Guide to the Wayne R. Hultgren papers: additions, 1973-1996
Finding aid prepared by Devyn Henry, Debbie Bahn, Brent Rogers, Connor Welles, Jeremy Kelley, Erin Forsythe, Jamie Collins,
and Marcia O. Randall
California State University, Sacramento Special Collections & University Archives
The Library
2000 State University Drive East
Sacramento, CA, 95819-6039
916-278-6144
scua@csus.edu
May 5, 2006
Title: Wayne R. Hultgren papers: additions
Identifier/Call Number: MSS 2005/04
Contributing Institution:
California State University, Sacramento Special Collections & University Archives
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
4.5 Linear feet
(9 manuscript boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1973-1996
Language of Materials note: Collection is in English.
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.
creator:
Hultgren, Wayne R.
Processing Information note
Processed by Devyn Henry, Debbie Bahn, Brent Rogers, Connor Welles, Jeremy Kelley, Erin Forsythe, Jamie Collins, and Marcia
O. Randall.
Appraisal note
There is no current criteria for records retention.
Scope and Contents note
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.
Biographical/Historical note
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.
Preferred Citation note
[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.
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
The additions to the Wayne R. Hultgren papers were a gift of Ruth Hultgren, November 2005.
Accruals note
No further additions are expected.
Custodial History note
Wayne R. Hultgren assembled these papers over many years. The collection was later donated to CSU Special Collections and
University Archives.
Conditions Governing Use note
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.
Conditions Governing Access note
Collection is open for research. Some restrictions may apply.
Scope and Contents note
Collection consists of clippings, reports, research files, and slides.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Hultgren, Ruth
Hultgren, Wayne R.
Public transportation
Sacramento, Calif.
Series 1: Modern Transit Society (MTS) Sacramento Chapter Background / History,
1975-1993
Arrangement note
The folders in this series contain information on the background and history of the Sacramento chapter of the Modern Transit
Society (MTS). A portion of this sesries is devoted to the society newsletter Moving People, which includes early drafts and
finished issues. There are board meeting minutes for 1978-80 and 1983-4. In addition to board minutes, this series contains
membership records, a membership survey, and letterheads which contain confidential material. Also present are various forms
of correspondence including discussions of upcoming activities and appeals for financial support. The MTS participated in
many activities including groundbreaking ceremonies and annual dinners. Information on the annual dinners includes: nametags,
invitations, speeches on sheets of paper and notecards, the "Sally Sacramento" skits, and songs. The annual dinners have corresponding
photographs in the picture series. In addition, this series contains folders on Richard Rodda and the 1981 Sacramento Light
Rail victory.
Box 1, Folder 1
Membership Information,
1975-1988
Box 1, Folder 3
Board Meeting Minutes,
1978-1980
Box 1, Folder 4
Board Meeting Minutes,
1983
Box 1, Folder 5
Board Meeting Notes,
1978-1980
Box 1, Folder 6
Correspondence,
1977-1984
Box 1, Folder 7
Official Government Correspondence,
1981-1984
Box 1, Folder 8
Speeches and Statements,
1978-1984
Box 1, Folder 9
Radio Show Contact Information and Speeches,
1981
Box 1, Folder 10
Speeches and Letters from Other Groups in Support of LR,
1975-1984
Box 1, Folder 13
Annual Dinners,
1980-1981
Box 1, Folder 14
Hultgren's Handwritten Notes,
1975-1993
Box 1, Folder 15
Moving People Magazine,
1989-1993
Box 1, Folder 17
Sacramento LRT Victory,
1981
Series 2: Historic Trolley and Multi-nodal Transportation Hub,
1975-1993
Arrangement note
This series contains various types of material in four file folders spanning from 1973 to 1992. In 1975, the Modern Transit
Society proposed a new historic trolley line running from the I-80 parking lot next to 28th and R to Old Sacramento. There
are drafts of the initial proposal and a city council funded feasibility study conducted by Wilbur Smith and Associates of
San Francisco. One folder is dedicated largely to correspondence between the MTS and city and county officials. Also included
are newspaper clippings, reports on historic trolley systems in other cities, and Friends of the Light Rail newsletters from
1992, when the group acquired two trolley cars for restoration and initiated a new feasibility study.
