March 2017 
In this edition:

Intercity Taxi Scrip for Non-Ambulatory

First/Last Mile Pilot by Lyft

Lower Emission Transit Projects

Emergency Ride Home 10-Year Milestone

Vanpool Program Modifications

Mobility Summits 2017

Electric Vehicle Commuter Survey

STA Local Preference Policy Update

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 in the transportation arena in Solano County.  Please  sign up here  to receive this newsletter directly in your inbox
Phase II Delivery Model Approved for Intercity Paratransit/ Taxi Scrip Program for Non-Ambulatory

The STA Board approved a revised service model using a centralized reservation approach through the Solano Mobility Call Center to continue to provide intercity ADA certified paratransit/taxi trips for ambulatory passengers and to expand the program to provide trips for non-ambulatory passengers.  This approach will create better accountability, reduce the administration burden for the individual transit operators, and establish a more convenient method for customers to pay for trips.

The STA successfully implemented a modification to the Solano Intercity Taxi Scrip Program’s fare structure in fiscal year 2016-17 that has helped stabilized the Program financially and improved the program’s farebox recovery ratio from 11% to 19%.  When the Program was transitioned from the County of Solano to STA, the Program provided intercity taxi trips for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) certified passengers that are ambulatory.  Intercity ADA trips for non-ambulatory ADA certified passengers are still handled via transfers between local paratransit providers.

The current Solano Intercity Taxi Scrip Program remains popular for ambulatory passengers. The Call Center expects to roll out the new service in January 2018.
Innovative First/Last Mile Pilot to Launch for Suisun Amtrak Station/Solano Business Park
A new first and last mile pilot program will begin as early as May as a follow-up to February’s STA Board authorization to explore options pertaining to providing service for a half dozen employers located in or near the Solano Business Park, whose employees use the Capitol Corridor via the Suisun/Fairfield Amtrak Station.  STA is partnering with Lyft to provide the pilot service in partnership with up to six interested employers.
Lyft will provide this First/Last Mile 6-month pilot service between the Suisun/Fairfield Amtrak Station and STA’s Solano Mobility program is working with Anheuser-Busch (Budweiser), Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District, Jelly Belly Factory, NorthBay Center for Primary Care, Partnership Health Plan, and Solano County Health and Social Services.  STA’s Solano Mobility staff will implement and then assess the effectiveness of this First/Last Mile service to determine if it has a broader application at this location or to other locations with First/Last Mile service gaps in Solano County.  
STA Allocates Funding to Five Solano Transit Operators for Lower Emissions Projects

STA is responsible for allocating Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP) funding for Solano County for population based funds.  LCTOP is one of the program categories established as part of State Cap and Trade Program in 2014 and this is the second year STA has allocated the LCTOP program since its inception.  The STA Board approved the distribution of $196,109 in population based LCTOP funds to Solano County’s five transit operators (SolTrans, FAST, Rio Vista Delta Breeze, Dixon Readi-Ride, Vacaville City Coach) for LCTOP eligible activities for fiscal year 2016-17. 
Solano Mobility’s Emergency Ride Home Program Provides Safety Net for Transit Riders

The STA’s Emergency Ride Home (ERH) Program is now in its 10th year since it was established by the STA Board to address one of the primary concerns identified by transit riders or potential transit riders, which is getting stranded at work if there is a family emergency.  129 Solano County employers are currently registered to participate in STA’s ERH Program and 705 of their employees eligible in the ERH Program registered with a total amount of 234 rides taken using the ERH Program.
Modification of Solano Vanpool Program

Solano County continues to have one of the highest vanpool rates in the nine county Bay Area with 40% of the region’s vanpools (203 of 502 vanpools) originating to or from Solano County.  This equates to 1.16 million trips annually taken by Solano County based vanpoolers.  In order to preserve this active use of vanpools, the STA Board authorized STA to contract with Enterprise to continue to provide vanpool services for Solano County that will continue to be promoted through the STA’s Solano Mobility Call Center and website.
Solano Mobility Community Summits for Seniors and People with Disabilities
In preparation for updating the Solano Transportation Study for Seniors and People with Disabilities, STA is hosting a Mobility Summit in each city in Solano County to give each community opportunity to give local feedback on the challenges they face with getting around within Solano County and beyond.  The first Mobility Summit is being held in Rio Vista on April 7th.  Registration is required for this free event and to request free transit.  Learn more about this and future Mobility Summits on our Summits website .  The Solano Mobility Call Center can give you more information and register you for this event: 800-535-6883.
Electric Vehicle/Commuter Survey
Continuing our efforts of improving air quality and transportation quality in Solano County, STA wants to hear your opinion. Specifically, we’d like to know more about factors that go into your decision making involving your daily commute. Your answers will help shape our priorities to make commuting in and out of Solano County a quicker, cleaner, and more pleasant experience.  Please take the Electric Vehicle Commuter Survey by March 21st!
STA’s Local Preference Policy Continues to Benefit Solano County Based Businesses

The STA Board adopted a Local Preference Policy in December 2010 to encourage investment in services and products provided by Solano County based businesses.  In Fiscal Year (FY) 2015-16, a total of $2.1 million was expended by STA on services and products provided by local vendors and businesses with a total of $7.99 million expended locally since the establishment of the STA’s Local Preference Policy
2017 STA Board Members
  • Jim Spering, Chair, Solano County Supervisor
  • Pete Sanchez, Vice Chair, Mayor of Suisun City
  • Elizabeth Patterson, Mayor of Benicia
  • Thom Bogue, Mayor of Dixon
  • Harry Price, Mayor of Fairfield
  • Norman Richardson, Mayor of Rio Vista
  • Len Augustine, Mayor of Vacaville
  • Bob Sampayan, Mayor of Vallejo

       STA website: http://www.sta.ca.gov