In this edition
- I-80/I-680/SR 12 Interchange Construction Update
- Caltrans Provides Overview of SHOPP Projects in Solano County
- STA Board approves SolanoExpress service changes
- $1.7M California Energy Commission Grant Awarded to STA
- STA Awards BAAQMD TFCA Funds for FY 2021-2022
- SolanoExpress 3rd Quarter Report
- First/Last Mile Program Update
- Vacaville Priority Development Areas (PDA) Presentation
- STA Staff Update
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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.
Please sign up here to receive this newsletter directly in your inbox.
- Remote STA Board Meeting 7/14 at 6:00pm
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I-80/I-680/SR 12 Interchange Construction Update
Construction of the I-80/I-680/SR 12 Phase 2A project is currently underway and the $84 million project was funded with a combination of Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), Trade Corridor Enhancement Program (TCEP), bridge tolls, and State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) funds. I-80/I-680/SR 12 Phase 2A will widen the EastBound SR 12 to EastBound I-80 connector, and improve the connectivity between regionally significant destinations. The project is a partnership between Caltrans District 4 and STA and is scheduled to be open by Fall 2022. More information can be found here.
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Caltrans Provides Overview of SHOPP Projects in Solano County
Caltrans District 4’s Deputy District Director, Doanh Nguyen, provided an update of Caltrans’ State Highway Operations and Protection Program (SHOPP) funded projects programmed for Solano County. These projects include the SR-12 pavement rehabilitation (three projects), SR-29 pavement rehabilitation, Miner Slough Bridge Replacement, and the Real McCoy Ferry System Upgrades. For more information about the SHOPP program, please click here.
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STA Board Approves SolanoExpress Service Changes |
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During the June Board meeting, a public hearing was held to discuss proposed service schedules. The Board adopted service plan will increase service hours on the SolanoExpress Blue, Red and Yellow Lines and Green Express (GX Line) from a collective total of 44,500 hours to 62,500 hours. The expanded service plan will allow for better connections to Walnut Creek BART, SolTrans local services, and eliminate long layovers at Vallejo Transit Center. The service enhancements which go into effect in August also:
- Increases Yellow Line service from two-hour to one-hour frequency
- Adds more trips to the Red Line
- Increases service on the Blue Line, but transitions service from Pleasant Hill BART to Walnut Creek BART.
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Modifies the GreenExpress, which provides direct service from the Fairfield Transportation Center to El Cerrito del Norte BART.
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$1.7M California Energy Commission Grant Awarded to STA |
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STA partnered with Momentum Dynamics to apply for the California Energy Commission Bestfit Innovative Charging Solutions Grant. This program made $7.5M available statewide to fund projects which demonstrated innovative electric vehicle charging solutions for light-duty, medium-duty, and heavy-duty vehicles and for projects which work to accelerate the successful commercial deployment of these solutions.
STA received the largest award, at $1.7M, for installing seven inductive charging pads at regionally significant transit centers along key SolanoExpress routes by 2024. These chargers will be shared with other regional bus operators including BART, WETA, Capital Corridor, SolTrans, Napa Valley Transit Authority, Livermore-Amador Valley Transit Agency, and Contra Costa County Connection in order to maximize tax-payer benefit. For more information, please click here.
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STA Awards BAAQMD TFCA Funds for FY 2021-202 |
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The STA Board approved the programming of $188,000 in FY 2021-22 BAAQMD Transportation Fund for Clean Air (TFCA) funding for six projects improving air quality:
- $11,814 for the Cal Maritime’s Electric Golf Cart;
- $34,192 for the Cal Maritime to purchase an all-electric powered Hyundai Kona;
- $50,000 for SolTrans’ Curtola Park and Ride Inductive Bus Charger Project;
- $17,511 for Six Flags Discovery Kingdom’s employee parking lot EV chargers;
- $50,000 for Solano County’s Mobi Electric Vehicle Charger Project; and
- $25,000 for the City of Vallejo’s Fleming Hill Fleet EV Charger Project.
For more information about the TFCA Program, please click here.
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SolanoExpress 3rd Quarter Report
Earlier this year, the STA Board approved the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021-22 budget for the SolanoExpress service that includes a combination of one-time allocation of federal Corona Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 (CRRSAA) provided by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC).
STA staff continues to monitor the status of the four SolanoExpress routes. The STA contracts with two service providers for SolanoExpress, Solano County Transit (SolTrans) and Fairfield and Suisun Transit (FAST). Both operators presented their 3rd quarter reports during the June 9 STA Board meeting. Through three quarters, the SolanoExpress service is staying within the FY 2020-21 budget parameters, although ridership recovery is still modest. The majority of SolanoExpress ridership is on the Red Line.
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First/Last Mile Program Update
STA’s First/Last Program originated as a pilot in 2017 to connect the Suisun Amtrak Station to the Solano Business Park. In 2019, STA partnered with SolTrans to provide the First/Last Mile Program in the City of Benicia; in 2020, the First/Last Mile Program was expanded to include service to the Vallejo Ferry Terminal, two county train stations, and SolanoExpress bus stops. Currently, there are 280 active participants utilizing the program for a total of 5,300 trips. For more information about the First/Last Mile Program, please visit: www.solanomobility.org or call 800-535-6883
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Vacaville Priority Development Areas (PDA) Presentation
At the June 9 STA Board meeting, the City of Vacaville presented updates on two of their Priority Development Areas (PDA), the Allison Policy Plan PDA and the Downtown Specific Plan PDA. Later this year, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) will be developing guidelines for the allocation of One Bay Area Grant funds (OBAG 3) that will be allocated via the nine county transportation agencies, such as STA for Solano County. A key focus for OBAG 3 is the investment in PDAs identified by cities and designated by the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG). The City of Vacaville’s presentation at the Board meeting is the first in a series of PDA updates to be presented to the STA Board in preparation for the future allocation of OBAG 3 recommendations by the Board.
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In late May and early June, STA filled four part-time positions in the Programs Department, supervised by STA Program Services Division Manager, Lloyd Nadal. On May 17th, two part-time Customer Service Representatives, Angela Gensler and Alexandra Gonzalez-Padilla joined STA’s Solano Mobility Call Center. Angela was the owner of Solano Maids for thirteen years. Originally from the Bay Area, she currently resides in Fairfield with her husband, son, daughters, and grandchildren. Alexandra began her career as a Customer Service Rep for various banks in California. She currently resides in Cordelia with her husband, two daughters, and son-in-law. |
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On June 1st, two new Safe Routes to School (SR2S) Coordinators, Jennifer Hanley and Kara Shuttin also joined STA. As a part-time Program Coordinator, Jennifer will work with schools across Solano County by bringing her experience as a parent and volunteer in Benicia schools to the SR2S program as it looks forward to the next school year. Kara has an extensive background in customer service and is also a parent with children that attend school locally. Kara is looking forward to working with the SR2S Program and Solano County schools to help further the goals of the program.
We welcome all four Solano County residents to the STA.
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