Downtown Sacramento is the heart of the region and accessing the city’s business and cultural amenities is simple. The downtown grid is easy to navigate by public transit, car, on foot or the local choice of transportation – bike.
Sacramento was originally started as a transit hub connecting the coast to the gold-filled Sierra Nevada’s. Today the tradition continues, as Sacramento is the transit hub for northern California. Its transportation network includes, air cargo, international airport, deepwater shipping port, four interstate freeways, freight and passenger rails, public transit, and is also considered a bike-friendly community.
Parking
Parking is easy Downtown with 20,200 off-street parking spaces and over 1,500 on street spaces are located in the 66 block downtown district. Early bird rates, monthly rental and merchant validation program discounts are offered in most garages.
Several City Parking facilities are available in convenient locations throughout the Downtown area. Parking rates will vary. Call 916-808-5011 for details, parking garage locations, visit www.sacpark.org.
Discount Parking Programs
The City of Sacramento Parking services offers a variety of parking programs including:
- Monthly Employee Parking Program: You drive to work everyday
- Discount Employee Parking Program (DEPP): You earn less than $12 per hour or less
- Part-time Employee Parking (P-TEP): You work less than 30 hours per week
- Alternative Mode Commuter Option (AMCO) – You drive an average of 3-4 times per month
- Carpool Discount : You carpool to work with others
- Downtown Bicycle Locker Program: You ride your bicycle to work
- Merchant Validation Program: You own a business and want to offer parking validation coupons to customers
Visit the City of Sacramento Parking Services site for details or call 916-808-5110.
Public Transit
Leave the car at home and take public transit. The Northern California passenger train system, Capitol Corridor, is the second-largest urban service area in the Western United States. The system services 8 counties in Northern California including Placer, Sacramento, Solano, Yolo Contra Costa, Alameda, San Francisco and Santa Clara. Recently, the Capitol Corridor achieved 98% on-time performance and is ranked the best intercity passenger rail performance in the nation.
The Sacramento Regional Transit District (RT) is an integral part of Downtown’s transportation network. RT operates approximately 91 bus routes and 37.5 miles of light rail coverage. The system connects both the eastern and western suburbs with Downtown and South Sacramento. Buses and light rail run 365 days a year using 76 light rail vehicles, 235 buses powered by compressed natural gas, and 17 shuttle vans. Light rail carries over 51,000 passengers on a typical weekday, and has over 30% of its stations located in the Central City.
Zip Car
Need some wheels? Zip Car has a fleet of 10 vehicles conveniently located through out Downtown Sacramento. Members to this service can reserve a car from their pool online at www.zipcar.com. Downtown pick up locations include (but are not limited to) 10th & I streets, L & 11th streets, J & 16th streets, to name a few.
Bike
Earning the League of American Bicyclist’s Gold Award as a Bicycle Friendly Community, Downtown Sacramento has great cycling infrastructure with bike trails along the American and Sacramento Rivers, and ample bike lanes and parking throughout the Central City. Mild winter temperatures and warm summers create the perfect environment to bike all year long.
- Sacramento Cycling Resources - Find bike trail maps, local biking tips, cycling equipment
- Bike Rentals - Find options for local bike rentals
