IN THIS EDITION:

• 5 Earmarks, 3 Projects, 2 Congressmen, 1 Senator
• STA to lead I-80 Westbound Truck Scales Design and Right of Way
• STA Board Approves Two-Year Overall Work Plan
• STA Board authorizes Solano Express Interim Schedule Changes
• Solano Rail Hub in Suisun City the Focus of State Rail Plan
• STA & Suisun City hosts Community-Based Transportation Plan (CBTP) Open House
• EV Charger Information Available on STA Website
• Solano Mobility Incentive Program Guarantees Emergency Ride Home   
• Get Involved with STA Citizen Advisory Committees
• STA Staff Update

5 Earmarks, 3 Projects, 2 Congressmen, 1 Senator

In March, the STA Board approved a list of nine initial priorities for federal funding. STA has been working with our partner agencies and project sponsors on each of the nine priorities which are in various stages of project readiness for delivery of the projects and for submittal for federal funding. Last week, STA received word that three priorities were submitted for five earmarks totaling $12 million by U.S. Congressmen John Garamendi and Mike Thompson and U.S. Senator Alex Padilla. 

1. I-505/Vaca Valley Interchange Improvement Project (Congressman Garamendi and Senator Padilla)
2. Jepson Parkway Phase 2C (Canon Road Overcrossing) (Congressman Garamendi)
3. Purchase of electric Solano Express buses (Congressmen Garamendi and Thompson)

To view the I-505/Vaca Valley Interchange Improvement project fact sheet, click here. For more information on near-term,mid-term, and long-term improvements of the Jepson Parkway Phase 2C (Canon Road Overcrossing) Project, click here.

STA to lead I-80 Westbound Truck Scales Design and Right of Way

The I-80 Westbound Truck Scales Project (Project) detailed preliminary engineering and final design services are being funded by a combination of SB1 Trade Corridor Enhancement Program (TCEP) and matching State Transportation Improvement Program (STAF) funds for a total of $29.27 million. The Design Phase was planned to be implemented jointly by STA and Caltrans. After recent discussions, Caltrans has requested that STA take the lead completing the full design of the Project, with Caltrans providing surveying and project oversight services. At the June 8 meeting, the STA Board approved a contract amendment for preliminary engineering and final design services in the amount of $5,700,000. 

The Board also approved STA's recommendation to have STA lead the right of way acquisition phase and a contract with Contra Costa County Real Estate Division to cover right of way acquisition services.

Click here to see the presentation slides. For more information on the I-80 Westbound Truck Scales project, visit STA’s I-80 Westbound Truck Scales project webpage here.

STA Board Approves Two-Year Overall Work Plan

The Solano Transportation Authority (STA) Board approved STA’s two-year Overall Work Plan (OWP) for FY 2022-2023 and FY 2023-2024. With the addition of five new items based on previous Board actions, the OWP now totals 56 items, including priority plans, projects, and programs for the forthcoming two fiscal years. Members of the public, staff, and stakeholder input are provided through the STA’s public Board meetings, the STA Technical Advisory Committee, the SolanoExpress Transit Consortium, and the STA Citizen-Based Advisory Committees. To review the Overall Work Plan for FYs 2022-2023 and 2023-2024, please click here.

STA Board authorizes Solano Express Interim Schedule Changes

STA continues to support the transition of the Solano Express service from two operators to one transit operator system. Due to a combination of factors including availability of buses and drivers during the transition of the Blue Line, Solano County Transit (SolTrans) has recommended temporary reduction in the Blue Line service schedule from August 8th until September 19th. During this transition period, four 2018 buses will be transferred from Fairfield and Suisun Transit (FAST) to SolTrans to be equipped for service by SolTrans. Also, due to an estimated six-month supply chain delay in the delivery of five new buses to SolTrans, there are not enough buses to operate the four routes (Blue, Green, Red and Yellow Lines) until more buses are available and equipped and additional drivers are hired and trained. SolTrans has also proposed minor adjustments to the schedules for the Green, Red, and Yellow Lines to coordinate with recent changes in BART schedules. 

For more information on the temporary reduced bus schedule, view the informational flyer here. To view the upcoming Solano Express schedule changes, click here. 

