SACOG's Sacramento Region Trails Plan

SACOG Regional Trails Plan Map 

The Great California Delta Trail Master Plan (Approved January 2022):

• Notes that West Sacramento “owns almost ten miles of the former rail corridor south of the city limits, although there are currently no plans to develop a trail on this corridor” (p. 3.17). The report recommends supporting “closing the gaps in the Sacramento River Parkway, Clarksburg Branch Line, Sycamore, and River Walk Trails” (p. 3.18).
• Recommends a Clarksburg Adventure Hub rooted in a “Wine Tasting Adventure,” with Old Sugar Mill and six wineries within walking distance (p. 3.21).
• Shows a proposed Regional Class I trail extending the Clarksburg Branch Line Trail to Pumphouse Road in Clarksburg (p. 3.22).

Economic Sustainability Plan for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta 

Between 2012 and 2019, the number of people participating in the resource-related recreational activities (e.g., boating, fishing, hunting) decreased along with economic activity in the Delta. Jobs fell from 3,064 to 2,280, and economic activity fell from $175 million to $144 million. This happened even as the five-county Delta region increased in population by 1,200,000.

This decline in visitation can be attributed to a decline in resource-related recreational activities like boating, fishing, and hunting. These activities have high-barriers to entry, and the number of businesses supporting them has declined. Declining participation in boating is expected to continue over the next 10-50 years.

Brighter news is that the low-barrier activities are hugely popular among people living in the region's immediately market area of 13,100,000 people. For instance, 63.8% of people in the region enjoy walking for fitness or pleasure and do it 46.4 days per year, 35.5% enjoy bicycling on paved surfaces and do it 25.8 days per year, 20.7% enjoy bicycling on unpaved surfaces and do it 13.5 days per year. The Clarksburg Branch Line Trail will support these and other popular activities, and Page 47-48 of the report shows that these non-motorized right-of-way recreation visitors spend just as much per day as boaters and anglers, and more than people driving for pleasure. 

Nearly two-thirds of the over 13 million people who live in the five-county Delta region enjoy activities supported by the Clarksburg Branch Line Trail, they spend as much per day as the declining number of participants in motorized boating and fishing, and more than people who drive for recreation.

However, the capture rate for these activities range between 0.50% and 0.10%. The Delta is failing to capture these high-value visitors that could sustain its economy as the powerboating market continues the decline projected in the Plan.

The surveys in the plan show that these walkers and bike riders want to visit the Delta but cannot because there is nowhere for them to walk or bike.

Trail Users Support Agriculture 

The number of farms with direct sale operations, such as farm stands or you-pick operations, agritourism or recreation sales, have increased in the six Delta Counties since 2002, with resultant increases in income per farm. In addition, many wineries and wine-tasting establishments have opened. This trail creates opportunities for direct sales and links urban population to the Clarksburg American Viticultural Area.

Recommendations 

Implement the Great Delta Trail
Expand bike lanes
Expand hiking trails
Enhance agritourism

Recreation & Tourism in the Delta

Active Recreation (people who walk and bike) spend money in the Delta. Daytrippers spend more money per day than overnighters.

The Economic Sustainability Plan describes how much. The Recreation & Tourism study shows the range and what they spend it on.

Bicycle day-trippers, for instance, travel slower and therefore spend more time where they're going than driving day-trippers, which leads them to spend more money, and, while drivers spend money on gasoline to fuel their cars and buy it on their way to the region, bicyclists spend money on food to fuel their bodies and spend it while they are in the region.

The investment in the Clarksburg Branch Line Trail is an investment in the Delta's economy. 

2018 West Sacramento Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Trails Master Plan

West Sacramento plans to greatly improve its regional connections through the Regional Trails Initiative. The initiative identifies expansion to the north and west further into Yolo County and south through Clarksburg linking to the Great California Delta Trail. These new extensions will link the metropolitan areas of Woodland, Davis, Clarksburg and Sacramento which provides the necessary infrastructure to attract bicyclists and biking as an alternate mode of travel.

Clarksburg Branch Line Trail – This proposed bike path is currently an unpaved trail along an abandoned UPRR right-of-way. The City owns the entire 10-mile length between the Deep Water Ship Channel and Clarksburg in unincorporated Yolo County. As proposed, the entire length would become paved including the section in unincorporated Yolo County. The City has already paved the trail between South River Road and River City High School/Cherokee Road. The trail will cross the Deep Water Ship Channel using the unused UPRR right-of-way on the Jefferson Boulevard Bridge and the proposed path will connect east Southport to destinations north of the Deep Water Ship Channel. The City will coordinate with Yolo County regarding implementation beyond City limits.