Box 2, Folder 1
Historic Trolley: News Clippings,
1975-1977
Box 2, Folder 2
Historic Trolley: Reports, Correspondence, and Newsletters,
1975-1977, 1993
Box 2, Folder 3
Historic Trolley: Notes,
1975-1977
Box 2, Folder 4
Historic Trolley: Feasibility Study,
1977
Box 2, Folder 5
Timed Transfer System: Reports, Maps, and Proposals,
1976-1978, 1981-1983
Box 2, Folder 6
Timed Transfer Systems: Notes,
1976-1978, 1981-1983
Box 2, Folder 7
Multi-Modal Transportation Hub: Notes and News Clippings,
1982-1983
Box 2, Folder 8
Multi-Modal Transportation Hub Preservation Issues: Notes, Correspondence, News Clippings, and Reports,
1977, 1982-1983
Series 3: Northeast Transportation Task Force and Related Papers,
1975-1982
Arrangement note
This series contains various types of materials regarding the scope and duties of the Northeast Transportation Task Force
(NETTF) created in Sacramento in 1975. Information within this series relates to the Interstate 80 Corridor and the Interstate
80 Corridor Steering Committee for acceptance of light rail along Interstate 80, which appears to have grown from an alternative
form of transportation proposed by NETTF. Papers in this series may include analyses, reports on alternative forms of transportation,
area maps with possible light rail routes, agendas, meeting notes, newspaper clippings, and additional correspondence relating
to reports and analyses. Information regarding the position of the American Lung Association and the Sacramento Regional Area
Planning Commission on alternative forms of transportation preside in this series.
Box 3, Folder 1
Northeast Transportation Task Force Agendas, Minutes, Notes, and Membership Lists,
1967-1981, bulk 1974-1976
Box 3, Folder 2
Northeast Transportation Task Force Reports, Agendas, Minutes, Notes, and Clippings,
1976
Box 3, Folder 3
I-80 Bypass Proposals, Reports, Memos, Clippings, and Correspondence,
1975-1981
Box 3, Folder 4
I-80 Corridor Alternative Reports, Notes, and Clippings,
1980-1981
Box 3, Folder 5
Proposed Transportation Alternative Maps,
1971-1978
Box 3, Folder 6
Northeast Corridor Transportation Study Technical Supplement,
1976
Box 3, Folder 7
Northeast Corridor Transportation Study Consultants Report,
1976
Series 4: Sacramento Transit Development Agency (STDA),
1982-1985
Arrangement note
This series contains materials pertaining to the Sacramento Transportation Development Agency (STDA). The STDA was commissioned
in 1981 to oversee the development of the Sacramento Light Rail system. Papers in this series include STDA meeting agendas,
memos, press releases, and selected progress reports. The files contain Wayne Hultgren's personal notes and editions of Light
Rail News dating from 1983 to 1985. A 1984 MTS statement of the STDA board is also included in this series.
Box 3, Folder 8
Agendas, Memos, and Progress Reports,
1983-1985
Box 3, Folder 9
STDA - Light Rail,
1983-1985
Box 3, Folder 10
MTS Statement to STDA and Wayne Hultgren's Notes,
1984
Box 3, Folder 11
Articles, Flyers, and Press Releases,
1983-1985
Series 5: Organizations/Agencies,
1973-1993
Arrangement note
This series contains various types of materials regarding the scope and duties of the Northeast Transportation Task Force
(NETTF) in Sacramento. Information within this series relates to the Interstate 80 Corridor and the Interstate 80 Corridor
Steering Committee for acceptance of light rail along Interstate 80, which appears to have grown from an alternative form
of transportation proposed by NETTF. Papers in this series may include analysis, reports on alternative forms of transportation,
area maps with possible light rail routes, agendas, meeting notes, newspaper clippings, and additional correspondence relating
to reports and analyses. Information regarding the position of the American Lung Association and the Sacramento Regional Area
Planning Commission on alternative forms of transportation preside in this series. The unprocessed materials from the collection
addition, currently in processing, may include additional reports, maps, stated planned actions, newsletters, and meeting
notes.
Box 4, Folder 2
American Lung Association,
1977-1982
Box 4, Folder 3
California Transportation Commission,
1983
Box 4, Folder 4
Citizens General Plan Advisory Committee,
1976-1979
Box 4, Folder 5
Citizens for Rail California,
1980-1983
Box 4, Folder 6
Environmental Council of Sacramento,
1974-1979
Box 4, Folder 7
Friends of Light Rail,
1986, 1993
Box 4, Folder 8
Metropolitan Transit Development Committee,
1981-1983
Box 4, Folder 9
Regional Transit Citizens Committee,
1977-1978
Box 4, Folder 10
Regional Transit Agency Memos and Reports,
1978-1989
Box 4, Folder 11
Regional Transit Agency Articles and Notes,
1979-1984
Box 4, Folder 12
Regional Transit Agency Board Meetings, Notes, and Research Files,
1979-1980
Box 4, Folder 13
Sacramento Regional Planning Commission,
1973-1976
Box 4, Folder 14
Sacramento Transportation Forum,
1978
Series 6: Research Information,
1975-1982
Arrangement note
Materials in this series relate to MTS research on multiple light rail systems. The series contains information on the background
of the Edmonton, Alberta Light Rail and information from the Zurich, Switzerland, Portland, Oregon, and Calgary, Alberta systems.
