New, more accessible trains and an additional track are coming to the Sacramento region's light rail system, including shorter wait times for Folsom-area public transit commuters.
As part of the Sacramento Regional Transit District’s modernization effort to upgrade and expand its current services throughout the region, SacRT broke ground in Folsom Wednesday on a double-track passing lane for its Gold Line route and unveiled its soon-to-be-implemented new vehicles.
"This project marks a monumental milestone in SacRT's history, representing one of our most ambitious endeavors to date in the last 30 years,” SacRT General Manager Henry Li said at the groundbreaking ceremony.
The new "low-floor" trains and a passing track for the Gold Line will be installed by summer 2024. This initiative will significantly improve public transportation in the Folsom area, according to SacRT spokesperson Jessica Gonzalez.
The installation of the double track will temporarily close the Glenn/Robert G. Holderness Station in Folsom at the beginning of next year. Once completed, the addition would allow for two-way travel and quicker light rail service for regional commuters.
Gonzalez said these updates would make Sacramento's public transport system more accessible, efficient and reliable. Light rail trains will now run every 15 mins instead of 30 between Sunrise and Historic Folsom stations, reducing commuting time for the region.
An inside view of updated “low-floor train” seating options at the SacRT passing lane ceremony in Folsom, Calif., Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023.Mike Hagerty/CapRadio
Low-floor trains are designed to make getting on light rail much more possible for those with limited mobility or in wheelchairs. A ramp will drop down by pressing a button on the train door for ease of access.
“I know these trains will make a difference, helping ensure that mobility is equal for everybody in our region,” Assembly member Kevin McCarty said.
Current stations must be altered to meet the height requirements of the new low-floor light rail trains, said Gonzalez. SacRT must close stations temporarily to complete the passing lane construction and continue platform modifications to install these new vehicles.
“Contractors use this time to pour concrete and add new elements to the station, enabling our current trains to still use the station … to prepare for the rollout of new low-floor trains,” Gonzalez said.
SacRT has plans to eventually replace all existing light rail vehicles with 72 new trains as part of a contractual agreement.
The construction for stations to be able to use the new low-floor cars has already begun on the Gold Line, with 14 already completed. The work occurs on weekends when the station services temporarily shut down.
Ceremonial groundbreaking has happened, but construction won't start again until January 2024. SacRT plans to offer alternative transportation services to help riders manage the inconvenience caused by the ongoing construction at these sites.
According to Gonzalez, train services will still be available from Iron Point Station on the Gold Line during the construction of the passing lane down to downtown Sacramento.
“We're going to see much smoother service and better reliability with these new trains compared to our current trains. Some of them are 35 years old,” Gonzalez said.“They're past their useful life.”
Train services during construction of the passing track will still be available from Iron Point Station on the Gold Line all the way down to downtown Sacramento, according to Gonzalez.
Visit SacRT's rider information webpage for updates on light rail station closures during construction.
Editor's note: Assembly member Kevin McCarty placed $2 million in the 2022 state budget to help pay for construction of CapRadio's studios.
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