Garamendi, Thompson Host Press Conference to Highlight Local Benefits of New Infrastructure Law

VACAVILLE, CA—Today, Congressmen John Garamendi (D-CA) and Mike Thompson (D-CA) hosted a press conference at the site of the I-505/Vaca Valley Parkway Intermodal Improvement Project in Vacaville to highlight the benefits of the Infrastructure and Jobs Act, which President Biden signed into law on November 15, 2021.

Representatives Garamendi and Thompson were joined by the following officials at the press conference:

·Aaron Busch, City Manager, Vacaville

·Ray Leftwich, Interim Director, Public Works, Vacaville

·Don Burrus, Director, Economic Development, City of Vacaville

·John Vasquez, Supervisor, Solano County

·Mitch Mashburn, Supervisor, Solano County

·Daryl Halls, Solano Transportation Authority

·Vincent Ma, Solano Transportation Authority

·Janet Adams, Solano Transportation Authority

·Gregory Ritchie, City Council Vacaville

·Jeanette Wylie, City Council, Vacaville

·Michael Silva, City Council, Vacaville

Video of the full press conference is available here.

The new infrastructure law includes $25.3 billion for California's highways, $4.2 billion for bridge repairs, $85 to prevent wildfires, $9.45 billion to update public infrastructure, and much more. A fact sheet on the law's benefits for California is available here.

"The Infrastructure and Jobs Act is a historic law that will rebuild California's crumbling infrastructure and invest in the American middle class," Garamendi said. "The legislation includes much-needed support for America's roads and bridges, climate, water infrastructure, rural broadband, and more. It will also create new middle-class jobs by rebuilding our nation's crumbling infrastructure using American materials and workers.

"Infrastructure projects like the Vaca Valley Parkway Intermodal Improvement Project, where we stand today, will have an opportunity to apply for the historic federal investments the Infrastructure and Jobs Act offers. I was pleased to work with my colleagues, like Congressman Mike Thompson, to enact this generational support for our infrastructure, climate, and the middle class into law. I also want to thank every local official who joined Congressman Thompson and me today. We will continue working together to secure this much-needed relief for our community," Garamendi concluded.

"I was proud to be at the White House when President Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law because the investments coming to California are going to put us in the fast lane to a stronger future," Thompson said. "This historic law is bringing much needed investments for our roads, highways, bridges, public transit, high-speed internet, water infrastructure, and climate resilience. I'm equally proud to stand today with my colleague John Garamendi and the local leaders at the I-505/Vaca Valley Parkway Intermodal Improvement Project today who understand how important this law is for our communities."

"On behalf of the Vacaville City Council, we are grateful our project will receive necessary funding to improve this 50-year old corridor," said City of Vacaville Mayor Ron Rowlett. "The buildout has many benefits to the residential and business communities with a reduction in GHG emissions through elimination of signalized intersections and addition of three consecutive roundabouts to keep traffic operations free flowing through the Vaca Valley Pkwy corridor."

A fact sheet on the I-505/Vaca Valley Parkway Intermodal Improvement Project is available here, and additional information is outlined below:

·Federal support for this project would help the Solano Transportation Authority 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.

·This project will benefit the community by replacing two signals and a stop-controlled intersection with the construction of three, coordinated roundabouts. It will also help build new pedestrian and bicycle access, connect existing accessible pathways on both sides of I-505 via sidewalk improvements, provide a continuous route for non-motorized travelers, and connect the improvements at the western East Monte Vista/Crocker Drive intersection and eastern I-505 northbound ramp intersection with Vaca Valley Parkway. These upgrades will improve traffic flow and increase accessibility for vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists.