Ami Bera rides SacRT to RCYC opening
Nov 11, 2022 12:00AM ● By Story and photos by Shaun Holkko, assistant editor
Congressman Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-07) steps off Sacramento Regional Transit District's SmaRT Ride shuttle upon arrival at the Rancho Cordova Youth Center grand opening on November 3.
RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) – Congressman Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-07) recently took public transportation to the grand opening of the Rancho Cordova Youth Center (RCYC) on November 3.
Rep. Bera traveled to the event using the Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT)’s light rail system to the Mather Field/Mills Station. He then hopped into SacRT’s “SmaRT Ride” on-demand micro transit program and used the service to shuttle nearly a mile down the road to the center located at 10455 Investment Circle.
“I thought it was great,” Bera said about his ride to the RCYC opening. “If we’re thinking about how we want to live here and move around our region, we’re building this light rail infrastructure and now we’ve got that solution that gets you that last mile. It all worked very seamlessly.”
SmaRT Ride was launched by SacRT in January 2020 and is powered by software from Via, the global leader in TransitTech. Riders who don’t have smartphones can book a ride by calling (916) 556-0100, with wheelchair-accessible vehicles available upon request.
RELATED: Rancho Cordova Youth Center opens
“We want folks to use public transportation,” Bera explained Thursday. “But often if you live a mile away from the light rail [or] bus station, that becomes a challenge. Well SmaRT Ride solves that last mile issue. It allows you to get home from the light rail station or call a shared ride to get to the light rail station.
“It really is a real smart solution to solving that, to get more folks to use public transportation.”
Funding for SmaRT Ride is provided by Measure A and a $12 million grant from the Sacramento Transportation Authority, with a goal of expanding into new communities throughout the region.
According to Rep. Bera’s office, the purpose of taking SacRT to the event was to “demonstrate the best of Sacramento County and what is possible when local, state and federal resources are directed towards improving the lives of families and children in the region.”
Bera has represented California’s 7th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives since 2013. He is currently up for reelection against Republican candidate Tamika Hamilton. Bera is the leading vote-getter thus far, but the race is still too close to call.
