Transportation needs outnumber funds

Transportation needs outnumber funds
By Barry Eberling | DAILY REPUBLIC | January 09, 2009

FAIRFIELD - More than $6 billion could come to Solano County for transportation projects by 2035 -- and it will likely be too little to keep traffic moving on smooth roads.

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission is finishing its 'Transportation 2035: Change in Motion' plan. The document looks at how much money is expected to be available for major Bay Area transportation projects over the next 25 years and how to spend it.

Under the plan, Solano County by 2035 would have a four-lane Jepson Parkway linking Vacaville, Fairfield and Suisun City; a better interchange for interstates 80 and 680; a North Connector linking central Fairfield with Green Valley; and a four-lane Highway 12 in Jameson Canyon.

Carpool lanes would stretch along interstates 80 and 680 in Fairfield and Vallejo. Solo drivers could also use those lanes if they are willing to pay a toll.

Vallejo transit would get money for improvements, and the older Benicia Bridge span would be renovated. The bridge project is already under way.

'Is it everything we'd like to do? Of course not,' said Daryl Halls, executive director of the Solano Transportation Authority. 'It's just within the fiscal constraints of the regional plan.'

For example, 'Transportation 2035' proposals allot $488 million for Phase I of a renovated interchange for interstates 80 and 680. Complete renovation of the county's most notorious traffic snare could cost close to $1 billion, however. Exactly what will comprise Phases I and II should become clearer this summer.

The proposed plan fails to mention such possible local projects as widening Highway 12 to four lanes from Suisun City to Rio Vista and building a four-lane Rio Vista Bridge to replace the existing, two-lane drawbridge. It also does not offer solutions for I-80 traffic snarls from Fairfield to Vacaville.

'There isn't enough money available,' Halls said.

One glaring shortfall is money for street maintenance. The plan states Solano County needs $2.5 billion over the next 25 years, but only $1.2 billion is projected to be available, not even half the total.

It's the same story for the entire Bay Area. The MTC expects the region to get $226 billion for various road and mass transit projects, yet still face shortfalls in such areas as filling potholes.

The MTC updates its 25-year spending plan about every five years. Halls said it is important that projects expected to be started over the next few years be in the plan to get various regional, federal and state funds.

Meanwhile, the county must wait for revisions in future years to attempt to get projects such as widening Highway 12 near Rio Vista included on the spending list.

Reach Barry Eberling at 425-4646, ext. 232, or beberling@dailyrepublic.net.