A recent post on Streetsblog USA, ‘One Flat Tire Away From Dropping Out’: Why Transit to Community Colleges Matters, is a reminder that transit to higher education campuses is critical to student success. If a car is required, education becomes a struggle at best, and impossible at worst.

We look at four community college campuses in Sacramento County, which is Los Rios Community College District. Of course these four are not the only higher education campuses, there are satellite centers of the community colleges, Sac State, and several others.

Sacramento City College

Sacramento City College is served by SacRT Blue Line light rail at 15 minute frequency, and SacRT bus route 11 Natomas/Land Park and SacRT bus route 62 Freeport, both at 30 minute frequency.

Cosumnes River College

Cosumnes River College is served by SacRT Blue Line light rail at 15 minute frequency, SacRT bus route 56 Meadowview, SacRT bus route 67 Franklin, and SacRT bus route 68 Oak Park, all at 30 minute frequency. The only fixed route bus service to the south is SacRT bus route E110 Elk Grove local service, at 60 minute frequency.

American River College

American River College (ARC) is served by SacRT bus route 1 Greenback at 15 minute frequency, and SacRT bus route 82 Northrop at 30 minute frequency. STAR is on record as encouraging SacRT to consider extension of Blue Line light rail to ARC, either as an end point of on its way to Citrus Heights or Roseville.

Folsom Lake College

Folsom Lake College is served by SacRT bus route F10 (Folsom Stage Line) at 60 minute frequency. This frequency is insufficient to serve a community college. This route or another should be increased to 30 minute frequency. The location of Folsom Lake College is an example of why community college campuses should be built within communities, not at out in the low density suburbs or exurbs which can never be effectively served by transit. At least the Folsom Lake College Rancho Cordova Center is served by both light rail and buses.

• education access
• SacRT