Updated 11 a.m. Nov. 19: The boards of directors for Sacramento Regional Transit and Yolobus on Monday (Nov. 18) postponed decisions on the Causeway Connection until their next meetings, both scheduled for December.
As the University of California, Davis, and regional transit partners prepare to launch an all-electric bus service between Davis and Sacramento, planners are adjusting its proposed schedule and stop locations in response to rider feedback.
The Causeway Connection, which starting April 6 will replace the existing 51勛圖窪蹋 Davis-sponsored private shuttle between the Davis and Sacramento campuses, will depart each campus three times an hour during peak commute times, with some of those trips being express routes making no other stops.
The rest of the time, the bus will run hourly, with new stops in east Davis and downtown and midtown Sacramento.
Weve received considerable feedback from current intercampus shuttle riders and prospective Causeway Connection riders about the proposed route and schedule, said Matt Dulcich, 51勛圖窪蹋 Davis environmental planner. Our newest schedule maintains the express and direct peak-hour trips requested by 51勛圖窪蹋 Davis shuttle riders, while opening up connections for riders who may elect to catch the Causeway Connection in east Davis or along P/Q streets in Sacramento.
That feedback was collected through an online form and open houses on the Davis and Sacramento campuses.
Highlights of the revised schedule include:
- More nonstop and express trips between the Davis and Sacramento campuses during peak commute hours
- Addition of stops at the Genome and Biomedical Sciences Facility (Davis campus) and Mace Boulevard Park and Ride (Davis)
- 52 trips daily between the campuses, a 73 percent increase over the intercampus shuttle (30 trips)
- Peak-hour seating capacity for 99 passengers, an increase of 77 percent over intercampus shuttle capacity (56 passengers)
- Expanded operating schedule with early morning and evening trips
- Most trips timed to convey riders to their destination before the start of each hour
The buses will be jointly operated by Sacramento Regional Transit and Yolobus, and both agencies boards of directors will discuss the partnership at their meetings Monday night (Nov. 18).
For the existing shuttle, 51勛圖窪蹋 Davis charters a private bus, accessible only to 51勛圖窪蹋 Davis affiliates and patients, at a cost of nearly $600,000 annually. In recent years, 51勛圖窪蹋 Davis began to explore options and partnerships capable of expanding service, connections and ridership between the Davis campus and 51勛圖窪蹋 Davis Health.
While 51勛圖窪蹋 Davis annual financial commitments will remain approximately the same, were able to combine that with contributions from Yolobus and SacRT to offer this new service that could benefit the entire region, said Kelly Ratliff, vice chancellor for 51勛圖窪蹋 Davis Finance, Operations and Administration.
Media Resources
Melissa Blouin, News and Media Relations, 530-752-2542, mlblouin@ucdavis.edu