Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

Sacramento Regional Transit’s South Line Light Rail Expansion project includes four stations and will extend the Blue Line an additional 4.3 miles. It is expected to generate 2,210 new transit trips and nearly 2,000 hours of user benefit on an average weekday.

Will extend night service on light rail and nine major bus routes and increase frequency on highly-utilized bus routes. Along with the Green Line light rail extension, which opened in June, these improvements represent the first time RT added service since budget cuts forced major service reductions in June 2010.

The refurbishment will add approximately 15 years of additional useful life to the vehicles, while new vehicles are typically built to last 30 years. Siemens will also modernize the vehicle's communications, event recorders and auxiliary power systems.

The federal funds will be coupled with $15 million in state and local money for a $30 million project.

Recently installed GPS technology allows RT to track buses on routes, display their locations using online maps and provide estimated arrival times at any bus stop. Customers can also use text messaging to receive estimated arrival times or sign up to be sent automatic email or text alerts.

Sacramento Regional Transit is building the project to provide a commuting alternative to the region’s most congested freeway.

Self-published his observations while commuting on Sacramento Regional Transit in the book, “Rail Tales: Adventures on Public Transit.”

Sacramento Regional Transit system may extend its times of service and the university has begun running a late night shuttle within 10 miles of campus.

Last year, Associated Students Inc. agreed to pay $71,228 to pay off the Sacramento Regional Transit contract, because the $7.50-per-student fee did not cover the full costs.

New light rail extension includes 1.1 miles of new track and two new stations. The project, which was originally scheduled to open this spring, is estimated to cost $44.4 million and serve about 3,200 daily round-trip passengers.