Sacramento Regional Transit District

Sacramento Regional Transit District
Company type	Public transit agency
Industry	Public transportation
Predecessor	Sacramento Transit Authority
Founded	April 1, 1973; 53 years ago
Headquarters	Sacramento, California, United States
Area served	Sacramento metropolitan area, including Sacramento, Citrus Heights, Folsom, Rancho Cordova, Arden Arcade, Carmichael, Fair Oaks, Florin, Gold River, North Highlands, Orangevale, Rio Linda, Rosemont
Products	Bus service, light rail, paratransit, shuttle service
Website	sacrt.com

The Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) serves as the leading public transit agency within the Sacramento, California region. Formed on April 1, 1973, after taking over the Sacramento Transit Authority, SacRT manages more than 81 bus routes covering a wide area and operates a light rail network that ranks as the sixteenth most utilized in the nation. Annual ridership figures have reached , with average weekday boardings around ().

SacRT's coverage includes the city of Sacramento, Sacramento International Airport, and extensive portions of northern Sacramento County, such as Citrus Heights, Folsom, Rancho Cordova, along with unincorporated communities including Arden Arcade, Carmichael, Fair Oaks, Florin, Gold River, North Highlands, Orangevale, Rio Linda, and Rosemont. The agency previously ran express bus routes to Elk Grove until the mid-2000s; beginning June 2019, SacRT has managed Elk Grove’s e-tran service under a five-year agreement. Additionally, SacRT once provided contracted transit services to Yolo County until those routes transitioned to Yolobus in 1982. Yolobus maintained SacRT’s route numbering system for consistency in Downtown Sacramento service.

Transit bus

In 2024, SacRT operates 76 bus routes with daily service hours from 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., although weekend operations conclude earlier. Bus frequency ranges from every 15 minutes up to 90 minutes depending on passenger demand, with certain express lines running only a few trips per day. Efforts to extend service into late-night hours have progressed slowly. The latest comprehensive service enhancements were announced in August 2012 with plans for expansion by 2017. Since the introduction of light rail, buses have primarily functioned as feeder lines connecting passengers to rail stations.

Airport Express

Route 142 links downtown Sacramento and Sacramento International Airport on an hourly schedule using battery electric buses.

Causeway Connection

SacRT provides service between UC Davis in Davis and the UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento utilizing battery electric buses furnished by Electrify America. These buses offer amenities such as complimentary Wi-Fi and USB charging ports.

Light rail

The SacRT light rail system extends over three lines totaling , featuring 53 stations and a fleet of 97 vehicles. Operations run daily from 4:30 a.m. until midnight on weekdays and conclude at 10:30 p.m. on weekends.

Paratransit (SacRT GO)

Created in 1993 to meet requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, SacRT GO delivers door-to-door paratransit transportation services tailored for riders with disabilities.

Shuttle Service (SacRT SmaRT Ride)

SacRT’s SmaRT Ride provides shuttle transportation from curb to curb or corner to corner, accessible through a smartphone application, online platform, or by phone, covering most areas within Sacramento County.

In November 2024, SacRT revealed plans to discontinue SmaRT Ride by December 31, 2024, with the service transitioning to SacRT Flex.

SacRT Flex

Beginning in January 2025, SacRT Flex will take over from SmaRT Ride, delivering shared "corner-to-corner" rides aimed at low-income individuals, seniors, and people with disabilities within the same operational zones.

The Neighborhood Ride

Introduced in 2006 under the name "Community Bus Service," this program is popularly known among riders as "The Neighborhood Ride."

These compact shuttles, typically no longer than 35 feet, enhance local transit options and community mobility.
Operating on fixed routes with designated stops, The Neighborhood Ride also provides curb-to-curb service extensions up to three-quarters of a mile for seniors aged 62 and above and disabled riders holding valid ADA/paratransit credentials.
The fare is set at $2.75 per trip with a discounted rate of $1.35; regular RT monthly or daily passes and transfers are accepted. Riders possessing valid ADA/paratransit passes travel free but are charged $1.10 for route deviations unless they hold a Lifetime Pass.
Shuttle vehicles accommodate between 12 and 17 passengers plus two wheelchair spaces. Clearly marked stops and printed timetables are available throughout Sacramento and online.

Accidents and incidents

On April 9, 2010, a Blue Line light rail collided with a vehicle that had bypassed crossing barriers, resulting in one fatality.

A serious pedestrian injury occurred on April 26, 2010, when a distracted individual using a cell phone was struck near Iron Point Station; this incident caused approximately one hour of service delay.

Following a confrontation on April 27, 2010, at Zinfandel station, a shooting took place aboard a light rail train; the victim survived and operations continued without interruption.

On November 11, 2010, a pick-up truck collided with an active light rail train at the intersection of Starfire Drive and Folsom Boulevard, resulting in minor injuries.

A fire broke out on December 23, 2010, in a Siemens Gold Line light rail vehicle near College Greens station due to an overheated generator or battery; service was suspended for about an hour during the incident.

On January 28, 2012, three fatalities occurred when an SUV was struck by a Blue Line train at the correctly functioning crossing near 25th Street and 26th Avenue; at least seventeen others sustained injuries.

On August 22, 2019, twenty-four people were injured when a light rail vehicle rear-ended a maintenance vehicle; thirteen passengers required treatment at trauma centers.

A collision between a turning car and a light rail vehicle near Cathedral Square station on February 14, 2022 resulted in no reported injuries.

An LRV derailment took place on April 8, 2022 at the intersection of 8th and K streets causing significant service interruptions due to power outages; fortunately, no injuries were reported.

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