A Sliding Scale of Ambition: How Four Cities Are Preparing for Valley Rail

Lodi’s new train station will probably be the last of four to open on Valley Rail’s Sacramento Extension. The rail commission chair has called the 2027 published opening date “optimistic” and described 2030 as “an ambitious target.” That gives Lodi an opportunity the other cities do not have: years to watch what works in Stockton, Lathrop, and Elk Grove, and bring those lessons home. Stockton has built electric carshare, e-bike fleets, and an integrated transit app. Lathrop and the Tesla factory are running employee vanpools. Elk Grove bought its station property outright and operates three commuter bus services. Lodi’s plan today is three bus trips a day to the new station. Whether the city uses the next several years to build something more is a choice that has to be made now.