If you've been stuck in traffic on your way home lately, you're not alone—and now you'll actually get to do something about it. The Sacramento Transportation Authority is hosting a free community listening session on July 8, 2026, where you can tell local leaders exactly what transportation improvements Folsom needs most.
This isn't just another city meeting. Mayor Justin Raithel and regional planners will be there to hear directly from residents about traffic, road conditions, and transit options. Your input will help shape where transportation dollars get spent in the years ahead.
The session takes place at the Folsom Community Center, 52 Natoma Street, and it's open to anyone who lives here. Whether you're frustrated by morning commute times, worried about pedestrian safety near schools, or just want better bike lanes, this is your chance to be heard.
The timing matters more than you might think. Folsom added roughly 2,001 residents in the last year alone, bringing the city's population to about 95,680. That's a 2.1% annual growth rate—way above the statewide trend, which has actually been declining. We're one of California's fastest-growing cities right now.
All those new neighbors mean more cars on the road. Housing stock jumped from 34,581 units to 35,837 in the same period, a 3.6% increase that far outpaces the state's 0.77% housing growth rate. Every new subdivision adds pressure to local streets and intersections that were designed for a smaller population.
The people moving here aren't just filling seats—they're driving the local economy. Folsom's median household income sits around $139,804, with per-capita income near $88,380 and a poverty rate of just 5.34%. That means most households own cars, and residents have high expectations for well-maintained roads and reliable transit options.
Our city's age mix also creates competing transportation needs. About 28.6% of residents are between 25 and 44—prime commuting and child-rearing years—while another 17.2% fall between 45 and 54. Meanwhile, roughly 13% of the population is 65 or older, a group that increasingly needs senior mobility services and safe pedestrian infrastructure.
In other words, we need solutions that work for parents dropping kids at school, professionals commuting to Sacramento, retirees running errands, and everyone in between. That's a tall order, and it's exactly why the Sacramento Transportation Authority wants to hear from a broad cross-section of residents.
The July 8 session is part of the STA's ongoing effort to align regional transportation investments with local priorities. The authority has been actively publishing updates and hosting community events throughout 2026, signaling a genuine interest in public input rather than rubber-stamping pre-made plans.
If you've ever complained about traffic at a backyard barbecue or wished for better transit connections, here's your opportunity to turn that frustration into action. Bring your concerns, your ideas, and your questions. The people who control transportation funding will be in the room, listening.
As Folsom continues to grow—and all signs point to more housing and more residents in the pipeline—the transportation decisions made now will shape your daily commute, your property values, and your quality of life for years to come. Missing this meeting means missing your chance to influence those outcomes.