Why Denver might foreshadow how the Sacramento region grows in next 25 years
Sacramento leaders are looking to Denver as a potential preview for the region in the next 25 years.
The region’s population growth mirrors Denver’s from more than two decades ago, said James Corless, executive director of the Sacramento Area Council of Governments at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. In 2050, the Sacramento region population is expected to reach roughly 3.1 million — the current number of Colorado’s capital region.
“We’re going to be Denver in 25 years,” Corless said.
Corless’ comments followed an update of SACOG’s 2025 Blueprint, a transportation and land-use plan for the next 25 years. Development for the plan began two years ago with events to receive feedback from the public and elected officials.
SACOG, the chief planning agency for the region’s six counties, will use the plan to compete for state and federal funding. The agency later distributes the money.
“To prove to the state and our federal partners that we are investment ready, that we’re investment worthy,” Corless said.
Tuesday’s presentation centered around some of the findings from the public feedback and regional estimates for the next two decades. SACOG projects that Sacramento is the fastest growing region in California and outpaces the average growth rate statewide and nationally.
By 2050, the region is expected to grow by 600,000 people. Roughly 163,000 of that increase will be within the city of Sacramento.
Housing remains crucial to such growth. SACOG estimates the city will have about 84,000 more housing units by 2050.
A state-mandated Regional Housing Needs Assessment progress report earlier this month found that Sacramento had built less than half the needed housing units to stay on track with its eight-year plan. The city ranked above nearly all of California’s major cities in total housing units built per 1,000 people, according to a recent city staff report.
“The number one topic, by far, not surprising, again, is housing,” Corless said, in reference to SACOG’s public surveys.
To prepare for such growth, Corless said SACOG leaders recently visited Denver — a metropolitan area that was previously in a similar position. The SACOG board tries for at least one such trip once every two years.
“We’re actually a pretty unique region in California, like we’re not like the Bay Area, LA or San Diego,” Corless said. “We’re much more like Denver or Salt Lake City or Nashville.”
Corless’ comparison led to Councilmember Roger Dickinson raising the possibility of exploring tax measures similar to Denver, which used such approaches to help fund the Colorado Rockies and Denver Broncos stadiums.
“I think it’s going to be a necessity to look increasingly to local funding to achieve what we want to accomplish over time,” Dickinson said. “SACOG could be a venue potentially for a forum on that kind of discussion.”
Another seven county mass transit sales tax measure passed in 2004 led to a “beautiful union station” with light rail, bus and rapid transit, Corless said.
“That’s pretty inspiring,” he added.
SACOG is expected to release its 2025 Blueprint to the public in May. The plan will likely be adopted in November following feedback.
This story was originally published April 23, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
