IN THIS EDITION:

• Caltrans presents State Route (SR) 29 Complete Streets Project in Vallejo to STA Board
• K Patrice Williams appointed as STA Board Alternate
• Solano County’s 2023 Bike Champion of the Year, Bob Haran
• STA Board Considers Jepson Parkway/Vanden Road Projects Updated Funding Plan 
• STA’s Solano County Electrification Efforts: $1 Million State Earmark and $3 Million Grant Funding Request 
• STA Launches Updated Countywide Transportation Plan with Active Transportation Committee Meeting
• STA Board comments on Proposed Service Changes to Solano Express by SolTrans
• Dixon Readi-Ride Celebrates 40th Anniversary
• Celebrate Bike To Wherever Days In May
• STA Funds Suisun City's Driftwood Drive/Safe Routes to School Project 
• Openings Available for STA Advisory Committees

Caltrans presents State Route (SR) 29 Complete Streets Project in Vallejo to STA Board

Caltrans District 4 staff provided an update to the STA Board regarding the State Route (SR) 29 State Highway Operation and Protection Program (SHOPP) funded complete streets project in Vallejo. In addition to resurfacing SR 29 (also known as Sonoma Boulevard) through the heart of Vallejo, this project will include “complete streets” components to support pedestrian and bicycle improvements and enhanced access to transit. The project will encompass 24.4 lane miles of Sonoma Blvd. Given the size and complexity of the overall project, it has been divided into three segments (running north to south):

• Northern Segment – Mississippi Street to County Line
• Middle Segment – Curtola Parkway to Mississippi Street (Complete Street)
• Southern Segment – Maritime Academy Drive to Curtola Parkway

The elements of the project include the following:

• Rehabilitate the pavement
• Upgrade the facilities to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards
• Widen the sidewalks
• Construct 3.6 miles of Class 2 and Class 4 bikeways
• Build curb extensions
• Add Light Emitting Diode (LED) light fixtures
• Demarcate green bike pathways

Construction is scheduled to begin in June 2025. Caltrans has committed $26.8M in SHOPP funds. 

K. Patrice Williams appointed as STA Board Alternate

At the May 10, 2023, Solano Transportation Authority (STA) Board Meeting, K. Patrice Williams was sworn in as the STA Board Alternate for the City of Fairfield.

Solano County’s 2023 Bike Champion of the Year, Bob Haran

Solano County’s 2023 Bike Champion of the Year, Bob Haran 

Bob Haran received a Proclamation by STA Board from Board member, Vacaville Mayor John Carli

In celebration of Bike To Wherever Days in May, one bike champion from Solano County is recognized as the “Bike Champion of the Year” for their commitment to biking for everyday transportation. Congratulations to Vacaville's Robert “Bob” Haran, 2023's Solano County Bike Champion of the Year!

Visit the Bike To Work Day website to read more about Bob's inspirational story, information on all events, and more. 

STA Board Considers Jepson Parkway/Vanden Road Projects-Updated Funding Plan

At the request of the STA Board, STA Project Department staff worked with public works staff from the Cities of Fairfield and Vacaville to update the funding and implementation plan for the projects located on the Jepson Parkway Corridor, a 12-mile I-80 reliever route. STA prepared and presented an updated fact sheet and funding plan for the various outstanding projects at the May 10th STA Board meeting. 



Over the past two decades, four of the eight phases have been constructed, encompassing over $60 million in State Transportation Improvement Program funds (STIP) programmed by STA, $7 million in Regional Transportation Impact Fee funds (RTIF), and a mix of local agency impact fees developer contributions and federal earmarks. The City of Vacaville has also opened construction bids on a fifth phase.

Of the four remaining segments that need to be completed on the Jepson Parkway Project, there are two in the City of Vacaville and two in the City of Fairfield. The City of Vacaville will be starting construction on the next phase of the Jepson Parkway on Leisure Town Road (Segment 1B). The cost for this phase is $26 million, which is fully funded, and construction is expected to be completed by the summer of 2024. Vacaville has one additional phase, Segment 1C, estimated to cost $41 million; currently, the project is unfunded and has no estimated construction start date. 

The City of Fairfield has two remaining segments along Vanden Road, Segments 2B, and 2C. Segment 2B is estimated to cost $30.2 million and construction is anticipated to begin 2024/2025. This phase is fully funded using the City of Fairfield’s Transportation Impact Fee (TIF) funds and developer fees from the One Lake development. Segment 2C is estimated to cost $9 million and RTIF and earmark funds have been identified as potential funding sources, which if secured, would allow for construction to begin in 2025/2026.

