Category Archives: Transportation

Vallejo council pushes parks, security towers, block parties, school safety – Times Herald Online

Posted on by

By Janis Mara

The Vallejo City Council on Tuesday directed city staff to research measures to deter violent crime in the summer including purchasing security towers, developing a block party program, re-establishing a safety-oriented school program and subsidizing park programs for youth.

Staffers were asked to present proposed budget amendments funding the measures at the council’s regular meeting July 8. Also, the council directed staff to re-establish the Safe Start to School Programs at Lincoln Elementary, Hogan Middle School, St. Vincent Preschool through Eighth Grade and Pennycook Elementary School after school starts.

Source: Vallejo council pushes parks, security towers, block parties, school safety – Times Herald Online

Vallejo school district and police pilot ‘Safe School Days’ initiative – Times Herald Online

Posted on by

By Sarah Rodriguez

Beginning today, the Vallejo City Unified School District and the Vallejo Police Department are set to launch “Safe Start to School Days,” a pilot initiative to ensure safety.

Through Friday, the three-day initiative will station officers at three elementary school campuses during drop-off hours from 8 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. The schedule is as follows:

  • April 23: Patterson Elementary
  • April 24: Lincoln Elementary
  • April 25: Loma Vista Environmental Science Academy

Source: Vallejo school district and police pilot ‘Safe School Days’ initiative – Times Herald Online

VUSD trustees to hear 2025-26 transportaton plan at tonight’s meeting – The Vacaville Reporter

Posted on by

By Richard Bammer

Vacaville Unified leaders, when they meet Thursday, will hear a presentation on the school district’s 2025-26 transportation plan, including a description of services, how those services will be offered, their impact, funding, and student data.

Ramiro Barron, assistant superintendent of student services and supports, will detail the plan in a computer-aided slide presentation.

He will tell trustees that the plan’s requirements call for its adoption by April 1, but it is currently funded up to only 60 percent of expenditures. Also, services are offered on a priority basis and to all students who are “income-eligible.”

Source: VUSD trustees to hear 2025-26 transportaton plan at tonight’s meeting – The Vacaville Reporter

I-80 Express-HOV lane to open March 10 | dailyrepublic.com

Posted on by

Caltrans and partner agencies are tentatively scheduled to open the new westbound Interstate 80 express lane running between Fairfield and Vacaville on March 10.

The lane will open temporarily as a high-occupancy vehicle lane, the state Department of Transportation reported. The opening originally had been scheduled for mid-February, but weather delayed the work.

Source: I-80 Express-HOV lane to open March 10 | News | dailyrepublic.com

Safe Routes to School Educates Students | Independent Voice

Posted on by

By Kendall Brown

On Jan. 31, Solano Safe Routes to School hosted an event at Dixon High School, 555 College Way, to offer free bike repairs and education. According to Solano Safe Routes to School (SR2S) website, the initiative was launched by the Solano Transportation Authority (STA) in 2008 as a response to increased childhood obesity, air pollution and traffic congestion around schools.

Crystal Peacher, one of the two Solano Safe Routes to School program coordinators on Jan. 31, hopes to encourage students through these events.

Source: Safe Routes to School Educates Students | Independent Voice

Commute lanes could open early in Solano County – The Vacaville Reporter

Posted on by

By Robin Miller

With CalTrans apparently ahead of schedule on construction of westbound Interstate 80 express lanes between Vacaville and Fairfield, the state is planning to open the lanes early as HOV (carpool) lanes by mid-February – weather permitting.

High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes are restricted to carpools only during high-use commute hours. Express lanes allow single-occupant vehicles but the drivers pay a toll electronically (with a FasTrak transponder or by using a Prepaid ExpressAccount).

Source: Commute lanes could open early in Solano County – The Vacaville Reporter

Fairfield council approves free FAST fixed route travel for youths | dailyrepublic.com

Posted on by

By Amy Maginnis-Honey

The City Council gave its blessing to free rides for youths, 6-18, on the FAST fixed bus routes beginning Dec. 1.

