Friday, September 26

Continuing California's rail and transit renaissance, Sacramento Regional Transit expanded (and continues to expand) its popular light rail system, the latest addition being Phase I of the new South Line to Meadowview. While the existing Watt/I-80 - Mather Field/Mills line (which originally opened on a limited segment in 1987) runs bi-directionally through downtown Sacramento, the South Line turns at St. Rose of Lima Park station, departs from existing trackage after the 16th Street station, and runs parallel to the Union Pacific (ex-Southern Pacific) Fresno Subdivision (used by Amtrak's San Joaquins), allowing for relatively easy acquisition of a dedicated right-of-way for the South Line. With seven new stations at Broadway, 4th Avenue/Wayne Hultgren, City College, Fruitridge, 47th Avenue, Florin, and Meadowview, the 6.3-mile line was constructed at a fully-funded cost of $222 million. Projections suggest that 8,100 daily passengers will utilize the new service by 2005, easing the burden on Interstate 5, Highway 99, and other major thoroughfares. Scheduled to open in 2007 or 2008, Phase II of the South Line will see an additional 4.9-mile extension parallel to Cosumnes River Boulevard, with four new stations and a terminus at Calvine/Auberry.

I awoke at 8 AM to attend the Grand Opening of the South Line, and left my home in Santa Cruz at 8:35 AM. Driving highways 1, 17, 280, 680, 580, 205, 5, I arrived at the sprawling Florin Road Light Rail station at 11:25 AM. Though the hot sun was beating down on the concrete landscape, public turnout was impressive, and the ceremony had already begun. Democratic Congressman James L. Oberstar of Minnesota, one of the few great champions in Congress of public investment in rail transit, was speaking. I obtained a press kit, then listened to the tail end of Congressman Oberstar's speech. He reflected on the dozens of nationwide success stories of light rail, even in such unlikely cities as Denver, San Diego, Dallas, or Salt Lake City. He praised Jeff Morales of Caltrans for helping to implement a great statewide rail program, and urged the passage of TEA-3, the most favorable proposed legislation to reauthorize the soon-to-expire Transit Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21). What Congressman Oberstar asserted that stood out in my mind was that fact that for every dollar of public investment in rail transit, three dollars of private development are shown to follow.

Other speeches of note during the ceremony included the comments of State Assemblyman Darrell Steinberg, who illustrated the link between construction of transit and revival of communities. Indeed, among the fact sheets included in my press kit was one which noted any transit-oriented development in the areas of each new station, as well as the public art displayed at the stations. Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo reached out to her entire constituency, saying that light rail transit is for everyone, and challenging commuters to try it once or twice a week. "Sacramento is on a roll," exclaimed Mayor Fargo, who excitedly announced that the next important project for Sacramento RT will be the new Sacramento Intermodal Station, centered around the current Amtrak station. Existing light rail will be extended 0.7 miles to the west to the Amtrak station, and 10.2 miles east from Mather Field/Mills to Historic Folsom. This extension is slated to open in 2005.

After all of the guests of honor spoke, all dignitaries and members of the media were free to walk down the red carpet to board a four-car VIP train to Sacramento City College for the ribbon cutting ceremony. I boarded the front car of this brand-new trainset, part of forty cars built by the Spanish company Construcciones y Auxilar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) to augment the existing thirty-six Siemens-Duewag cars and to be used on the new South Line and future Folsom line. The interior of the train was bright, colorful, comfortable, and very well air-conditioned. We departed northward from Florin at 12:26 PM, passing the 47th Avenue and Fruitridge stations without stopping (though, automated announcements for the stations were made). Also, our train's operator did not blow the horn at any of the grade crossings, probably because the crossings have been enhanced with quad gates or barricades.

Celebrate with us!
The Sacramento Regional Transit District invites you to attend the South Line Light Rail Extension Grand Opening Festivities.
Official Grand Opening Ceremony
Florin Road Light Rail Station
10:30 a.m. - noon
MC: Dr. Beverly Scott, RT General Manager/CEO

Guest Speakers:
Minnesota Congressman James L. Oberstar
Assemblyman Darrell Steinberg
Mayor Heather Fargo
Supervisor Illa Collin
RT Board Chairman Don Nottoli
FTA Regional Administrator Leslie Rogers
Caltrans Director Jeff Morales

Ribbon Cutting
Sacramento City College Station
12:15 p.m.

Guest Speakers:
Supervisor Roger Dickinson
Councilmember Lauren Hammond
Los Rios Community College District Board President Pamela Hayes
Sacramento City College President Dr. Robert Harris

Community "Carnival" Festival
Florin Road Light Rail Station
5:00 - 9:00 p.m.
8:45 p.m. - Raffle drawing
9:00 p.m. - Fireworks display

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