Travis eyes private venture for renewable energy project

Travis eyes private venture for renewable energy project
By Nick DeCicco | Daily Republic | November 09, 2009

VACAVILLE - Travis Air Force Base is looking to boost the area's renewable energy capabilities through a private venture centered on 200 acres of property near the base's gates.

Base officials hosted a daylong Enhanced Use Lease Solar Energy Industry Day on Nov. 4 at the Hampton Inn and Suites. The purpose of the event was to introduce to the private sector the opportunity to lease a plot of land that the Air Force hopes to develop for use in a renewable energy project.

The 205.5 acres northeast of the Travis gates, which presently hosts Cypress Lakes Golf Course, will convert into a parcel beneficial to the base and community.

'We're excited to be a part of the movement to renewable, clean energy,' said Col. Mike Minihan, vice commander for Travis' 60th Air Mobility Wing. 'Our hope is to forge a relationship between the Air Force and the private industry that is beneficial for both sides equally.'

The lease will create a long-term business partnership between Travis and the private sector.

What precisely the project will be is yet to be determined. The Air Force is currently soliciting offers from developers. In March 2010, the highest-ranking offer will be announced and then enter negotiations for the land.

The length of the lease is up to the discretion of the developer, but can run for as long as 50 years.

The Air Force plans to close the golf course in order to facilitate the project, according to the Request for Qualifications document that was sent out to prospective developers.

Cypress Lakes Golf Course, which was built in 1960, had been identified as an under-performing asset by the government. Just when the golf course will close has not been determined yet.

EUL day featured presentations from members of the Air Force and community representatives, a visit to the site and a panel discussion with key stakeholders to address questions and concerns.

'The process encourages creativity among the developers,' said Blanca Paredes, who is in charge of Enhanced Use Lease execution for the Air Force Real Property Agency. The winning proposal could come from one company or multiple ones who find a way to split the site, she said.

Fairfield City Manager Sean Quinn said one of the byproducts of the project is stimulation of the local job market. He also said the project would add to the 57 percent of Solano County's energy that comes from alternative sources.

See the complete story at the Daily Republic online.

Intersection changes bring economic hope to North Texas Street in Fairfield

Intersection changes bring economic hope to North Texas Street
By Ben Antonius | Daily Republic | November 06, 2009

Construction crews work part of the North Texas Street-Interstate 80 interchange project. The city is hoping to develop this area of the project with commercial properties. Photo by Chris Jordan

FAIRFIELD - The former Howard Johnson restaurant has long been emblematic of the issues facing the whole end of North Texas Street.

Great spot, a pain to drive to, something of a commercial disappointment.

Now, the shuttered restaurant is at the heart of a major project aiming to change that second descriptor, and, city officials hope, maybe the third one as well.

That would be the $20 million North Texas Street-Interstate 80 interchange project, scheduled for completion by summer. Several aspects of the project are intended to improve the area's commercial viability, and city officials are already in negotiations to bring new activity in.

'(The project) has been a vision for many years,' said Curt Johnston, economic development division manager for the city. 'I think it's going to be a vast improvement.'

The city has been in talks with the owners of the Chevron gas station, Johnston said. That station closed when work started on the interchange.


The owners have held closed-door meetings with city officials about possibly purchasing several city-owned parcels in the vicinity of the closed station.

'The owners will have an option of redeveloping the existing station or placing it potentially on another location and then we would like to see some restaurants on that property as well,' Johnston said.

Elsewhere, Manuel Campos Parkway is being brought through the hills, connecting between Dover Avenue and the interchange. Nelson Road has been wholly moved to the east, hopefully to produce a more natural route to access the Howard Johnson site and another one farther north.

See the complete story at the Daily Republic online.

Carpool lane widens part of Bay Area-to-Sac run on I-80

Carpool lane widens part of Bay Area-to-Sac run on I-80
bluindelof@sacbee.com
Published Thursday, Nov. 05, 2009

Some relief is available on a busy stretch of Interstate 80 for motorists traveling between the Bay Area and Sacramento.

