August 2022

Special Edition: Solano Mobility

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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UPCOMING MEETINGS/EVENTS:

  • STA Board Meeting in Suisun and via Zoom on 9/14/22 at 6pm
  • Paratransit Coordinating Council (PCC) via Zoom on 9/15//22 at 1pm
  • Pedestrian Advisory Committee (PAC) via Zoom on 10/6/22 at 6pm

IN THIS EDITION:

  • Solano Mobility Call Center: Your One Stop Shop for Mobility Options for Solano County Residents
  • Solano Express 2 For 1 Promotion Continues
  • Solano County Commuters Can Receive Solano Mobility Benefits
  • Get a Guaranteed Ride Home during an Emergency
  • Take the Commute Challenge & Earn Rewards! 
  • Catch FREE Lyft Rides to your Train with The Amtrak + Lyft Pilot
  • Discounted Lyft Rides to Solano Transit Hubs with the First/Last Mile Program
  • Get Reimbursed 60% of the Cost of a New Commute Bicycle with Bucks For Bikes
  • Receive a $600 Subsidy for Starting A Vanpool
  • Solano County Employers: Let Us Help Your Employees Offset Commute Costs
  • Solano Mobility Programs
  • Apply for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Eligibility Program for Persons with Disabilities
  • Get Discounted Taxi Trips with the Intercity Taxi Card (ITX) Program
  • Learn to Ride Transit on a Guided Tour with Friends using the Travel Training Program
  • Solano Older Adults take advantage of the Medical Trip Concierge Services Program (GoGo Grandparent)
  • Mobility Programs Expanded to Include Veterans
  • Get Involved
  • SF Bay Ferry seeking Public Input for its Bay Ferry 2050 Plan

Solano Mobility Call Center: Your One Stop Shop for Mobility Options for Solano County Residents

Solano Transportation Authority’s Solano Mobility Call Center provides assistance and information about transportation options for everyone to get around Solano County and beyond. In addition to providing commuters with information on a variety of transit services and incentive programs, the Mobility Call Center provides older adults, people with disabilities, and Veterans with a range of various mobility options and information. Some of our programs include:


  • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Eligibility Program
  • Intercity Taxi Card (ITX) Program
  • Medical Trip Concierge Program (thru GoGo Grandparent)
  • Travel Training
  • Trip Planning


During Fiscal Year (FY) 2021‐22, a total of 8,251 people contacted the Solano Mobility Call Center, with more customers discovering the Call Center every year since its formation in 2014.


For more information on the Mobility Call Center or for information about a specific program that we offer, please visit https://www.solanomobility.org/ or contact the Call Center Monday – Friday, 8am‐5pm at 800‐535‐6883.

Solano Express 2 For 1 Promotion Continues

If you live or work in Solano County and purchase a monthly or daily Solano Express bus pass (Red, Blue, Green or Yellow Line), you can receive a matching pass for free. Since the program’s inception, 83 Solano Express riders have taken advantage of the Solano Express 2-for-1 passes. 


To take advantage of this offer, download and fill out the application at https://www.solanomobility.org/solano-express-2-1-promotion/ and email to solanomobility@sta.ca.gov with a copy of your receipt. Contact the Solano Mobility Call Center at 800-535-6883 for more information.

Solano County Commuters Can Receive Solano Mobility Benefits


STA’s Solano Mobility Commuter Program offers incentives and subsidies to help Solano County residents and employees choose a better commute.

Get a Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH) during an Emergency

 

If you’re ready to choose an alternative commute, but you’re worried about getting home in an emergency; if you have to work unscheduled overtime; if your rideshare must leave early or stay late; or if your transit route is cancelled or doesn’t show up on schedule, the Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH) program offers “insurance.” This program provides an alternative option home in the case of an emergency by allowing registered users to take a Lyft, Uber, or Taxi. The GRH program can be used six times in a year, no more than three times in a month, for up to $100 per trip. Participants must have used an alternative transportation mode to get to work on the day they use Guaranteed Ride Home.


Sign up at commuterinfo.net to be eligible for ride reimbursement. Over 3,000 people are already registered & are eligible for the program.

Take the Commute Challenge & Earn Rewards! 

 

Everyone who lives or works in Solano County can win! Sign up for free at commuterinfo.net. Log your alternative commutes (transit, rideshare, active transportation, telework) to earn free gift cards. Be sure to include your home and work zip codes. In FY 2021-22, 421 registered participants actively participated in the Commute Challenge program.

Catch FREE Lyft Rides to Your Train with The Amtrak + Lyft Pilot


Want to try the train for your work commute? If you live or work in Fairfield, Vacaville, or Suisun City, for $20, you can receive a 10-ride Amtrak pass plus free Solano County Lyft connections (up to $25) to the two county train stations. Nine commuters participated in the The Amtrak + Lyft Pilot program during Fiscal Year (FY) 2021-22.

