Wilson Hosts Transportation Town Hall Meeting

Addressing Transportation Challenges in Solano County

Assemblymember Lori Wilson recently hosted an Accessible Transportation Town Hall at the Solano County Government Center, marking the beginning of her statewide tour as chair of the Assembly Transportation Committee. In addition to her role on the committee overseeing the state transportation budget, Wilson has made it a priority to engage directly with constituents about transit issues.

During the event, Wilson highlighted the recent passage of SB 63, a bill that established a transit-specific tax in five Bay Area counties. This initiative is seen as a step toward increasing regional transportation funding. The town hall was part of her ongoing efforts to connect with residents, including a similar meeting held in Oakley just days before.

Wilson emphasized the importance of in-person interactions, noting that they help her better understand the challenges her constituents face. “Every single person has a right to a high-quality life, and they have a right to define what that looks like for themselves,” she said. She also stressed that transportation is a fundamental right and a critical need, comparable only to housing in terms of importance to residents.

Transportation in the Bay Area and Northern California’s I-80 corridor has undergone significant changes. By 2023, 19 percent of workers in the region were working full-time remotely, up from 7 percent before the pandemic. Despite this shift, transit ridership remains lower than pre-pandemic levels. “The pandemic was like an earthquake to the Bay Area in terms of how people get to work,” Wilson explained.

Revenue is essential for maintaining and improving transit options, as operational cuts disproportionately affect those without access to personal vehicles. “They need a transportation system that belongs to them,” she said. While ARPA allocations have provided some support, Wilson acknowledged that more needs to be done to adequately fund public transit.

“We at the state have a very car-centric culture when it comes to transportation funding,” she added. During the town hall, Wilson asked attendees about the barriers they face in accessing transportation. Attendees shared their experiences with paratransit and microtransit services, inconvenient ferry schedules in Vallejo, construction on Texas Street in Fairfield, and a lack of non-medical transportation funding for the disabled.

Other concerns included insufficient bicycle parking in Fairfield and limited transit options connecting to Amtrak stations. Ruben Brunt of the Solano County Paratransit Coordinating Council noted that many people want to use transit but struggle with the “last mile” between the station and their destination. He suggested that autonomous cars, such as Waymo and Zoox, could offer solutions, especially given the current shortage of ride-share drivers.

Wilson shared her own experience with autonomous vehicles, noting that Waymo uses reconfigured Jaguars while Zoox cars are purpose-built for autonomy. She also mentioned that Zoox is exploring ways to improve accessibility for wheelchair users.

Overview of Mobility Programs in Solano County

Debbie McQuilkin, Program Manager at the Solano Transportation Authority (STA), presented an overview of the 18 countywide mobility programs available. “Public transportation is the most affordable way to get around if you do not drive,” she said.

The STA offers individual and group Travel Trainings, which help residents learn how to navigate public transit. Additionally, an ADA eligibility program can qualify residents for curb-to-curb service nationwide. Low-income residents may also benefit from debit-card style subsidization for taxi fares.

Clipper Cards provide a convenient way to pay fares across all nine Bay Area counties. Disabled adults under 65 can apply for an RTC card, which includes a discount. The STA also runs a Solano Mobility Call Center, open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, to assist residents with transit-related questions.

Local Transit Services and Challenges

Several local transit services operate in the region, each with its own unique features. Redi-Ride in Dixon offers a dial-a-ride system on weekdays, while FAST prioritizes ADA paratransit and allows bookings through the Ride Pingo app. Single rides on fixed routes cost $4.

Suisun Microtransit provides $2 fares on fixed routes, with discounts for seniors. The Rio Vista Delta Breeze offers local access within city limits and connects to communities near Highway 160 in Isleton. Vacaville City Coach serves the Fairfield Vacaville Train Station and operates Monday through Saturday, along with local taxi and paratransit services.

Sol Trans provides 12 fixed local routes primarily in Vallejo and Benicia. However, attendees expressed frustration with the lack of connectivity between these programs and the overall complexity of the transit system.