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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- Safe Routes to School (SR2S) Advisory Committee via Zoom 2/16/22 at 1:30pm
- Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC) via Zoom 3/3/22 at 6:00pm
- STA Board Meeting in Suisun and via Zoom 3/9/22 at 6:00pm
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IN THIS EDITION:
- Five New Board Alternates join STA
- STA Board Supports Projects in Caltrans’ I-80 Comprehensive Multi-Modal Corridor Plan
- New I-80 Dixon Milk Farm Project Presented to STA Board
- STA Board discusses Federal Funding Priorities for 2022
- West Texas Gateway Improvement Project Ribbon Cutting
- Caltrans completes SR37 Public Outreach events
- STA Board Approves Updated Solano Express Bus Replacement Plan & Solano Express Operating Budget for 2022-23
- STA Board Authorizes Temporary Suspension of Selected Runs of the Green Express and Blue Line Due to Driver and Equipment Shortages
- STA seeking public input for Connected Mobility Plan Survey
- STA partners with California Air Resources Board (CARB) on Solano Sustaintable Transportation Equity Project (SolSTEP)
- Guaranteed Ride Home Program available for Solano Express riders
- Get involved with STA Advisory Committees
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Five New Board Alternates join STA
Five new Board Alternates were sworn in at the February 9, 2022, Solano Transportation Authority (STA) Board Meeting. The new Board Alternates are as follows:
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Vice Mayor Scott Pederson (City of Dixon) |
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Vice Mayor Rick Dolk
(City of Rio Vista)
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Mayor Pro tem Alma Hernandez
(City of Suisun City)
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Vice Mayor Jason Roberts
(City of Vacaville)
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Supervisor Mitch Mashburn
(County of Solano)
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STA Board Supports Projects in Caltrans’ I-80 Comprehensive Multi-Modal Corridor Plan
At the February 9th meeting, the STA Board authorized STA to submit a letter of support to Caltrans for the I-80 Comprehensive Multimodal Corridor Plan (CMCP) project list. The CMCP is a long-range comprehensive planning document to develop a balanced, multi-modal transportation system that addresses community and environmental impacts. It covers approximately 70 miles of the I-80 corridor from the Carquinez Bridge in Solano County, through Yolo County and ending at the junction of State Route (SR) 51 in Sacramento County, as well as a short segment of SR 50 between I-80 and I-5. The CMCP will facilitate and allow collaboration between Caltrans, STA, and local and regional partners to apply for regional, state, and federal funding programs.
For more information on the I-80 Comprehensive Multimodal Corridor Plan (CMCP), click here.
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New I-80 Dixon Milk Farm Project Presented to STA Board
The STA was recently approached by a private sector group working with the City of Dixon to purchase 60 acres of property, located adjacent to I-80 and SR 113 and comprising the location for the historic Milk Farm Restaurant. The group attended the February 9th STA Board meeting and provided a presentation to the STA Board outlining the objectives and opportunities for the proposed project. Their intent is to develop the site as a combination truck stop, with restoration of the Milk Farm Restaurant and additional dining options, parking for trucking, alternative fueling for electrification and other alternatives for freight, and a potential site for Solano Express Bus service, storage and parking.
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STA Board discusses Federal Funding Priorities for 2022
STA’s federal advocate, Susan Lent of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, attended the February 9th STA Board meeting to discuss STA’s federal priorities and the numerous opportunities for federal funding. STA has reviewed the recently passed federal infrastructure bill, which is a five-year program with an array of potential funding programs and grants. STA staff has identified five initial projects that are project delivery ready and good candidates for federal funding:
- Canon Rd. Overcrossing
- I-505/Vaca Valley
- SR-37/Fairgrounds Dr.
- Parkway Blvd. Overcrossing
- Solano Express Electrification
2022 looks to be a busy year for transportation with the recent passage of the Federal Transportation Infrastructure Bill (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) and Governor Newsom’s State Budget proposal, including a large investment of state budget surplus funds for transportation infrastructure and programs.
To see the draft list of federal infrastructure funding programs, click here.
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West Texas Gateway Improvement Project Ribbon Cutting
On January 27, the City of Fairfield and the STA held a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Fairfield Transportation Center to celebrate the West Texas Gateway Slip-Ramp Improvement Project. The project is an integral part of the Heart of Fairfield Specific Plan, a multi-phase strategy that aims to revitalize downtown Fairfield and surrounding areas through various projects by 2040. The Fairfield Transportation Center slip-ramp improvements were made at the eastbound Interstate 80 West Texas Street off-ramp and include multi-modal improvements to the intersection for pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit access, and safety around the transportation center, including West Texas Street and the Linear Trail. The project was funded by STA and the City of Fairfield.
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Caltrans completes SR37 Public Outreach events
The STA has been working with the county transportation authorities of Marin County, Sonoma County, and Napa County, along with Caltrans District 4 and MTC to plan improvements to the SR 37 Corridor. Caltrans recently completed a series of public meetings to garner public input regarding the corridor, beginning with a Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) Study public outreach meeting on January 25th. This was followed by a public meeting on February 2nd focused on an interim project planned for SR 37 from the Sears Point in Sonoma County to Mare Island Interchange in Solano County.
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STA Board Approves Updated Solano Express Bus Replacement Plan & Solano Express Operating Budget for 2022-23
At their February 9th meeting, the STA Board approved the updated Intercity Bus Replacement Funding Plan and authorized STA to allocate $720,898 in Fiscal Year 2021-22 State Transportation Improvement Funds (STAF) for the purchase of 5 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Solano Express Blue Line buses by Solano County Transit (SolTrans). Additionally, the Solano Express Bus Replacement Capital Plan has been updated to reflect the current need for replacement of the Solano Express Bus Fleet. The current 39 bus fleet is projected to be reduced to 35 buses necessary to operate the four Solano Express routes when SolTrans takes over operation of the entire Solano Express service in FY 2022-23 via a contract with STA.
