Case Study:

Sacramento, California

Context

Sacramento Region

The Sacramento metropolitan area is a mid-size urban area with an estimated 1995 population of 1.8 million. Population and employment are expected to grow annually at rates of 1.9 and 2.2 percent, respectively, through 2015. In the past, the employment base of the Sacramento region has been largely government and agriculture; however, more recently there has been a rapid expansion of high-technology manufacturing. The residential and employment densities of the region can be characterized as medium to low. Current mode shares for home-based work trips are approximately 76 percent drive alone, 17 percent carpool, three percent transit, two percent walk, and two percent bike.

Figure 1 shows a map of the Sacramento region and major transportation facilities. Interstate 80 and U.S. Highway 50 are major east-west routes through the area; Interstate 5 and U.S. 99 run north-south. Regional growth has largely been occurring to the northeast and east, into the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, and to the south in the Sacramento Valley. A light rail system was first opened in 1987 and currently totals 20.6 miles in length. Two more corridors adding 17.2 miles are slated to open by 2003.

Figure 1. Sacramento Region

Source: Johnston , Rodier, Choy, and Abraham (2000).

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