OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Sacramento Regional Transit Board Meeting - November 13, 2023: Funding Gap and Future of Dos Rios Light Rail Station

Sacramento Regional Transit Board Meetings — Monday, November 13, 2023
BodySacramento County, California
SessionSacramento Regional Transit Board Meetings
DateMonday, November 13, 2023
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:05

Good evening, welcome to the November 13th, 2023 meeting of the second hands of Board of Directors.

0:12

This is a hybrid meeting, meaning members of the public who participate in the meeting either in person or virtual.

0:18

This meeting is being live streamed.

0:20

The slide on the screen shows information on how to join the webinar via Zoom.

0:25

You can also call in for the meeting at 253, 215, 8782.

0:32

The webinar access code is wait for it.

0:42

Establish.

0:43

Director Butch.

0:44

Here.

0:47

Director Hume?

0:48

Here.

0:49

Director Jennings?

0:50

Here.

0:50

Director Kizlowski?

0:52

Here.

0:52

Director Lilowy.

0:54

Absent.

0:55

Director Maple?

0:56

Here.

0:57

Director Cerna?

0:58

Here.

0:59

Director Sing Allen?

1:00

Here.

1:00

Director Valenzuela.

1:02

I'm here.

1:07

Okay, you're participating remotely today.

1:10

Yes.

1:10

Director Valenzuela is unable to attend in person to the illness like participate remotely.

1:16

She uh I believe uh has uh done all of the postings correctly correctly.

1:21

Um Render Chair Kennedy.

1:25

One thing she needs to establish is whether or not she is alone in the room.

1:29

Okay.

1:31

I am alone in the room.

1:34

Thank you.

1:36

Okay, thank you.

1:36

And Chair Kennedy.

1:37

Here with that, we have a quorum at 10 votes, and this meeting of the Sacramento Regional Transit District will be cable cast on Metro Cable 14, the local government affairs channel on Comcast Consolidated Communications and ATT Uverse Cable Systems.

1:53

This meeting is closed caption and the webcast and webcast at Metro14Live.sackCounty.gov.

1:59

Today's meeting replays Friday, November 17th at 2 p.m.

2:03

and Saturday, November 18th at 1 p.m.

2:05

on channel 14.

2:06

This meeting can also be viewed at YouTube.com forward slash metro cable 14.

2:13

Members of the audience wishing to address the board should fill out a speaker card located at the rear of the room and provide it to myself or Adam.

2:20

Once the item has been called, additional speaker cards will not be accepted.

2:24

The time allowed for public comment is at the chair's discretion.

2:28

The timer will chime when you have 30 seconds remaining, and then again when your time is up.

2:32

If you are participating by phone, please push star nine to indicate a desire to comment.

2:37

If you're joining us through Zoom, please push the raise hand button.

2:40

Be sure to unmute yourself when it is your turn to speak and voluntarily state your name for the record.

2:44

Also, please note any written comment that was received by 2 p.m.

2:48

today has been provided to the board and will be filed in the record.

2:51

There is the potential for more speakers in the room has capacity for this evening.

2:55

So when finished with your public comment, if you could please excuse yourself from the room so that others can enter the auditorium.

3:02

And it seems like that won't be a problem.

3:29

We have 2.12.6 on the consent calendar.

3:34

Is there any member of the board that would like to have any questions or comments regarding any item on consent or pull an item on consent at this time?

3:44

Move approval of the consent calendar.

3:47

Okay, we have a motion to approve a second.

3:50

Uh is there we will be doing uh roll call votes since we have a remote member.

3:55

Are there any member of the public at this time that would like to address the board on an item on the consent calendar?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Transit█████████████████████████████████████████████48%
Budget and Finance█████████████████18%
Transportation Safety█████████████14%
Public Engagement█████████10%
Procedural████4%
Public Comment███3%
Environmental Mitigation█1%
Affordable Housing█1%
Public Safety█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Sacramento Regional Transit Board of Directors Meeting - November 13, 2023

The Sacramento Regional Transit (RT) Board of Directors held a hybrid meeting on November 13, 2023, with a quorum of 10 votes. The primary agenda item was a discussion and vote on the funding shortfall for the Dos Rios Light Rail Station project, which has seen costs escalate to $43 million. The board considered three options: full RT funding (option one), partial RT funding with partnership (option two), or a substitute bus service project (option three). After extensive public testimony and board deliberation, the board voted to adopt option three, directing staff to pursue a robust bus service enhancement while continuing to seek grants for the future light rail station.

Consent Calendar

  • The consent calendar was approved with 10 votes (all present except Director Lilowy absent). No items were pulled or discussed.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Pro-Light Rail (supporting option one): Over a dozen speakers, including residents of Marisol Village, community advocates (Jeffrey Tartaglia, Katherine Kneppa, Joe Robostelli, Kiara Reed, Devin Strecker, Greta Lechan, Robin Ayers, Sarah Blinko, Howard Jones, Sandra Sully, Eugene and Lisa Humphrey, Daniel Washington, Rick Hodgkins, Mariah Bill, Sean Wright), and developers (Josh Cullenbreen of Bowden Capital), urged the board to fund the light rail station. They cited safety concerns, the need for permanent high-frequency transit, broken promises to an underserved community, and the risk of losing $17.6 million in TCC grant funds if the station is not built. Several noted that the current Route 33 bus service ends at 5:30 p.m. with no weekend service and is inadequate. Developer Cullenbreen stated that the Growers District project (over $250 million investment) depends on the station.
  • Supporting Option Three (bus substitute): Former board member Jeff Harris and Director Butcher (in comments) supported option three as a way to preserve grant funds while maintaining mobility for the river district and allowing future light rail funding. Harris urged a vigorous bus alternative and continued pursuit of grants for the station.
  • General Comments: Jeffrey Tartaglia criticized the lack of earlier community workshops, while Michael Bates (transit academy graduate) advocated for broader regional transit corridors. Another speaker thanked RT for providing free bus service to a community dental event.

