Caltrans to Help Ease Train Depot Parking

By Tony Bizjak, The Sacramento Bee, Calif.

Mar. 17–SACRAMENTO – State transportation officials announced Thursday they have made an allocation of $625,000 for parking improvements at the congested downtown Sacramento train depot.

The funds, available immediately, will be used to alleviate parking problems and congestion caused by construction of a light-rail station on the back lot of the station, state Department of Transportation officials said.

On the list of fixes: improvements to entrances and exits, alterations to bus passenger loading zones and drop-off areas for other vehicles, signs and lighting at the overflow lot at Second and I streets, and a new bus shelter.

Sacramento Regional Transit official Mike Wiley said his agency, which will control the money, will build a designated pick-up and drop-off site on the north, or platform, side of the depot, with its own entrance.

That will separate those users from daily parkers in the cramped main lot in front of the station, and will allow them to loop in and out without needing parking tickets.

Wiley said the work schedule has not been set, but RT hopes to do the work this year.

The light-rail station is scheduled to be in operation Sept. 29.

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