Rancho Cordova, CA:
Hello Mr. Li, thank you for taking the time to read our questions. As a frequent commuter on the gold line, I have noticed several issues that significantly impact the effectiveness of the alerts.
Inconsistent Information: Often, when approaching the platform, (Literally this morning at Zinfandel station the overhead signs indicated "Gold Line experiencing delays of 5-10 minutes." However, there are no corresponding alerts via the "Alert SacRT" app. Then the train came at the regularly scheduled time, it wasn't even late. This inconsistency creates confusion among commuters.
Unhelpful Alerts: The alerts we receive via the app are often vague and not actionable. For example, an alert may state, "Be advised of a delay on the Gold Line; a Folsom-bound train is running 15+ minutes late. We apologize for the inconvenience." This information is not helpful, as it does not specify which train is delayed or provide any context for commuters.
Lack of Real-Time Updates: Often, when a train is supposed to arrive at the scheduled time according to the overhead sign, no train will come, with no alerts or updates on when the next one should arrive. The next expected arrival time appears, and commuters are left hoping that another one will come. In such cases, I often have to call SacRT and ask for an estimated time. If this information was automated via the overhead sign, it could save valuable time for both commuters and employees.
To illustrate the issue, at any given point, I estimate there are at least 4-6 trains running the Gold Line, with two or three using the Folsom-bound rail. If a train is running 15 minutes late, it is unclear which specific train is affected and how it impacts the overall schedule. Commuters need more precise information to plan their journeys effectively.
Furthermore, I am aware that the new trains are equipped with GPS technology. Given this capability, it would be highly beneficial if the overhead signs could display the next time of arrival based on real-time data rather than the scheduled time. Currently, displaying only the scheduled times is equivalent to posting a timetable that already exists at the station and does not provide real-time updates.
I kindly request that the alert system be reviewed and improved to provide timely and accurate information. Specifically, the alerts should:
Clearly identify which specific train is delayed.
Offer estimated times for the next available trains.
Ensure that the overhead signs and app alerts are consistent.
Utilize GPS data to show real-time arrival times on overhead signs.
Improving the alert system will greatly enhance the commuting experience and reduce frustration among SacRT users. Thank you for taking the time to review our questions, I look forward to your response.
Reply: Thank you for taking the time to share your experience and provide such thoughtful feedback. We completely understand how frustrating it can be when information is inconsistent, vague, or not updated in real time, and we appreciate your patience.
We recognize the need for a more reliable and accurate system, and improving our alerts and communication tools is a priority for us. In the near future, we will be updating our app and alert features to tie all platforms into one unified app and alert system, which will help ensure greater consistency across overhead signs, app notifications, and website updates.
Additionally, we are actively looking at ways to better integrate real-time GPS tracking into our system so that train arrival times reflect actual conditions, not just scheduled times. This will help reduce confusion and provide commuters with clearer, more actionable information.
Your feedback is incredibly valuable as we work on these improvements, and we truly appreciate your patience while we make these changes. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any other concerns or suggestions.
Sacramento, CA:
With state workers returning to 4 days in July will the Route 107 make a return as its only a couple of blocks away from my house
Reply: We'll be monitoring ridership on nearby routes, and if we start to get full on those routes, we may restore Route 107. Our budget is tight right now. But meeting demand when a route is at capacity is always near the top of the list. Thank you for the question.
Citrus Heights, CA:
I’m sure everyone has by now heard of Governor Newsom’s executive order to return to the office (in-person) four days a week. Currently it is just two days a week. With that in mind, is there anything SacRT can do to make for longer trains, i.e., 2-car trains becoming 3-car trains or 4-car trains where appropriate? Would this apply to the blue line every weekday, and the gold line if the car consist is the legacy trains and not just yet for the s700 low floor trains? A rider told me that not all gold line stations are fully in compliant to allow for longer than 2-car trains for the temporary time being, if the train run is using s700 light rail vehicles.
Reply: Thank you for your question. As many state workers prepare for the return to the office, I hope they will consider using SacRT for a cost-effective stress free alternative to driving. Many state union groups have negotiated transit reimbursements, up to 100% of the cost to ride: https://www.calhr.ca.gov/employees/Pages/mass-transit-and-vanpool-commute-program-frequently-asked-questions.aspx
Regarding train car consists, for the Blue line we will run 3 cars when needed. We currently have 20 new S700 light rail cars that operate on the Gold Line. As S700 cars become available we can add them to make 3 car consist but that will be in the future.
carmichael, CA:
First,the desktop bus tracker has been out of order for a few days but the mobile app still works.Second,I have heard that the remaining 2006 and 2008 model Orions will be replaced within a couple years by new buses powered by hydrogen fuel cells.Will Gillig procure such replacements or will it be a rival like El Dorado National or New Flyer?
Reply: We have been awarded a federal grant to begin purchasing HFC Buses and to install a hydrogen fueling station at our McClellan Bus Maintenance Facility However we do not yet have a vendor for either the buses or the fueling system. We are going through the procurement process and we hope to have more clarity by the end of this year.
North Sacramento, CA:
I see on trains that Alkali Flat is next in line for platform modification work. When the calendar gets into both April and May, what will come after Alkalai Flat Station for platform modifications? A related question I have for you is when is Arden/Del Paso, Marconi/Arcade, and Watt/I-80 scheduled for platform modifications? As a North Sacramento resident, this would be good to know and plan ahead and accordingly for. Thank you.
Reply: We are still compiling the solicitation package for the remaining Blue Line platform modifications. Specific dates for the northeast corridor stations will be shared once we have a contractor on board by the end of the year. Thank you for your patience.
Sacramento, CA:
I'm trying to figure out why does that sacrt flex not take connect card payments if it is with regional Transit they should take connect cards cuz I get monthly pass every single month and I tried to book a ride but the options either cash or debit card that shouldn't be there the other option should be connect card
Reply: Connect Card is not taken on SacRT Flex because SacRT Flex already has its own prepayment option. You can pay with your fare with a credit or debit card in the SacRT Flex app. Keep in mind, not only is every Connect Card reader expensive, but it is also a connected device. There are parts and labor costs for mounting and wiring, network and communications equipment, etc., and IT support requirements to integrate with other systems, troubleshoot, repair, etc.
Rancho Cordova, CA:
What is the point of the connect card terminals at Zinfandel station? They have all been smashed/broken since November. I used to report this daily via the Sac RT app, after a few months I've stopped reporting it because it's clear nothing is being done.
Reply: SacRT's Connect Card system is aging and the proprietary equipment is becoming difficult to replace. I've instructed our maintenance staff to begin using extra hardware, in good working order, from other stations to backfill stations like Zinfandel where vandalism has occurred. Our inventory is stretched very thin right now and we are awaiting delivery of repaired devices from the vendor.
SacRT is also in the final stages of procuring a new account-based ticketing system that will be launched later this year. The new system will be hardware agnostic and allow for expanded reliance on passenger mobile phones rather than requiring a dedicated fare payment card (Connect Card). Users of the new system will enjoy all of the benefits of Connect Card and ZipPass plus many others like trip planning, simplified purchasing and enhanced customer messaging.
South Sacramento , CA:
Are you planning any service changes since the governor made the executive order for state workers to return to the office four days a week?
Reply: Our bus ridership has returned to pre-COVID levels and our light rail ridership is still at about 70-75 percent of Pre-COVID. That means there is ample room on our system to accommodate more riders as state workers return to the office. Given budget constraints, it may not be possible to add service--but we will be monitoring so we have the data we need to make good decisions about if/where to increase service.
Sacramento , CA:
Why aren't the buses being cleaned every day? When I say cleaned I don't mean just the trash emptied. The same windows, floors, seats are dirty. Who is their supervisor, and who is that supervisor's supervisor do they even get in the busses and examine the work of the employees?
During covid the buses were cleaned what happened? Sacramento buses and light rails are filthy. Allowing this to continue only feeds into the employees getting paid for unacceptable work. Nobody seems accountable. Mr. Li , can you please address this question?
Reply: The same cleaning process that was used during Covid is being used today. Buses are cleaned each night between midnight and 3:30 am when pull-out starts. Floors are mopped as needed and buses are usually detailed every three weeks. Yes, supervisors regularly check vehicles. When you see an issue, please report it on our app, and if possible, give us a specific bus number. There is a project to replace all of the cloth seats with plastic but it is not currently funded.
Sacramento, CA:
What's RT's gameplan for bringing 15 minute service to Folsom back? The whole point of the passing track was to enable this, so to have more than a year of testing and bus bridges only to launch and cancel 50% of the new service shortly thereafter due to operational challenges is frankly shocking. I think I speak for everyone when I say I would like to see a cohesive plan for bringing 15 minute service back, with a timeline.
Reply: This is a complicated question, and the answer is longer than is typically compatible with this chat format. However, we have a detailed answer available on our website at this page: https://www.sacrt.com/folsom15/
Sacramento, CA:
Are any of the electric buses still in use?
Reply: Yes--we still have several battery-electric buses in service,, mostly to and from the airport. We will be adding to our zero emission fleet with more battery electric and also with hydrogen fuel-cell buses in the not-too-distant future.
Sacramento, CA:
What's the status of extending bus routes 11 or 13 (or both) to the airport? If RT can demonstrate there is a lot of demand for transit service between Natomas and the airport, funding for the Green Line may be easier to get. There's no ridership data to back that up with the current setup.