County of Yolo Bicycle Transportation Plan

Policy CI-10.2 directs the County to work with West Sacramento to re-use the abandoned railroad that
extends from the city limits to Clarksburg for the proposed California Delta Trail System.

Action CI-A3 makes it a County priority to identify bike routes along levees, abandoned railroads, waterways, and transmission rights-of-way.

Page 10: "Another Class I route is the Clarksburg Branch Line railroad alignment south of West Sacramento, which the City of West Sacramento has purchased from the Yolo Shortline Railroad as far south as Pumphouse Road north of Clarksburg. The purchase is planned to ultimately result in a continuous ten-mile long city trail."

Page 4: 8.3% of students attending schools in Yolo County's unincorporated communities commute to school by bicycle. The elementary school in Clarksburg is a charter school that serves a countywide student body. This trail would connect the campus to West Sacramento, where many students live within an easy bicycling distance along the proposed trail. Parents contact staff urging speedy completion of the trail.

Clarksburg Community Action Plan 2016

Clarksburg residents called for the trail in a plan approved by the Clarksburg Citizens Advisory Committee, with participation by 44 residents out of about total 400 residents.

COMMUNITY PRIORITY 4: Develop off-highway bicycle paths

Goal 1 for the plan, above all other goals, was "Transportation maintenance and bicycle route circulation improvements for the community." This is reflected in both the Community Action Plan and in community engagement meetings in Clarksburg. The Plan called for building the trail along with other safe places to walk and bike, both for the purpose of meeting the desire for safe and fun recreation and to get bicyclists out of their way when they're driving. The community engagement meetings found Clarksburgers repeating these sentiments, expressing the second with a shocking vitriol that may be the strongest argument in favor of building the trail.

Other places where the plan calls for the trail are as follows:

Page 9: Residents desired dedicated walking and biking trails. 

Page 14: The CCAC adopted Action 1c directing the County to bicycle routes, possibly along railroad rights-of-way, through the community.

Page 20: The community adopted Action 3.2.2 Pedestrian and Bicycle Paths, committing the development of a dedicated bicycle trail, possibly along the railroad right-of-way, within five years.

Page 22: Opportunities to build on history and support Clarksburg community: 
Create or tie into history trails. We have begun work with the Western Railway Museum to educate trail users about the railroad that used to run where they will ride. We are seeking partners to help with interpreting other natural and human history.

Page 22: Opportunities to facilitate tourism and recreation: 
Pedestrian trails and off-road bikeways could increase safety

Page 22: Moving in and around Clarksburg
Bicycles on some roadways create hazardous conditions

Page 33: "River Road traffic – has been increasing with more motorcycles and bicycles – poses a big safety problem"

Page 34: What do you see as challenges for Clarksburg (such as things that need to change, things you are worried about, services that are lacking, etc.)? 
A dedicated bike trail between West Sacramento and Clarksburg (old RR right of way)

Page 34/35: What three things would you do to improve Clarksburg?
Dangerous bicycles blocking road
Bike trail on the old railroad right of way

West Sacramento General Plan Mobility Element

The Mobility Element contains policies that support increased densities and a mix of uses in multi-modal districts, help walking become more practical, support bicycling for both short- and long-distance trips, and improve transit frequency and destination options. These changes in the land use and transportation framework will reduce vehicle dependency and household transportation costs, conserve energy resources, reduce greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions, and decrease vehicle miles traveled (VMT). 

The City shall maintain, to the maximum extent possible, an appropriate system of low-stress bikeways that encourages cyclists of all skill levels that includes Class I, II, III, and IV facilities, and should plan for and install the most protected facility feasible in areas where relatively high bicycle activity is anticipated. 

2030 Yolo County General Plan Circulation Element

Page CI-45: 

GOAL CI-10 Transportation Within the Delta. Within the Delta Primary Zone, ensure the compatibility of circulation decisions and improvements with applicable policies of the Land Use and Resource Management Plan of the Delta Protection Commission.

Policy CI-10.2 Work with West Sacramento to re-use the abandoned railroad that extends from the city limits to Clarksburg for the proposed California Delta Trail System.

