Pedestrian Safety Project Opened for Bidding

NEW HIGHWAY SIGNALS PART OF SCHOOL SAFETY PROGRAM

SUISUN CITY - As part of the City's ongoing commitment to enhance safe routes to local schools, the Public Works Department is seeking contractors qualified to install new pedestrian signals at three key intersections.

New pedestrian countdown signals will be installed at three frequently used surface crossings on Highway 12

• Marina Boulevard
• Sunset Avenue/Grizzly Island Road
• Lawler Ranch Parkway/Emperor Drive

The new signals, known as countdown signals, will indicate to pedestrians the amount of time they have remaining to cross Highway 12 before the traffic signals change.

These key intersections are commonly used by students to travel by foot or bicycle to various school campuses in Suisun City. Suisun City Public Works has coordinated the installation of the new signal devices with Caltrans.

The intention is to have the new signals up as soon as possible to enhance the safety of students returning to school in the fall.

>>Read more about the project and see bidding information>>

FasTrak Tags Now Available at Suisun City Train Station

Commuting drivers can now purchase a FasTrak toll tag at the Suisun City Train Station as part of the Bay Area Toll Authority's effort to expand the retail locations for the automatic tolling device. >> Map to Train Station >>

The FasTrak transponder can be purchased at the Transit Information Center in the Train Station staffed by the Rio Vista Delta Breeze. Until July 15, new customers who pick up a FasTrak toll tag can get up to $10 in free tolls.

"With the toll tags available at the Suisun/Fairfield Amtrak Station and the Rio Vista Municipal Airport, central Solano County bridge commuters have another location where FasTrak enrollment can become more convenient," said Solano County Supervisor and Bay Area Toll Authority member Jim Spering. "And convenience is really what FasTrak is all about. Because FasTrak customers prepay their tolls, they don't have to stop to pay cash at a toll booth. The correct toll is deducted electronically from a customer's prepaid account when they pass through the toll plaza. Having the tags available at the Suisun/Fairfield Amtrak Station and Rio Vista Municipal Airport is especially timely for carpool commuters because they will have to use FasTrak to qualify for the new discounted carpool toll that begins July 1."

The new $2.50 carpool toll, which is half of the new $5 regular toll (and a $3.50 discount off the new $6 peak-period toll on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge), will be assessed for carpool vehicles that cross the region's state-owned toll bridges in designated carpool lanes on weekdays from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

July 1 also will mark the debut of congestion pricing—also known as time-of-day pricing—on the Bay Bridge, which is by far the region's busiest toll bridge. Beginning July 1, auto tolls on the Bay Bridge will vary from $4 during weekday off-peak hours, to $5 all day on Saturdays and Sundays, and to $6 from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays. The regular auto toll will rise to $5 from the current $4 at all times on the six other state-owned toll bridges: the Antioch, Benicia-Martinez, Carquinez, Dumbarton, Richmond-San Rafael and San Mateo-Hayward bridges.

For Rio Vista Delta Breeze transit route and schedule information, call (707) 374-2878 or 511 and say "Rio Vista Transit." You can also visit Rio Vista Delta Breeze on the internet at www.deltabreeze.org. Rio Vista Delta Breeze is a service of the City of Rio Vista.