New Sacramento Regional Transit CEO Hopes To Bridge Budget Gap

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — New leadership is driving Sacramento's Regional Transit and big changes could be on the way.

After a nationwide search and a recruitment process that started in December, Henry Li says he understands the urgency of his new role.

Joyce Higdon is a state employee who rides the train every day from Rancho Cordova to Sacramento.

"I think any time you have a new person at the top, they have a really good opportunity to make a difference," she said. "I think people would like to see it cleaner, you wouldn't want to drop anything on the floor."

Li joined the district in March, but has 20 years of experience in the industry.

"Our financial condition is in very, very bad shape," he said.

Li says the revenue coming in from busts and light rail is $152 million, but the operating cost is $155 million. Every penny of the current budget year's operating reserve has been used to meet the debt, so RT plans cuts, a 25-cent fee increase starting July 1 and cutting underperforming routes.

Li says he plans to hire 13 employees to combat the cleanliness issues riders have complained about.

"We will try to make sure our trains are as clean as possible all the time," he said.

The moves come as Downtown Sacramento will be the home of the Golden 1 Center, the new home for the Sacramento Kings, and transit will be looked on to offset some of the surge in traffic of people going to games and events.