ENSACRAMENTO, CA – The Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) is reinforcing its commitment to rider and employee safety with a $1 million investment in its already robust safety and security program. This funding, approved as part of the FY26 budget, will support targeted enhancements to staffing, monitoring, and frontline presence across the transit system.
While recent media coverage has raised concerns about employee safety, it’s important to clarify that the majority of reported incidents involve aggressive verbal disagreements, not physical altercations. These verbal incidents are reportable statistics required by the National Transit Database; however, they are not classified as crimes. In fact, SacRT’s crime rate remains extremely low — just 3.7 crimes per one million boardings (dropping from last year’s 7.5 incidents per million boardings), a testament to the effectiveness of its current safety and security strategies.
As SacRT continues to enforce fare payment and serve vulnerable populations, including the unhoused, which is the most pressing concern in our community, we recognize that tensions can arise from time to time. However, these efforts are working, SacRT’s fare evasion rate has dropped from double digits a decade ago to less than one percent today, reflecting a more accountable and respectful transit culture. SacRT is doing everything possible to ensure its system remains safe, welcoming, and responsive — for both riders and employees.
Accountability extends beyond riders; it also holds true for SacRT employees. During a recent Board meeting there was public comment stating that SacRT Transit Ambassadors were not checking fare. SacRT listened and now has added a reporting feature on the Alert SacRT app to provide feedback about Transit Ambassador interactions with riders.
Strategic Use of New Funding
The additional $1 million in funding will be used to expand and strengthen SacRT’s security services in three key areas:
- Transit Ambassadors: Increasing the number of authorized positions from 40 to 50, along with a modest salary increase to improve retention and recognize the vital role ambassadors play in customer service and de-escalation.
- Security Operations Center (SOC): Hiring two additional staff to enhance monitoring of SacRT’s 2,000+ security cameras and improve responsiveness through the crime tip hotline and mobile reporting app.
- Security Guards: Expanding the presence of uniformed security guards across light rail stations, vehicles, and parking lots.
Current and Future Staffing
SacRT’s safety and security program is already one of the most comprehensive in the region, with a multi-layered team that includes:
- 1 Lieutenant
- 3 Sergeants
- 9 Deputies
- 2 Detectives
- 8 (armed) Sheriff Security Officers
- 50 Transit Ambassadors
- 70 Blue Knight Security Guards
- 12 Security Operations Center staff
- Other supporting staff
- Collaborations with police officers from our jurisdiction cities
Additionally, SacRT operates a 24/7 Security Operations Center in partnership with the Sacramento Police Department’s Real Time Information Center (RTIC), ensuring seamless coordination in emergency response and system-wide monitoring.
“This investment is not about starting from scratch — it’s about building on a strong foundation,” said SacRT General Manager/CEO Henry Li. “We’re recognizing the tremendous and important work our frontline teams do every day, and this funding allows us to do even more to support them and the communities we serve.”
To elevate awareness around safety and rider conduct, SacRT recently launched the Respect the Ride campaign, spotlighting the essential role of Transit Ambassadors and encouraging respectful interactions on board. Through this campaign, SacRT is reminding the public that these frontline team members are here to help — and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.
Watch the video: Respect the Ride – Transit Ambassadors Edition
As part of its multi-faceted safety and security initiatives, SacRT recently secured a three-year restraining order that was issued by the Sacramento County Court against an individual with a documented history of verbal aggression toward operators, staff, and passengers.
The order prohibits the individual from entering SacRT vehicles, requires them to stay 50 yards from SacRT facilities and 25 yards from stops and stations. This legal action reflects SacRT’s proactive approach to maintaining a safe and respectful environment for all riders and employees.
More information on SacRT’s Safety and Security program is available at sacrt.com/safety.