IN THIS EDITION:

• STA Board adopts Priorities for Federal Earmarks
• STA Board authorizes proceeding with SR 37/Fairgrounds Interchange Project Construction 
• SR 37 Solano Pavement Repair Project: Full Closures on SR 37 between SR 29 (Vallejo) & SR 121 (Sonoma), Weekends of April 12, April 19, April 26, May 3
• Moving Solano Forward Economic Study focuses on Priority Production Areas
• STA Hosts Countywide Developer Forum
• STA’s Equity Working Group focuses on SR 37 Corridor
• Solano Mobility Second Quarter Update on programs for Older Adults, People with Disabilities, and Veterans
• Nominations Open for Solano County’s 2024 Bike Champion of the Year
• Get Involved with STA Advisory Committees
• STA Staff Update

STA Board adopts Priorities for Federal Earmarks

The STA Board approved the following recommended Community Project Funding priorities:

• Mare Island Interchange Project Initiation Document Project Initiation Document (PID)
• I-80 Express Lanes Gap Closure (Dixon) PID
• Heart of Fairfield Downtown Streetscape Phase 2 Project
• Jepson Parkway Segment 1C Project

STA Board members will be meeting with Congressmen John Garamendi and Mike Thompson, and the offices of U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Laphonza Butler to discuss the merits of each project and answer any questions that each respective office may have.

STA Board authorizes proceeding with SR 37/Fairgrounds Interchange Project Construction

At the March 13th Board meeting, the STA Board authorized STA (partnered with the City of Vallejo, County of Solano, and Caltrans) to proceed with construction on the SR 37/Fairgrounds Interchange Project, an independent component project to improve the I-80/I-680/I-780 transportation corridor. 

This project will provide improved and safer access for autos, express buses, bikes, and pedestrians accessing Six Flags, the Solano 360 Development, and the adjacent neighborhoods. The interchange improvements include a Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) strategy. Some advantages of a DDI include:

• Free vehicles left turns onto SR 37
• Ramp termini intersections can operate with two signal phases instead of three
• Reduce intersection delay particularly for the movement to the WB SR 37 on-ramp
• Better accommodates future traffic demand
• Smaller construction footprint
• Lower cost due to the elimination of all proposed retaining walls
• Increase safety for pedestrians and bicyclists
• Separated pedestrian path

For more information on the SR 37/Fairgrounds Interchange Project and to watch a video about the Diverging Diamond Interchange, visit the project webpage at on STA's website here. 

SR 37 Solano Pavement Repair Project: Full Closures on SR 37 between SR 29 (Vallejo) & SR 121 (Sonoma), Weekends of April 12, April 19, April 26, May 3

Caltrans is scheduled to alternately close eastbound and westbound State Route 37 (SR 37) on four consecutive weekends, starting the weekend of Friday, April 12, 2024. During the 55-hour weekend full highway closures, Caltrans will perform major pavement repair work on eastbound and westbound SR 37 between Solano and Sonoma counties. One traffic direction on SR 37 will be worked on at a time. Detours will be in effect. All work is weather dependent.

For more information on the SR 37 Paving Project, visit the Caltrans Bay Area project webpage at www.37pave.com or call the SR 37 Pave Project Hotline (510) 286-0319.

Moving Solano Forward Economic Study focuses on Priority Production Areas

STA recently landed two regional Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG)/Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) grants in partnership with the Solano Economic Development Corporation (Solano EDC) focused on Priority Production Areas (PPA) and Fairfield/Suisun City Priority Development Areas (PDA) adjacent to the Solano Rail Hub. Solano EDC’s President and CEO, Chris Rico, attended the March 13th STA Board meeting to provide an update on the recently completed Moving Solano Forward III Economic Study, which was co-sponsored by STA, the County, and the seven cities. Moving Solano Forward is a market analysis geared towards developing strategies tailored to the specific assets and opportunities within Solano County.

For more on Solano EDC's Moving Solano Forward studies and to access the Moving Solano Forward III Final Report, click here.

STA Hosts Countywide Developer Forum

The STA hosted a Solano Developer Forum and Open House on Monday, March 11th, where 35 city and county staff and 45 developers were in attendance. City staff attended the morning session, which focused on discussions related to countywide housing needs, constraints, and recent examples of affordable development projects. Members of the developer community joined the afternoon session where each jurisdiction highlighted local opportunity sites. This event is part of the Solano Transportation Authority’s County Collaborative on Housing efforts and fulfills a housing element requirement for the seven cities and the county.

Please contact Robert Guerrero, STA Deputy Executive Director/ Director of Planning for more information regarding the STA’s County Collaborative on Housing at rguerrero@sta.ca.gov .

