply: I’ve asked my staff to take a look. This is a potential option, but I want to make sure it wouldn’t be disruptive for too many riders who board or catch the bus along J Street or L Street, west of 7th Street, or 8th Street.
One thing to keep in mind is when buses have to make left turns from J Street to 8th Street, they have to get in the left hand lane on J Street, which causes them to miss the bus stops along J Street that are on the right-hand side of the street. We have to be careful that we don’t make the bus stops too distant from where people are working. But we’ll take a look. Thank you!
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carmichael, CA:
From a cost neutrality standpoint,how much savings will eventually result once Dos Rios station is completed opened replacing route 33 service?Also,is there a timetable for construction for the also planned Horn Road station?Lastly,I read in early planning documents for the Gold Line Folsom 15 improvements that there were also plans to double-track the area around Hazel station.Were those plans consummated?
Reply: Route 33 costs about $700,000 per year to operate. Once the new Dos Rios Station is complete and opened, Route 33 will no longer be needed. Its current purpose is to fill the gap in the system that exists because there is no station at Dos Rios. In this way, the Dos Rios Station will result in a significant direct improvement to SacRT’s operational and financial efficiency.
We plan to start the design for the future Horn Road Station in May 2025. The design will take about 18 months to complete. We don't have a construction or station opening date yet.
SacRT resumed service at all Folsom area stations in January 2025 with the addition of a passing track at the Glenn/Robert G. Holderness Station.
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Sacramento, CA:
Would SacRT consider suspending the Green Line until there is a full loop that integrates the Gold and the Green Line to the new Railyards Station? Riders might be better off with more frequent Line 11 and Line 33 service.
Reply: We are planning on suspending the Green Line and enhancing Route 11 once construction begins in the Railyards area, but that has been postponed due to construction delay.
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North highlands , CA:
When will the watt I 80 west station be modified to accommodate the new low floor trains and is cash the only accepted payment option on SacRT flex?
Reply: The improvements at Watt/I-80 do not include the platform upgrades for the S700 vehicles. The S700 vehicle platform improvements at Watt/I-80 Station will be included in the next phase of platform modification construction which should start at this end of this year.
For SacRT Flex, you can pay for rides through the SacRT Flex app.
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