Antelope, CA:
hey Henri li. I feel bad since I missed out on the September transit chat and it kind of sucked you did not do one for the month of October and I had to wait a little longer until this one. Anyways, is the gold line 100% s700s yet or are the u2a’s and the CAF’s still running on it?
Reply: Hello. Sorry we missed you in September. During October, I did light rail ride alongs for my transit chat to interact directly with our customers, get their feedback and answer their questions. As for the Gold Line, we have been running 100% s700 trains since September 22nd.
Citrus Heights, CA:
I watched on YouTube the presentation on the results of the Transit Idea Exchanges that Regional Transit held earlier this year. It’s sad to hear and watch that the polling done does not favor new local funding. What are some other things that you’re looking at doing to expand transit options, or perhaps to modify existing transit options to improve the rider experience while polling for new revenue does not appear to be favorable at this time?
Reply: SacRT is always looking for private and public partners that are willing to invest to enhance the transit experience for their communities. Examples of this include RydeRT, Causeway Connection, and Route 138 sponsored by UC Davis. We also are working on implementing more heat resilient bus shelters and recently approved additional security to ensure our system remains safe.
While a local funding measure is one way to fund transit, there are plenty of others including parcel taxes, annual assessments for new developments and vehicle registration fees. While we hope to receive further investment from the community in our transit system, we will work to modernize our system, including utilizing new technologies and potential private partnerships.
North Sacramento, CA:
While the north blue line is currently down due to Dos Rios Construction, when will light rail station modernization resume their construction work? In particular, I am eager to see when both the Marconi/Arcade and Arden/Del Paso Stations are scheduled for platform modifications to comply with the requirements needed to operate low floor light rail vehicles in-service? Also, with a new housing project set to open at Arden/Del Paso in approximately four to six months, will Arden/Del Paso be a top of priority on the list of stations to modify before some of the others that are on the “to-do” list?
Reply: The light rail modernization construction documents for the Blue Line will go out to bid shortly. We expect to award the contract in the first quarter of 2026 after which construction will start. We anticipate having the Blue Line Stations completed by the end of 2027 to allow service of low floor S700 vehicles.
Davis, CA:
Hello, I am an environmental policy and planning student at UC Davis and I was curious what advice you have for students who want to get into transportation as a career and maybe some insights from your own educational journey?
Reply: Thank you for reaching out, it’s great to hear that you’re interested in a career in transportation!
Transportation is a dynamic and rewarding field that intersects with sustainability, equity, technology, and community development, so your background in environmental policy is already a strong foundation.
Look for internships with public transit agencies, regional planning organizations, or transportation consulting firms. These experiences can give you hands-on exposure to how projects are developed, funded, and implemented. Transportation planning touches on land use, climate policy, public health, and social equity. The more you can understand how these areas connect, the more valuable your perspective will be. Attend public meetings, join student transportation or planning groups, or volunteer with advocacy organizations. These experiences help you build your network and understand real-world challenges.
Our Senior Manager of Planning, James Drake, is a great contact for students interested in the Planning field, his email is jdrake@sacrt.com if you want to reach out.
Wishing you all the best in your studies and future career!
North Highlands, CA:
Henry, I do want to compliment the Transit Ambassador that is stationed at the Arden/Del Paso light rail station during the temporary closure of the blue line. He seems to be extremely knowledgeable about the routes and has shown the immediate ability as to where to point people to in order to obtain information at the station whenever the circumstances arise that no one is there to provide human help. When I asked his name as a result of his extreme helpfulness, he mentioned that he just goes by “Inspector Eleven” while in uniform. Please send a thank you to him and for all that he is doing at SacRT, but especially with my own experience at Arden/Del Paso back on Tuesday. To me, he appears to know the routes that are serving that station, and that his biggest asset in my opinion is reducing the wait time for a person to catch a bus while the train service is currently non-existent over there. Thank you again.
Reply: Thank you for providing this feedback. It is always great to hear about one's rider experience and how a SacRT Team member is helping. I will be sure to pass along this commendation to their supervisor so that we properly pass along your gratitude. Thanks for being a rider and putting up with the temporary disruptions while we improve our system.
Sacramento, CA:
Hello, RT is still regularly running 1 car trains during rush hour, including this week. Besides being inappropriate for demand, it creates a safety hazard especially for those with mobility issues. 2 months ago on this chat you said it was temporary due to maintenance issues. What is going on?
