Transportation funds are short-term fix

Transportation funds are short-term fix
By Barry Eberling | DAILY REPUBLIC | April 23, 2009

FAIRFIELD - Local leaders predict that Solano County's transportation system could see impressive short-term gains and then experience some long-term pain.

Bulldozers will be busy during the next few years on such projects as Interstate 80 resurfacing, the rebuilding of McGary Road and Highway 12 improvements. Solano Transportation Authority Executive Director Daryl Halls called the job-producing activities 'our mini-version of economic stimulus.'

Some of the projects are getting money from the federal economic stimulus package that is a one-time boost. County Supervisor and STA Board Chairman Jim Spering sees rough times ahead because of the state budget woes.

'The challenges are great,' Spering said.

Halls and Spering delivered a talk titled 'The Good, The Bad and The Daunting' during the Solano Economic Development Corp. breakfast Thursday at Courtyard by Marriott.

Among the good news is the $28 million in federal economic stimulus money coming to county transportation projects. Halls said that $11.5 million will go to road maintenance, $13.9 million to mass transit and $2.5 million to such projects as the McGary Road reconstruction.

The 8.7 miles of carpool lanes being built on I-80 in Fairfield are to open this fall. The state is to then renovate the I-80 pavement through Fairfield. Highway 12 is to be widened through Jameson Canyon beginning next year.

See the complete story at the Daily Republic online.