SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sacramento Regional Transit is set to begin construction on a new light rail station in Sacramento's River District.
The new station, named Dos Rios Light Rail Station, will be located along North 12th Street between Richards Boulevard and Sunbeam Avenue north of downtown, according to SacRT.
Construction for the project is scheduled to begin Monday and is expected to be completed in September 2026.
Light rail service is not expected to impact riders until summer 2025.
In January, SacRT board members approved to build the new light rail station, reversing an earlier vote to shelve the project in favor of more buses. Construction is estimated to cost of the Dos Rios Light Rail Station is $45 million.
California’s Strategic Growth Council provided a $23 million grant for the project in 2018.
“It is finally coming to be a reality," said Devin Strecker, executive director with the River District - Sacramento.
Strecker says the long awaited project is much needed for the community.
“Currently, the Blue Line tracks just go right through our neighborhood, and the nearest station is a little over one mile away," he said. "This is a really important part of getting us better connected to areas north and south of the river district.”
Strecker says the rail station is needed as the area has built mixed-income housing and more housing is planned for the area.
“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,” Strecker said. "Hopefully bring job opportunities into the district so that people can get to the River District easier from outside of the area.”
Road Closures
Construction will prompt two-year road closures on Ahern Street and Sproule Avenue. Transit officials said only property owners will have access to the area during the closure.
Here’s additional more road closure information drivers should if they’re in the area:
- No left turn traffic from North 12th Street to Ahern Street or Sproule Avenue
- No through traffic from Sproule Avenue to North 12th Street or Sunbeam Avenue
- No through traffic from Sunbeam Avenue to Sproule Avenue
SacRT said there will be detour signs that will direct traffic to North B Street.
Construction timeline
Other than road closures, the project will bring service disruptions throughout the two-year construction period. The project’s construction schedule could change due to weather and other factors.
- November 18, 2024: Construction begins with Ahern Street and Sproule Avenue closed. Local property owners only have access during the two-year closure
- Late 2024 to Early 2025: Retaining wall construction at the Loaves and Fishes parking lot on Ahern Street
- July 2025: First weekend of light rail service disruptions for new outbound track work
- October 2025: Second and third weekend of service disruptions to finalize outbound track work
- April 2026: Fourth weekend of service disruptions to switch over to the new inbound track
- September 2026: Construction estimated to be completed
WATCH MORE: 4th Annual Broadway International Festival celebrates diversity and community resilience
