NOTE: The application period for SacRT's next Transit Academy class closed on Monday, April 21, 2025. 

SacRT’s Transit Academy is a free six-class course designed to educate and engage the public in SacRT’s planning process and how transit shapes our communities. Classes are held once a week over a six-week period, concluding with a graduation ceremony.   

Academy participants represent Sacramento’s diverse population, which may include a mix of students, business professionals, seniors, individuals with disabilities, appointed and elected officials, key stakeholders and community-minded individuals. 

Graduates are recognized as knowledgeable representatives for public transit and are encouraged to engage the community in conversations about the region's mobility needs.  

Class Schedule
The Transit Academy runs from May 15 through June 19, 2025, on Thursday evenings from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.  

Who is eligible to participate? 
The Transit Academy seeks applicants who are:  

1. Residents, business owners, riders, community leaders, residents, students, institutional representatives, and elected office holders from SacRT’s service area (Sacramento County) 
2. At least 18 years of age or older  
3. Interested in learning about and promoting the benefits of public transit, even if they don’t ride  

Note: Past Transit Academy participants are not eligible to apply due to space limitations.

Notification of Participation 
Accepted applicants will be notified by Monday, April 28, 2025. Accepted applicants must be able to complete at least four of six evening sessions per the schedule above.  

To best represent the diverse communities that SacRT serves, participants will be selected based on a cross representation of the above criteria. With limited space (up to 40).  

What is the cost of the academy?  

SacRT is not charging a fee to participate. Instead, SacRT asks that participants, within two months of completion, share what they gained and learned with their community in order to continue and expand the transportation conversation, which is vital to our quality of life, and the well-being of our communities. Ideas for individual action plans will be discussed during the Transit Academy sessions.  

What will I learn about in the Academy sessions?  

• Why the benefits of public transit matter – for your household, your business, and the entire community;  

• How SacRT implements its management, governance, and budget;  

• How SacRT plans and operates transit service;  

• How SacRT’s service integrates with transportation in the Sacramento region; and  

• What on-the-street elements are needed for transit service placement  

What is the Academy’s mission?  

The mission of the SacRT Transit Academy is to educate and encourage partnerships between residents, transit riders, businesses, institutions, community leaders, and elected officials to strengthen delivery of a world-class transit system in the region that will reduce congestion, improve air quality, create jobs, attract talent, and retain a qualified workforce.  

What are the Academy’s goals?  

• Raise participant awareness of public transit benefits, principles, operations, and resources;  

• Develop the leadership capacity of participants to promote positive engagement;  

• Increase academy participant collaboration and communication with SacRT, city, and county staff around public transit implementation and needs; and  

• Promote innovative mobility solutions that will help improve the quality of life for the residents that live, work and play in the Sacramento region.