In this edition
  • STA Carries I-80 Managed Lanes Project to Sacramento
  • STA Board Updates - Rio Vista’s Hope Cohn and Vacaville’s Raymond Beaty Sworn In As Board Alternates
  • Senator Dodd Introduces Highway 37 Improvement Bill
  • STA Board Dedicates $1M for SR 12 Rio Vista Downtown Complete Street Project
  • York Street Improvement Project Groundbreaking in Vallejo
  • I-80/I-680/SR 12 Interchange Project – Construction Package 2
  • Safe Routes to School Annual Report for FY 2018-19
  • STA Board Programs BAAQMD Transportation Fund for Clean Air Funds for Solano Mobility Program and EV Implementation
  • Solano Residents Aged 80 Plus to Ride Solano Express for Free
  • Draft Active Transportation Plan and Land Use Elements Ready for Public Review
  • Safe Routes to School Staff Update
STATUS Newsletter

The STATUS Newsletter is published every month after the STA Board meeting to inform the public and our stakeholders of what’s happening with transportation in Solano County. 

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  • STA Board Meeting in Suisun 3/11 at 6:00pm
STA Carries I-80 Managed Lanes Project to Sacramento

On January 30th, STA and Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) staff attended the California Transportation Commission’s (CTC) Northern California State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) hearing to request to advance STA’s Regional Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP) shares to provide the necessary match funds for the Solano County I-80 Managed Lanes Project. STA staff is working with Caltrans District 4 and MTC to submit the project for the second round of statewide competitive Congested Corridors Program grant funding. Board Members and STA staff continue to advocate in support of SB 1 funding for this project, which has been environmentally cleared and designed, and is ready for construction funding. Mayors Rowlett and Price appeared on CW31’s Good Day Sacramento, KTXL Fox40 News, and 93.1 KFBK Sacramento radio to answer questions regarding the improvements to I-80.
STA Board Updates - Rio Vista’s Hope Cohn and Vacaville’s Raymond Beaty Sworn In As Board Alternates 

Two new Board Alternates, Rio Vista Vice Mayor Hope Cohn and Vacaville Vice Mayor Raymond Beaty, were sworn in at the February 11th STA Board meeting. 2020 STA Board Chair Ron Rowlett has appointed Vice-Chair Bob Sampayan and Board Members Harry Price and Jim Spering to serve on the 2020 Executive Committee.
Senator Dodd Introduces Highway 37 Improvement Bill

State Sen. Bill Dodd introduced legislation on February 21st to reduce traffic congestion along Highway 37 and protect the vital North Bay route from sea level rise and flooding driven by climate change. An estimated 40,000 cars and trucks cross SR 37 each day: that number is expected to increase to 58,000 vehicles over the next 20 years. A recent UC Davis study found that sea level rise will make the highway impossible to use by the end of the century, with serious periods of flooding expected annually in the coming decades. The State bill will create a tolling authority to raise funding for necessary improvements which would help leverage state and federal funding sources to complete the needed improvements to SR 37. Details regarding the design of a new highway and the toll specifics will be decided with future public input. For more information, including the press release and fact sheet , visit the STA website here .
STA Board Dedicates $1M for SR 12 Rio Vista Downtown Complete Street Project

The STA Board approved programming $1M in Regional Transportation Impact Fee (RTIF) funds to support the SR 12 Rio Vista Downtown Complete Street Project (FY 2023-24), matching Caltrans State Highway Operations & Protection Program (SHOPP) funding and $400,000 in local Transportation Impact Fee (TIF) funds provided by Rio Vista. This allocation addresses a project funding shortfall for elements (such as lighting and landscaping) not eligible for SHOPP funding. Previously, the STA Board had programmed $1M in 2020 STIP funds toward this shortfall, but these funds were later reprogrammed as part of required match funding for the Solano I-80 Managed Lanes Project. “This project will add sidewalks, bike lanes, and controlled intersections which will significantly improve the safety of school children, pedestrians, and bicyclists,” said Mayor Ron Kott. “Further, the improved access to local businesses along Highway 12 together with landscaping not only improves the aesthetics of our downtown but will help boost our economy.” The construction of SR 12 Rio Vista Downtown Complete Street Project is scheduled for 2023.
York Street Improvement Project Groundbreaking in Vallejo

