This is the second article in a five part series about what should be built in Sacramento, if only the money was available. Today's topic is light rail. Sacramento recently passed a milestone. For the first time, riders of Sacramento Regional Transit's trains surpassed riders on the buses. Amazingly, that statistic is based on the number of tickets sold, meaning that most of the customers on the train have purchased tickets despite being on the honor system. The importance the light rail trains play as a transportation option in Sacramento is increasing. If planned well and if service increases, light rail will be as important to the Capital City as the subway is to New York or the L Train is to Chicago.

Since light rail is doing so well, one might think the system could expand where ever it is needed. One would be wrong. Transit systems are not supported by passenger fares, but rather by government grants. When the government runs out of money, as it usually does, transit funds are often cut. They are usually packaged with transportation funds, and in California, infrastructure improvements usually focus on whats good for the car.

Transit systems generally try not to raise fares. First of all, transit is seen as an option to get drivers out of their air polluting, street clogging cars. Transit systems must attempt to make their fares a value option, saving drivers time and money. Secondly, transit in Sacramento is often the only option for the elderly or economically disadvantaged. There is a display in the California State Railroad Museum that lists the price of a ticket on a train from Sacramento to Folsom in the 1800's. The price is about the same as it is now, even if inflation would have increased the ticket cost to about $50.

Light rail, a wildly successful transportation option, is always in financial straits. Although more service should be added, service is cut. Although RT has plans to build tracks through Natomas and to the Airport, the agency has only been able to recently open a mile long track from downtown to the Amtrak Station, at the costs of millions of dollars.

An airport station is seen as a potential system-wide boon. Sacramento International Airport receives over 10 million passengers per year. If 1% of airport passengers used light rail, that's 100,000 new rail riders. The increased business on the trains could result in a safer environment, and definitely would justify more staffing on trains and at stations.

There are other goals for light rail. Expansion into Elk Grove, by way of Cosumnes River College, would seem to be another priority project. It's possible to envision a future where light rail is diverted onto the Sac State campus, over to Cal Expo, into Roseville, and into West Sacramento by Raley Field. Besides mileage additions, at some point Sacramento may need round the clock service to all stations, with increased numbers of trains during peak times.

Eventually, this Sacramento resource can become an indispensable institution for the region.


Tomorrow: High Speed Rail