Background of the JPA

The Sacramento-Placerville JPA is a public entity formed in 1991 for the purpose of purchasing 53 miles of the Placerville Branch right of way from Southern Pacific (SP). There are four member agencies of the JPA: County of El Dorado, City of Folsom, County of Sacramento, and the Sacramento Regional Transit District (RT). The JPA is funded by each member agency contributing an equal share towards an annual Operating Budget approved by the JPA Board. The JPA Board usually meets four times a year and consists of five directors, four of whom are current members of the RT District Board of Directors, Sacramento and El Dorado County Boards of Supervisors, and the Folsom City Council. A fifth director at large is selected by the four regular directors. The current director at large is Rancho Cordova City Councilmember Linda Budge. Although the JPA purchased the right of way from SP in September 1996, the JPA is an ongoing agency with the purpose of preserving the corridor for transportation uses and overseeing property management.