STAR has adopted a position on light rail extensions and alignments. We don’t suggest that we have the answer to which extensions are the best investments for ridership and service, but we do know that SacRT and local politicians have rushed the Green Line to the Airport as the best idea, without ridership data to back it up. It is seen as a trophy project, as “every world-class city has light rail to the airport” (which is not true). We know that other potential extensions were not analyzed in the same way or at the same time, and in fact extension to the northeast, to American River College, to Citrus Heights, and to Roseville and/or Folsom was taken off the drawing board for reasons no one remembers or is willing to admit to.

So what STAR is asking is that all possible extensions be examined at the same time on the same criteria, with ridership being the top though not only criteria. These extensions include south to Elk Grove, northeast to Roseville and/or east to Folsom, west to West Sacramento and Davis, and a major north-south light rail route along Watt or Sunrise. At the same time, high quality service to Sacramento Valley Station must be retained and service to Sac State created.

The proposed streetcar in the central city has brought up realignment of light rail tracks from K St to H St between 12th St and 7th/8th St. STAR feel that as long as realignments are being considered, rail service in the central city should be studied holistically in order to determine if present or enhanced light rail alignments would provide better service and ridership, and if the streetcar is even necessary if light rail alignments are optimized. Again, we don’t have an answer but we certainly have questions.

The map below shows some possible light rail extensions. STAR has not adopted or supported any particular extension, nor prioritized extensions. We do not have the resources to determine which routes have the highest ridership and service potential, but SacRT does and we wish to work with them on that project.

• SacRT