I don't think you're likely to see the governor on board
Sacramento's light rail system, but there sure are some interesting
characters riding the trains in California's state capital. Governor
Arnold Schwarzenegger may be found in the modest legislature
building of this small city, while tourists and locals travel nearby
streets in multi-vehicle streetcars. I took a tour during the recent
President's Day holiday, traveling the two different rail lines of
the Sacramento Regional Transit District. Stretching in three
directions from downtown, modern trams run on city streets in
traffic as well as along an exclusive transit mall. As the light
rail trains wind into the suburbs, they graduate to exclusive
rights-of way along major roads or even down the centre of
Interstate highway 80.
A common beef of
Toronto transit riders is passenger courtesy and consideration. On a
few hours aboard the Sacramento trains, I heard loud music blaring
from headphones, and even a trio of friends as they sang along
to a expletive-filled song. Announcements regularly warned patrons
that food and drink were not allowed, and yet several people sipped
soda pop or coffee. While the bench seats are
softer and less restrictive than those on the TTC, I had to brush
dirt marks from boots before sitting in one. A few young people
casually sat with their feet flat on the seat cushions, a tactic
even bold GO train riders avoid. I saw an entire family scoot off
the train after they spotted a transit fare inspector boarding. Baby
carriage, bags and kids were all hustled off in a frantic rush,
apparently in an effort to avoid being fined for not having a
ticket. In several instances in a short period, I saw these officers
continuously writing up notices and politely escorting passengers
from trains.
Like many US
cities, California's capital displays a strong dichotomy between
wealthy car-oriented suburbs and struggling downtowns. Many people
ride transit here because they can't afford a car, and sometimes they
can't
even afford transit. For around $2 Canadian, my ticket was good for
at least two hours on the entire bus and rail system. There's also a
Central City Fare for just over a dollar, valid within a good
portion of the downtown and adjoining neighbourhoods. It appears
that many weekday workers take advantage of the light rail network,
and the system is continuously expanding. In October a long
extension opened to the "Historic Folsom" station, a town east of
Sacramento
known for its state prison. Soon the city's Amtrak train depot will
be also be linked by light rail.
Although few bus
routes run more frequently than every 30 minutes, there is an wide
web of local and express buses reaching into far flung suburbs. The
system's web site is
www.sacrt.com.