Council members approved the agency’s proposal to accept only Clipper cards and paratransit passes on all fixed-route services, microtransit and paratransit.

Councilman Doug Carr was not present.

Source: Fairfield council approves free FAST fixed route travel for youths | News | dailyrepublic.com

Fairfield council will consider free fare for youths, eliminating cash boxes | dailyrepublic.com

Posted on by

Free fares for youths, and eliminating cash payments for transit services, will go before the City Council on Tuesday.

The council will hold a public hearing, and a vote on the resolution could follow.

As part of restoring ridership to pre-pandemic levels, FAST proposes to offer free fares for youth as an incentive to ride on FAST local fixed routes.

Source: Fairfield council will consider free fare for youths, eliminating cash boxes | News | dailyrepublic.com

SolTrans offers free bus service for youth | dailyrepublic.com

Posted on by

Students 18 or younger can ride all SolTrans routes for free as part of the agency’s Back to School program.

Solano County Transit “encourages parents and guardians to consider utilizing local or express bus services to ensure a smooth and stress-free start to the school year. Riding the bus not only offers a convenient alternative to driving but also helps alleviate traffic congestion around schools, promoting a safer environment for students,” the agency said in a statement.

Source: SolTrans offers free bus service for youth | News | dailyrepublic.com

Markeley Lane restoration gets some funding; more may be on the way | dailyrepublic.com

Posted on by

By Amy Maginnis-Honey

The city council recently approved $1.8 million toward the restoration of Markeley Lane.

Funding includes conceptual planning, environmental documentation, right-of-way acquisition, and full design for the Markeley Lane extension from Viking Lane to Peabody Road.

Staff would pursue grant funding to build this project. Preliminary estimates indicate construction would cost $3.2 million.

Source: Markeley Lane restoration gets some funding; more may be on the way | Highway | dailyrepublic.com

Fairfield City Council moves forward on plans for new Markeley Lane | dailyrepublic.com

Posted on by

By Susan Hiland

Safety concerns have been at the forefront of complaints from parents, teachers and students over Markeley Lane ever since the new overpass was constructed. A portion of the road was closed when the Peabody Road overpass was built.

Before the overpass, Markeley Lane gave easy access to parents and students for Center Elementary, Golden West Middle and Vanden High schools.

Drivers must now access the schools using other streets, often leading to long traffic backups and many safety concerns.

Source: Fairfield City Council moves forward on plans for new Markeley Lane | Education | dailyrepublic.com

Bill would regulate ride-share companies that take students to school | EdSource

Posted on by

By Carolyn Jones

Wilfred Adu-Beng was already grappling with a mountain of hardships after his father and stepmother died. Getting his younger brother — for whom he was suddenly responsible — to middle school every day proved to be one of the biggest hurdles of all.

In essence, it was impossible. Adu-Beng, a psychiatric tech at a hospital near San Bernardino, often worked swing or early morning shifts.

He lived too far from the school for his brother to take the bus. Adu-Beng feared he’d have to quit his job in order to get his brother to school.

Source: Bill would regulate ride-share companies that take students to school | EdSource

Benicia parents fear for children’s safety after pedestrian bridge demolished – Fox 2

Posted on by

By Brooks Jarosz

A pedestrian bridge in Benicia was demolished Friday causing some parents to fear their children won’t have a safe path to get to school.

The City of Benicia said a commercial truck crashed into the walking bridge over Military West on Tuesday, damaging it beyond repair. It continued to deteriorate and pose a serious safety risk.

Source: Benicia parents fear for children’s safety after pedestrian bridge demolished

Grange Middle School Safe Routes to School Project – Daily Republic

Posted on by

By Community Contributor

The City of Fairfield has contracted FBD Vanguard Construction, Inc. to construct the Grange Middle School Safe Routes to School Project.

The Project is located on E. Tabor Avenue between Dover Avenue and Clay Bank Road, and on Sunset Avenue between E. Tabor Avenue and Sunset Court. Improvements include: installing concrete curb extensions, ADA-accessible curb ramps, rapid flashing beacons at crosswalks, traffic signal modifications, pavement rehabilitation, and traffic striping.