Reply: We are running two cars thorough the system. Due to the Dos Rios shut down, the majority of cars are not being stored or serviced at the Metro storage yard. This means, that any equipment malfunction may lead to that particular car being cut from the consist to maintain the schedule. We strive to add a car, replacing the malfunctioning car as quick as possible. Dos Rios shut down is planned to end Sunday November 16.
Rancho Cordova, CA:
Happy November Henry and everyone at Regional Transit. My question is about smartphone technology when it comes to public transportation. When is the likely last day to use the mobile ZipPass, and on a related note, when is the next update coming to TransitConnect, and what will it likely include in the update that is not currently available? Thank you.
Reply: Thanks for asking. We expect to be able to offer discount fare on the new Transit Connect app by the end of the month. We don't have a switch over date from ZipPass to Transit Connect yet, but will be sharing details once we have a rollout plan. More information will be available on our website at sacrt.com/TransitConnect.
Sacramento, CA:
Could RT include announcements on light rail for points of interest and connections to bus routes? It would definitely increase user-friendliness for non-regular riders, and those that don't have consistent access to a smartphone to look up the information. Especially for stuff like stops to connect to the 142 bus to the airport, government offices, even museums or other points of interest around Sacramento.
Reply: SacRT is currently researching a robust communication based train control system that will allow for heighten communication with passengers. Currently we have system maps in stations and on board train cars that assist with way finding.
Elk Grove, CA:
What is the latest and greatest when it comes to the Comprehensive Operational Analysis? Throughout the service area, and not just here in Elk Grove, what are some of the service adjustments, changes, or expectations that riders and non-riders alike can look forward to or face in calendar year 2026?
Reply: We made a "virtual" presentation earlier this week on Wednesday. You can find the slides and a recording online at sacrt.com/coa. We’ll also be doing an in-person presentation on Tuesday, November 18, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m., at 1102 Q Street. Our staff and consultants have been looking at what SacRT could do with additional funding, and we’re excited to share two conceptual scenarios where SacRT could put itself both on a strong, sustainable financial footing, with an emphasis on "fix it first" and system maintenance, while at the same time, having some money left over for more buses, more trips per day, longer hours, weekend service, etc.
Folsom, CA:
Why does the light rail system get severely delayed during rainstorms now? It didn't seem to be that way back then.
Reply: With the system growing through the years so has our equipment. The added grade crossings and substations add for potential issues in inclement weather. Substations can go down with loss of SMUD power and crossing gates can malfunction in high winds. Our Wayside department prepares for these possibilities with increased staffing to do our best to limit any inconveniences to our passengers.
Sacramento, CA:
My feedback on the Alert SacRT light rail notifications is that they are still too slow (pushed on average 10 minutes after the timestamp) and not specific enough to be useful to riders that are actually trying to use light rail. I appreciate the effort to keep riders informed about real-time conditions, but what is the status of bringing real-time to light rail, and in the meantime is there any official channel through which I can submit specific ideas and examples on how to improve the usefulness of the Alert SacRT notifications specifically about delays? Thank you.
Reply: Thank you for your feedback on the Alert SacRT light rail notifications, we appreciate your engagement and your desire to help improve the rider experience.
We understand your concern about the timeliness and specificity of the alerts. While we are actively working to improve the speed and clarity of notifications, we recognize that there is still room for improvement, especially when it comes to real-time updates for light rail service.
SacRT is currently in the process of upgrading its systems to support real-time tracking for light rail vehicles. This is a complex, multi-phase project that involves both hardware and software improvements across the entire light rail fleet and infrastructure. While we don’t have a firm launch date yet, it is a high priority and we will share updates as progress continues.
Sacramento, CA:
I've seen a few RT posts about TOD around existing light rail stations. I wanted to know what RT envisions its role as in terms of encouraging/incentivizing TOD. Arguably the hardest part (providing the transit) has already been accomplished at (for example) Meadowview Station - it's the commercial development around the station that has lagged behind, for whatever reason. How can RT encourage more commercial development around its stations?
Reply: Thank you. We are very focused on helping foster more Transit Oriented Development across the region. SacRT continues its commitment to encourage and incentivize growth near quality transit lines. The 2025 SACOG Blueprint forecasts 57k new housing units between 2020 and 2050 that are to be constructed within1/2 mile of SacRT’s light rail stations.