Files also contain articles and materials from the 1978 and 1982 Light Rail Transit conferences, as well as Hultgren's personal
notes from the 1975 conference. Additional information in this series pertains to international and domestic information on
light rail cars and equipment.
Box 5, Folder 1
Other City Light Rail Information,
n.d.
Box 5, Folder 2
Light Rail Conference, San Diego [1982] and Boston [1978],
1978, 1982
Box 5, Folder 3
Light Rail Conference, Philadelphia,
1975
Box 5, Folder 4
Edmonton Light Rail Background Research,
n.d.
Box 5, Folder 5
Light Rail Cars, International,
n.d.
Box 5, Folder 6
Light Rail Cars, Domestic,
n.d.
Series 7: Light Rail Transit Advocates (LRTA),
1976-1996
Arrangement note
Materials in this series document the activities of the Light Rail Transit Advocates (LRTA) - a Sacramento non-profit transit
support organization formed in 1988. Wayne Hultgren served as the group's Vice President. Included in the materials are the
group's Mission Statement, Statement of Goals and Objectives, documentation of its support of Measure A, monthly newsletters,
correspondence, meeting minutes, newspaper clippings, membership rosters, and evidence of LRTA's support, lobbying efforts,
and promotion of various pieces of proposed state and local legislation.
Box 5, Folder 7
Meeting Minutes,
1989-1990
Box 5, Folder 8
Correspondence and Clippings,
1976-1996
Box 5, Folder 11
Florin Transit Center Depot Location,
1990
Box 5, Folder 13
Articles and Incorporation Draft,
1990
Series 8: Newspaper Clippings,
1974-1989
Arrangement note
The newspaper clippings relate to the development of the light rail project.
Box 6, Folder 1
Newspaper Clippings,
1974-1978
Box 6, Folder 2
Newspaper Clippings,
1979
Box 6, Folder 3
Newspaper Clippings - Volume 1,
1980
Box 6, Folder 4
Newspaper Clippings - Volume 2,
1980
Box 6, Folder 5
Newspaper Clippings,
1981-1983
Box 6, Folder 6
Newspaper Clippings,
1984-1989
Series 9: Miscellaneous,
1976-1987
Arrangement note
The files relate to the development of the light rail in Sacramento and Wayne Hultgren's involvement with other organizations.
Box 6, Folder 7
Amtrak San Joaquin Task Force,
1978-1985
Box 6, Folder 8
Amtrak News Clippings, Correspondence, and Statements,
1980-1984
Box 7, Folder 1
K Street Mall Clippings,
1978-1984
Box 7, Folder 2
K Street Mall Notes and Reports,
1977-1983
Box 7, Folder 4
Nuclear Weapons Freeze Campaign Organization,
1986-1987
Box 7, Folder 5
Carpooling Articles,
1976-1980
Box 7, Folder 7
Light Rail Energy Use News Clippings and Notes,
1975-1979
Box 7, Folder 8
Light Rail Construction Celebration,
1983
Box 7, Folder 9
Public Transit Short Course,
June 1979
Box 7, Folder 10
Light Rail Lobbying Effort,
1978-1983
Box 7, Folder 12
American River Bridge Construction,
1979-1980
Box 7, Folder 14
One Photograph and Postcards,
1983
Box 7, Folder 16
Miscellaneous Drafts,
1982
Box 7, Folder 17
General Miscellaneous,
1977-1985
Series 10: Slides,
1975-1987
Arrangement note
The slides contained within this series cover Wayne Hultgren's many activities throughout the 1980s with MTS. There are a
handful of slides documenting research on light rail systems conducted in Japan, Canada, and Europe in the late 1970s to early
1980s. Specifically, htere are slides covering such activities as groundbreaking and opening ceremonies, MTS Melodrama from
1980 and 1981, and various celebratory get-togethers. There are many slides of annual meetings, board meetings, and council
meetings. There are many slides of various Sacramento light rail trains and a few of stations, some identifiable and some
not. In some cases, slides were grouped together for a presentation. There was one notecard grouping of presentation notes
from 1980 also contained in the boxes. There was a small number of photographs in the containers covering similar topics as
the slides. There was also a grouping of slides of a family vacation to Niagara Falls. The slides and photographs are in good
condition, although some have been held together in groups by deteriorating rubber bands. There are many slides of the same
topic and a few that are unlabeled. In most cases, the slides were grouped and labeled by the donor and those groupings have
been retained, although in many cases it is impossible to ascertain if the label on the group is correct.
