Major changes are coming to Sacramento's River District with the construction of a new light rail station aimed at improving connectivity. The $45 million Dos Rios Light Rail Station will be located along North 12th Street near Richards Boulevard, an area currently lacking service from Sacramento Regional Transit's blue line. KCRA reports that the station will be especially beneficial to residents of Mirasol Village, providing a closer transit option than the current station, which is about a mile away.
The new station is expected to improve commuting for individuals with disabilities and provide a safer alternative to the isolated paths currently used by public transit riders. "Our team has also found some evidence of drug dealing in some of those encampments," said Devin Strecker, executive director of the River District, in a report by KCRA. "That's the main reason why people don't feel comfortable walking that far."
Construction for the station will begin today, bringing important road closures. Ahern Street and Sproule Avenue will be blocked for about two years, with detours via North B Street. "No left turn traffic from North 12th Street to Ahern Street or Sproule Avenue" and restrictions on through traffic at several intersections will be in place, as noted by abc10. The project will include service disruptions from late 2024 to April 2026, with completion expected by September 2026.
The project is supported by a $23 million grant from California’s Strategic Growth Council, awarded four years ago. "There is proposed projects nearby including the Growers' District on 16th Street and the village of Dos Rios on Dos Rios. So in the next few years, there are going to be a lot more housing units coming online in that area,” said Strecker to abc10. With fewer parking spaces planned for these projects, reliance on public transportation, like the blue line, is expected to increase.