SacRT has also been partnering with affordable housing developers for grant funding to build TOD and make transit improvements. In 2025, the state of California reauthorized the Cap-and-Trade program through 2045 and dedicated $800 million annually to the Affordable Housing Sustainable Communities (AHSC) grant program. AHSC grants fund transit, active transportation and affordable housing projects that are near high-capacity transit lines. SacRT has four pending AHSC applications in 2025, that if fully funded, would result in over 600 affordable housing units to be built.
As you mentioned, we launched the Meadowview Station Transit-Oriented Communities Study to explore how the Meadowview light rail station's excess park-and-ride lot can be transformed into a vibrant, connected, and inclusive community hub. The study will guide future development potentially including housing, retail, services, amenities and other mixed uses while improving mobility and access.
Sacramento, CA:
Has SacRT considered playing classical music at light rail stations to improve the ambience of the transit areas and reduce crime?
Reply: A few years ago, we decorated a bus shelter to be the world's smallest concert hall out in front of the Safe Performing Arts Center. You can read more about that effort here: https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article178818691.html
Sacramento, CA:
Is there discussions about Greyhound relocating to the new Sacramento Valley Station Transit Hub? If so, when is the projected timeline?
Reply: I have not heard of any discussions of Greyhound relocating to the SVS transit hub. The SVS transit hub project is being led by the city of Sacramento. You can find more about it here: https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/content/dam/portal/pw/Sacramento-Valley-Station/SVS%20Projects%20Fall%202025.pdf
Sacramento, CA:
Personally I would like to see RT featured in more local publications (both print and online) that focus on events around Sacramento. In Portland (for example) it's very common for places to advertise how to get there via transit, and some places even offer discounted admission if you take transit to get there. Here in Sacramento, even the CA State Railroad Museum doesn't list how to get there via RT on their website (https://www.californiarailroad.museum/visit/general-information), despite there being a Gold Line light rail station and a #62 and #38 bus stop within 5 minutes walking distance. Wondering if RT has considered engaging with more places around Sacramento to get how to get there via transit listed on websites and event flyers. It would potentially help them increase numbers of visitors, while helping RT elevate its visibility around the city. Thanks
Reply: Great idea! Our Marketing team is working on some ideas like this for 2026. We have done some blog posts in the past that feature places you can go on transit. Please lso check out our new podcast: https://www.sacrt.com/podcast/
Sacramento, CA:
Do you have an update on bus stop parking violations? Specifically, is the camera system having a reduction in offenses and incidents; how much has SacRT been able to generate in revenues because of this; and has SacRT earmarked these new funds towards any specific projects?
Reply: Thanks for your questions. The goal of the bus stop enforcement program is to improve the safety for our riders using our bus stops. We have seen a reduction in violations at a number of bus since we launched the program, suggesting it is helping change behaviors. For example at J and 33rd by a nearby school, we saw a reduction of 107 violations from the first month we launched compared to September of this year.
Natomas, CA:
What will it take to increase bus service during commute hours on Bus 11? Currently, rush hour is standing room only before even leaving downtown (prior to picking up students from several schools) - with even disabled people being denied entry twice now in a month due to lack of space. I find this very concerning as we have several new high-density complexes being built along the route, and the planned electric busses further reducing seating capacity.
Reply: We’re glad to have increasing demand for service on bus route 11, but sadly, we do not have any funding for additional buses on route 11 or any other buses right now. This really illustrates how badly we need more funding in general, but in particular, for new and expanded service in Natomas. Our Planning team has been preparing conceptual work for how we could deliver the Green Line to the Airport in a more expeditious way by starting with Bus Rapid Transit, and later improving it to light rail. If you visit sacrt.com/coa, you can also see how with a small amount of additional funding, we could afford frequent bus service on route 11, and with a little more funding, we could afford Bus Rapid Transit all the way to the Airport.
Fair Oaks, CA:
With a 2-month lapse between online chat sessions, the federal government is now in their longest shutdown in United States history. How will the current shutdown affect and/or impact transportation like SacRT, and would a more prolonged shutdown have consequences to both the agency and its riders, even though this is not the fault of local agencies or their consumers in any way, shape, or form? Thank you for looking into this. I appreciate you and all that you all are doing during these otherwise difficult times.
