After decades of discussion with no construction, a light rail line to Sacramento International Airport remains a distant goal. Now, Sacramento Regional Transit is studying a less expensive alternative.<\/p>\n
A transportation poll found 86% of Sacramento respondents consider building light rail to the airport important. The biggest obstacle has been finding the money to build it.<\/p>\n
“We hear it from everyone. The airport hears it from everyone, ‘We want light rail to the airport,'” SacRT spokesperson Jessica Gonzalez said.<\/p>\n
Since 1991, SacRT has conducted six studies of the proposed line, which would run from downtown Sacramento through Natomas along Truxel Road and then west to the airport.<\/p>\n
But nothing has been built, largely because of the cost.<\/p>\n
“It is a $2 billion project,” Gonzalez said.<\/p>\n
SacRT is now spending $500,000 on another study, this time examining whether bus rapid transit could serve the corridor instead of trains.<\/p>\n
“We’re not saying ‘never’ to light rail. That’s our ultimate goal, but we’re looking at this study as this could be Phase 1 of making that a reality,” Gonzalez said.<\/p>\n
Bus rapid transit can be significantly less expensive than rail while offering faster service than a traditional bus route. Gonzalez said the system could include dedicated lanes, traffic signal priority and upgraded stations.<\/p>\n
“It comes with dedicated lanes. It comes with signal priority, meaning that bus gets to go through that signal before vehicles do. It has nicer stations than a bus stop would,” Gonzalez said.<\/p>\n
Patricia Sherron said she rides public transit through Natomas every workday and would welcome a faster option.<\/p>\n
“It takes me two hours from the bus to the light rail to the bus,” Sherron said. “We need something, so whatever it costs, they need to do it.”<\/p>\n
SacRT is also facing a deadline to move forward with improvements along the corridor.<\/p>\n
The transit district secured property rights-of-way years ago for new stations along the route, but many of those property dedications are set to expire in 2028 if the project does not begin.<\/p>\n
“This could be a good first step for us,” Gonzalez said.<\/p>\n
SacRT is also considering another bus rapid transit route along Stockton Boulevard, with construction tentatively planned to begin in 2030.<\/p>\n