In response to an estimated $25
million budget shortfall for Fiscal Year 2011, the
Sacramento Regional Transit District (RT) Board of Directors
approved service changes at a special meeting on Monday,
March 29, 2010. Major service reductions affecting bus,
light rail and paratransit service will be implemented on
Sunday, June 20, 2010.
The approved service changes,
expected to produce an estimated net savings of $11.6
million in Fiscal Year 2011, will eliminate 28 weekday
routes, 13 Saturday routes and four Sunday routes –
affecting 41 of the 91 bus routes that RT currently
operates. Service frequency on six weekday routes, three
Saturday routes and four Sunday routes will be reduced. The
RT Board approved the following staff recommendation:
Weekday Service:
·
Eliminate Routes 4, 8,
9, 10, 18, 20, 36, 50E, 63, 73, 83, 89, 94, 95, 100, 101,
102, 104, 106, 107, 141, 142, 200, 201, 210, 226, 251 and
261
·
Eliminate all remaining
bus and light rail trips starting after 9 p.m.
·
Decrease service
frequency on Routes 1, 2, 6, 34, 38 and 61
·
Shorten
Route 28 to end at the Cordova Town Center light rail
station
Saturday Service:
·
Eliminate Routes 5, 6,
8, 13, 14, 16, 24, 28, 54, 61, 65, 74 and 143
·
Eliminate all remaining
bus and light rail trips starting after 9 p.m.
·
Decrease service
frequency on Routes 1, 30 and 81
·
Decrease
service frequency on light rail to 30 minutes
Sunday/Holiday
Service:
·
Eliminate Routes 8, 13,
14 and 22
·
Eliminate all remaining
bus and light rail trips starting after 9 p.m.
·
Decrease service
frequency on Routes 23, 30, 56 and 81
·
Decrease
service frequency on light rail to 30 minutes
During the last few years, RT
has implemented a number of cost-cutting measures –
including service reductions in September 2009, fare
increases in January 2009 and September 2009, a hiring
freeze, freezing employee pay and employee furloughs.
Approximately 200 layoffs are scheduled for April through
September 2010.
Service reductions, combined
with approximately $11.8 million in State Transit Assistance
funds expected to be restored to RT and revenue generated by
the future expansion of the Park-Pay-and-Ride (parking fee)
program, will resolve the $25 million budget shortfall for
Fiscal Year 2011.