The City of Sacramento is holding a community open house on the Truxel Bridge project, on Wednesday, November 13, 5:30 – 7:00 PM. The event will be at SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity (MOSAC), 400 Jibboom St, Sacramento, CA 95811. There is an Eventbrite registration, though registration is not required.

Truxel Bridge was originally proposed as a light rail and walking/bicycling bridge across the American River, part of the Green Line (light rail) to the Airport Project. Though it is unlikely light rail will ever go to the airport, it is possible that it will go to south and north Natomas, though the two council members from north and south Natomas don’t want to wait for light rail and would like to see bus rapid transit (BRT), sooner rather than later. The American River Parkway Plan, adopted by the county and the state, recognizes a transit bridge across the river though does not specify the location. The plan very specifically prohibits a private motor vehicle bridge.

The city, however, wants an all-modes bridge, including private motor vehicles. The addition of motor vehicles to the bridge would require a significantly wider bridge, and significantly more impact on the natural environment of the American River Parkway. The city is willing to pay for part of the bridge, but apparently expects SacRT to pay for much of it. The city is claiming the bridge will reduce VMT (vehicle miles traveled) and therefore GHG emissions, by shortening the drive from Natomas to downtown by a small distance, but has offered absolutely no proof for this claim. New motor vehicle capacity always induces more VMT. The city has also claimed that the selected crossing, from Sequoia Pacific Blvd to Truxel Road, is the best or only viable crossing, and has larded on all sorts of not-required improvements that would argue against using the existing river crossing at Highway 160. It is recognized that the Highway 160 bridges are substandard and will need to be replaced, but the city would rather fund a new bridge than fix the old. City staff has also claimed that since this project was approved by city council in 2014, only the exact alignment is under discussion. BS.

Sacramento Transit Advocates and Riders (STAR) has a number of posts on the Truxel Bridge project, category Truxel Bridge.

I hope that you will attend this meeting and speak up for the original concept, which is a transit/walking/bicycling bridge.