IN THIS EDITION:

• 26th Annual STA Awards Winners
• Rio Vista Community Based Transportation Plan (CBTP) Update & Survey
• I-80 Express Lanes Project Update
• Solano Mobility's Equitable Access to Justice Pilot Program Launched 
• Upcoming SR2S Bike Mobile Events
• Openings Available for STA Advisory Committees

26th Annual STA Awards Winners

On Wednesday, November 8th, Solano Transportation Authority (STA) held its 26th Annual Awards, hosted by STA Board Chair Mayor Steve Young and the City of Benicia with over 150 attendees. The event recognized outstanding projects, partner agencies, and individuals, with 12 award winners in 11 different categories. Congratulations to all the 2023 nominees and award winners.

The event began with the Advisory Committee Member of the Year Award being presented to two winners, the Safe Routes to School (SR2S) Advisory Committee’s Gwen Owens and the Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC)’s Nancy Lund. This award is given to the member of a STA citizen-based Advisory Committee for time spent on a project, plan, or program, and significant contributions made to the community and transportation.

The Transit Employee of the Year award recognizes a transit employee’s performance, dependability, safety, initiative to improve transit service, and positive attitude when delivering transit service to the public and was awarded to Charlie Kronschnabel of Vacaville City Coach. 

Lincoln Elementary (Vallejo Unified School District) was the recipient of the Safe Routes to School award. This category honors either an individual or school that has worked to champion the Safe Routes to School program and its mission of improving safety and health for our school children.  

The Transportation for Sustainable Communities Award honors outstanding planning efforts linking transportation and local land use planning and was awarded to the City of Vallejo for the Bay Trail/Vine Trail project. 

The City of Benicia was awarded the Safety Project of the Year Award for the Pedestrian Crossing Improvements project. The Safety Project of the Year Award recognizes a project completed or implemented during the year that has made significant improvement to travel safety in Solano County.

The Project of the Year Award is given to a project completed or implemented during the year that has made significant improvements to countywide transportation, traffic, safety, or commute alternatives. The 2023 Project of the Year Award recipient was Caltrans District 4 for the 80/680/12 Interchange Project, Phase 2A.

The City of Vallejo won its second award of the night, the Project Delivery Award, as recognition for a Solano Transportation Authority member agency’s ability to deliver transportation projects and in a timely manner. 

The Legislator of the Year Award recognizes a Federal or State elected official who worked with STA and local agencies on transportation-related issues and helped provide much-needed funding: this year’s recipient was Assemblymember (and former Suisun City Mayor/STA Board Member) Lori Wilson. 

This year’s Partner of the Year Award was presented to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) for their support of funding the STA’s efforts in improving mobility and other transportation elements throughout Solano County.

The City of Fairfield was awarded the Agency of the Year award as a standout member of the STA for their efforts in supporting transportation projects and programs to support safety and mobility throughout Fairfield and Solano County.  

For the final award of the evening, the STA recognized the California Transportation Commission (CTC) with a special award for its longtime partnership on funding multiple projects (including the 80/680/12 Interchange, the I-80 Express Lanes, and most recently the I-80 Westbound Truck Scales) and its award of $129 million in Senate Bill 1 (SB1) Trade Corridor Enhancement Program (TCEP) funds, allocated to complete the design and construction of the Westbound Cordelia Truck Scales Project.

For more information on the nominees, please click here to view the 26th Annual STA Awards Program.

Rio Vista Community Based Transportation Plan (CBTP) Update & Survey

The Rio Vista Community Based Transportation Plan (CBTP) was kicked off by the City of Rio Vista and STA on September 26th with a townhall meeting in the Rio Vista City Hall Council Chambers. Rio Vista residents participated both in person and via zoom, providing comments on both existing challenges and suggested improvements. This meeting was the first of multiple focus groups and presentations that will be taking place within the city. In addition, a survey was mailed to each Rio Vista household the week of November 6th. Residents can complete and return the survey by mail or electronically by using a QR code. In the first week alone, 50 surveys were submitted by Rio Vista residents. The Rio Vista CBTP is scheduled for completion in late spring of 2024. 

For more information on the Rio Vista CBTP, including a link to the September 26th Rio Vista CBTP Kick Off Meeting PowerPoint presentation, or to take the survey, click here.

I-80 Express Lanes Project Update

The Solano I-80 Express Lanes Project is in Solano County and begins just west of Red Top Road in Fairfield and ends east of Leisure Town Road in Vacaville. The 19.8-mile-long project consists of two major components. The first is constructing 10 miles of express lanes, and the second part is converting the existing carpool lane into an express lane. The planned work for this project includes 10 miles of highway widening, widening of four bridges, constructing five retaining walls, installing overhead sign structures, and installing the toll system integrator for single occupancy commuters who wish to use the express lanes (transit buses and high occupancy vehicles will continue to have access to the express lanes without paying a fee).

The project started construction in April of 2022 and to date, roughly 50% of the contract work has been completed that includes road structural sections, paving, retaining walls, median barriers, and bridge widening. Safety for Interstate 80 traffic traveling alongside the construction site continues to be monitored and enhancements made as needed. Construction is anticipated to be completed, and open to the public, during the summer of 2025.

Solano Mobility's Equitable Access to Justice Pilot Program Launched

The Equitable Access to Justice Pilot Program was launched this fiscal year by the Solano County Superior Courts in partnership with the Solano Transportation Authority (STA). Presiding Judge, Wendy Getty commented, “As anticipated, we have ZERO jurors to date this fiscal year who have been unable to report to court for jury service due to transportation barriers. I consider this a major success for transportation in Solano and for justice in Solano County.” The program provides jurors and collaborative court participants who do not have access to transportation or who cannot afford transportation with fully funded transportation subsidies for court-related travel within Solano County. Jurors and Collaborative Court participants received 25 fully subsidized rides in October and November of 2023.

Upcoming SR2S Bike Mobile Events

The Safe Routes to School (SR2S) team and Bay Area Bike Mobile are hosting two FREE bicycle repair clinics. Students that register will have their bikes fixed while the Bay Area Bike Mobile offers tips and tricks on routine bike maintenance. SR2S and Bay Area Bike Mobile will be at Padan Elementary School (Vacaville) on Thursday, December 7 from 2:30-4:00pm, and at Nelda Mundy Elementary School (Fairfield) on Wednesday, December 13 from 1:00-3:00pm.

For more details on an event or to schedule a bike mobile visit for your school or community, contact solanosr2sinfo@sta.ca.gov or visit the SR2S Bike Mobile webpage by clicking here for more information.

Openings Available for STA 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 Dixon

Pedestrian Advisory Committee (PAC)

• City of Suisun City
• County of Solano
• 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.