[Nfb-river-city] RT CELEBRATES OPENING OF LIGHT RAIL EXTENSION TO THE SACRAMENTO VALLEY STATION

[Nathanael T. Wales]

Dear NFB River City Chapter Members and Friends:

Tiffany and I both look forward to seeing ya'll this Saturday at our chapter 
potluck at the Capitol.  And you'll officially have yet another way to get 
there!  This will be particularly beneficial for our colleagues and friends 
coming from out of town.  Please see the below release.

It would be outstanding to have a number of us representing the chapter at 
the celebration.  I personally will be unable to attend, but I invite those 
who are available to coordinate on this listserve.  This is an exciting day 
for Sacramento!

Nathanael T. Wales, President
River City Chapter
National Federation of the Blind


RT CELEBRATES LIGHT RAIL EXTENSION TO

THE SACRAMENTO VALLEY STATION

Half-mile Light Rail Extension Adds Two New Stations

And Direct Connection to Amtrak

 Sacramento residents, visitors and commuters will have reason to celebrate
on Friday, December 8, when the Sacramento Regional Transit District (RT)
opens
the much anticipated half-mile extension to the Sacramento Valley Station.

 The final leg of the Amtrak/Folsom Corridor project comes fourteen months
after the 7.4-mile extension from Sunrise Boulevard to the city of Folsom on
October 15, 2005.

 "While construction of this short extension has been challenging for RT and
its contractors, it is well worth the wait," said RT Board Chair and
Sacramento
County Supervisor Roger Dickinson.  "This extension connects the Sacramento
region to the Capitol Corridor regional rail service and Amtrak national
passenger
rail system, which significantly expands mobility options for everyone in
the region."

 To commemorate the grand opening, RT plans to celebrate starting with a
commuter meet and greet at the Sacramento Valley Station platform from 7 -
10 a.m.,
ending with the arrival of the inaugural train and the grand opening
ceremony from 10 - 11 a.m.  The event is open to the public with free
entertainment
and refreshments.

  RT Ambassadors will provide complimentary tickets, literature and
information to riders at St. Rose of Lima Park (7th & K streets), and two
new stations
at 8th and K and Sacramento Valley Station (5th and H streets).

 "We welcome this new addition to our transit services and hope everyone in
our region will help us celebrate this critical regional intermodal
connection,"
said RT General Manager/CEO Dr. Beverly Scott .  "We also want to
acknowledge the tremendous cooperation from our many partners particularly
the city of
Sacramento, the county of Sacramento, SMUD, our contractors, artists and, of
course, RT employees."

 Parking near the station is limited, so participants are encouraged to take
transit to St. Rose of Lima Park (7th and K streets) and walk to the event.
Light rail service to and from the Sacramento Valley Station will commence
after the grand opening ceremony.

 Event sponsors include Caltrans, Carson Development and the Sacramento
Housing and Redevelopment Agency.

 This final segment of the $261 million Amtrak/Folsom corridor project is
expected to add 2,000 daily passengers.  Funding for the project comes from
a
variety of key Federal, State and local sources including the U.S.
Department of Transportation, Surface Transportation Program (STP),
Congestion Mitigation
and Air Quality funds (CMAQ), State Highway , Proposition 116, Traffic
Congestions Relief Program (TCRP), Rail Development Funds, developer fees
and Sacramento
County Measure A.

 For more information, please call 916/321-BUSS (2877). TDD 916/483-HEAR
(4327) or visit us on the web at
www.sacrt.com.


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