SMART E-Newsletter June 2025
It’s Time to Transform Transportation in Sacramento!
It’s Time to Transform Transportation in Sacramento!
Sacramento is the capital of the fourth largest economy in the world, our transportation system should reflect that. Yet today, our region is still too dependent on outdated, car-centric infrastructure that limits access, dirties our air, and slows down our economic potential.
Residents across the region are asking for more choices. They want cleaner, faster, more affordable ways to get where they need to go. It’s time to deliver a modern, integrated transportation network that serves everyone: workers, students, visitors, transit-dependent residents, and families.
At SMART, we’re committed to advancing solutions that reduce traffic, improve air quality, and connect our communities.
Let’s shift from congestion to connection. Let’s transform transportation.
“There’s real momentum in Sacramento to transform transportation and build a system that better serves our growing region. People are ready for cleaner, faster, more reliable, and more affordable ways to get around. But to get there, we need to invest. With the right focus and funding, we can create a connected, people-centered network that reduces traffic, improves air quality, and makes daily life better for everyone. The opportunity to transform transportation is here, and we should seize it.”
Regional Inspiration: Transit Spotlight
San Diego's Mid-Coast Trolley: Ideas to Inspire Sacramento's Transit Future
San Diego's Mid-Coast Trolley Extension exemplifies how strategic investment and regional collaboration can transform public transit. Completed in 2021, this 11-mile addition to the Blue Line connects downtown San Diego to key destinations like the University of California, San Diego, University City, and south to the U.S.-Mexico border. The project introduced nine new stations and is enhancing access to education, healthcare, and employment hubs. (Photo source: MTS)
Funded through a combination of local TransNet sales tax revenues and federal grants, the extension demonstrates the power of leveraging diverse funding sources to achieve large-scale infrastructure goals. By providing a direct, efficient transit option along a congested corridor, the Mid-Coast Trolley has improved mobility and reduced traffic congestion in the region.
Why it matters for Sacramento:
Sacramento faces similar challenges with traffic congestion and the need for improved connectivity between residential areas and key institutions like the new Aggie Square and Sacramento Valley Station.
Projects like the Mid-Coast Trolley show what’s possible when regions commit to smart, forward-thinking transit investments. As Sacramento continues to grow, we have an opportunity to shape a network that connects more people to opportunity, supports vibrant communities, and moves our region toward a cleaner, more sustainable future.
Sacramento Can Deliver: Transit Spotlight
Dos Rios Light Rail Station
Connecting Communities in Sacramento’s River District
Transit transformation is already underway in Sacramento with the construction of the new Dos Rios Light Rail Station, which broke ground in November 2024. Once complete, the station will connect riders to SacRT’s Blue Line at North 12th Street, between Richards Boulevard and Sunbeam Avenue, directly linking the River District to the rest of the city. (Photo source: KCRA)
The project is part of the broader Mirasol Village Redevelopment, which is replacing the former Twin Rivers public housing complex and revitalizing the surrounding neighborhood. Historically, this area has been physically isolated by levees, railroad tracks, and the American River, leaving residents without reliable access to jobs, services, or other communities.
The Dos Rios Station is helping to change that. By extending light rail service into this historically disconnected community, SacRT is delivering real environmental, economic, and quality-of-life benefits. The new station will serve hundreds of affordable housing units and provide seamless access to employment, education, healthcare, and more.
This is what transit transformation looks like, building equity, connection, and opportunity into the fabric of Sacramento. Construction is underway and the station is expected to open by September 2026.
Get Involved
Join an Upcoming SacRT Community Exchange Workshop
Last month, SacRT launched a new series of Transit Idea Exchange Workshops. The workshops are designed to engage community members in discussions examining transit’s impact on our daily lives. These interactive events are your opportunity to share ideas, ask questions, and help shape a transit system that benefits everyone, whether you ride it every day or have never taken it before. Sac RT kicked off the series in Midtown Sacramento on Wednesday, May 28.
Here are the dates, times, and locations for the series:
Carmichael - La Sierra Community Center
Monday, June 16, 2025
6 p.m. – 7 p.m. (doors open at 5:30 p.m.)
Sacramento (Meadowview Rd.) - Parnell Center
6 p.m. – 7 p.m. (doors open at 5:30 p.m.)
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Citrus Heights - Citrus Heights City Hall
6 p.m. – 7 p.m. (doors open at 5:30 p.m.)
Thursday, July 10, 2025
