Regional Transit slashes service because of coronavirus, but maintains commute hours
Sacramento Regional Transit, the region’s major bus and rail network, will cut service to 38 percent of normal, starting Monday, due to lack of ridership expected during the coming weeks.
It’s one of many transit, rail, and airline companies cutting back as fewer people venture out to travel during the height of the coronavirus infection period.
Agency officials said ridership was off 60 percent on Thursday, and likely will drop more as more businesses close and more workers stay at home as leaders call for self-isolation in homes to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
The agency will go to a modified version of its typical Sunday bus and rail schedule, starting on Monday, March 23.
Cancellations include the new downtown-to-airport bus.
Most routes, however, will remain open, but with fewer buses running on them during the day. The transit agency will maintain a more robust bus and rail service during the morning and afternoon commute times to provide service for workers who are still required to go to their offices.
Officials say the reduced service will remain in place through April 7, the tentative end date for the county’s “stay at home” order, which requires people to remain in their homes unless they are going out on essential activities, such as to work, grocery stores or to a health appointment. That April 7 date, though, is subject to change.
For detailed information on the route changes, go to sacrt.com.
This story was originally published March 19, 2020 at 5:01 PM.