STA’s Solano County Electrification Efforts: $1 Million State Earmark and $3 Million Grant Funding Request

The STA has centered its electrification efforts around supporting Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations and vehicle replacements. Two main efforts geared towards furthering Solano County’s EV Readiness include the $1 Million State Earmark from Assembly Member Lori Wilson to fund EV Infrastructure in Fairfield, Rio Vista, Vacaville, and Suisun City, and parts of Solano County within the eligible city limits. The second effort involves pursuing additional resources through the submission of a countywide grant application for the U.S. Department of Transportation Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program.

At the May 10 meeting, the STA Board approved incorporating the Earmark Project Priorities of eligible cities into the scope of the Fund Transfer Agreement with Caltrans and STA; thereby entering into funding agreements with the Cities of Fairfield, Suisun City, and Vacaville and Solano County for their EV earmark priority projects (not to exceed the total sum of $1 Million dollars); and submitting a grant application request for the U.S. Department of Transportation Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program for $3 million on behalf of the Cities of Benicia, Dixon, Fairfield, Suisun City, Vacaville and unincorporated County.

STA Launches Updated Countywide Transportation Plan with Active Transportation Committee Meeting

The Solano Transportation Authority (STA) kicked off the Solano Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP) update on Wednesday, May 10th, with the Active Transportation Committee. The Active Transportation Committee’s role is to focus on planning for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, alternative fuels, and transportation land use opportunities. Members of the Active Transportation Committee included STA Board members, STA Board alternate representatives, stakeholders, and members of the public. This was the first in a series of planned committee meetings through 2024 and is part of a larger outreach effort to obtain input on the CTP’s three core transportation elements:

1. Active Transportation Element
2. Arterials, Highways, and Freeways Element
3. Transit and Rideshare Element

The next Comprehensive Transportation Plan meeting is planned for the Arterials, Highways and Freeways Committee, scheduled for 4pm on June 14th in the STA Board room at 423 Main Street, Downtown Suisun. 

STA Board comments on Proposed Service Changes to Solano Express by SolTrans

At the May 10th STA Board meeting, SolTrans staff requested feedback from the STA Board, the public, and other stakeholders on a proposed package of service changes slated for early August 2023. On April 20, 2023, the SolTrans Board of Directors opened a public comment period on the service realignment proposals which will run until the next SolTrans Board meeting on May 18, 2023. These proposed service changes are in response to a lack of available drivers to provide consistent service/trips on the Blue, Green, Red, and Yellow Solano Express lines. SolTrans is attempting to revise the schedules in order to improve service reliability. 

For more information on the service realignment proposals and to provide your feedback, please visit SolTrans's website here.

Dixon Readi-Ride Celebrates 40th Anniversary

This year, Dixon’s demand response transit system known as Readi-Ride is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Congratulations to the Dixon City Council and Readi-Ride staff. 

Celebrate Bike To Wherever Days In May

The month of May is Bike Month, and the Bike To Wherever Days festivities have already begun. Twenty-eight Solano County schools and 2,541 kids participated in a successful Bike to School Day on May 3rd. 

View the Bike To Wherever Days Calendar for a list of events happening in Solano County, including a Benicia Bike Maintenance and Skills Clinic. Bike commuters, stop by one of our Energizer Stations on May 18th to pick up your commemorative bike tote on Bike to Work Day (while supplies last). Be sure to Pledge to Ride during May and earn entry to win one of our contests. Visit solanomobility.org/bikemonth2023 for information on all events, our photo challenges, and more. 

If you have a smartphone, you can also download the Xplore Solano app which has a list of biking and hiking trails. Visit STA’s Active Transportation page for more information on the Xplore Solano app, and download the OuterSpatial app at the Apple Store or on Google Play to access the Xplore Solano Community account and get outside today!

STA Funds Suisun City's Driftwood Drive/Safe Routes to School Project 

On May 10th, the STA Board approved STA's Proposed Year 1 FY 2023-24 Funding Plan for Transportation Development Act (TDA) Article 3, part of STA's TDA Article 3 Four-Year Funding Plan. The first project to be funded in this plan is Suisun City's Driftwood Drive Safe Routes to School (SR2S) project, which plans to continue and complete the Driftwood Drive Path along the south side of Driftwood Drive. TDA Article 3 funds are available annually to fund Active Transportation Projects, such as bicycle and pedestrian related projects.

Openings Available for STA Advisory Committees

STA is asking for your help to plan and 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 

Pedestrian Advisory Committee (PAC)

• City of Vacaville
• City of Suisun City
• 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.