Sparse Sacramento Regional Transit parking lot could become housing, retail hub
An underutilized Sacramento Regional Transit parking lot in south Sacramento could be transformed into a transit hub, featuring six-story housing complexes, retail and open space.
The approximately 15-acre parking lot at the Meadowview light rail station, which was previously the southern terminus of the Blue Line, sits mostly empty, RT spokesperson Jessica Gonzalez said Tuesday. Since stops now extend to Cosumnes River College, fewer people leave their vehicles at the Meadowview location.
About 650 parking spaces — out of 690 — are left empty on a typical weekday, Gonzalez said, leading RT to believe the lot could be used for other purposes.
The regional transit agency developed a preferred plan for the site that would include mixed-use residential buildings between five and six stories along Meadowview Road, residential buildings between three and four stories in the north, and would preserve about 200 parking spaces along with the bus loop and bus bays. The plan also includes open space along the west and north ends of the site, as well as a transit plaza.
The long-term plan, Gonzalez said, is to create a walkable community with new employment opportunities, amenities and services that has easy transit access.
The plan was developed during a transit-oriented community study approved at an RT Board of Directors meeting Monday.
The goal of the study was to develop ideas that would revitalize the surrounding community while encouraging transit use. It was funded by the Sacramento Area Council of Governments Green Means Go program, which directs money to projects that increase housing, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve mobility.
The study included assessing existing infrastructure, identifying development opportunities, evaluating the financial feasibility of the concept and conducting community engagement, though more outreach may be conducted due to limited participation from neighborhood residents, according to an RT Board of Directors document.
For housing, the study looked into both affordable and market-rate options. Market analysis suggested that the location near the light rail station may attract affordable housing projects, according to the document on the RT board’s agenda.
The study also found that despite the project’s focus on reducing vehicle use, “parking would need to remain a key factor due to car dependence,” the document said, citing developers. Gonzalez said RT is considering keeping about 200 spaces to accommodate new activity while still supporting transit use.
A specific timeline for the project was not identified. RT must follow several regulatory steps before the development phase, which can be lengthened or shortened by market conditions, Gonzalez said.
RT is aiming for grant money to cover at least part of the project. Gonzalez said it could qualify for up to $50 million in grant funding from California’s Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities program, “which would help make a transit‑oriented community at Meadowview financially viable in the near term.”
This story was originally published April 14, 2026 at 2:43 PM.
