The Blue Line/Bus Rapid Transit Implementation Plan is having an In-Person Community Open House tonight, Tuesday, September 2, starting 6:00 PM, at District 56, 8230 Civic Center Drive, Elk Grove, CA 95757.

There is also a Virtual Community Meeting on Thursday, September 11, 6:00 PM. Kimley Horn is the consultant on the plan.

A survey is also available.

STAR does not have a position on this project, however, please see and think about our previous post: How to build successful transit. Both light rail and BRT violate this incremental, step-wise approach to successful transit. Elk Grove does not have effective bus service. Most of the ‘Elk Grove’ buses are commuter buses to downtown Sacramento. These are effective. No reason to replace effective commuter buses with expensive infrastructure and all-day long operations.

The current Elk Grove fixed bus routes (no commuter routes) are:

• E110 Sky River to CRC: 30 minute frequency, 6:00 AM to 9:30 PM weekdays; 60 minute frequency Saturday, 6:30 AM to 6:00 PM, no service Sunday
• E111: 90 minute frequency, 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM weekdays; no Saturday or Sunday service
• E112: 60 minute frequency, 6:30 AM to 7:30 PM weekdays; no Saturday or Sunday service
• E113: 60 minute frequency, 7:00 AM to 7:30 PM weekdays; 90 minute frequency, 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM Saturday; no Sunday service
• E114: 60 minute frequency, 6:30 AM to 7:00 PM weekdays; 90 minute frequency, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Saturday; no Sunday service
• E115: 60 minute frequency, 6:30 AM to 9:00 PM; no Saturday or Sunday service
• E116: 60 minute frequency, 6:00 AM to 7:30 PM; 60 minute frequency 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM Saturday,; no Sunday service

E110 is the only route that really qualifies are usable transit service. Is this the base upon which to build light rail or bus rapid transit?

The next step for Elk Grove should be to increase the frequency and span of service for some bus routes, and to add all week service on some bus routes. If that is successful, then it might to time to consider BRT. Light rail is very expensive to construct, though not necessarily expensive to operate. If there is to be any light rail expansion in the Sacramento region, service to a low density community would not be the first choice.

• City of Elk Grove
• SacRT