In this edition
- STA 24th Annual Awards Winners
- STA Issues Call for Projects for EV Charging Station Infrastructure
- Take the Connected Mobility Survey
- Suisun City Community-Based Transportation Plan (CBTP) Kick-Off Survey
- State Transit Assistance Funds (STAF) for 5 Electric SolanoExpress Buses & Service
- Solano Mobility announces Walk Or Wheel Wherever (WoW) Week Winner
- Solano Mobility completes Commuter Employer Program Quarterly Report
- 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 12/8 at 6:00pm
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STA 24th Annual Awards Winners
On November 10th, the STA Board and staff virtually hosted the STA’s 24th Annual Awards Program, hosted by Board Chair Mayor Ron Rowlett, recognizing outstanding projects, partner agencies or individuals in 9 categories.
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STA Issues Call for Projects for EV Charging Station Infrastructure
The Solano Transportation Authority’s (STA) is now accepting applications for Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations: private businesses, non-profit organizations, and public agencies located in Dixon, Rio Vista, Vacaville, and northeastern half of unincorporated Solano County are eligible for Clean Air Funds. An estimated total of $30,000 is available for alternative and clean air vehicle charger projects through a Clean Air grant provided by the Yolo Solano Air Quality Management District (YSAQMD), in part to match funding available through Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD).
A similar call for EV Charging Station projects is anticipated in Spring 2022 for all other cities and portions of unincorporated Solano County located in the southwestern section of the County with grant funds provided by the BAAQMD.
The Call for Projects deadline is Friday, December 31, 2021 by 4:59 PM.
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Take the Connected Mobility 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. Your participation matters. We believe YOU are the expert on your travel needs, and we need your input!
The first 1,000 respondents will receive a $10 Clipper Card for participating. Join STA at these upcoming community events to learn more about the Solano Connected Mobility Implementation Plan and take the Connected Mobility survey:
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Christmas on the Waterfront (Suisun City): Saturday, December 4, 2–8 p.m.
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Christmas Parade & Holiday Market (Benicia): Saturday, December 11, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
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Dixon Mayfair US Capitol Tree Tour: Nov. 3, 2021 |
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Fairfield Veterans Day Parade: Nov. 11, 2021 |
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Suisun City Community-Based Transportation Plan (CBTP) Kick-Off Survey
The Solano Transportation Authority (STA) and the City of Suisun City are inviting Suisun residents to complete a short survey here as part of Phase I of its Community-Based Transportation Plan (CBTP). The STA has partnered with the City of Suisun City to implement a CBTP to help the City and STA better understand current transit conditions, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and opportunities to make mobility services more accessible and efficient for older adults, youth, low-income, individuals with disabilities, and all residents across the community. By providing their feedback, community members will help Suisun City design transportation system improvements that work for them.
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State Transit Assistance Funds (STAF) for 5 Electric SolanoExpress Buses & Service
As part of Federal and State mandates to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, the STA has been working to develop and implement strategies across the County and for our member agencies to have a roadmap for electrification. At the October 13 Board meeting, the STA Board approved allocating $5 million of State Transit Assistance Funds (STAF) towards the purchase of five electric buses to go to SolTrans for the SolanoExpress Yellow Line and $400,000 to provide contingency funding for the operation of SolanoExpress service in FY 2022-23. Each of Solano’s five transit operators are moving forward with electrification at various stages.
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Solano Mobility announces Walk Or Wheel Wherever (WoW) Week Winner
In October, STA’s Solano Mobility and Safe Routes to School (SR2S) programs partnered to promote a Walk or Wheel Wherever (WoW) Challenge. This week long challenge was meant to encourage the community to get out and walk. To win a prize, the community was asked to share a photo of themselves walking or wheeling and either (1) tag Solano Mobility on Facebook or Twitter or (2) use the hashtag #wowsolano2021. The winner of this challenge was Craig Wallace from Vacaville, who shared pictures of himself walking in his community.
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Solano Mobility completes Commuter Employer Program Quarterly Report
STA had been laying the groundwork for exponential program growth with the expansion of the Ride Amigos platform, development of an employer toolkit, and partnership with Solano Economic Development Corporation (EDC). With the pandemic limiting public outreach, STA’s Solano Mobility staff utilized social media to preserve progress and continue to increase awareness and participation in its programs, with over 9,000 people seeing Solano Mobility content just this quarter alone.
Ride Amigos Online Platform: STA’s various programs (i.e. Emergency Ride Home, Bucks for Bikes, Vanpools, etc.) are housed in the RideAmigos online/app platform. There are currently 3,130 registered users on the platform, 775 of which are active users. Active usership grew 10% in the first quarter of the new fiscal year.
First/Last Mile Program: There are currently 382 people signed up for the StA’s First/Last Mile pilot, a 25% sign up increase just in the first quarter.
Vanpool Program: In January of 2021, in an effort to increase Vanpool usage, STA entered in to an agreement with Enterprise Rideshare to play a more active role in the steps and process for signing up new Vanpools. STA’s Solano Mobility Program provides a $200 incentive directly to Enterprise. This incentive is paired with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s $350 subsidy for a total of $550 subsidy to help offset the cost of new vans for vanpooling. This strategy seemed to be successful for the first quarter of fiscal year 2021/22, with 8 new vanpools joining the program.
SolanoExpress 2 for 1 Incentive: To encourage new ridership on the SolanoExpress bus lines, the Solano Transportation Authority is offering a 2 for 1 incentive through its Solano Mobility Program Call Center. Since October 4th, anyone working or living in Solano County is eligible to purchase 1 monthly or daily pass, and receive a 2nd pass for free. As of November 1, 2021, seven passes had been redeemed.
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STA Staff Update
Karin Bloesch, Senior SR2S Program Coordinator, has recently accepted a position with the Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District (YSAQMD). Karin worked with STA for 9 years supporting the Safe Routes to School Program and the Marketing Department. She did great work promoting the SR2S program among Solano County schools and we wish her continued success in her new position at YSAQMD.
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On October 27th, Jasper Alve joined the STA Projects Department as the new Assistant Project Manager. Jasper recently came from Royal Air Force Alconbury in the United Kingdom where he and his family were stationed for the past three years. He is a resident of Fairfield with his wife and two kids. Jasper has an undergraduate degree from George Washington University and a graduate degree from the University of Texas. He will be supervised by Anthony Adams, STA’s Senior Project Manager. |
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