June 17, 2019
What do you know about the new development planned for Oak Park in Sacramento called “Aggie Square”? Environmentalists and other community members have some concerns. Visit ECOS’ webpage on Aggie Square to get the scoop!
Tag Archives: Regional Transit
SacRT and City of Sacramento Partner to Offer Students Free Fare Transit Passes
By Anisca Miles
June 13, 2019
Fox40 News
Starting October 1, 2019, “All children from kindergarten through 12th grade who live or go to school in Sacramento will now have the ability to use public transportation for free at any time of day, any day of the week, and year-round.” – Jay Schenerir, City of Sacramento Councilmember
SacRT Forward Update
February 26, 2019
Update – SacRT’s new bus network that was approved by the Board of Directors on February 25. For detailed information on the plan, you can link to the Board presentation at: http://www.sacrt.com/apps/wp-content/uploads/SacRT-Forward-Board-Presentation-022519.pdf
February 18, 2019
Over the past year, SacRT has been working on the SacRT Forward project, a complete redesign of the bus network. A draft plan was released for public review on December 10, 2018.
Since then, major outreach efforts took place to let riders and stakeholders know about the proposed plan. Since December 10, SacRT has received more than 400 comments from the public. Staff has participated in more than 70 community, neighborhood association and stakeholders meetings and has ridden almost every bus route in the system to hand out information to customers and bus operators.
On February 18, 2019, SacRT unveiled an update to the proposed draft network. Below are updated maps, a summary of all the proposed route changes, and a video detailing all of the changes, route by route presented by SacRT Planning staff.
Click here to see the one-page “Rider Alert” summary of the changes.
City prohibits gas stations, relaxes parking requirements, next to light rail stations
December 11, 2018
From Mayor’s Office of Civic Engagement
The Sacramento City Council Tuesday voted 8-0 to prohibit new gas stations, drive-through restaurants and auto repair shops within a quarter mile of light rail stations. Those within a half mile will require a conditional use permit.
The new rules also eliminate minimum off-street parking requirements for housing developments within a quarter mile of light rail stations, and reduce them by half within a half-mile radius.
The changes are intended to spur construction of housing in pedestrian, bicycling and transit-friendly corridors around light rail stations, where residents would have less need for cars.
July ECOS Board Meeting – Great Speaker Line-Up!
Free and open to the public! Join the Environmental Council of Sacramento (ECOS) on our mission to achieve regional and community sustainability and a healthy environment for existing and future residents.
We host a brief social/networking reception (with wine and light refreshments) at 5:30 pm. The meeting begins at 6:00 pm.
Presenting on July 24th… a panel on Affordable Housing and Transit-Oriented Development!
Panelists include:
• Prof. Jesus Hernandez (UC Davis Sociology) – Sacramento Region communities – history and ways to achieve equity
• James Boyle (Planning Director, Sacramento Regional Transit District) – Sacramento City plans for Transit-Oriented Development Ordinance
• Cathy Creswell (Sacramento Housing Alliance, Board President) – How to achieve Affordable Housing in our region
We encourage you to use public transit, walking or biking to get to the meeting. Parking is restricted to street parking and is limited. There is secure bike parking in the downstairs hallway.
Location: 909 12th St, Sacramento, California 95814 (in the Sierra Club CA conference room on the 2nd floor).
View the full agenda here: https://goo.gl/YtWF7z
Evening Hours on Light Rail Gold Line Extended!
June 14, 2018
A win for the Sacramento region!
While light rail trains on the Gold Line previously stopped running before 7:00 pm, they will now run until 11:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 9:30 p.m. on Sunday!
How did this come to be?
Ten years ago, ECOS brought a lawsuit against Caltrans when it proposed adding lanes to Highway 50 to create High Occupancy Vehicle (“HOV”) lanes. Since these lanes are only restricted to High Occupancy Vehicles during certain hours, adding new lanes for this purpose is essentially just a widening of the freeway.
Freeway-widening induces urban sprawl, increases Vehicle Miles Traveled, increase greenhouse gas emissions and does not reduce traffic congestion after all.
That lawsuit was settled in 2008 when Caltrans agreed to pay $7.5 million to SacRT for improved light rail service between Folsom and Sacramento, along the Highway 50 corridor.
In 2017, Caltrans again proposed to create HOV lanes by adding more lanes to Highway 50 without adequately dealing with induced demand for sprawl development and additional miles traveled. Again, ECOS sued.
ECOS met with SacRT to determine what funding from settlement of this lawsuit would help public transit the most along this section of Highway 50, and it was determined that expanding light rail service past 7:00pm would be best, so Caltrans settled by agreeing to provide funding for that purpose.
At ECOS, reducing vehicle trips is an essential part of our work, and new service like this goes a long way toward helping us reach our goals. This project will open up car-free options to many people, as trips that were only possible in a vehicle are now possible via public transit. We are proud to be a part of this effort.