Solano Rail Hub in Suisun City the Focus of State Rail Plan

STA Planning and Projects staff have been working with the Cities of Fairfield and Suisun City, County of Solano, and the Capitol Corridor to plan and advocate for the future of the Solano Rail Bub (Suisun City-Fairfield Amtrak Station) based on the California Rail Plan. At the June Board meeting, the STA Board authorized STA to submit a letter to the CCJPA requesting the addition of the Solano Rail Hub Project in the CCJPA Business Plan to designate the Project as a priority for the CCJPA and establish a partnership when applying for various state and federal fund sources. Additionally, STA received the Board's approval to submit a letter to California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) informing them of the official designation of the Solano Rail Hub to formalize the designation with the State and to put the Project in line to influence the upcoming 2022 California State Rail Plan update.

With the completion of the study’s initial findings and to continue moving the Solano Rail Hub Project forward, the next step identified by the Solano Rail Hub Project Leadership Team (PLT) is to initiate additional expanded planning that will explore project design alternatives outside the railroad or public rights-of-way in direct partnership with the CalSTA.

For more information on the Solano Rail Hub Project, click here.

STA & Suisun City hosts Community-Based Transportation Plan (CBTP) Open House

On Monday, June 6, the Solano Transportation Authority (STA) and the City of Suisun City hosted an in-person public Community-Based Transportation Plan (CBTP) Open House at STA’s offices in Suisun City to share results from over 400 hundred surveys from the Suisun City community and to share proposed recommendations for transportation and mobility improvements in Suisun. Community members in attendance were given an opportunity to learn more about Suisun City’s mobility priorities, proposed recommendations, next steps, and to provide feedback to help Suisun City design transportation system improvements that work for them.

A final draft report will be presented to the Suisun City Council in July. To learn more about the Suisun CBTP, please visit the webpage here for more information. 

EV Charger Information Available on STA Website

The Solano Transportation Authority (STA) has developed a county-wide initiative, the Solano Electric Vehicle Transition Program, to identify and overcome barriers to the deployment of public and private plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) charging station infrastructure within Solano County, and to provide a comprehensive approach to reducing such barriers through effective outreach, education, a streamlined permit process for installing charging stations, and an analysis of future charging station needs throughout the county. The goal is to help make it easier for those who want to own an electric vehicle to find resources and places to charge. 

The STA website has developed an electric vehicle (EV) program webpage for information on EVs, EV charging stations, charging station locations, and more. For more information, visit STA's Solano Electric Vehicle Transition Program webpage here.

Solano Mobility Incentive Program Guarantees Emergency Ride Home

Solano County residents and employees who use a commute alternative like Solano Express, Capitol Corridor, San Francisco Bay Ferry, BART, carpool, or vanpool to travel to work can receive reimbursement for a ride home in case of an emergency. Qualified emergencies include: 

1. Illness
2. Unscheduled Overtime
3. Ridesharing Vehicle Breakdown
4. Train/ Ferry/Bus Does Not Arrive for Scheduled Time

Participants must register at CommuterInfo.net to be eligible. To date, 217 people have registered this fiscal year. More information is available at the Solano Mobility Guaranteed Ride Home Page.

Get involved with STA Citizen 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
• City of Rio Vista

Pedestrian Advisory Committee (PAC)

• City of Dixon 
• City of Vacaville
• Member-at-Large
• Member-at-Large (Solano Community College)

For more information on the BAC Open Positions, click here, and click here for more information on the PAC Open Positions.

Lorene Garrett, Program Coordinator, has taken over the Solano Mobility Employers Program, and Erika Dohina, Program Coordinator, is in charge of the Solano Mobility Call Center. Both Lorene and Erika are supervised by Ron Grassi, Director of Programs. 

April Wells was promoted from part-time Customer Service Representative to full-time Senior Customer Representative. Her start date was June 8, 2022, and she will be supervised by Erika Dohina.

The Safe Routes to School Program (SR2S) has been transferred from the Programs to the Planning Department to coincide with the planned update of the County SR2S Plan in FY 2022-23. It will be supervised by Robert Guerrero, Director of Planning.

Anthony Adams, Senior Project Manager, announced he will be departing STA for a new position with the Washington D.C. Metro. During his 9-year career with STA, Anthony progressively advanced from his start as a Transit Mobility Coordinator to a Senior Project Manager in the Projects Department and worked on such projects as:

• 1st Countywide Systemic Safety Analysis 2016
• 1st Solano County Pothole Report 2017
• 1st Office Traffic Safety Grant 2017–Countywide Data Collection
• Fairfield Transportation Center Slip Ramp Project
• Vallejo Transit Center York St. Expansion
• HSIP Cycle 9 & 10
• Clean California SR-12
• SHOPP Set Aside SR-29
• Suisun City McCoy Creek Trail
• Solano Active Transportation Plan 2022

Anthony's last day with the STA will be June 24th. We wish him continued success in his new position.