Discussion Items

  • Presentation by Staff: Laura (planning manager) and Chris Flores presented a detailed briefing on the Dos Rios Light Rail Station project. Key points:
    • The station would be on the Blue Line near Marisol Village, envisioned since 2005. Environmental clearance completed in 2017/2019.
    • SHRA received a $23 million TCC grant (with $17.6 million for the station). Site remediation discovered extensive contamination, causing delays and cost increases.
    • Estimated project budget: $43 million, with a $19.2 million funding shortfall after $2.3 million in design and $4.2 million already spent by RT.
    • Cost escalation due to pandemic inflation, soil contamination, and required bus bridges/flags.
    • Three options presented: (1) RT funds the entire shortfall using $10 million from SB 125 and $9.2 million from other RT funds; (2) RT provides half, seeking partners by Dec. 1; (3) a substitute project with expanded bus service (Route 33 improvements, zero-emission buses) while pursuing future grants for the station.
    • SGC (Strategic Growth Council) requires a corrective action plan by Dec. 1, 2023, and has stated a substitute project must have community support.
    • SB 125 funding is flexible but primarily intended to address operational deficits; RT is requesting 89% of the regional share ($238 million) from SACOG.
  • Board Deliberation:
    • Directors expressed concerns about trade-offs: using SB 125 funds for the station would reduce capital for other priorities (state of good repair, zero-emission fleet conversion, BRT on Stockton Boulevard).
    • Director Valenzuela read a statement from SGC emphasizing that the Dec. 1 deadline is firm and option one is the only feasible path to retain the full grant.
    • Director Singh Allen moved option one, later substituted by Director Maple to add a caveat to return to board after SACOG decision. That substitute failed (roll call not fully recorded, but stated as failing).
    • Director Singh Allen then moved option three (substitute bus project), seconded. After further debate, the board voted on option three.
  • Key Statements:
    • Director Hume argued against option one, stating that spending $23.4 million to secure $17.6 million is not fiscally prudent given RT's $1 billion in unfunded capital needs.
    • Director Singh Allen emphasized equity, trust, and that the station has been promised for 18 years; later must be now.
    • Director St. Allen and others raised concerns about impacts on other districts (e.g., Citrus Heights lacks light rail) and the need to consider regional priorities.
    • General Manager Henry Li expressed disappointment but committed to continue seeking SB 125 funds as matching for future grants.

Key Outcomes

  • Vote on Option Three (Substitute Bus Project): The board passed the motion with 9 votes in favor (Director Budge, Maple, Cerna, Sing Allen, Chair Kennedy, and likely others) and 1 against (Director Valenzuela). The substitute project includes:
    • Enhanced Route 33 service: 40-foot zero-emission buses, 20-minute headways, extended hours until 9 p.m., 7 days a week.
    • Potential purchase of up to 10 buses.
    • Implementation expected within 1–2 years (faster if possible).
    • Continued pursuit of grants for the light rail station in future cycles.
  • Direction to Staff: The board agreed to submit a $10 million request to SACOG from SB 125 funds to serve as local matching money for future federal/state grants, as requested by General Manager Li.
  • Next Steps: Staff will prepare the corrective action plan for SGC by Dec. 1, 2023, including the substitute project details. The board also expressed interest in scheduling a future workshop on major capital projects and public engagement.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, welcome to the November 13th, 2023 meeting of the second hands of Board of Directors. This is a hybrid meeting, meaning members of the public who participate in the meeting either in person or virtual. This meeting is being live streamed. The slide on the screen shows information on how to join the webinar via Zoom. You can also call in for the meeting at 253, 215, 8782. The webinar access code is wait for it. Establish. Director Butch. Here. Director Hume? Here. Director Jennings? Here. Director Kizlowski? Here. Director Lilowy. Absent. Director Maple? Here. Director Cerna? Here. Director Sing Allen? Here. Director Valenzuela. I'm here. Okay, you're participating remotely today. Yes. Director Valenzuela is unable to attend in person to the illness like participate remotely. She uh I believe uh has uh done all of the postings correctly correctly. Um Render Chair Kennedy. One thing she needs to establish is whether or not she is alone in the room. Okay. I am alone in the room. Thank you. Okay, thank you. And Chair Kennedy. Here with that, we have a quorum at 10 votes, and this meeting of the Sacramento Regional Transit District will be cable cast on Metro Cable 14, the local government affairs channel on Comcast Consolidated Communications and ATT Uverse Cable Systems. This meeting is closed caption and the webcast and webcast at Metro14Live.sackCounty.gov. Today's meeting replays Friday, November 17th at 2 p.m. and Saturday, November 18th at 1 p.m. on channel 14. This meeting can also be viewed at YouTube.com forward slash metro cable 14. Members of the audience wishing to address the board should fill out a speaker card located at the rear of the room and provide it to myself or Adam. Once the item has been called, additional speaker cards will not be accepted. The time allowed for public comment is at the chair's discretion. The timer will chime when you have 30 seconds remaining, and then again when your time is up. If you are participating by phone, please push star nine to indicate a desire to comment. If you're joining us through Zoom, please push the raise hand button. Be sure to unmute yourself when it is your turn to speak and voluntarily state your name for the record. Also, please note any written comment that was received by 2 p.m.

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