STA’s Equity Working Group focuses on SR 37 Corridor 

MTC and Caltrans presented an update on the SR 37 Interim Project to the STA Transportation Equity Working Group (EWG) at their meeting on Wednesday, February 28th. The purpose was for the project partners to garner feedback from the committee on the Equity Proposals for the SR 37 Project. There were over 40 attendees at the meeting, which included representatives from California Transportation Commission, San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission, Solano elected officials, and community-based organizations (CBO).

Solano Mobility Second Quarter Update on programs for Older Adults, People with Disabilities, and Veterans

Suisun City Mayor Alma Hernandez with Suisun City older adults

Thanks to the staff’s outreach efforts, Solano Mobility programs continue to become more widely used. Solano Mobility recently completed its 2nd Quarter Report for FY 2023–24 on its programs geared towards assisting Older Adults, People with Disabilities, and Veterans.

Travel Training:  

STA’s Travel Training program continues to be popular with the public, though training tends to slow in the winter months due to weather unpredictability. Travel trainers go to various locations such as Adult Day Programs, Senior Centers, and Senior Living Communities in an effort to reach those individuals who could most benefit.

• A total of 49 Travel Trainings (Individual, Field Trip, and Classroom) were conducted.
• 8 presentations were conducted with 168 audience members in attendance.
• 847 individuals received information during 24 Outreach activities.

Countywide In-Person Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Evaluations:

STA contracted with Paratransit Inc., in July 2023 to conduct the ADA In-Person Evaluations. Paratransit Inc. officially began conducting in-person evaluations throughout the County in September.  

• A total of 64 Evaluations were conducted in Quarter 2.
• 8 Auto Renewals have been completed.

Taxi Card Program utilizing the PEX Card:

• 552 Intercity Taxi trips were taken in the 2nd Quarter of FY2023-24.

Medical Trip Concierge Program (GoGo Grandparent): 

The GoGo Grandparent Program continues to grow in participation.

• 4,763 rides were taken using the GoGo Program in the 2nd Quarter of FY2023-24. This is an increase of nearly 700 rides over the 1st Quarter usage. 
• 526 WAV rides were provided between October and December. 

Veterans Mobility Program:

Extensive outreach continues with Veterans being the target audience. There were more rides taken in the 2nd Quarter of this fiscal year than the 2nd Quarter of last fiscal year.  

• 325 rides were provided in the 2nd quarter of FY2023-24.
• 75 Veterans are currently registered in the GoGo program, 21 more since Q1.
• This program, which is incorporated into both the Medical Trip Concierge Services Program and the Intercity Taxi Card Program, meets the criteria as defined for each program.

For more information about any of the Solano Mobility programs, please visit www.solanomobility.org or contact the Solano Mobility Call Center, Monday – Friday, 8am‐5pm at 800‐535‐6883.

Nominations Open for Solano County’s 2024 Bike Champion of the Year

As part of the festivities for Bike To Wherever Days in May of 2024, one bike champion from Solano County will be recognized as “Bike Champion of the Year” for their commitment to biking for everyday transportation. Nominations are being accepted now through March 29, 2024. Nominees should champion pedaling, inspire others, and set a great example of how bicycling is good for everyone. The Solano County winner will be announced at the end of April. Stay tuned for Solano County bike activities for Bike To Wherever Days in May. 

To make your nomination for the 2024 Bike Champion of the Year, you can visit the Solano Mobility website here.

Get involved with STA Advisory Committees

The STA Board approved the re-appointment of Teresa Booth (City of Vallejo) to the Pedestrian Advisory Committee (PAC) during the March STA Board meeting.

The STA currently has open positions on our Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC), Pedestrian Advisory Committee (PAC), and Paratransit Coordinating Council (PCC). 

The BAC and PAC advise the STA on the development of bicycle and pedestrian facilities as an active mode of transportation in Solano County. To accomplish this, committee members assist the STA to develop countywide transportation plans and projects and provide funding recommendations for active transportation projects.

The PCC works on countywide senior and disabled transit issues as required by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and makes recommendations on transit and paratransit funding, claims, and coordination. 

We are currently looking for the following representatives:

Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC)

• City of Dixon

Pedestrian Advisory Committee (PAC)

• City of Suisun City
• County of Solano
• Member-at-Large (Solano Community College)

Paratransit Coordinating Council (PCC)

• Public Agency – Education member

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

STA Staff Update

On March 4, 2024, KaSandra Rowe-Boyd joined STA to fill the full-time Accountant I position in the Administration/Finance Department. She is a resident of the City of Vacaville and reports to Susan Furtado, Accounting/Administrative Services Manager.