Sacramento Regional Transit Board of Directors Meeting – February 27, 2023

The Sacramento Regional Transit Board of Directors held a virtual meeting on February 27, 2023, with a quorum of nine votes. The meeting covered consent calendar approvals, public comments, an informational presentation on the region's zero-carbon transportation initiatives, and the General Manager's report.

Consent Calendar

• The board approved items 2.1 through 2.10 with a correction to resolution number 202302022 in item 2.10. The consent calendar passed with 10 votes (9 present at roll call, but later Director Hume joined; tally showed 10 ayes).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Jeffrey Tardiya raised concerns about over 20 bus cancellations per week affecting routes 51 and 30, and the impact on performance statistics. He also highlighted safety issues at the L and Fifth Street location due to increased bus traffic and planned street changes, recommending coordination with city planning on bicycle and vehicle access.
• Barbara Stanton, representing Ridership for the Masses, introduced herself to new board members and expressed the group's commitment to improving ridership in the Sacramento region.

Discussion Items

• 7.1 Sacramento Region's Zero Carbon Transportation Initiatives

  • Presentation: Shelley Valentin (Deputy GM, SACRT) introduced the four-agency collaborative (SACRT, SACOG, Sacramento Metro Air Quality Management District, and SMUD). The initiative focuses on four areas: zero-emission transit fleet conversion and refueling infrastructure; zero-emission goods movement and medium/heavy-duty fleet transition; charging stations and clean transportation options for under-resourced communities; and community workforce development.
  • Key Details: SACRT must transition to 100% zero-emission bus fleet by 2040, with only zero-emission bus purchases after 2030. Currently has 24 zero-emission electric buses out of approximately 500. Two new bus maintenance facilities are being planned (north and south county). A freight study funded by a $500,000 Caltrans grant will identify 11 charging/refueling plazas across the Northern California mega region, with five in greater Sacramento. 52 mobility hubs (26 urban, 26 rural) are planned, including 182 light-duty EV chargers with a $182 million investment. Workforce development seeks $145 million to train 4,000 people and hire 1,000 into clean energy jobs by 2024.
  • Board Questions and Feedback:
    • Director Valenzuela emphasized partnering with trade unions to ensure high-road jobs (benefits, apprenticeships) and avoiding reinventing existing pathways. She noted the EVITP certification challenge limiting local electricians and urged incorporating workforce development into the strategy.
    • Director Budge inquired about level 2 chargers (refuel in ~4 hours) and hydrogen progress. Jaime (Air District) explained hydrogen production is underway with potential sites at Kiefer Landfill, West Sacramento, and others; there are currently five to six hydrogen stations in Sacramento and over 6,000 hydrogen vehicles.
    • Director Kozlowski questioned whether the EVITP certification is necessary for licensed electricians, noting it may be an unnecessary barrier. Jaime stated the certification is required by state grants and only one certification outfit exists, causing bottlenecks.
    • Director Leloy asked about grid capacity. Rachel Huang (SMUD) stated SMUD has been analyzing grid readiness for years, updating forecasts, and launching a managed EV charging pilot to mitigate peak load. She noted most residential customers charge off-peak (midnight to 6 a.m.) due to a financial incentive.
  • Public Comments on Item: Nick Bryant asked about the cost of electric buses and the transition; Jeffrey Tardiya asked about SMUD's circuit capacity for transit bus charging. Staff committed to follow up.

• 8.0 General Manager's Report – Henry Li provided updates:

  • Celebrated Black History Month with a Rosa Parks tribute (free rides on Feb. 4).
  • Hosted FTA Region 9 officials for a tour and discussion.
  • Reported that SACRT's pension funded ratios increased by over 10% in the last decade, with all three pensions expected to reach 85% in 5 years and 100% by 2030, saving $20–30 million annually.
  • Completed platform modifications at 48th and 59th Street stations for the light rail modernization; next closures are March 4–5 (39th Street) and March 11–12 (29th Street).
  • A new CNG compressor delivered to Bus Maintenance Facility 1; CNG prices spiked (expected $5/therm in Jan. 2023, up from $0.70) causing an estimated $3.5 million budget impact ($2.5M budget, now $6M).
  • Legislative priorities include bills allowing jurisdictions within SACRT boundaries to tax themselves to benefit transit.
  • SACRT's 50th anniversary on April 1, 2023.
  • Public Comments on GM Report: Nick Bryant requested repairs to fare machines on buses and light rail vehicles, suggesting moving to kinetic machines. Jeffrey Tardiya mentioned a KVIE event on March 23.

Key Outcomes

• Consent calendar approved unanimously (10 votes).
• The informational presentation on zero-carbon transportation was received; board provided guidance on workforce development (partner with trade unions, address EVITP certification barriers) and expressed interest in hydrogen and grid planning.
• No formal votes were taken on informational items or the GM report. Staff will follow up on public comments.
• Future actions: continued collaboration with four agencies, advance legislative bills, and monitor CNG costs.