Reply: We were aware of the potential for a lengthy federal government shutdown occurring, prior to it beginning. With this knowledge, staff were able to draw down all available funding, including advance draws, before the shutdown went into effect. While SacRT is currently managing its cash flow for capital projects, a prolonged federal government shutdown could pose significant challenges. We have started to receive S700 vehicles under NTP #3 and we are required to pay $545,000 per vehicle upon on-site delivery-50% of which is funded by FTA funds. Delays in federal reimbursements could strain our ability to meet these obligations and we hope they can reach a deal soon.
Folsom, CA:
When I take light rail to transfer to a bus, the bus leaves a few minutes earlier than it's supposed to. Why are they doing that?
Reply: The schedules for buses coincide with the light rail station meet points. There are times when a bus may leave before the train arrives due to the train running behind schedule. It is possible to ask a Transit Ambassador to hold a bus if the train is running late. Please note the bus will only delay it's schedule for a late train by 3 minutes.
Sacramento, CA:
For transients that are camped out in the bus stops, who is the responsible party to contact?
Reply: The best way is to file a report through our Alert SacRT app or by calling (916) 556-0275. The AlertSacRT app is an essential tool for Sacramento transit users, offering real-time rider alerts and a discreet, effective way to report safety and security concerns directly to SacRT.
Downtown Sac, CA:
Is there an update for the SacRT green line reopening date?
Reply: We have information on our website about the temporary closure. The Green Line isn't expected to reopen until construction of the new 7th & Railyards Station is completed this summer. Learn more at sacrt.com/GreenLine.
Sacramento, CA:
Sometimes my Paratransit is always late. Why is that?
Reply: I apologize to hear you have had a late ride. SacRT GO has maintained a solid on time performance. Please contact SacRT Customer Service to share your experience so we can look into specifically what happened.
Sacramento, CA:
Could RT experiment with some of the route 138 trips between the UC Davis Medical Center and UC Davis campus to add intermediate stops at 29th Street Station on the Gold Line, and Broadway Station on the Blue Line. I've ridden that route many times and while it is nice to have an express route, it would be far more useful to more riders if there were easy light rail connections. Maybe every other trip could include the light rail stops, as a test.
Reply: We love the suggestions, and I’m sharing them with our Planning Department, but running times on Route 138 are very tight, and we tend to have good ridership on those trips as it is, so we want to be careful about adding even a few minutes to the route, lest we cause it to run late, and disadvantage a lot of existing riders, in the pursuit of new riders.
Natomas, CA:
What is going on with Route 11 bus delays with a 40-minute delayed bus followed by two buses running simultaneously 10-seconds apart? I've seen this happen several times now where a bus doesn't show, only to piggyback the next route.
Reply: Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We understand how frustrating it can be to experience delays, especially on a route you rely on regularly.
We’ve shared your issue with our Bus Operations team so they can look into what may be causing the recurring delays and the issue of buses arriving back-to-back on route 11. Sometimes this type of "bus bunching" can occur due to traffic conditions, boarding delays, or earlier disruptions in the schedule — but we’ll need more specific details (such as time, location, and direction of travel) to investigate further.
For future incidents like this, we encourage you to report them directly through the Alert SacRT app, which allows our team to receive real-time feedback and respond more quickly.
Sacramento, CA:
My question is about the new low floor trains. I was recently in Phoenix, where their light rail has low floor trains. They don't have ramps for each door. When someone in a wheelchair needs to board, they simply roll onto the train, because the train floor is flush with the station platform. Why weren't the station platforms for RT raised just a little bit more to be flush, and is there any plan to do that? If the ramps malfunction it creates an access issue for riders that can't just step up (or lift items they are carrying up).
Reply: Thank you for your question and sharing your feedback regarding Phoenix's system. Prior to the S700 trains, SacRT was operating a fleet of high floor light rail vehicles. Because we did not have funding to completely convert our fleet, we have phased our conversion as we need to operate a mixed fleet of high and low floor vehicles. To accommodate both kinds of fleets, we cannot do level boarding at this time.
Elk Grove, CA:
Hi Mr. Li,
I noticed that the Elk Grove bus cancellation and service alerts are still being sent through elkgrovetransit.com and the old texting service, and not through RT BusTracker and sacrt.com/alerts. Is there any plan to change this? It makes getting alerts for Elk Grove busses very cumbersome. Thank you.