Reply: Thank you, we get this question a lot. There is no denying that the transit network in North Natomas is very thin, and also that an extension of either Route 11 or 13 to the airport would also be a great step toward light rail. In fact, over the years, we have been gradually improving Route 11, adding first Saturday service, then Sunday service, and gradually increasing the evening hours. This was amidst some tough budget years over the past 10 to 15 years. But with those gradual improvements, we’ve seen ridership grow from 500-600 per day to over 1,000 per day now.
Although budget is tight right now, we have penciled out a number of plans to continue to improve Route 11, potentially by reallocating from segments and times that are lesser-used. That sketch work will get folded into our upcoming Short Range Transit Plan update, which is just getting under way, and which is part of our overall Comprehensive Operational Analysis. If you’d like to sign up for our mailing list, please write to coa@sacrt.com.
Sacramento, CA:
What's the timeline for getting real time arrivals on light rail? I think many riders thought that with the new Gold Line trains that would be easy to accomplish. A main issue with the RT Alerts app is that it never says which train is delayed, only which line. And it doesn't say where the train is currently located to give riders a sense of how long the delay actually is. if the alerts are always "the train is running 15 minutes late", riders still won't know how long until the train they are waiting for shows up. A 15 minute delayed train is also on time if the regular interval is 15 minutes anyway.
Reply: Thank you for taking the time to share your experience and provide such thoughtful feedback. We completely understand how frustrating it can be when information is inconsistent, vague, or not updated in real time, and we appreciate your patience.
We recognize the need for a more reliable and accurate system, and improving our alerts and communication tools is a priority for us. In the near future, we will be updating our app and alert features to tie all platforms into one unified app and alert system, which will help ensure greater consistency across overhead signs, app notifications, and website updates.
Additionally, we are actively looking at ways to better integrate real-time GPS tracking into our system so that train arrival times reflect actual conditions, not just scheduled times. This will help reduce confusion and provide commuters with clearer, more actionable information.
Your feedback is incredibly valuable as we work on these improvements, and we truly appreciate your patience while we make these changes. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any other concerns or suggestions.
Sacramento, CA:
Some signage at some light rail stations is out of date and has been for years. For example, at 29th Street there is a sign in the westbound direction that says "Meadowview" is in that direction. What it doesn't say is that you can't board a train at 29th Street and ride to Meadowview - you have to transfer. Also, Meadowview is no longer the end of the Blue Line. Is updating station signage on RT's priorities list? Thank you.
Reply: Thank you for your inquiry regarding station signage. We agree that the signage needs replacing, and we are currently updating each station as we move forward with improvements when funding is identified. The sign at 29th Street is only meant to show the direction of travel.
Sacramento, CA:
Another note, I like the new cars, however I am a blind rider, and it is difficult to find the doors.
Reply: I'm sorry you have difficulty navigating our new vehicles. All of our cars are ADA compliant and we conducted extensive community outreach during the car design and build. We also worked closely with our Mobility Advisory Committee which includes many people with visual impairment.
Citrus Heights, CA:
I know you completed a passing track at Glenn station. Is it true there might be a passing track at hazel to possibly reduce the headache of delayed trains in and out of Folsom?
Reply: SacRT has planned and designed a 2nd passing track near Hazel to improve reliability for our Gold Line service to Folsom. At this moment, we do not have construction funding for the side track, but we are pursuing grant opportunities.
Sacramento, CA:
Do you have any statistics to share on the new bus stop parking crackdown? Also, where will the funding for these citations go?
Reply: We are hopeful that our partnership with the City of Sacramento and Hadyen AI will help keep bus stops clear and ensure better safety and accessibility of our transit system. The program just launched late last month, so we do not have firm statistics at this time. As part of the agreement, SacRT will receive 25 percent of the citation revenue collected.
Rancho Cordova, CA:
How long will the COA/short range plan take and when can we see some preliminary ideas?
Reply: Thank you for the question. I will be providing a brief update on the COA timeline at Monday's Board meeting. The work kicked off last month and we expect to complete all of the work by winter 2025.
East Sacramento, CA:
So, will connect card no longer be accepted in the near future? What about other transit agencies that still accept it now?
Reply: SacRT's Connect Card system is aging and the proprietary equipment is becoming difficult to replace. I've instructed our maintenance staff to begin using extra hardware, in good working order, from other stations to backfill stations like Zinfandel where vandalism has occurred. Our inventory is stretched very thin right now and we are awaiting delivery of repaired devices from the vendor.
SacRT is also in the final stages of procuring a new account-based ticketing system that will be launched later this year. The new system will be hardware agnostic and allow for expanded reliance on passenger mobile phones rather than requiring a dedicated fare payment card (Connect Card). Users of the new system will enjoy all of the benefits of Connect Card and ZipPass plus many others like trip planning, simplified purchasing and enhanced customer messaging.