A new eastbound carpool lane through Fairfield near the Cordelia junction where I-80 and Interstate 680 merge opened Wednesday. Caltrans opened the westbound carpool lane in October.

The new carpool lanes go from Red Top Road to just east of Air Base Parkway. Carpool lane hours are 5 - 10 a.m. and 3 - 7 p.m. Monday thorugh Friday.

The carpool lane upgrades cost $29.5 million. The project included a concrete median barrier and wider bridges to make room for the new lane.

M.I. rail service returns

M.I. rail service returns
By Jessica A. York
Posted: 11/05/2009

An engine pulling three Amtrak Capitol Corridor passenger rail cars crosses the Wichels Causeway onto Mare Island on Wednesday. (Jessica A. York/Times-Herald)

Drivers crossing the Wichels Causeway on and off Mare Island on Wednesday were privy to a recent rarity on the island: A train chugging across, whistle blowing.

Wednesday marked the first installment of Mare Island newcomer business Alstom's plans to refurbish 66 Amtrak Capitol Corridor trains. The initial three passenger cars to grace newly aligned track leading into Alstom's Building 599 warehouse were towed by Alstom venture partner, San Francisco Bay Railroad.

Earlier this year, Alstom, a France-based international transportation and energy company, secured a six-year lease for one of Mare Island's largest empty warehouses. It plans to bid to refurbish rail cars for this region and beyond.

In its initial Amtrak contract, expected to take up to two years to complete, Alstom officials say they plan to upgrade the passenger cars' automated door-opening system and rebuild wheelchair lifts.

While the city, Alstom and San Francisco Bay Railroad worked out a short term agreement for the first batch of rail car deliveries, a long-term agreement will be needed for the total 66-car repair contract, Assistant City Attorney Claudia Quintana said. Issues such as economic feasibility, liability agreements and track maintenance will have to be negotiated, Quintana said.

Vallejo owns city rail line between the a rail juncture known as the Flosden stop and the city side of the causeway. Mare Island developer Lennar Mare Island owns the recently dormant rail across the water.

San Francisco Bay Railroad President and CEO David Gavrich, who arrived on Mare Island aboard the rail card delivery, said he hopes the new partnership will stimulate Mare Island economic growth.

"Rail is important to a lot of other businesses," said Gavrich, whose company runs biodiesel engines. "I have seen opportunities that are not right for San Francisco that I've thought could be perfect for Mare Island."

For general information on Alstom, visit www.alstom.com or call (212) 557-7259. The Alstom warehouse office is at 450 Pintado St. on Mare Island.

Contact staff writer Jessica A. York at jyork@timesheraldonline.com or (707) 553-6834.

Bed Bath & Beyond debut draws Gateway shoppers

Bed Bath & Beyond debut draws Gateway shoppers
By Rachel Raskin-Zrihen/
Posted: 11/05/2009

Napans Debbie Fagundes, left, and Diane Lldigiani both praised Vallejo's newly opened Bed, Bath and Beyond store Wednesday at Gateway Plaza. (Mike Jory/Times-Herald)

Vallejo's new Bed Bath & Beyond store in the Gateway Plaza shopping center opened Wednesday and was busy almost immediately, manager Tina Harris of Martinez said.

Harris said people have been eagerly anticipating the opening of the 41,000-square-foot store since it was announced.

"People have been waiting while we were stocking and setting up for the past 10 days," she said. "We had four customers in the door at 9 a.m."

There was a rush of customers over the lunch hour and another was expected Wednesday night, Harris said.

The new store, which moved into 105 Plaza Drive where the now-defunct Linens-N-Things once operated, features domestic merchandise and home furnishings, including a health and beauty care department, according to a company press release.

The store employs 35 people, plus managers, most of them local, Harris said.

Friends Diana Lodigiani and Debbie Fagundes of Napa said they're happy the store opened.

"We've been waiting for it, and I drove by it today and saw it was open and called Diana and said, 'Oh, my God, they're open, come on down!' " Fagundes said.

The women said there is not enough retail in Napa, which Fagundes said caters mostly to wealthy tourists, so they plan to frequent the Vallejo Bed Bath & Beyond.

