Blue Line (SacRT)
| Company type | Public transit service |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | March 12, 1987 |
| Headquarters | Sacramento , United States |
Area served | Sacramento, California |
| Owner | Sacramento Regional Transit District |
| Website | www |
The Blue Line serves as a light rail corridor within the Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) network, primarily running in a north–south direction across Sacramento, California. This line links the Watt/I-80 station at its northern end with Cosumnes River College to the south, providing transit access to significant areas such as North Highlands, North Sacramento, Downtown Sacramento, and South Sacramento. Portions of the Blue Line utilize the original track alignment between Watt/I-80 and stations.
Line description
Beginning at Watt/I-80 station, the Blue Line heads southwest through the I-80 freeway median via a bridge constructed for a former highway project. It runs adjacent to Roseville Road before veering westward along Arden Way in North Sacramento, passing close to the Siemens manufacturing facility. The route then proceeds southwest within the median of Del Paso Boulevard before consolidating into a single track to traverse the 12th Street viaduct (Highway 160) over the American River.
Upon entering downtown Sacramento, the line returns to double tracks along 12th Street, turns west onto K Street, and splits into one-way tracks along 7th and 8th Streets where it intersects with the Gold and Green lines. Continuing west on O Street, then south on 12th Street, it moves eastward through an alley paralleling Q and R Streets. After reaching 16th Street station, the Blue Line separates from the Gold Line (while the Green Line ends at 13th Street), passes beneath the Bee Bridge, and follows its own dedicated right-of-way heading south into South Sacramento. The line shifts eastward along Cosumnes River Boulevard before terminating at Cosumnes River College station.
History
SacRT's inaugural light rail service commenced on March 12, 1987, initially operating between Watt/I-80 and 8th & O stations, with an extension to Butterfield added later that year. This initial 18.3-mile segment linked North Sacramento through downtown to Butterfield Way and was constructed at a cost of $176 million (adjusted for inflation), partially financed by reallocating $94 million from a canceled freeway initiative.
At launch, much of the line featured single-track segments; however, double-tracking enhancements occurred throughout the 1990s. The alignment incorporated former rights-of-way from the Sacramento Northern and Sacramento Valley Railroads as well as abandoned freeway infrastructure, with limited sections running directly on city streets downtown.
The system quickly surpassed ridership projections, leading to plans for expansion. SacRT proposed an 11.2-mile southern extension toward Elk Grove to be built in stages.
The first phase debuted on September 26, 2003, adding 6.3 miles and seven stations stretching from 16th Street to Meadowview along a corridor parallel to an existing railroad right-of-way. In June 2005, this South Line was linked to both Watt I-80 and Downtown lines and officially designated as the Blue Line.
The second phase opened on August 24, 2015, extending service by 4.3 miles from Meadowview to Cosumnes River College with seven additional stations. Opening of Morrison Creek station was postponed until nearby land development progressed; it eventually began operation in 2021 as a station accessible by pedestrians and cyclists. To encourage increased ridership from southern Sacramento County, a large parking facility was constructed at Cosumnes River College.
A proposed third phase would extend roughly two miles further south into Elk Grove but is currently stalled indefinitely due to funding shortages and failure to meet land use requirements necessary for Federal Transit Administration funding. Construction is not anticipated prior to 2040. Meanwhile, Elk Grove officials are evaluating whether to pursue this Blue Line extension or alternatively improve Route 110 bus rapid transit (BRT), with a decision expected by December 2025.
Additionally, an infill station named Dos Rios is planned between Globe and Alkali Flat/La Valentina stops within North Sacramento’s Dos Rios Triangle area. Supported by California’s cap-and-trade funds as part of a housing development initiative, this station is targeted for opening around 2023.
Station listing
The following table presents the existing Blue Line stations arranged from the northernmost to the southernmost point.
| † | Station no longer in service |
| Template:BSflag | Request stop |
| Station | Inaugurated | Connecting services |
|---|---|---|
| Template:Stn | March 12, 1987 |
|
| Template:Stn | ||
| Template:Stn | ||
| Template:Stn | Template:Bus icon Sacramento Regional Transit: 25, 86, 87, SmaRT Ride Natomas-North Sacramento | |
| Template:Stn | ||
| Template:Stn | Template:Bus icon Sacramento Regional Transit: 13, 23 | |
| Template:Stn | Template:Bus icon Sacramento Regional Transit: 13, 15, 19, 23, 88, 113 | |
| Template:Stn | ||
| Template:Stn | Template:Bus icon Sacramento Regional Transit: 33, 129 | |
| Template:Stn |
| |
| Template:Stn (westbound stop at 10th & K; eastbound stop at 11th & K) |
| |
| Template:Stn (eastbound stop located at 9th & K) |
| |
| Template:Stn † (southbound stop at 7th & K) |
Service discontinued on September 30, 2016 | |
| 7th & Capitol (southbound) 8th & Capitol (northbound) |
| |
| Template:Stn |
| |
| Template:Stn | Template:Rint Template:Rcb Template:Rcb |
| Station | Inaugurated | Connecting services |
|---|---|---|
| "September 26, 2003" | "Sacramento Regional Transit": lines 51 and 62 | |
| "Sacramento Regional Transit": line 62 | ||
| "Sacramento Regional Transit": route11 and SmaRT Ride Franklin−South Sacramento | ||
| "Sacramento Regional Transit": route61 and SmaRT Ride Franklin−South Sacramento | ||
| "Sacramento Regional Transit": SmaRT Ride Franklin−South Sacramento service only | ||
| "Sacramento Regional Transit": route81 plus SmaRT Ride Franklin−South Sacramento | ||
| "Sacramento Regional Transit": routes56 and105 in addition to SmaRT Ride Franklin−South Sacramento | ||
| "August29,2021" | ||
| "August24,2015" | "Sacramento Regional Transit": SmaRT Ride Franklin−South Sacramento available here | |
| "August24,2015" | "Sacramento Regional Transit": served by SmaRT Ride Franklin−South Sacramento | |
| "August24,2015" | "Sacramento Regional Transit": routes56,67,68,E110,E114,E115,E116 plus SmaRT Ride Franklin−South Sacramento service |
External links
- Sacramento Regional Transit District
- Transportation in Sacramento, California
- Public transit in Sacramento County, California
- Passenger rail services in California
- Light rail systems in California
- Rail lines inaugurated in 1987
- Railways located in highway medians
- 1987 establishments in California
- 750 V DC railway electrification