PROJECT OVERVIEW

Light rail is an integral part of Sacramento’s regional transportation infrastructure. The existing light rail system includes 37.42 miles of track linking Sacramento’s eastern, northeastern and southern suburbs with Downtown. Expansion plans include a 13-mile extension between Downtown Sacramento, South and North Natomas, and the Sacramento International Airport; and the South Line Phase 2 extension, from Meadowview Road to Cosumnes River College.

The South Line Phase 2 Project will accommodate transportation needs associated with population and employment growth in the congested South Corridor area by increasing transit capacity and providing faster, more convenient access throughout the Sacramento metropolitan region.

Alignment & Stations
Project Goals
A Little History
Environmental Review Process

Alignment & Station Locations/Map

The South Line Phase 2 Project will extend light rail approximately four miles from Meadowview Road to Consumnes River College and will include four new stations beyond Meadowview: Morrison Creek, Franklin Boulevard, Center Parkway and Cosumnes River College.
Various project refinements have been made to address feedback from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on land use and station accessibility. These project changes include the following:

• A new station at Morrison Creek (half-way between Meadowview and Franklin)
• Improved pedestrian access to Franklin and Center Parkway stations
• The elimination of certain design options
• 2,000-car parking structure to replace previously planned surface parking at Cosumnes River College

Because of these changes in the Project’s scope, and because of California’s fiscal deficit, RT decided to terminate the Phase 2 extension at Cosumnes River College. Options for a South Line Phase 3 will be evaluated as part of a future, federally-designated Alternatives Analysis study.

Project Goals

• Improve public transit service in southern Sacramento City and County
• Enhance regional connectivity through expanded, interconnected rapid transit services, including bus and express bus services
• Accommodate future travel demand in the corridor by expanding modal options
• Alleviate severe and ever-increasing traffic congestion on State Highway 99
• Improve regional air quality by reducing auto emissions
• Improve mobility options to employment, education, medical, retail and entertainment centers for corridor residents, in particular low income, youth, elderly, disabled and ethnic minority populations
• Support local economic and land use plans and goals

Project History

In 1994 and 1995, RT conducted an Alternatives Analysis/Draft Environmental Impact Study/Draft Environmental Impact Report (AA/DEIS/DEIR) study in order to identify a locally preferred alternative for the south Sacramento region. Seven transit options were evaluated as part of the Alternatives Analysis, including bus, high-occupancy vehicle and rail modes, each with varying alignments and station locations. At the conclusion of the study, the RT Board of Directors selected a Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) which consisted of a preferred mode (light rail) and an alignment.

The Locally Preferred Alternative specified a light rail extension from downtown Sacramento south to Calvine Road and Auberry Drive (Calvine/Auberry). To address budget constraints and lessen traffic and construction impacts on local citizens, design and construction of the light rail extension was broken into two phases. Phase 1, from downtown Sacramento south of Broadway to Meadowview Road, was completed in Fall 2003 and is currently operational. Phase 2, from Meadowview Road to Cosumnes River College, is in Final Design, the last step before construction.

Environmental Review Process

The environmental review process for the South Line Phase 2 Project is governed by federal and state regulatory requirements. Under federal guidelines [the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)] and state guidelines [the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)], there are opportunities for the public to provide input on the evaluation of project-related environmental impacts. Because RT conducted a detailed environmental review of the South Line corridor in 1994, the environmental review conducted for Phase 2 was a "supplemental study" to identify any new issues along the corridor that had arisen since the first environmental review was completed. The Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement/Subsequent Environmental Impact Report (DSEIS/SEIR) examined environmental impacts of both constructing and operating the Phase 2 light rail extension, including impacts to air quality, wildlife, vegetation, water quality, geology, neighborhoods, park/recreation areas, utilities, noise, visual quality and cultural resources.