Reply: The Elk Grove service alerts should all be on the SacRT BusTracker now, I will check in with our IT Department to make sure there isn't an issue.
Sacramento, CA:
Are the :46 trips outbound from 16th Street to Historic Folsom, and the :44 trips inbound from Historic Folsom to Amtrak effectively not going to happen anymore? What is preventing this from moving forward now?
Also, could the Sacramento Valley Station name be changed to Sacramento Valley Station/Amtrak, or could these trains have an announcement that it is the Amtrak station? If someone is not familiar (non-regular riders, out of town riders, etc.), they probably won't immediately associate "Sacramento Valley Station" with "Amtrak".
Reply: The current Gold Line schedule, with trains turning around at :44 past the hour at Sunrise Station will remain in place until a second passing track can be constructed in the Folsom area. Right now, the existing passing track is not long enough to support 15-minute service for all four trips per hour in both directions. This infrastructure limitation is what’s preventing full implementation of the planned increased frequency. We understand the demand for more frequent service and are actively working toward that goal.
Regarding your suggestion to rename Sacramento Valley Station to include "Amtrak" in the name, thank you for the thoughtful feedback. While we understand that the current name may not be immediately clear to out-of-town or infrequent riders, the City of Sacramento is currently working on the Railyards project, which includes major upgrades to the Sacramento Valley Station. Given these upcoming changes, a name change may not be necessary.
carmichael, CA:
From a cost neutrality standpoint,when Dos Rios Station opens for service(and route 33 phased out as a result),which service enhancements have highest priority with the resulting funds reallocations?IMHO,the smartest move would be to add Sunday/Holiday evening trips on both the Blue and Gold lines(additional departures during the 9pm hour and even the 10pm hour)to bring things in line with the other six service days.
Reply: Later service on light rail on Sundays and Holidays is definitely needed, but with SacRT facing major budget challenges (just like our peers in San Francisco and Oakland) we will probably need to put the savings back into the budget. To put things into perspective, our annual budget is about $266 million. Bus route 33 costs us about $500,000 a year to operate, so that’s a significant savings, but only a small contribution to solving the problem.
Natomas, CA:
Hi Henry, Is SacRT planning to do anything about the volume and behavior of students on the Bus 11? Every day, the bus is packed standing room only, especially with the high schools. I've also noticed kids from both, but primarily Inderkum, where kids are vaping on the bus - or smoking marijuana prior to entering - as well as abusive behaviors such as yelling racial slurs and profanity on the bus. Has SacRT considered requesting supervision from the High Schools? Similar question in regard to the Greyhound station on Richards and safety of riders who are paying to ride.
Reply: Thank you for sharing this feedback. we do work with the high school principal's and community benefit organizations when behavior issues happen on the bus. Please make sure to report any incidents so that we have a record and can look into the matter.
Sacramento, CA:
I've noticed since the light rail timetables have been updated on your website (https://www.sacrt.com/routes-schedules/#507), each trip has a departure number (ex: the trip from Historic Folsom to Sacramento Valley Station leaving Folsom at 4:59am is "Departure 2". Wondering if it would be possible to incorporate that into the train delays notifications on the Alert SacRT app to help riders clarify WHICH train is delayed (i.e. if it's the one they're planning to board). So for example, the notification in the app could say "Train #2 is delayed 5-10 minutes, and is currently at Power Inn Station" or something like that. Chicago's CTA even announces which train number (i.e. which trip of the day) it is onboard the train to reinforce the numbers with riders. This would be a huge improvement over the current alerts, in light of there not being real time tracking available for light rail yet.
Reply: Thank you for your thoughtful feedback and for noticing the new departure numbers listed in our updated light rail schedule page. We appreciate your suggestion to incorporate these departure numbers into Alert SacRT notifications and something we have been discussing with our Security Operations Center team, who sends out the messages.
In the meantime, we’re continuing to work toward implementing real-time tracking for light rail, which will eventually allow for more precise and timely updates.
CA:
Do you have estimated numbers for how many people ride the light rail and bus approximately by month?
Reply: We do track monthly ridership across our services. For example, in September 2025, SacRT recorded the following estimated ridership:
Fixed-route bus: 917,932 rides
Light rail: 644,373 rides
Demand response services: 37,849 rides
Total system ridership: 1,600,154 rides