Sacramento envisions ambitious $164M streetcar plan to improve downtown mobility, reconnection

June 3, 2026

The Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) in California is advancing a $164.3 million plan to introduce a streetcar line that will connect the city’s downtown and western areas across the Sacramento River. Construction is slated to begin in early 2027. 

The Downtown Riverfront Streetcar Project represents a transformative effort for the city’s public transit system. Implementation of the line will support local communities and municipal economic growth, providing residents and visitors with better mobility options, improved transit access and connections to major destination centers. 

The completed line will stretch for 1.8 miles, connecting several key parts of the city. The line will start at Sutter Health Park before crossing the Sacramento River, later connecting with the city’s existing light rail line. Plans include sharing the line through downtown Sacramento after installing double tracks along select line segments. 

As part of the project, SacRT will build three new stations along the route. The district will also modernize six stations and procure four street cars for operations. The street cars will consist of single Siemens S700 vehicles operating besides existing single-car, low-floor light rail trains. 

Key destinations along the route will include the Sacramento Valley Amtrak Station, the Capitol Mall, Golden 1 Center, the Sacramento Downtown Commons shopping center and the Crocker Art Museum. 

Once completed, the line will operate on a 15-hour schedule, seven days a week. Bus service is planned for every 15 minutes during weekdays and ranging between 15 and 30 minutes on weekends. 

As the district nears project launch, it has announced a series of public workshops to inform the public on the Downtown Riverfront Streetcar Project. It held its first meeting on May 26, with the next two scheduled for June 3 and 10.

Photo by PNW_Photo_Repository from Pixabay

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