Episode
Why Good Transit Planning Starts with Observation at SacRT with James Drake
- Podcast
- Stop Requested
- Published
- Mar 31, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 3747
- Processing state
not_requested
Actions
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Summary
In this episode of Stop Requested, Levi McCollum and Christian Londono talk with James Drake, Senior Manager of Service Planning at Sacramento Regional Transit (SacRT). With over 20 years at one agency, James shares how transit service actually comes together, from data and analysis to the service riders experience every day. The conversation explores how planners think about networks instead of individual routes, how service changes are developed and implemented, and why balancing ridership and coverage isn’t as simple as it seems. James also discusses the role of data, the importance of observation and operator input, and how microtransit fits into a broader transit system.