House committee approves legislation that includes $20M in Solano projects

FAIRFIELD — Solano County-specific projects would receive $20 million in federal funding if a bill that passed the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee makes its way through the full House, the Senate and the White House.

The vote in the committee was 38-26, including support by Rep. John Garamendi, D-Walnut Grove.

The funding includes:

• $8.54 million to the Highway 128/Interstate 505 interchange ramps project, allowing Winters and the state Department of Transportation to improve crossings for pedestrians and bicyclists.
• $7.46 million to help the Solano Transportation Authority create better access to the Travis Air Force Base secondary gate located on North Gate Road.
• $4 million for the Interstate 505/Vaca Valley Parkway Corridor Multi-Modal Improvement Project. The funding would help the Solano Transportation Authority to make improvements along the Vaca Valley Parkway corridor from west of the East Monte Vista Avenue/Crocker Drive intersection to east of the northbound on/off ramps with I-505. The project would replace two signals and a stop-controlled intersection with the construction of three roundabouts. It will also help build new pedestrian and bicycle access.

The bill also includes:

• $555 million to address the deferred maintenance backlog of federal lands. California has a backlog totaling $2 billion.
• $120 million for the Federal Highway Administration's Ferry Boat Formula Program, up from $80 million, in annual allocations. Plus, $64 million in the FTA's Passenger Ferry Grant Program, up from $20 million annually.
• $96 million to support the University Transportation Centers, including the institute at the University of California, Davis.
• $26.96 billion between fiscal year 2022-26 for road repairs, traffic safety and public transit operations in California, above the set amounts.