Box 8, Object 1
Sacramento Field Trip Rail [21 slides],
June 1975
Box 8, Object 2
Modern Transit Society Annual Meeting [17 slides],
November 1980
Box 8, Object 3
Modern Transit Society Christmas Party [15 slides],
December 1980
Box 8, Object 4
Modern Transit Society Annual Meeting and Melodrama [24 slides],
1981
Box 8, Object 5
Modern Transit Society Deck Party [15 slides],
June 1981
Box 8, Object 6
Modern Transit Society City Coucil Hearings [21 slides],
June 1981
Box 8, Object 7
Modern Transit Society Groundbreaking [19 slides],
January 1983
Box 8, Object 8
Modern Transit Society Light Rail Groundbreaking [24 slides],
March 1983
Box 8, Object 9
Light Rail Transit Bidding [12 slides],
September 1983
Box 8, Object 10
Modern Transit Society [18 slides],
May 1983
Box 8, Object 11
Light Rail Transit and Transit Construction [40 slides],
May - July 1986
Box 8, Object 12
Friends of Light Rail Transit Excursion [19 slides],
June 1986
Box 8, Object 13
Light Rail Transit Track Laying [10 slides],
June 1986
Box 8, Object 14
Light Rail Transit [24 slides],
August 1986
Box 8, Object 15
Light Rail Transit Excursion [24 slides],
November 1986
Box 8, Object 16
Light Rail Transit Construction [23 slides],
December 1986
Box 8, Object 17
Light Rail Transit [20 slides],
March 1987
Box 8, Object 18
Light Rail Transit Opening Day [27 slides],
March 1987
Box 8, Object 19
Portland, Oregon Light Rail Transit [22 slides],
April - May 1987
Box 8, Object 20
Light Rail Transit [21 slides],
March 1987
Box 8, Object 21
Light Rail Transit Systems and Showgirls [32 slides],
Spring 1987
Box 8, Object 22
Light Rail Transit Opening Folsom Line [27 slides],
September 1987
Box 8, Object 23
Modern Transit Society Melodrama [11 slides],
1981
Box 8, Object 24
San Francisco Muni [12 slides],
1980
Box 8, Object 25
Cal Expo Monorail [7 slides],
n.d.
Box 8, Object 26
K Street Mall [7 slides],
January 1984
Box 8, Object 27
Slide Presentation Facts and Figures [47 slides],
n.d.
Box 8, Object 28
Washington, DC [19 slides],
July 1975
Box 8, Object 29
Slide Presentation [34 slides],
July 15, no year
Box 9, Object 30
Light Rail Transit [15 slides],
1981
Box 9, Object 31
Modern Transit Society Hearing and Dinners [7 slides],
June 1981
Box 9, Object 32
San Diego [18 slides],
March 1982
Box 9, Object 33
Symposium [18 slides],
March 18, 1982
Box 9, Object 34
San Diego Light Rail Transit Opening [12 slides],
n.d.
Box 9, Object 35
Track Laying Ceremony [11 slides],
n.d.
Box 9, Object 36
Rail California [15 slides],
1980
Box 9, Object 37
Construction [16 slides],
July 1983
Box 9, Object 38
Niagara Falls [8 slides],
May 1985
Box 9, Object 39
Farewell Party - Curt [14 slides],
November 1984
Box 9, Object 40
Light Rail Groundbreaking [18 slides],
1983
Box 9, Object 41
Early Light Rail Conferences [9 slides],
n.d.
Box 9, Object 42
Sacramento Light Rail Trains [5 slides],
n.d.
Box 9, Object 43
Monorail [9 slides],
February 1975
Box 9, Object 44
Light Rail Station Research [7 slides],
n.d.
Box 9, Object 45
San Diego Transit System [1 slide],
n.d.
Box 9, Object 46
European Light Rail Research Trip [30 slides],
1980
Box 9, Object 47
Sacramento Photos and Map [17 slides],
n.d.
Box 9, Object 48
Modern Transit Society Annual Meeting [14 slides],
1982
Box 9, Object 49
Modern Transit Society Melodrama [14 slides],
1981-82
Box 9, Object 50
Light Rail Transit [15 slides],
n.d.
Box 9, Object 51
Edmonton Trip Research [34 slides],
n.d.
Box 9, Object 52
Miscellaneous Light Rail Transit [6 slides],
n.d.
Box 9, Object 53
Slides and Notes from Presentation [24 slides],
1983-87
Box 9, Object 54
Photos Groundbreaking [4 photos],
1983
Box 9, Object 55
Opening Day Celebrations Photos [9 photos],
n.d.
Box 9, Object 56
Negatives from Groundbreaking Slides,
n.d.
Box 9, Object 57
K Street Mall Construction in 5 Slide Sleeves [75 slides],
n.d.
