A new transit route, operated by the Redding Area Bus Authority through regional transportation partnerships, started running on Monday. The route, called the Gold Runner Route 5, offers connection to Sacramento-area destinations including the airport, through two daily round trips from Redding to Sacramento, with a stop in Red Bluff on the way.
Tehama County Public Works Deputy Director of Transportation Jessica Riske-Gomez stated the launch of the route represents the culmination of almost a decade of development. The Redding bus system, RABA, will operate the route, partnering with Shasta Regional Transportation Agency and the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority. The Tehama County Transportation Commission is also a transportation partner for the project.
“Through the new intercity service, Tehama County residents have another option for traveling along the Interstate 5 corridor and connecting with Sacramento-area destinations and transportation services, including Sacramento Valley Station, passenger rail connections, Sacramento International Airport, and other regional and statewide transit networks,” Riske-Gomez stated.
Additionally, the transportation director said residents who do not drive, for a variety of reasons, can use the connection to expand the areas they are able to travel.
To support the route, the local transportation commission, TCTC, has committed federal funding from the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program for the new service route. The commitment from TCTC will be $200,000 the first year, then $100,000 annually for following years.
Riske-Gomez stated regional partnerships have a great importance. “By working across jurisdictional boundaries, transportation agencies can make more effective use of limited resources while providing connections that would be difficult for any one small transit system to provide independently.”
Riske-Gomez stated the Tehama Rural Area eXpress, or TRAX, will continue to provide transportation in the county, while also working with partners around the region for expansion of travel destinations. With the service to Sacramento, a local rider could start on a TRAX route and transfer to the new Gold Runner Route 5, then go on to get on a train, plane or other form of transportation, Riske-Gomez said.
The transportation director explained the options to connect have an even greater importance for rural areas, like Tehama, where there can be fewer options for transportation. The new route to Sacramento will offer residents connection to more regional transit options, Riske-Gomez stated.
The Gold Runner Route 5 will run two round trips a day with stops in Redding, Red Bluff, Orland, Williams, the Sacramento Airport, and Downtown Sacramento.
The route schedule and ticketing information can be found at goldrunner.com/bus-route/route-5/.
On August 24, representatives from the partnership will host a ribbon-cutting event at the Redding Transit Center, located at 1530 Yuba St., Redding. The event starts at 8:15 a.m. and is open to the public.
The ribbon-cutting event will include a program with brief remarks from several involved, the sharing of information about the route and its schedules, and an opportunity for those in attendance to tour the bus.