The city is moving forward with the Markeley Lane reconnection project.
It proposes construction of a 0.2-mile, two-lane residential collector extending from Peabody Road to Viking Lane. The project will provide new bicycle and pedestrian facilities, additional egress and ingress access, and improve local and school traffic circulation.
Source: City shares plans, timeline for Markeley Lane reconnection | News | dailyrepublic.com
The Travis Unified School District board on Tuesday will consider a right-of-entry agreement that will allow Fairfield to begin work on Markeley Lane.
The agreement does not provide a specific date of when the work will start, but it does define the definition of work.
“As part of the planned improvements, the city will reconstruct the roadway, install new sidewalks and (disability)-compliant ramps, and upgrade drainage and traffic features,” the document states. “These enhancements will support safer pedestrian access and improve overall mobility in the area.”
Source: Travis Unified trustees to consider Markeley Lane access agreement | News | dailyrepublic.com
By Sarah Rodriguez
Parents, teachers, and a handful of students gathered at Vallejo High School Monday night, vocalizing concerns over transportation, classroom capacities, and the quality of education for affected schools at a second town hall on the fate of Vallejo schools.
The town hall — the second session in a series of three for the Vallejo City Unified School District — addressed several basic questions, ranging from “Why might the district be in this position?” to “What are the contributing factors of declining enrollment?” One look at the worrisome parents and anxious teachers located at the considered schools for closure or consolidation made the considerable weight of the issues obvious.
Source: Parents voice concerns at second Vallejo school town hall – Times Herald Online
A new app allows parents to track, in real time, their children’s school buses.
The Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District launched the EZ-A2B app this week.
“We understand that knowing the precise location and timing of a school bus is vital for our families’ peace of mind and daily routines,” district Superintendent Jennifer Sachs said in a statement. “The EZ A2B Parent App delivers on our promise to enhance communication and provides an invaluable layer of transparency and convenience.”
Source: New Fairfield-Suisun schools app tracks buses | News | dailyrepublic.com
By Nick McConnell
Fairfield City Councilmember Manveer Sandhu and Fairfield Public Works staff told residents during a Zoom Town Hall on Tuesday evening that the connection of Markeley Lane to Peabody Road will cost $5.1 million and take until 2028 to complete. Cries for a plan to finish the final quarter-mile connection have crescendoed in recent months, and commenters in the Zoom chat continued to express displeasure at the cost and timeframe.
The issue began in 2015, when the city built the Peabody overpass, closing off Markeley Lane and saying that future developers would rebuild it. As a result, four TUSD school sites, which account for more than 3,000 students, including Vanden High School, were left with only two routes of ingress and egress, as well as the surrounding area.
Source: Markeley Lane expected to remain unfinished until 2028 – The Vacaville Reporter
The back-to-school season is in full swing, and in Vacaville, officials are reminding people to slow down.
Students within the Vacaville Unified School District went back to class on Thursday. Parents and anyone driving through school zones should be aware that the speed limits have changed for most schools across the city.
“The goal of this is to reduce the likelihood and severity of any motor vehicle collisions in our school zones,” said Lt. Chris Lechuga with the Vacaville Police Department.
Source: Most Vacaville school zones drop to 15 mph speed limit as kids return to class – CBS Sacramento
Some Vacaville schools will see 15 mph speed limits when they open Thursday.
That limit will only apply when children are present.
Signs will be posted.Drivers are reminded to be alert for crossing guards, school buses and pedestrian crossings, and to yield always to pedestrians in crosswalks and follow the directions of school personnel.
Source: Lower speeds for some Vacaville schools when children are present | News | dailyrepublic.com
The city Police Department in recent years has responded to a number of calls to school zones – with several avoidable crashes involving children on their way to and from school.
“As students return to school, we urge all motorists to slow down, remain alert and take extra precautions when navigating through school zones. By doing so, we can create a safer environment for everyone and foster a community where safety is a shared responsibility. Now is the time to prioritize safety behind the wheel and protect our children,” Fairfield Police Sgt. Josh Bender said in a statement.
Source: Police urge motorists to be cautious as school year begins | News | dailyrepublic.com
The city has changed the date for a webinar on the Markeley Lane Extension Project, moving it to 6 p.m. Aug. 13.
The change comes after Matthew Bidou, president of the Travis Unified School District board, complained that the original time and date meant that the district trustees and key staff could not participate because it conflicted with their regular meeting.
Councilman Manveer Sandhu, a former Travis Unified trustee, is hosting the event, which also will include members of the city’s Public Works Department to talk about the project’s background, current status and next steps. The Markeley Lane Extension Project is intended to connect Peabody Road to Viking Lane.
Source: Webinar on Markeley Lane moved back one day | News | dailyrepublic.com
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
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:
Source: Vallejo school district and police pilot ‘Safe School Days’ initiative – Times Herald Online
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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