Hultgren (Wayne R.) Papers: Additions, 1973-1996

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Summary

Title:
Wayne R. Hultgren papers: additions
Dates:
1973-1996
Creators:
Hultgren, Wayne R.
Abstract:
The Wayne Hultgren papers contain material pertaining to Hultgren's work with the Modern Transit Society (MTS) and his efforts to bring light rail to Sacramento. In addition to the MTS, Hultgren was involved with the Light Rail Transit Advocates, North East Transportation Taskforce (NETTF), American Lung Association and the Sacramento Regional Area Planning Commission.
Extent:
4.5 Linear feet (9 manuscript boxes)
Language:
and Collection is in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item including date], [Folder Title], MSS 2005/04, Wayne R. Hultgren papers: additions, Department of Special Collections and University Archives, The Library, California State University, Sacramento.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection consists of Wayne Hultgren's own personal notes and extensive materials pertaining to light rail development. The Papers include annual reports, minutes, and agendas of MTS, including Moving People newsletters. Further material includes correspondence, news clippings, light rail maps, flyers, membership lists and slides pertaining to the planning and opening of the light rail system. The collection also contains items from Measure A, Proposition 111, the I-80 Northeast Corridor, and materials from Regional Transit and the Sacramento Development Agency. Earliest material date from 1975 and cover all periods of development through 1996.

The collection is organized into 10 series:

Series 1: Modern Transit Society (MTS) Sacramento Chapter Background/History, 1975-1993.

Series 2: Historic Trolley and Multi-modal Transportation Hub, 1975-1993, bulk 1975-1983.

Series 3: Northeast Transportation Task Force and Related Papers, 1975-1982.

Series 4: Sacramento Transit Development Agency (STDA), 1983-1985.

Series 5: Organizations and Agencies, 1973-1993.

Series 6: Research Information, 1975-1982.

Series 7: Light Rail Transit Advocates, 1976-1996.

Series 8: Newspaper Clippings, 1974-1989.

Series 9: Miscellaneous, 1976-1987.

Series 10: Slides, 1975-1987.

Collection consists of clippings, reports, research files, and slides.

Biographical / historical:

The Modern Transit Society (MTS) and papers affiliated with this organization through Wayne Hultgren's involvement constitute the majority of information for this collection. Fighting for clean, health conscious, reliable, safe and inexpensive transporation alternatives, including improved bus service and multi-destination light rail system, represent the primary function of this non-profit organization founded in 1971 in Santa Clara County, California. Their mission statement explains that the Modern Transit Society exists to promote transporation solutions to traffic congestion that benefit all modes of transportation through clean and safe public mobility. Additionally, MTS works to educate the public, infrastructure planners, and politicians in transporation matters by advocating transit alternatives to the automobile. MTS recognized the importance of politics and getting key organizational agencies such as the Sacramento City Council on their side in the fight for improved transportation systems.

In 1975, Wayne Hultgren helped found the Sacramento chapter of MTS incorporating an independent volunteer group of environmentally concerned citizens to implement modern mass transportation alternatives that use less energy and cause less pollution than automobiles. The Sacramento chapter's first meeting was held in Orangevale in January of 1975 to discuss involvement in community politics and social action regarding new freeways to by-pass Interstate 80 in the Sacramento metropolitan area. In 1975 and 1976, the County of Sacramento formed the Northeast Area Transportation Task Force to study alternative transportation uses of the Interstate 80 freeway corridors. Appointed by the City Council to serve as a citizen member on the task force, Hultgren educated other task force members and legislators on the capabilities and benefits of regional light rail. Around this same time, MTS began publishing its newsletter Moving People to keep the public informed of its work and progress on transportation issues.

The scope of work performed by MTS included urging government bodies and legislators to consider transit alternatives as opposed to building and widening more highways. Furthermore, society members frequently involved themselves in educational and political programs to promote transit alternatives. Often, the society achieved their ends by interacting with numerous businesses and civic groups who aided in lobbying for the MTS cause. Some of the key organizations involved with MTS include the American Lung Association, whose director in the late 1970s, Curtis Mekemson, was also an MTS member, Environmental Council of Sacramento, and Northeast Transportation Task Force. These organizations in coalition with MTS led a grass-roots campaign to build a light rail line helping to reduce traffic congestion in the Sacramento area in 1980. MTS organized a petition that collected over 5,000 signatures asking the City Council for a light rail system. In 1981, the Sacramento City Council approved a starter light rail line of 18.6 miles to multiple destinations in the Folsom and Northeast corridors. By 1987, Sacramento Regional Transit light rail trains began operation with a Northeast line and westbound line toward Folsom.

The Modern Transit Society proved the most essential organization in the arrival of widespread light rail transit development in Sacramento during the 1970s and 1980s. As the program committee chair in 1975 and Sacramento chapter President from 1976 to 1980, Wayne Hultgren played a vital role in the Modern Transit Society. Because of his involvement and vision, Hultgren is known as the "Father of light rail in Sacramento". Recently, an 8.3-mile long extension line to south city area was constructed and fittingly named one of its stations after Wayne Hultgren (4th Ave/Wayne Hultgren) to pay tribute to the man who brought the MTS organization and light rail advocacy to Sacramento.

Acquisition information:
The additions to the Wayne R. Hultgren papers were a gift of Ruth Hultgren, November 2005.
Appraisal information:

There is no current criteria for records retention.

Custodial history:

Wayne R. Hultgren assembled these papers over many years. The collection was later donated to CSU Special Collections and University Archives.

Processing information:

Processed by Devyn Henry, Debbie Bahn, Brent Rogers, Connor Welles, Jeremy Kelley, Erin Forsythe, Jamie Collins, and Marcia O. Randall.

Accruals:

No further additions are expected.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Devyn Henry, Debbie Bahn, Brent Rogers, Connor Welles, Jeremy Kelley, Erin Forsythe, Jamie Collins, and Marcia O. Randall
Date Prepared:
May 5, 2006
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2012-11-05T16:09-0800

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research. Some restrictions may apply.

Terms of access:

Copyright is protected by the copyright law, Chapter 17 of the U.S. Code. Requests for permission to publish, quote, or reproduce from collections must be submitted in writing to the Head of the Department of Special Collections and University Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Department of Special Collections and University Archives, Library, California State University, Sacramento as the owner of the physical item and is not intended to include permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item including date], [Folder Title], MSS 2005/04, Wayne R. Hultgren papers: additions, Department of Special Collections and University Archives, The Library, California State University, Sacramento.

Location of this collection:
University Library, MS 6039
6000 J Street
Sacramento, CA 95819, US
Contact:
916-278-6144
lib-scua@csus.edu
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