SacRT Expands Proven Safety Strategy with New $1 Million Investment

The Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) is advancing its already strong security record with an additional $1 million investment aimed at reinforcing frontline support, boosting monitoring capacity, and strengthening its systemwide presence. Approved as part of the FY26 budget, the funding builds on a foundation that has helped SacRT maintain one of the lowest crime rates in the industry.

Despite growing ridership and increased public focus on transit safety nationwide, SacRT continues to outperform expectations. The agency reports just 3.7 crimes per one million boardings—down from 7.5 last year—and a fare evasion rate of less than one percent, a marked shift from double-digit figures a decade ago. This progress, SacRT leaders emphasize, is no accident; it reflects years of strategic staffing, accountability measures, rider engagement, and proactive enforcement.

A key piece of that accountability includes SacRT’s own workforce. When a recent public comment questioned whether Transit Ambassadors were consistently checking fares, the agency took immediate action, adding a new feature to the Alert SacRT app that allows riders to provide feedback on ambassador interactions. The enhancement underscores the agency’s commitment to transparency and continuous improvement.

“This investment is not about starting from scratch, it’s about building on a strong foundation,” said SacRT General Manager/CEO Henry Li. “We’re recognizing the tremendous and important work our frontline teams do every day, and this funding allows us to do even more to support them and the communities we serve.”

The additional security investment targets three core areas:

• Transit Ambassadors: Increasing positions from 40 to 50, paired with salary adjustments to support retention and recognize ambassadors’ role in customer service and de-escalation.
• Security Operations Center: Hiring two additional staff to expand real-time monitoring of more than 2,000 cameras and improve responsiveness to the agency’s tip hotline and mobile app.
• Uniformed Security Guards: Expanding systemwide coverage on light rail, at stations, and across parking facilities.

These enhancements come alongside SacRT’s new Respect the Ride campaign, which highlights the important work of frontline staff and reinforces expectations for rider conduct. SacRT is also bolstering enforcement through legal tools when needed: the agency recently secured a three-year restraining order against an individual with a documented history of verbal aggression toward drivers, passengers, and employees. The order prohibits the individual from entering SacRT vehicles and requires them to maintain distance from transit property and stops—an example of how SacRT is willing to take decisive action to protect its workforce and passengers.

Together, these initiatives reflect a proactive and holistic approach: supporting frontline personnel, empowering riders to participate in accountability, using technology to enhance situational awareness, and deploying legal measures when necessary. With this $1 million investment, SacRT is not simply reacting to challenges, it is continuing to shape a safer system built on rider respect, operational transparency, and community partnership.