Does The Village Need Two Bus Routes? (Poll)

The topic of a possible detour for a Sacramento Regional Transit route came up during a recent Fair Oaks Village Enhancement Committee (FOVEC) meeting when talking about the Wednesday Village farmers Market, leading some to wonder if the route was even necessary at all.

FOVEC and community members explored the idea of detouring Route 28, which runs through Fair Oaks Village along Fair Oaks Boulevard, turns right on California Avenue, left on Temescal Street, left on Main Street before merging back onto Fair Oaks Blvd. The route could complicate traffic during the Wednesday farmers market, which would begin around 6 p.m. till about 8 p.m. each week, leading members to question the value of permanently detouring the route one day a week during market hours. The majority agreed the idea could be explored if there was no objection from ridership.

"If it could be moved out of the village and it doesn’t negatively impact people, that’s a good thing," said FOVEC chair Greg Vincent. "If they’re (Sacramento County Regional Transit) willing to move it and they think it’s better, then we’re all for it."

Besides Route 28, another RT bus route goes through The Village, Route 21, which comes north up Sunrise Blvd., turns east on Fair Oaks Blvd. then comes back west along Winding Way before turning back out onto Sunrise.

According to a report drafted by Sac RT, Route 28 is low performing (10 boardings per revenue hour) and does not meet the local bus performance threshold of 20 boardings per revenue hour. The report went further to state service will be restructured and Route 28 will operate as a Community Bus route from Mather Field/Mills Station to Sunrise Station via Folsom Boulevard, Cordova Lane, and Zinfandel Drive. In addition, peak frequency will be reduced from every 30 minutesto every 60 minutes and service span will be reduced to operate from approximately 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

RT spokeswoman Devra Selenis explained though a temporary detour wouldn't require much work, a more permanent route adjustment, regardless of the route's performance, would be more complicated.

"If it isn't temporary, it would have to go through a service change," Selenis said.

That service change would require notifying passengers through RT's various social and website networks, Selenis said. If the change was to occur, Selenis said notifying passengers at least a month in advance, if not more, would be preferred.