By Debbie Arrington
As businesses and offices reopen after COVID-19 restrictions, Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) is welcoming back customers and helping them get where they want to go, safely.
SacRT recently added more weekday bus service, improved weekday light rail service and expanded its SmaRT Ride microtransit service.
Overall, SacRT service now is at about 80% of its pre-COVID level. Customers will find earlier start times for most weekday bus routes, additional trips at the end of routes plus greater frequency of buses and trains during peak hours. That increased frequency allows for more passenger room on each bus and light rail car.
These service improvements are in addition to SacRT’s overall effort to provide a better experience for each customer while keeping them safe.
Chris Houlemard, a SacRT regular rider for 30 years, has noticed recent improvements.
“It’s improved a lot,” he said. “Much cleaner, more reliable, more customer focused. I really like the new signage and the easy to use app on my phone that gives me updates.”
A state worker, Houlemard had been a daily downtown commuter, riding SacRT’s light rail service to the 13th Street Station. “I also take various bus routes during the day to go to meetings around Sacramento,” he added.
Although he’s been working from home during the COVID pandemic, Houlemard continues to use SacRT on a regular basis, especially when he needs to travel downtown.
“I like the comfortable seats, helping relieving traffic, improving air quality and the convenience,” he said. “Generally, it saves times as the freeways are usually parking lots — at least prior to the pandemic.”
Houlemard said he’s been impressed by SacRT staff, too.
“They’re very much a team organization,” he said. “Everybody works together.”
For more on SacRT’s services and routes, visit www.SacRT.com.
Schedule update
SacRT continues to operate most of its peak commuter/express service Monday through Friday. This includes bus routes 102, 103, 106, 107, 109, 113, 129, 134, 161 and 193 plus the Folsom Stage Line bus service (routes 10 and 30).
The Causeway Connection (Route 138) will continue operating with a modified schedule; see causewayconnection.com for details.
SacRT will continue to operate all nine SmaRT Ride on-demand microtransit service area with expanded service in three zones:
Franklin-South Sacramento:
Adding service to cover areas of Oak Park, switching to corner-to-corner service and adding zero emission electric shuttles.
North Sacramento:
Adding service to Natomas area shopping centers.
Rancho Cordova:
Expanded service area now includes Lincoln Village; switching to corner-to-corner service.
For schedules and route information, visit sacrt.com or call 916-321-BUSS (2877).
