August 27, 2008
Reported by Marcia Johnston, RailPAC Director, Sacramento
and Chuck Roebuck, President, Capitol Corridor Riders and RailPAC Member, Auburn
Chart and Photo courtesy Sacramento DOT.
The City of Sacramento Department of Transportation held a public workshop August 27 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. to update the public on the latest developments, discuss the benefits of, and get input regarding two
transportation improvement projects critical to redevelopment efforts in the heart of downtown. Mayor Heather Fargo and City Councilmembers Tretheway and Cohn spoke at this event. The public workshop was held at the Library Galleria, 828 “I†Street, in downtown Sacramento across from City Hall.
The two projects are the Sacramento Intermodal Transportation Facility (SITF) and the I-5/Richards to Railyards Access Improvements Project. Hinda Chandler, City of Sacramento discussed [with power point presentation] how the three phases of the SITF Project will create a more rider-friendly regional transportation center. The three phases are Track Relocation, Sacramento Valley Station Improvements and Intermodal Transportation Facility Improvements.
City Planner, Hinda Chandler also discussed the Richards Boulevard Access Improvements Project, which will improve traffic flow near the I-5/Richards interchange, and improve access from I-5 to Township 9, the River District and the Railyards. The project will also add bike paths and pedestrian walkways.
With some 240 acres, this is the largest urban redevelopment project in the nation.
The Intermodal Complex will take shape in 3 phases:
Track Relocation – target start date – Summer 2009 for moving the current railroad tracks approx. 500 feet north of there current location. Funding has already been secured.
Existing Station/Historic Depot Improvements – targeted to start pending funding and completion of Phase 1.
Construction of the Intermodal Facility – this will include:
Building a new, state-of-the-art transportation facility to accommodate ALL Modes of surface transportation in one location – a HUB to serve Sacramento’s needs for the next 100 years. Target Start and Completion Dates pending funding approval.
Integration of the new facility with the Historic Depot – while it has not yet been decided whether they will relocate the depot or not, they are developing plans for two options:
The last part of the workshop touched on the road improvements planned to create access to the Railyard site.
Below is a concept drawing of what the completed Railyard project would look like.
