In this edition
  • STA Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Response Update
  • STA Expansion of Lyft’s First/Last Mile Program in Response to Coronavirus
  • Impact on Transit Service in Solano County
  • Federal Stimulus Provides Short Term Funding for Transit & Shifts Focus to Infrastructure Projects
  • STA Board Updates Arterial & Transit Elements of County Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP)
  • STA Board Approves Funding to Vacaville for First Affordable Housing Project Funding from Suburban Housing Incentive (SubHIP) Pilot Program
  • Mid-Year Budget Update and Initial Recommendation for FY 2020-21
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. 

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  • STA Board Meeting (location TBD) 5/13 at 6:00pm
STA Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Response Update

In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, STA staff began telecommuting on March 19, 2020, and the telecommuting requirement for all STA staff has been officially extended to April 30th with staff prepared to extend month to month if warranted. The Solano Mobility Call Center staff is also telecommuting and continuing to move forward, serving customers via email and cell phones through the contact information below. 

In March and through April, the Call Center calls remained steady before and after the pandemic started and were on track to surpass last year’s numbers. Employer/Commuter Program numbers were also on track to greatly exceed 2019’s numbers but will decrease starting this month due to Shelter In Home orders. Intercity taxi card, GoGoGrandparent and Benicia Lyft Program numbers were slightly down in March but continue to service Solano County. First/Last Mile Lyft Program currently has 183 users and expanded to 4 locations in Fairfield (see article below).

  • STA Main Line: (707) 424-6075
  • STA Main Email: info@sta.ca.gov
  • Solano Mobility: 800-535-6883
STA Expansion of Lyft’s First/Last Mile Program in Response to Coronavirus

In order to support the mobility requirements of Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers (such as healthcare workers and public safety employees) and to provide residents with transportation for essential tasks, the Solano Transportation Authority (STA) has expanded the Lyft First/Last Mile Program to provide coverage for reduced transit services by Fairfield and Suisun Transit (FAST) in response to the COVID-19 shelter-in-place orders issued by Governor Gavin Newsom and the Solano County Office of Public Health. 

To help reduce the spread of COVID-19, all transit services have had to reduce service. The First/Last Mile program was extended to four more locations to accommodate four cancelled FAST local routes: Routes 2, 4, 5 and 8. For the latest transit schedules and commuter options for workers with essential job functions, visit SolanoMobility.org for daily updates.

For more information on the Lyft First/Last Mile Program Expansion click here to view the STA Media Advisory Release here or contact Solano Mobility by visiting their website here or calling 800-535-6883. 
Impact on Transit Service in Solano County

Both the Capitol Corridor and SF Bay Ferry have experienced dramatic drops in ridership (ranging from 95% for the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Board to 98% for the Ferry) and as a result, significantly reduced service. The SF Bay Ferry has suspended many of its ferry runs, and has reduced, but not eliminated, the San Francisco to Vallejo service. The Capitol Corridor has also reduced the number of daily train trips from 15 to 5 in the Oakland to Sacramento segment of the service which serves the Suisun-Fairfield Station and the Fairfield-Vacaville Hannigan Station.

Solano County Transit (SolTrans), Fairfield and Suisun Transit (FAST) and Vacaville City Coach have all reduced their local transit service, including suspension of four local routes by FAST and two by City Coach. The four Solano Express Routes have reduced their service frequency to essentially Saturday level service. All three operators are currently not charging fares for riders and ridership drop has ranged between 75% and 90%. 

STA staff has posted all of the transit schedule changes on the Solano Mobility website along with any adjustments to Solano Mobility programs and services. For more information on transit updates, visit the Solano Mobility website here or call the Solano Mobility Call Center at 800-535-6883.
Federal Stimulus Provides Short Term Funding for Transit & Shifts Focus to Infrastructure Projects

On March 27, 2020, President Trump signed the $2 Trillion “Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act” that includes $25 billion to help the nation’s transit operators respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bay Area region’s share is projected to be $1.3 billion. 

Transportation discussions in Washington DC have begun to focus on infrastructure as an opportunity to mitigate and stimulate the national economy which is reeling from the continued impacts of the COVID-19 disease.  This has included identification of “Shovel Ready” projects. STA projects staff have developed a list of shovel ready transportation projects in preparation for this emerging discussion in Washington, DC, Sacramento, and at MTC. Click here to view the STA’s list of Shovel Ready projects.
STA Board Updates Arterial & Transit Elements of County Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP)

STA planning staff and consultants have prepared the final four chapters/elements of the CTP. These include the updated Land Use Chapter, and updates to the Active Transportation Element (Plan), Transit Element, and Arterial, Highways and Freeways Element. Two elements/chapters are out for public comment: the Land Use Chapter was approved for 30-day public comment period and the Solano Active Transportation Plan (ATP) is amidst its 60-day public comment period until April 17. Review the Land Use Chapter here and the Solano Active Transportation Plan (ATP) here .
STA Board Approves Funding to Vacaville for First Affordable Housing Project Funding from Suburban Housing Incentive (SubHIP) Pilot Program

Last year, the STA Board authorized staff to form the Solano Housing Investment Partnership (SolHIP) with Solano’s seven cities and County. One of the early successes of this focused effort was the development of criteria for Suburban Housing Incentive Program pilot. Based on this criteria, MTC programmed $5 million for the North Bay housing pilot and STA was provided $4 million to identify one or more affordable housing projects located in Priority Development Areas (PDAs) adjacent to regional transit. The City of Vacaville has partnered with an affordable housing developer on a 99-unit project with 89 of the units affordable located in the Allison PDA adjacent to the Vacaville Transit Center (service by the Solano Express Blue Line). The City of Vacaville requested $1.9 million in support of this project, which was approved by the STA Board.  
Mid-Year Budget Update and Initial Recommendation for FY 2020-21

STA Staff has prepared STA’s mid-year (2nd quarter) budget update which highlights expenditures tracking with revenues. Impacts are expected to come into play in the fourth quarter report. The FY 2020-21 budget update is scheduled to be presented to the STA Board in June.
2020 STA Board Members

  • Ron Rowlett, Chair, Mayor of Vacaville
  • Bob Sampayan, Vice-Chair, Mayor of Vallejo
  • Harry Price, Mayor of Fairfield
  • Thom Bogue, Mayor of Dixon
  • Elizabeth Patterson, Mayor of Benicia
  • Ronald Kott, Mayor of Rio Vista
  • Jim Spering, Solano County Supervisor
  • Lori Wilson, Mayor of Suisun City
     
707-424-6075