Thursday, April 10, 2008

Vacaville Intermodal Station Gets Boost From Federal Transportation Program

Vacaville Intermodal Station Gets Boost From Federal Transportation Program
OAKLAND, Calif., April 9, 2008

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC)'s Programming and Allocations Committee recommended approval today of a $2.1 million allocation of federal funds to the City of Vacaville to complete the financing package for the planned $11.5 million Vacaville Intermodal Station. The project will accommodate regional express bus service linking Solano County with both downtown Sacramento and the Pleasant Hill and El Cerrito del Norte BART stations, as well as local bus service, carpools and vanpools.

"The Bay Area and the Sacramento region are working together to improve mobility for both residents and freight throughout the I-80 corridor," said Solano County Supervisor and MTC Commissioner Jim Spering. "The Vacaville Intermodal Station is designed to be a truly interregional facility, and the financing commitment reflects two years of effort by MTC, the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG), the City of Vacaville and the Solano Transportation Authority."

The Vacaville Intermodal Station is expected to streamline express service in both directions along the Interstate 80 corridor, and to help reduce traffic congestion and air pollution by promoting effective alternatives to solo commuting. In addition to the bus facilities, the station will include 600 parking spaces for transit riders, carpoolers and vanpoolers. Plans call for the eventual development of an estimated $17 million second phase for the station, to be constructed once Phase I is complete.

Federal funding for the Vacaville project comes through the Surface Transportation Program (STP: 46.10, -2.94, -5.99%) and the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ). Additional funds will be provided through the state Transportation Development Act and Regional Measure 2, which was approved by Bay Area voters in 2004.

MTC is the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area's transportation planning, coordinating and financing agency.

SOURCE Metropolitan Transportation Commission

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