Good news for those needing to get from Redding to downtown Sacramento or the region’s international airport. The Redding Area Bus Authority and San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority are launching the Gold Runner Route 5, a new express bus service connecting Redding to California’s Capital City via Interstate 5.
The route will offer two daily round trips, with stops in Redding, Red Bluff, Orland, Williams, Sacramento International Airport, and Downtown Sacramento at Sacramento Valley Station.
Route 5 provides a faster, more direct alternative to the existing Route 3 service along State Route 99. It also gives North State residents connections to the Gold Runner and Capitol Corridor trains, Sacramento Regional Transit, and local transit in Redding and Red Bluff.
Passengers can purchase bus-only tickets for cities along the route, meaning they do not need to connect to a train to use the service. For those in Shasta, Tehama, Glenn, and Colusa counties – and other communities along Interstate 5 – the new route provides direct access to the airport without requiring travelers to first connect through communities along Highway 99.
Passengers traveling north from Williams can reach Orland, Red Bluff, and Redding. The Orland stop also connects with Glenn Ride service to Chico.
The Redding bus system, RABA, will operate the route in partnership 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.
TCTC has committed federal funding from the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program for the new service route. TCTC’s commitment will be $200,000 in the first year, then $100,000 annually in following years. The new route is especially important for rural areas like Tehama, where transportation options are limited.
“Route 5 delivers on a long-standing goal of connecting the North State to the Sacramento region,” SJJPA CEO Chris Orlando said. “This service gives North State residents a direct, reliable connection to Sacramento and the broader passenger rail network.”
The project represents years of collaboration and is expected to expand access to jobs, education, healthcare and travel opportunities.
The launch follows a multi-year effort dating back to 2017, when the Shasta Regional Transportation Agency and SJJPA began developing plans for an I-5 express bus as part of the North State Intercity Bus System.
The route schedule and ticketing information are available at goldrunner.com/bus-route/route-5/. The site also provides information about things to do along the route for those planning a day out.
A ribbon-cutting event is planned to celebrate the opening of the route at the Redding Transit Center, located at 1530 Yuba St., Redding, on Aug. 24. The event will include a program with brief remarks from several involved parties, information about the route and its schedules, and an opportunity for attendees to tour the bus.