The ceremony to break ground for the Vallejo Transit Center-York Street Improvement Project was held on Monday, Feb. 24, at 1:30pm at the Vallejo Transit Center (VTC). STA’s project staff is managing the implementation of the project in partnership with Solano County Transit and the City of Vallejo. The project will expand the VTC to accommodate both local SolTrans’ transit service and the expanded SolanoExpress Service (Red and Yellow lines). In addition, the project will also provide pedestrian and streetscape improvements. Representatives from the Solano Transportation Authority, Solano County Transit and the City of Vallejo attended the event. 
I-80/I-680/SR 12 Interchange Project – Construction Package 2

The STA, Caltrans and MTC continue to move forward on the I-80/I-680/SR 12 Interchange Project to reduce local cut-through traffic, alleviate regional traffic congestion, and increase safety in the area. This $76M project obtained a SB 1 grant for construction from the Trade Corridor Enhancement Program (TCEP). The design by Caltrans is wrapping up, with final reviews underway. Construction on the second construction package is schedule to start this summer 2020.
Safe Routes to School Annual Report for FY 2018-19

The STA Board approved the Solano Safe Routes to School (SR2S) Program’s Annual Report for FY 2018-19. The SR2S Program had a productive 2018-2019 school year with 359 events, reaching 21,731 Solano County students through programs and events. All seven cities and seven school districts participated in the Solano SR2S Program. Highlights of this SR2S Annual Report include the Law Enforcement Education and Enforcement Grant for FY2018-2020, which awarded $150,000 to the Benicia Police Department to hire a non-sworn staff person to partner with the SR2S Program at Benicia schools; continued work with the pilot program city, Suisun City; and allowed the SR2S staff to work with Rio Vista Police officers to host a Youth Safety Fair. In FY 2018-2019, the SR2S Program also received a second Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) Grant for $85,000 to collaborate with Solano Public Health (SPH), the Solano Pedestrian Advisory Committee, Schools and School Districts, City Police and Public Works Departments, California Highway Patrol (CHP) and other stakeholders to host five Community Pedestrian Safety Workshops including a Solano County Pedestrian Symposium in 2018-2019.
STA Board Programs BAAQMD Transportation Fund for Clean Air Funds for Solano Mobility Program and EV Implementation

The STA Board approved the allocation of $340,000 in FY 2020-21 Transportation Fund for Clean Air (TFCA) funds provided by the Bay Area Quality Management District (BAAQMD) for the Solano Mobility Program and Electric Vehicle Implementation Program. The remaining funds, estimated at $65,000, are to be allocated following a call for projects. In addition, a potential partnership with other North Bay counties and Marin Clean Energy could bring an additional $125,000 in CALeVIP Funds, a funding pool dedicated to EV infrastructure.  
Solano Residents Aged 80 Plus to Ride Solano Express for Free

The STA Board approved the Solano Express Transit Consortium’s recommendation that the Golden Pass Program (currently available in the cities of Fairfield and Vacaville) be expanded to include the four SolanoExpress Bus Routes (Blue, Green, Red and Yellow) operated by Fairfield And Suisun Transit (FAST) and Solano County Transit (SolTrans). The Golden Pass Program provides Solano County residents with the opportunity to ride transit for free if they are aged 80 or older. The recommendation includes modifying the program to allow participation by participants (Solano County residents aged 80 plus) by showing a valid identification, rather than issuing a separate pass.  
Draft Active Transportation Plan and Land Use Elements Ready for Public Review

STA staff and consultants have completed the Active Transportation Plan (focused on bikes and pedestrians) of the STA’s Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP) for review and distribution for public review by the STA Board. The Active Transportation Plan has been released for a 60-day comment period from February 13th to April 13th, 2020.
Click below to view the Solano Countywide Active Transportation Plan.

Safe Routes to School Staff Update

Corester McLemore joined the STA’s Safe Routes to School Program in January as a new Part-Time Program Coordinator. She is a resident of the City of Fairfield and is supervised by Karin Bloesch.
2020 STA Board Members

  • Ron Rowlett, Chair, Mayor of Vacaville
  • Bob Sampayan, Vice-Chair, Mayor of Vallejo
  • Harry Price, Mayor of Fairfield
  • Thom Bogue, Mayor of Dixon
  • Elizabeth Patterson, Mayor of Benicia
  • Ronald Kott, Mayor of Rio Vista
  • Jim Spering, Solano County Supervisor
  • Lori Wilson, Mayor of Suisun City
     
707-424-6075