Tag Archives: Public Transit

“If we’re going to invest in roads, how are we going to offset those goals with our goals for (the environment)?”

By Robin Epley | July 21, 2023 | The Sacramento Bee

“They’re not wrong that the road conditions in Sacramento, all over the county, are bad,” Sam Rice told me. “(But) roads degrade, that’s what they do.” Rice is the transportation team lead for the Environmental Council of Sacramento and sits on the board for the Sacramento Metro Advocates for Rail and Transit, where he advises the city of Sacramento and other communities on how the future of transportation can co-exist with smart climate policy. “Road investment in the past has always been something that we simply did out of habit and it’s something that I feel, in the future, we should be thinking of in the context of complete streets,” Rice said. “If we’re going to invest in roads, how are we going to offset those goals with our goals for (the environment)?”

Read more at: https://www.sacbee.com/opinion/article277511813.html#storylink=cpy

ECOS Letter of support for transportation improvements at Sac Valley Station

February 25, 2022

The Environmental Council of Sacramento (ECOS) supports the application by Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA) to the 2022 Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) grant program. The transportation investments proposed in the application are key to achieving the interconnectivity goals of the California State Rail Plan, and GHG reductions required by local policies and state legislation.

Click here to read our letter.

Want to help improve transportation in Sacramento?

Do you walk, bike or roll using a wheelchair or mobility scooter? Or if you don’t, do you have thoughts on how to make transportation more effective?
Would you like to help improve our sidewalks, bikeways, crosswalks and access to transit?

If the answer is yes, here’s your opportunity to help.

The City of Sacramento is looking for community members to apply to be part of one of the three Sacramento Active Streets community planning teams.

The three planning teams will focus on North Sacramento, Fruitridge/Broadway and South Sacramento areas.

“Each plan will identify locations to improve walking, biking, and access to transit – like sidewalks, crosswalks, bike lanes and more,” said Leslie Mancebo, the City’s transportation planner. “A critical part of the planning process will be community engagement, and we are currently putting together these community planning teams to serve as local experts/advisors throughout the process.”

The City’s Active Streets plans are designed to improve safety and comfort for walking, biking, rolling and accessing transit.

Members of the community planning teams will advise City staff throughout the process to ensure that community voices and priorities are heard. As a member of a community planning Ttam, selected participants will be responsible for:

  • Attending up to seven approximately one-hour meetings between March 2022 and June 2023
  • Suggesting opportunities for community engagement events (e.g., farmers markets, school resource fairs, etc.)
  • Helping spread the word about the plans and about ways to get involved
  • Advising City staff to ensure voices of all residents are captured in the plan
  • Each planning team member will receive a $75 gift card for each meeting attended.

Those interested in applying can do so on the City’s website. Applications close March 4.

Broadway Bridge DEIR: ECOS Comments

On August 23, 2021, ECOS submitted a comment letter on the Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Broadway Bridge in the City of Sacramento.

Below are our comments.

ECOS supports the concept of a bridge connecting Broadway in Sacramento to West Sacramento, near 15th Street. This should facilitate infill development near both sides of the Sacramento River and provide a connection between the two cities south of US 50. Development potential is especially promising on the West Sacramento side, since I-5 is not a barrier there. We encourage significant infill development, which would be facilitated by the removal of old facilities such as fuel storage tanks and the railroad tracks serving the Port of West Sacramento. Once a definitive alignment is selected and necessary property acquired, the bridge would serve as a vital link for transit, bicycles and auto traffic. As mixed-use development near the bridge increases (on both sides of the river), the number of pedestrians and bicyclists would also increase greatly.

Photo by Masha Raymers from Pexels

Proposed Elk Grove Station Virtual Community Open House – Aug 26, 5:30

Join the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission on August 26th from 5:30 to 7:00pm for a Virtual Community Open House to learn more about the proposed Elk Grove Station, ask questions, and provide your feedback.

The proposed Elk Grove Station is one of the six proposed stations that would be part of the Valley Rail Sacramento Extension Project which is a planned passenger rail service between Stockton and Sacramento. Register for the open house here: bit.ly/ElkGroveStation.