In This Issue
Say Hello to Soltrans!
Freeway Service Patrol Expands Coverage
Call for Projects Enhancing Disabled Access
Need Bay Area Transportation Info? There's an App for That
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Say Hello to Soltrans!  

Short for Solano County Transit, SolTrans began operations on July 1. The Bay Area's newest agency merges the bus services of the former Vallejo Transit and Benicia Breeze transit agencies.

 

"Uniting the Vallejo and Benicia bus operations under one organizational umbrella will help us maintain current service levels and promote greater funding stability," said Jim Spering, MTC Commissioner and Solano County supervisor, and an architect of the November 2010 merger of the two agencies. "We're trying to build a more unified transit system in southern Solano County."

 

According to SolTrans' Interim Executive Director Jim McElroy, the consolidation will save over $1 million in the first year alone. "That does not mean there will not need to be a thorough review of all services," McElroy noted. "But, it does help keep more service in a time of declining resources." In the near future, the agency's board plans to discuss larger funding issues, define a vision for the organization and discuss possible service changes with the public.

 

Transit riders will not see any immediate changes from the consolidation, but will soon benefit from a new fleet of hybrid-electric buses. The buses, purchased with federal grant moneys and funds from several state sources, will generate fewer emissions and save fuel costs. 

 

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Freeway Service Patrol Adds 20-Mile Coverage Segment

 

 

The Freeway Service Patrol, which provides free services to stranded motorists on Bay Area roads, recently closed its last major freeway service gap with the addition of a new 20-mile coverage segment along Interstate 280 between State Route 92 and State Route 85 in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. The addition of the new beat, as patrol segments are known, brings the FSP network to 79 trucks on 36 beats covering 560 miles of freeways and highways around the region (see map). The two trucks assigned to the new Beat 33 will patrol both directions of Interstate 280 Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. 


FSP drivers stop an average of 11,000 times a month to quickly repair or remove disabled vehicles, clear accidents, remove dangerous road debris, tag abandoned vehicles, or otherwise help make the region's freeways safer and less congested. For non-emergencies, motorists can reach the FSP by using roadside call boxes or by calling 511 and saying "freeway aid." MTC oversees the FSP in partnership with the California Highway Patrol and Caltrans. 

 

Have you been the beneficiary of free roadside help from the Bay Area's fleet of roving tow trucks operated by the Freeway Service Patrol (FSP)? If so, we invite you to complete our online survey. 

 

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Call for Projects That Enhance Disabled Access
   

MTC's grant team is currently soliciting projects for the Federal Transit Administration's New Freedom Program, which is providing nearly $4 million to the Bay Area's urban areas for projects that go beyond the requirements of the Americans With Disabilities Act in reducing transportation barriers faced by individuals with disabilities. Examples of eligible transit projects include paratransit enhancements, accessible feeder services to transit stations, travel training for disabled users, and new or expanded demand-responsive transit services. Beyond public transit, eligible projects include the purchase of vehicles to support new accessible taxi, ride-sharing and/or vanpooling programs, and the administration of volunteer driver programs. Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations, local government authorities and public transit operators. See the program guidelines here. 

 

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Need Bay Area Transportation Info?
There Are Apps for That!    

 

Whether you're in need of real-time BART arrivals, traffic conditions on the Bay Bridge, a carpool or vanpool to get to work or even up-to-date parking availability, chances are there's an app for you. 511.org has compiled an impressive list of apps to speed your travels around the Bay Area. The site's proprietary app -- 511 Mobile -- also has a host of features including transit trip planning, real-time traffic and text alerts, and more. We encourage you to submit useful apps via the suggestion link on our apps page.

 

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