The Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) board of directors awarded a $400 thousand contract to Jarrett Walker + Associates (JWA ) to conduct a Route Optimization Study (ROS).

Under the guidance of Jarrett Walker, JWA was responsible for successfully re-imagining Houston Metro and for leading a Comprehensive Operational Analysis of the public transit network in Indianapolis. Closer to home, JWA is credited with developing “Next Network” a Transit Ridership Improvement Program that was rolled out for the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority.

The ROS will evaluate SacRT’s existing service conditions, as well as current travel patterns, to determine the type of design changes to recommend. The goal is to provide frequent service on bus routes that are traveling to destinations where people want to go. New transit trends, such as on-demand bus service using a smartphone app and zero-emission bus deployment, will be evaluated for possible inclusion into SacRT’s service design.

“Our number one priority is to significantly improve mobility and connectivity in the Sacramento region for years to come,” said GM/CEO Henry Li. “Improving accessibility and convenience is essential, if we are to become a world-class transit system in the Sacramento region.”

JWA, a Portland, Ore.-based company, will rely on AIM Consulting, a Sacramento public relations firm, to manage local community outreach for the ROS. AIM intends to outreach to passengers and non-transit users alike during two intense cycles that will be defined through a Public Engagement Plan. Community input will be a major component of the study, and JWA has committed to creating compelling visuals to effectively engage the public. Virtual workshops and online surveys will be major components of the outreach effort.

JWA will begin work on the ROS in January with SacRT’s team, and it’s expected to take approximately 12 months to complete.