Sacramento Regional Transit took its next step in establishing a transit line through Natomas to Sacramento International Airport, but the project will begin with buses rather than light rail.
The agency has received $700,000 in grants to conduct a feasibility study and conceptual design for a bus rapid transit line connecting downtown Sacramento to the airport, according to board documents. Bus rapid transit is a bus-based system that speeds service with features such as dedicated lanes, traffic signal priority and enhanced stations.
On Monday, the board approved a resolution authorizing CEO Henry Li to execute agreements needed to accept a $500,000 Caltrans Strategic Partnerships grant awarded in late May to fund the BRT study. The remaining $200,000 comes from a Smart Growth grant funded through Measure A, a voter-approved half-cent county sales tax for transportation improvements. Regional Transit partnered with the city of Sacramento, Sacramento County and the Sacramento Transportation Authority to secure the grants…