On December 11, the SacRT Board of Directors deferred any action on the Dos Rios Light Rail Station. Agenda item 4.1 will be the deferred action. It is a two part action, first to reconsider the selection of option 3, which did not include a light rail station, and second, to pass what was option 1 in the original proposal. The original decision for option 3 and against the light rail station was made on November 13.

At the December 11 board meeting, all four transit advocacy organizations (STAR, SacTRU, Ridership for the Masses, and Sacramento Metro Advocates for Rail and Transit SMART) showed up to speak in favor of the motion. There were also a number of letters submitted ahead of time by these organization, other organizations, and individuals, all in support of the motions.

In a highly unusual move, a board member requested that the item be removed from the agenda before the agenda had even started. Chair Kennedy pointed out that was inappropriate, and it would be considered in agenda order. When the agenda item came up, a few board members indicated support for removing the item, or delaying it, but it became obvious that there was little support for considering it at this meeting, and the board eventually voted to defer it to January. Chair Kennedy allowed the organizations to speak anyway, which was a wise decision, as there would have been tremendous blowback if they were not allowed.

The claim made by some board members is that they had not had a chance to consider the motion ahead of time, and needed more information. That is strange, because the only change that had occurred since November was that the SACOG board approved recommendation of $10M in SB 125 funds. No other new information was available to consider, except that public opinion had shifted away from option 3 and towards support for the station, and that made several board members very uncomfortable.

We ask that everyone who supports the Dos Rios Light Rail station speak in support, or submit written comments. The meeting will be at SACOG board room again, 1415 L Street, Ste 300, since the SacRT building on 29th is still not repaired. The meeting will start at 4:00PM, which is a (permanent?) change from the former 5:30PM meeting time.

You can speak by attending in person, and filling out a speaker card (agenda item 4.1); by Zoom (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83793388162, raise your digital hand when the agenda item comes up); by phone (253-215-8782, *9 when the agenda item comes up); or by submitting written comments by email ahead of time (boardcomments@sacrt.com) before 1:00PM on Monday. Most public agencies have gone to much more restrictive comment options, so we appreciate SacRT maintaining all of these.

Though we expect all four transit advocacy organizations to speak again, it is also critical that other organizations and citizens speak, particularly if you live or spend time in the River District that will be served by this light rail station.

Sacramento Housing Alliance provided an email to solicit support, which is reproduced below.

“The SacRT Board of Directors will be reconsidering its vote against proceeding with the Los Rios Light Rail Station at Marisol Village at its next meeting on, Monday, January 8, at 4 p.m. 

We urge you to attend the meeting, call in and/or submit written comments supporting reconsideration of the initial misguided vote and then support SacRT moving forward to develop the Light Rail Station. It is critical that SacRT follow through on their commitment to the residents of Marisol Village and the surrounding community.

Points to make:

• The transportation component of the development of Marisol Village was promised to the residents and the community and is vital to create a truly healthy, livable, and equitable neighborhood. The station will provide desperately needed access to the SacRT transit system for residents of Marisol Village. In addition, research has shown that households with lower incomes are high propensity riders and are vital to ridership growth in the system.
• Failure to follow through with development of this station will result in the loss of millions of dollars in funding for Sacramento.
• Access to both affordable homes and transit is imperative to strengthen and stabilize families with low incomes and neighborhoods that have suffered from disinvestment for decades.
• A vote to proceed with the Station is a vote for equity, reinvestment, and healthy and affordable homes and neighborhoods.“

• Dos Rios Light Rail Station
• SacRT