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The Sacramento Regional Transit District (RT) recently approved a long-term license agreement with nine local public agencies under which the district will provide the agencies exclusive use of a portion excess fiber-optic cable capacity along light-rail lines.

RT will provide increased bandwidth at a reduced cost for the agencies, which will pay a one-time fee to use the fiber for 20 years, and an annual operating fee for project management and administration services.

"Currently, all of these agencies are leasing lines for as much as $2,000 to $3,000 per line per month," said RT Director of Real Estate Fred Arnold. "With this agreement, the cost savings represents at a minimum anywhere from $250,000 to $500,000 per year."

RT first installed fiber cable in the South Line light-rail extension, which opened in September 2003. The agency currently is installing cable in the Amtrak/Folsom line, which is under construction.

Last year, RT formed a consortium — the Highway 50 Fiber Implementation Group (50 FIG) — with several agencies to study the use of the regional fiber cable backbone to deliver public services.