Sacramento Light Rail Expansion Continues with $135 Million From Federal Government

Last month, the federal government awarded the city of Sacramento $135 million to expand Sacramento’s light rail transportation. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Federal Transit Administration head Peter Rogoff, made the trip to Sacramento to make the formal announcement.

The Blue Line expansion will be 4.3 miles connecting south Sacramento to downtown and north Sacramento. It will directly connect Cosumnes River College with Sacramento City College. In addition to the railways, the expansion will include the construction of two bridges, one over Morrison and Union House creeks and another over Cosumnes River Boulevard, and a multi story campus parking structure.

The total cost of the project is $270 million, with state and local funds covering the other half. Of the $270 million, a portion has been allocated to acquire portions of residential property.

The construction is already underway, with major project work to begin this Spring. The project is expected to be completed in September 2015.