Scales top STA agenda

Scales top STA agenda
By Danny Bernardini/ DBernardini@TheReporter.com
Posted: 04/07/2009

Plans to relocate the truck scales on eastbound Interstate 80 are rolling along and the Solano Transportation Authority on Wednesday will request $21 million for the project.

The funding request from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission will be made at the STA's regular 6 p.m. meeting in Suisun City. The money will be used for design and acquiring the right of way for the $100 million project scheduled for construction in 2011-12.

Environmental documents for the project are scheduled to be released late this month or early in May, said Janet Adams, projects manager for STA. Comments from a public meeting held in February will also be included and addressed in those documents.

Plans are to move the scales one-half mile to the east from their existing location. Included in the construction will be a new building to house the California Highway Patrol, along with four sets of scales to accommodate two lines of empty and loaded trucks .

It will also include seven inspection bays, parking for semi-truck trailers and a roadway along the outer edge of the oval to allow weighed trucks to be driven around into the inspection bay or to be re-weighed.

Moving the station eastbound will help alleviate increased traffic concerns stemming from the Interstate 80/680 interchange. Adams said problems with cars entering the freeway from the Green Valley on-ramp and crossing paths with trucks entering the scales are a frequent problem.

The Solano Transportation Authority meets at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the City of Suisun City Hall Chamber, 701 Civic Center Blvd.