Yolo County Climate Action and Adaptation Plan 2024

Together, we can create a Yolo County where every resident has access to clean, affordable, and reliable transportation and every resident has access to safe and accessible pedestrian and bicycle paths.  

VMT 1b: Coordinate with the Yolo Transportation District to implement the Yolo Active Transportation Corridors Plan (YATC) and ensure the plan provides feasible and reasonable bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure solutions (including secure bike storage) for Yolo County’s unincorporated areas. Focus on adding bike lanes that connect people to destinations in populated areas within Yolo County or rural areas that are adjacent to existing communities. Pedestrian network improvements would be prioritized in key areas in need of sidewalks, which would be identified based on past pedestrian accidents, and safe routes to schools within residential neighborhoods would be developed (acknowledging that sidewalks are the responsibility of the landowner once installed).

2013 Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Trails Master Plan 

The proposed network of bicycle facilities shown in Figure 10 includes several miles of additional Class I bike paths that would form a connected system of high-quality bicycle facilities. These facilities would provide significant utilitarian and recreational function, linking several local and regional destinations. 

Clarksburg Branch Line Trail – This proposed bike path is currently an unpaved trail along an abandoned railroad right-of-way. The City owns the entire ten mile length between the Deep Water Ship Channel and Clarksburg in unincorporated Yolo County. As proposed, the entire length would become paved, including the section in unincorporated Yolo County. The City has already acquired funding to pave the trail between South River Road and River City High School/Cherokee Road. The trail will cross the Deep Water Ship Channel using the unused rail right-of-way on the Jefferson Boulevard Bridge. This proposed path will connect east Southport to destinations north of the Deep Water Ship Channel. The City will coordinate with Yolo County regarding implementation beyond their City limits.

Yolo County Climate Action Plan 2011

Policies contained in the General Plan Land Use and Circulation Elements related to smart growth and Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) thresholds have the potential to reduce 42,018 MT CO2e/yr in 2020 and 84,035 MT CO2e/yr in 2030. 

The 2011 Yolo County Climate Action Plan relies on the Yolo County General Plan's transportation policies to reduce VMT and greenhouse gas emissions. The General Plan contains both the Circulation Element and the Bicycle Transportation Plan, both of which call for this project.

Transportation 

The extent and quality of alternative transportation infrastructure (e.g., bicycle, pedestrian, transit) influences how far and by what means people travel. 

The Transportation, Mobility, and Infrastructure Commission received an update from project staff at its March 2 meeting.

Staff Report with Maps:

2026-03 TMI Report

Comments:

Written Comments

The Transportation & Mobility Division spoke with trails and parks users about the project at the following events:

April 19 - West Sacramento Earth Day at Bryte Park

April 26 - Rails to Trails Conservancy's Celebrate Trails Day on the Clarksburg Branch Line Trail

May 16 - West Sacramento Senior Resource Fair at the West Sacramento Community Center

Attendees voiced their excitement for the project and shared their ideas for the trail.

The project team shared information about the project at the March 6 meeting of the Clarksburg General Plan Citizens Advisory Committee.

The project team showed the trail alignment and alternatives, provided the schedule of work, showed trail section concepts, and provided the long-term plans that call for the trail to be built.

The CAC meeting's attendees shared their thoughts on the trail, and the project team took note to incorporate the concerns into the trail plan.

January 2025 Community Open Houses

The Yolo-Delta Trail Coalition hosted two community open houses to share information about the Clarksburg Branch Line Trail Extension to Clarksburg.

The first open house was held in Clarksburg at the Clarksburg Library Activity Room (52915 Netherlands Road) on Tuesday January 21st.

The second open house was held at the West Sacramento Recreation Center (2801 Jefferson Blvd) on Thursday, January 23.

Project staff introduced the projects to the communities in West Sacramento and Clarksburg. We shared information about project benefits and the preliminary alternatives for the trail route.

Meeting attendees shared their excitement, ideas, and concerns with project staff. Attendees were mostly enthusiastic for the opportunities presented by a safe active transportation route between West Sacramento and Clarksburg. They were also supportive of the plans to use the alignment to extend high-speed telecommunications lines farther into the Delta. They shared their suggestions about trail rest areas, educational opportunities, and landscape design. They also helped the project by sharing their concerns about the need to prevent conflicts between farm chemical and dust drift onto the trail and trail users, and their worries that people forced to live outdoors might choose to camp on the trail.