The STA Board also authorized STA to amend the 2014 Intercity Bus Replacement Plan funding agreement with the City of Vacaville to reflect the January 2022 funding plan, which includes the purchase of 12 new Electric Buses to be purchased for first the Yellow Line and then the Green Line in future years.
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STA Board Authorizes Temporary Suspension of Selected Runs of the Green Express and Blue Line Due to Driver and Equipment Shortages
Driver and equipment shortages and the start of the transition of buses from FAST to Soltrans has resulted in missed scheduled runs on the Blue Line and Green Express on a frequent basis during the month of January 2022. STA reviewed FAST's proposal to suspend services on several of the less productive runs, and STA conducted recent ridership counts at the Fairfield Transit Center (FTC) and El Cerrito Del Norte BART station for the Green Express and FTC, Vacaville Transit Center and Walnut Creek BART station for the Blue Line. Based on this data collection and analysis, and after conferring with FAST and Solano County Transit (SolTrans), the STA Board approved the limited suspension of a few selected Solano Express Blue Line and Green Express bus runs at the Feb. 9 STA Board meeting. These limited suspensions will take effect on Feb. 28, 2022: all other scheduled runs of the Blue and Green Express lines will continue to operate. The temporary suspended schedule will be brought back to the STA Board following the transition of the Green Express to SolTrans on April 4, 2022.
The suspensions are ONLY on the following runs:
Green Express:
- 4:10am departures from Suisun Amtrak Station
- 5:40am departures from Fairfield Transportation Center
- 5:11am, 6:26am, 7:10am departures from El Cerrito del Norte BART
- 3:10pm and 5:00pm departures from Fairfield Transportation Center
- 4:01pm and 5:48pm departures from El Cerrito del Norte BART
Blue Line:
- 6:20am departures from Fairfield Transportation Center to Sacramento
- 7:42am departures from Vacaville Transportation Center to Walnut Creek BART
- 7:58am departures from Sacramento to Fairfield Transportation Center
- 9:00am departures from Walnut Creek BART to Dixon Park & Ride
- 4:25pm departures from Vacaville Transportation Center to Walnut Creek BART
- 5:40pm departures from Walnut Creek BART to Dixon Park and Ride
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STA seeking public input for Connected Mobility Plan Survey
To improve your traveling experience, the Solano Transportation Authority (STA) is developing the Connected Mobility Implementation Plan to identify and improve mobility options (e.g. bus, ferry, train, bike) between your home and destinations. The STA wants to know how we can improve your travel experience within and outside of Solano County. We believe YOU are the expert on your travel needs, and we need your input!
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Fairfield Veterans Day Parade
Nov. 11, 2021
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Benicia Christmas Parade & Holiday Market
Nov. 11, 2021
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STA partners with California Air Resources Board (CARB) on Solano Sustaintable Transportation Equity Project (SolSTEP)
Through funding from CARB, STA is partnered with the City of Vallejo, SolTrans, Solano Community College (SCC) and ClubStride on the Solano Sustainable Transportation Equity Project (SolSTEP). The SolSTEP project was 1 of 8 grant applications selected statewide and only 1 of 2 projects chosen in the Bay Area.
With oversight from STA’s Countywide Equity Working Group, the SolSTEP team will engage in a collaborative process that identifies, proposes and prioritizes strategies and projects to address the transportation needs within the City of Vallejo. Key project goals and deliverables include several youth and community-led meetings to discuss and seek solutions that will address transportation equity in Vallejo, funded pilot programs and projects developed from community feedback and the development of a transportation career pathway program for youth in conjunction with Solano Community College and ClubStride.
For more information on the SolSTEP Project, please contact Lloyd Nadal, STA Program Services Division Manager at lnadal@sta.ca.gov.
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Guaranteed Ride Home Program Available for Solano Express Riders
Solano Mobility’s Guarantee Ride Home (GRH) Program was first implemented in 2006 to provide a free ride home when an unexpected emergency arises for Solano County employees who commute using alternative modes of travel: carpool, vanpool, train, ferry, bus, walk, or bicycle.
In 2022, the program was expanded to also assist Solano County residents along with Solano County employees. In addition, the program now also considers “unscheduled canceled Solano Express service” as a qualifying reason for a GRH request. To participate in the program, individuals must first register on the Commute Solano website and live within 100 miles of Solano County. When an emergency arises, registered participants may use a taxi, Uber, or Lyft as a way to get home and receive a reimbursement up to $100 per trip after submitting the appropriate forms to STA. Currently 78 employers are registered and there are 352 active users. Participants can use the program as many as three times per calendar month and a total of six times in a calendar year.
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Get involved with STA Advisory Committees
STA is asking for your help to build a more bicycle and pedestrian-friendly Solano County. The STA currently has open positions on our Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC) and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (PAC). The BAC and PAC advise the STA on the development of bicycle and pedestrian facilities as an active mode of transportation in Solano County. Committee members also help STA develop countywide transportation plans and projects and provide funding recommendations for active transportation projects.
We are looking for the following representatives:
Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC)
- City of Fairfield
- City of Suisun
Pedestrian Advisory Committee (PAC)
- City of Dixon
- City of Vacaville
- Member-at-Large
- Member-at-Large (Solano Community College)
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