ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) - The City Council voted unanimously at its April 22 meeting to accept a transit implementation plan for the proposed Blue Line/Bus Rapid Transit project.

The council took the step to change resolution language from adopt to accept because of concerns the proposed project didn’t fully consider transportation approaches to successfully connect the rest of the region to the proposed transit expansion.

Council, led by Vice Mayor Darren Suen, wanted to see more information on how the project would be supported not only by other transportation measures to get riders to the proposed line, but also to incorporate new transportation technologies coming online in that approach.

The project, which has been under consideration since 2003, would expand the regional light rail system from Sacramento into Elk Grove. The city received a $470,000 grant from the California Department of Transportation and has been in partnership with Sacramento Regional Transit (SacRT) over the past two years to determine the technical and financial viability and develop design and construction steps for the line, although actual construction is still likely years away.

“This is really a years long, complex effort that we would be working towards,” Elk Grove Transportation Planning Program Manager Kaley Lyons said during her presentation.

If built, the proposed line would operate from Cosumnes River College south along Bruceville Road into Elk Grove. From there it would continue through Elk Grove along Big Horn Boulevard to Kammerer Road.

Through a mixture of data acquisitions, discussions with potential stakeholders in the line and public input, staff provided five alternatives to the council for the line. These included light rail only, bus rapid transit only and a mixture of the two.

The alternative recommendation by staff was a 6.4-mile light rail-only line with seven rail stations, which scored high on potential ridership numbers, travel time and ease, the possibilities for increased economic activity and sustainability.

It was also the most expensive to build at over an estimated $1 billion and the second most expensive to operate at a projected $17.3 million annually. If approved, the project would be accomplished in phases and would be the most competitive when it comes to securing funding, especially federal dollars.

“It is an extension of an existing line rather than the establishment of a new line,” Lyons said.

Seven of the eight individuals providing public comment on the proposed plan were in favor of the project, particularly light rail. The only individual who spoke against it was Elk Grove resident David Baker, who said he lived along the proposed route and wanted the city to look at other options for mass transit.

“I think this is a solution in search of a problem,” Baker said.

Next steps for the project include contacting federal transportation officials to begin looking at funding options and collaboration with other regional and state partners to determine environmental considerations, funding and preliminary design. City and SacRT staff will also look into economic development opportunities and continue with efforts to secure right-of-way segments.

Council also addressed other items at the meeting related to area construction. Council unanimously approved a “Determination of Public Convenience or Necessity” (PCN) for the SF Supermarket project to allow the business to sell beer, wine and distilled spirits.

The state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control requires a PCN whenever an applicant is located in a “high crime” area, defined as a subsector reporting crime rates 20 percent or greater than the average rates reported in other subsectors.

The SF Supermarket is set to be in Elk Grove Village Shopping Center, located in a subsector of the city reporting 295 crime incidents in 2025, which is higher than the average of 278 over all 26 Elk Grove subsectors.

“This subsector is what’s considered a high crime area,” associate planner Joseph Daguman said.

The PCN was also required because of the number of businesses selling alcohol in the census tract where SF Supermarket is to be located. Three businesses with alcohol licenses are considered leaving an area “over concentrated.”

The number of similar businesses selling alcohol near SF Supermarkets is currently five.

Council also took the step of pulling an item out of the multi-item Consent Calendar for separate approval after it was questioned during public comment. The item involved purchase of 63.80 acres of property at 10171 Grant Line Road.

Elk Grove resident Lynn Wheat questioned the transparency of putting the more than $5.12 million purchase on the Consent Calendar; items in which are usually approved en masse without council discussion.

Wheat said the move brought into question trust in the city’s motives, not only for the purchase but what it might do with the property.

“Cynically, we don’t want to show our cards yet,” Wheat said of the latter.

Economic Development Director Darrell Doan told council the property, currently owned by Mahon Ranch, was located next to 40 acres of city-owned land at 10251 Grant Line Road and is part of 189 acres of land in the Southeast Industrial Area Specific Plan that may be annexed in the future. Doan said Mahon Family Partnership was a willing seller, negotiated a fair price within the appraisal range and “makes sense to own” considering the future expansion.

“We definitely have a vested interest in acquiring that piece,” Doan added.

Council unanimously approved the purchase agreement.