‘SacRT Flex’ Brings Reimagined, Fiscally Sound Mobility to California’s Capital Region

HENRY LI
General Manager/CEO
Sacramento Regional Transit District, CA

Continuously searching foreconomically sustainable ways to provide innovative mobility options, we at the Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) recently made a major service adjustment, transforming our outdated SmaRT Ride microtransit service into a new, cost-effective shared-use platform called SacRT Flex. SacRT Flex, operated in partnership with Via Transportation, is designed to provide enhanced accessibility and mobility for riders with the greatest transit needs.

Here’s why we made the transformation. In 2018, we launched our community-based SmaRT Ride service with a one-time infusion of grant funding to replace an outdated dial-a-ride service model, offering curb-to-curb rides that can be booked and tracked using a mobile app. Smart Ride quickly expanded across nine geographic zones in the Sacramento capital region, becoming one of the largest microtransit programs in the nation at the time.

However, as many transit agencies have experienced since launching similar microtransit services, although the service is popular, the cost per trip can be expensive and unsustainable long-term. We also recognized through extensive community engagement that many of our most vulnerable riders depended on SmaRT Ride to get them to medical appointments and food resources, especially those living in areas where there is limited fixed-route service, so discontinuing service was not an option.

I knew the time was right to reimagine our approach. By working strategically with our board of directors, as well as SacRT’s Mobility Advisory Council, passengers, and labor partners, we were able to quickly plan and implement SacRT Flex service within a matter of months, saving approximately $8.5 million a year without compromising quality. In fact, since implementation of the program almost four months ago, customer satisfaction has been very high.

SacRT Flex officially launched in January 2025 as an 18-month pilot, offering curb-to-curb, shared-ride service with real-time status updates. The program is available to eligible seniors 62 and older, persons with disabilities, low-income individuals, and minors aged 13-17 in low-income households within SacRT’s service area. It operates in the same nine geographic zones as SmaRT Ride did, Monday through Friday. All SacRT Flex vans have space for one wheelchair, and the cost to the rider is $2.50 per trip—free for children riding with parents.

Via, our transportation partner, provides vans, drivers, and scheduling technology. In making the change, we also offered all of our in-house SmaRT Ride shuttle operators the opportunity to seamlessly shift to other SacRT driving assignments, avoiding any loss of workforce.

The new SacRT Flex program ensures that SacRT continues to meet the mobility needs of our community while maintaining fiscal responsibility by focusing on optimizing resources. By reimagining mobility and engaging the public early and often, the industry can deliver innovative, cost-effective transportation solutions that empower agencies to thrive, even in the most challenging environments.