Discounted Lyft Rides to Solano Transit Hubs with the First/Last Mile Program

 

Solano County residents and employees who need help connecting with Solano County transit hubs for alternative commutes can receive 80% off their Lyft rides (up to $25). Connect to all Solano County Solano Express bus stops, Solano County Transportation Centers, the SF Bay Ferry, and the two Solano County train stations (Suisun-Fairfield Amtrak Station and Fairfield-Hannigan Station)—a total of 12 transit locations. In FY 2021-22, 653 commuters participated in the First/Last Mile program.


“This is an amazing program.” – N. C., happy program participant

Get Reimbursed 60% of the Cost of a New Commute Bicycle with Bucks For Bikes

 

Purchasing a new commuter bike and helmet? If you live, work, or attend college in Solano County and are at least 18 years old, you can receive 60 % reimbursement up to $300 by applying for the Bucks For Bikes program. Twelve commuters received reimbursements in FY 2021-22.


“This process bypasses the most congested section of interstate 80

between my home and workplace.” – C.L., program participant


“This is a great program.” – J. H., program participant

Receive a $600 Subsidy for Starting a Vanpool


With the high cost of gas, it makes sense to share your commute with 7-15 people who live and work near you. New, qualifying vanpools traveling to or from Solano County for work can receive from $200 to $600 in monthly subsidies. Twelve vanpools were initiated in FY 2021-22. 

For more information and to sign up for our programs, visit  solanomobility.org/commuter-programs or call the Solano Mobility Call Center at 800-535-6883. The Call Center can also help you plan your commute.

Solano Mobility Programs

Apply for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Eligibility Program for Persons with Disabilities

 

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Eligibility Program determines eligibility for anyone unable to use fixed-routes public transit service because of their disability. Eligibility allows access to curb-to-curb paratransit service throughout Solano County, as well as participation in the Solano Intercity Taxi Program. Paratransit and the Intercity Taxi Program are much more affordable than private medical transportation.  


There is an Auto Renewal option offered to those whose condition has been confirmed by the evaluation process to not improve, so the participant no longer needs to repeat the assessment process for eligibility. During FY 2021-22, 145 people took advantage of the Auto Renewal option.

Learn to Ride Transit on a Guided Tour with Friends using the Travel Training Program

 

Learn to ride transit on your own or with friends with the Travel Training Program. This FREE service teaches everything, from how to read a schedule, to how to pay for your travel.   


A total of 161 trainings (individual and field trips) were conducted during FY2021-22, more than double last fiscal year’s total of 65 trainings. Of these, 18 field trips were conducted, with a total of 97 participants.

Solano Older Adults take advantage of the Medical Trip Concierge Services Program (GoGo Grandparent)


For ambulatory seniors over 60 years old, the Medical Trip Concierge Services Program provides 20 reduced cost trips per month to Medical and other Essential appointments around Solano County, utilizing Uber & Lyft through GoGo Grandparent. In FY 2020-21, 8,295 rides were taken using the GoGo Program, which was a 70% increase over the 4,836 rides taken in the previous fiscal year.

Mobility Programs Expanded to Include Veterans


This program, which began in April of 2022, offers veterans of any age access to medical facilities within Solano County, including Travis Air Force Base, as well as 3 specific locations in Contra Costa, including the Martinez VA Clinic. This program provides wheelchair accessible vehicles if required.  

Get Involved



Several public advisory committees assist the STA Board of Directors and staff in the development of these programs, specific policies, and transportation plans to improve Solano County’s transit systems, roads and freeways, and alternative modes. If you’re interested in participating in the development of these programs, get involved by joining the Paratransit Coordinating Council (PCC) or the Consolidated Transportation Services Agency (CTSA) Advisory Committee by turning in an STA Advisory Committee Application today.


There are also other opportunities available to get involved: the Solano Mobility Call Center is currently hiring Customer Service Representatives (CSR). CSRs are responsible for customer service to the general public via telephone, events, employers and other community outreach, as well as providing commute alternative information for Napa and Solano using multi-line telephones and other commuter databases. Click here for more information and to apply.

SF Bay Ferry seeking Public Input for its Bay Ferry 2050 Plan

 

The San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) would like to know, "What do you want the future of Bay Area water transit to look like?" WETA is currently developing Bay Ferry 2050, SF Bay Ferry’s shared vision of the San Francisco Bay Area ferry system in 2050.  

 

From regular riders to first-time users, community input is an important part of the development process. Explore the Bay Ferry 2050 website to take a quick priorities poll (by August 31), subscribe for updates, and help WETA re-imagine the future of water transportation: https://www.bayferry2050.org/

2022 STA Board Members
707-424-6075
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