Location

RT began operations on April 1, 1973, with the acquisition of the Sacramento Transit Authority. Later that year RT completed a new maintenance facility and purchased 103 buses.

The Sacramento Regional Transit District (RT) operates 97 bus routes and 37.4 miles of light rail covering a 418 square-mile service area. Buses and light rail run 365 days a year using 76 light rail vehicles, 256 buses powered by compressed natural gas (CNG) and 16 shuttle vans. Buses operate daily from 5 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. every 15 to 75 minutes, depending on the route. Light rail trains begin operation at 4:30 a.m. with service every 15 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes in the evening. The Blue Line trains run until 1 a.m. and the Gold Line to Folsom runs until 7 p.m..

Passenger amenities include 47 light rail stops or stations, 25 bus and light rail transfer centers and 18 free park-and-ride lots. RT also serves more than 3,600 bus stops throughout Sacramento County.

Annual ridership has steadily increased on both the bus and light rail systems from 14 million passengers in 1987 to more than 31 million passengers in FY 2006. Weekday light rail ridership averages about 50,000, which accounts for approximately 40% of the total system ridership. Bus weekday ridership has reached an average of 58,000 passengers per day.

RT's entire bus and light rail system is accessible to the disabled community. Also, RT provides a door-to-door transportation service (in accordance with its responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act) for Sacramento area residents who are unable to use fixed-route service. RT provides this service through a contract with Paratransit, Incorporated, and paratransit ridership has more than doubled since 1993.