[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 131 (Tuesday, September 23, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1856]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            TRIBUTE TO SACRAMENTO REGIONAL TRANSIT DISTRICT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT T. MATSUI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 23, 2003

  Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in tribute to Sacramento Regional 
Transit District. On September 26, 2003, the Sacramento Regional 
Transit District will celebrate the grand opening of the South Line 
Light Rail Extension Project. As the people of Sacramento gather to 
commemorate this momentous occasion, I ask all of my colleagues to join 
me in welcoming one of the Capital Region's most important 
transportation projects.
  The Sacramento Regional Transit District began operations on April 1, 
1973. During its first decade of service, the Sacramento Regional 
Transit continued to expand bus service to the growing Sacramento 
region while a cooperative effort emerged among city, county and state 
government officials to develop a light rail system. In 1987 the 18.3-
mile light rail system opened, linking the northeastern (Interstate 80) 
and eastern (Highway 50) corridors with Downtown Sacramento.
  Today, the Sacramento Regional Transit District (RT) operates 77 bus 
routes and 20.6 miles of light rail covering a 418 square-mile service 
area. Buses and light rail run 365 days a year using 36 light rail 
vehicles, 152 buses powered by compressed natural gas (CNG) and 55 
diesel buses. Passenger amenities include 31 light rail stops or 
stations, nine bus and light rail transfer centers and 10 free park-
and-ride lots. RT also serves more than 3,800 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 27 million 
passengers in fiscal year 2002. Weekday light rail ridership averages 
about 29,500, which accounts for approximately 30 percent of the total 
system ridership. Bus weekday ridership has reached an average of 
62,500 passengers per day.
  The South Line Light Rail Extension Project is a two-phased, 11.2-
mile extension of the existing line to south. Phase I, which extends 
6.3 miles from Broadway south to Meadowview Road, is expected to 
increase daily ridership by 15,000 passengers by 2015. Grounded on 
extensive community outreach, each of the seven new stations has been 
individually created to reflect the character of the neighborhoods they 
serve.
  The South Line Light Rail Extension Project comes at an important in 
the renaissance of the South Sacramento area. South Sacramento's 
population is expected to grow from 67,313 in 1998 to over 85,000 in 
2022. The South Line Rail Extension Project will provide residents of 
the area with less traffic congestion, improve mobility in and around 
the downtown area, reduce parking demands and costs, and improve air 
quality. For these reasons, the South Line Rail Extension Project 
serves as a shining example of the great value of public transportation 
and the benefits of investing in local, state, and federal 
partnerships.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to welcome the South Line Rail Extension to 
the South Sacramento Community. I would like to thank all the people 
who, through their commitment and hard work, have made this project a 
reality. I am confident that this project will yield tremendous 
benefits for the people of Sacramento. I ask all my colleagues to join 
with me in wishing the Sacramento Regional Transit District continued 
success in all its future endeavors.

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