Sacramento Transit Advocates and Riders (STAR) is shutting down. The people who have been leading STAR for a number of years are tired, and involved in other issues. Dan, in particular, is unwiling to continue to carry the organization and wants to spend time on other priorities (see https://allisondan.wordpress.com/2025/12/20/changing-focus/).
STAR is extremely proud of what it has accomplished over the years. Our tag line ‘increase ridership and expand accountability’ has been a success, though of course progress on both is ongoing. SacRT has made uncountable mistakes over the years, and STAR has been there to hold them accountable for correcting those mistakes. Many of the solutions implemented by SacRT have been STAR’s ideas, occassionally acknowledged, but usually not. We have brought issues to the board, and continually encouraged them to actually govern the agency, and not to take a hands-off approach. We have been somewhat successful in that. We want to particularly acknowledge that the disability community, and in particular Helen O’Connell, has been just as important in holding SacRT to account.
STAR always intended to be a regional organization and not just focused on SacRT. But we never had the capacity to be that. One of our initiatives was a regional framework for transit governance and funding, but it became clear that the transit agencies had no interest in that. SACOG, who could have been a leader in regional collaboration, has actually reduced their interest and activity in transit over the years, despite the Blueprint depending critically on transit as a greenhouse gas reduction solution.
STAR would not be ceasing if we did not see an organization that is stepping up into transit advocacy and acountability. That organization is Strong SacTown (https://www.strongsactown.org). The transit team has gotten more members to SacRT board meetings than any other organization over the last few months. They have been meeting in person and through Discord to develop priorities and expertise in transit, including meetings with SacRT staff. We feel lthat Strong SacTown will not only fill the gap left by STAR, but go well beyond what we were able to do. STAR encourages you to join them. They meet monthly, and attending a meeting is the best way to meet other transit advocates and join the team. See https://www.strongsactown.org/join-us/ to receive notice of upcoming meetings.
This blog is on WordPress. As such, it will not disappear, but will convert to a free, ad-supported site. When that happens, the domain will be https://startransit.wordpress.com. Though new posts are unlikely, it will remain a resource for transit advocacy community.
Sincerely, the STAR Action Team,
- Dan Allison
- Coco Cocozzella
- Karen Jacques
Sacramento Transit Advocates and Riders (STAR) 