Source: City Alert: Grange Middle School Safe Routes to School Project

Nelda Mundy receives STA award for Safe Routes to School program – Daily Republic

Posted on by

Nelda Mundy Elementary School recently received the Solano Transportation Authority Safe Routes to School Award.

The school was recognized Nov. 9 as a champion school for the Safe Routes to School Program with more than 100 students who walk or ride to school every day.

“We are delighted to have participated in the Safe Routes to Schools Program,” Julie Reece, principal at Nelda Mundy, said in a statement. “It is great to see the positive effects it has on our students and our community, and we look forward to continuing our participation in this important program in the future!”

Source: Nelda Mundy receives STA award for Safe Routes to School program

Vacaville calls upon community for ideas to improve safety around schools – The Vacaville Reporter

Posted on by

By Nick Sestanovich

With many schools in Vacaville within walking distance of students’ homes, traffic and pedestrian safety can be a concern, especially when school starts or lets out.

Parents, students, neighbors, teachers and other school staff likely know of ways to improve travel around their schools, and the city wants to hear from you.

In conjunction with Solano Safe Routes to School, the city is calling upon the community to submit their traffic safety concerns and ideas to ameliorate them through Jan. 31.

Source: Vacaville calls upon community for ideas to improve safety around schools – The Vacaville Reporter

Vacaville wants ideas for Safe Route to School locations – Daily Republic

Posted on by

The city is accepting ideas on where Safe Routes to School locations should be considered for the program’s plan.

“City staff will evaluate each submission to determine if there are physical improvements that can be constructed to mitigate areas of concern. Evaluation of data and conditions will guide the types of potential physical improvements (e.g. enhanced crosswalks, radar feedback signs, installation of gap sidewalks, etc.). Please note, not all issues can be solved by physical improvements,” the city said in a statement.

Source: Vacaville wants ideas for Safe Route to School locations

FSUSD receives a $268,000 grant to support clean energy transportation – Daily Republic

Posted on by

By Kris Corey

The Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District has been awarded a $268,000 grant from the Carl Moyer Grant Program in partnership with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District in order to procure two new near-zero emission propane buses and to cover all related infrastructure costs.

As part of the grant, two of the oldest diesel buses in the FSUSD fleet will be decommissioned. FSUSD’s participation in the Carl Moyer Grant Program has enabled the district’s transportation department to retire a total of twenty fuel-inefficient diesel buses.

Source: Press Release: FSUSD receives a $268,000 grant to support clean energy transportation

Solano Safe Routes to School grants available starting June 1 – Daily Republic

Posted on by

Grants totaling $100,000 are available to Solano County cities, school districts, schools and community-based organizations from the Safe Routes to School Program.

The application period opens June 1 and closes at 5 p.m. July 15. Awardees will be notified by Sept. 15.

The Micro-Grant Program funds and supports small-scale bike and pedestrian projects and programs that encourage walking and biking, improve safety around schools and will be implemented within one year of the grant award.

Source: Solano Safe Routes to School grants available starting June 1

A green deal: VUSD receives first all-electric school bus – The Reporter

Posted on by

By Richard Bammer

With green solutions and ultimately cost-savings in mind, Vacaville Unified School District leaders ordered and received the first of three electric buses from Lion Electric on Nov. 20. The other two are expected to be delivered during summer of 2021, district officials announced Monday.

Each yellow electric bus will replace an older, fossil fuel-burning diesel bus in the fleet. The goal is to obtain 10 electric buses in the next five years, Elaine Kong, the district’s spokeswoman noted in a press release.

The district’s purchase comes as bus manufacturers nationwide, including Blue Bird, are beginning to see increased demand for EV school buses, especially in California, a the nation’s most populous state and a huge market for them. The Twin Rivers School District in Sacramento uses 25 electric school buses built by Lion and is thought to be the largest such fleet in the country.

Source: A green deal: VUSD receives first all-electric school bus – The Reporter