The new store is open Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.

Vallejo's is the retailer's 107th California store. There are others in Vacaville and El Cerrito.

Bed Bath & Beyond Chief Executive Officer Steven Temares said company officials look forward to continuing in Vallejo, the firm's commitment to "providing exceptional customer service, a broad and deep assortment and great value to our customers."

Bed Bath & Beyond was founded in 1971 by company chairmen Leonard Feinstein and Warren Eisenberg.

The store grew from selling mostly bed linens and bath accessories to its present superstore format carrying a full line of domestic and home furnishing merchandise, according to the announcement.

Most stores range from 23,000 to 50,000 square feet and several stores exceed 80,000 square feet, the announcement notes.

Contact staff writer Rachel Raskin-Zrihen at (707) 553-6824 or rzrihen@timesheraldonline.com.

Questions remain, but dry dock plan wins Vallejo OK

Questions remain, but dry dock plan wins Vallejo OK
By Jessica A. York
Posted: 11/05/2009

Will Vallejo workers be hired first? Will the city be hit with new air, water, soil and noise pollution? How will re-opening a Mare Island shipyard affect future island development?

These and other concerns about a proposed Mare Island ship and marine company were spread thinly amid a mostly supportive and near-capacity crowd at Vallejo City Hall Monday night.

After nearly four hours, the Planning Commission unanimously approved the project, proposed by California Dry Dock Solutions.

Monday's approval was the final city approval needed for the company, which intends to seek contracts to scrap Suisun Bay decommissioned naval ships inside two of Mare Island's mammoth dry docks.

The operation, still seeking regulatory agency permits and a site lease, could employ up to 120 people and begin as early as summer 2010.

The public spoke about Mare Island's military history and suitability for the dry docks, job creation and new city revenue, and ancillary benefit to Vallejo businesses. Even some Mare Island residents spoke in support of the venture.

Planning commissioners, along with residents, questioned the California Dry Dock Solutions executives on their ability to compete with other national ship recycling companies and project details.

Commissioner Bruce Gourley led Mare Island developer Tom Sheaff, of Lennar Mare Island, to agree that little other long-term development is fitting for the property surrounding the dry docks.

"I don't believe that there are any viable uses that can come in that are not heavy marine-related," Sheaff said.

Commissioner Landis Graden responded to concerns that the company may not prioritize the hiring of Vallejo residents. "We're trusting them with asbestos, PCBs. I think we can trust their word that they're going to hire local," Graden said.

While one speaker described the marine project as a "perfect storm of opportunity" for Vallejo, others felt developer Lennar Mare Island, which owns the dry docks, had unfairly pushed another project aside.

The nonprofit Historic Ships Memorial at Pacific Square organization has been grappling for years for funding to bring the USS Iowa, moored with the other mothballed ships -- to a permanent Vallejo home as a museum. Merylin Wong, president and director of the group, pleaded with commissioners to specify alternative locations on Mare Island for the Iowa, if not at the dry dock area.

More information on California Dry Dock Solutions is available online at www.californiadrydock.com.

Contact staff writer Jessica A. York at jyork@timesheraldonline.com or (707) 553-6834.

New I-80 carpool lane opens

New I-80 carpool lane opens
By Barry Eberling | DAILY REPUBLIC | November 04, 2009

FAIRFIELD - Drivers on eastbound Interstate 80 in Fairfield can now take the carpool lane during rush hour if they have two or more people in their vehicle.

The state Department of Transportation opened the eastbound lane on Wednesday. It opened the westbound carpool lane Oct. 1.

'We are excited about this important improvement to the I-80 corridor,' Solano Transportation Authority Executive Director Daryl Halls said in a press release.

Carpool lane hours are from 5 to 10 a.m. and 3 to 7 p.m. weekdays. The lanes extend 8.7 miles from near Red Top Road to near Air Base Parkway exits and pass by the busy interstates 80 and 680 interchange. Caltrans built a new lane and didn't convert an existing lane to carpool use.

See the complete story at the Daily Republic online.