This plan was developed based on an in-depth technical analysis of SolTrans existing routes, as well as initial engagement with government partners, stakeholders, and the public about the priorities for improvement. 

• SolTrans Existing Conditions Report

The existing conditions phase of the project suggested the following priorities for improvement:

• Improve local service frequency, hours of service, and weekend service on the local network in Vallejo.
• Improve the frequency and consistency of connections between Fairfield, Vallejo and BART.
• Improve the consistency of Blue Line service along I-80 corridor.

The Draft Local Network: Key Features

• Improve frequency- Make trips faster by reducing waiting time on the busiest routes.
  
  • Route 7A/7B(shown in dark blue) would run every 30 minutes, all service day on weekdays.
• Improve timing at Vallejo Transit Center- Increase the number of routes that arrive and depart together at VTC, reducing waiting time for passengers.
  
  • Today, if you need to switch routes at VTC, your wait time could vary from 4 minutes to over 30 minutes depending upon where you needed to go and what route you wanted to take. 
• Improve weekend service- Start service earlier on Saturdays. Run all routes on Sundays.
  
  • With the Draft Plan, we would extend Saturday service and run more routes on Sunday.
• Reduce duplication- Use resources more efficiently by running only one route on each road. 
  
  • SolTrans does not have additional new revenue to improve service.
  • The only way we can improve frequency, extend Saturday hours, or run more routes on Sunday is by simplifying our network.
  • To do that, we need to consolidate service to run fewer routes.
  • This also means we have to discontinue service on some low-ridership segments.

The Draft SolanoExpress Network: Key Features

• Invest in our strongest market by increasing frequency on the Red Line.
• Invest in trips within county by providing more Blue Line service to Vacaville.
• Address Yellow and Blue Line unreliability and improve local connections by moving their end point from Walnut Creek BART to Concord BART.

To provide feedback fill out the System Redesign Survey

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Staff will be hosting COA: System Redesign Outreach Events during the public feedback period, come ask questions and get more information about the Draft Concepts.

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Learn more about the local draft concepts by route below:

Route 1 / 2- serves residential areas in North Vallejo. These are high-ridership services that would each be strong candidates for 30-minute service if more funding were available.

• Combine Routes 1 and 2 into a single loop, so that a person could ride the same route to destinations along either Broadway or Sacramento.
• Extend the new route to serve Six Flags.
• Simplify routing in Chabot Terrace (removing existing Route 2 and 5 turnarounds).
• Discontinue service to Mini Dr west of Jack London.

Route 3 is SolTrans’ only existing 30-minute local route, serving South Vallejo. However, this route is complex to schedule and doesn’t always time well with other lines.

• Extend Route 3 to Springs Rd for better access to schools, groceries and other shops.
• Make the routing two-way, so buses in both directions would come along Sonoma, Magazine and Fulton.
• Reduce frequency to every 60 minutes, but with improved timing at VTC and a new connection to 30-minute Route 7a/b at Springs Rd.

Route 4 is a moderately productive local service mainly operating on Georgia St and Tuolumne St. 

Nearly all areas served by Route 4 are within a 10-minute walk to other nearby routes. 

• Discontinue Route 4 and reallocate those resources to increase frequency on the 7 a/b.

Route 5 is SolTrans’ only local service to Six Flags, and the waterfront area along Mare Island Way. It is one of SolTrans’ lower-ridership routes.

• Discontinue Route 5. 
• Service to Six Flags would instead be provided by Route 1.
• Service along Sereno, Tuolumne and Redwood would be provided by 30-minute Route 7a/b.
• Service to the shopping area near Redwood and Sacramento would be provided by Route 1.
• Service along Mare Island Way would be discontinued.

Route 6 serves Tennessee, a bit of Admiral Callaghan and nearby residential areas and  Oakwood and George.

• Extend Route 6 north to Gateway Plaza.
• Discontinue existing unique Route 6 service east of Admiral Callaghan. Service would be discontinued along Tennessee and Georgia between Vervais and Springs. All of these stops are within ¼-mile to the improved 30-minute Route 7a/b.
• Route 6 service would be discontinued to the low-ridership Ascot Pwky and Georgia segments east of Columbus Pwky.

Route 7 is the busiest route in the network today. It serves most of the major destinations in Vallejo, including Kaiser, Gateway Plaza.

• Upgrade Route 7 to 30-minute frequency all day on weekdays. 
• Reroute via Sonoma Blvd (instead of Broadway) to serve busy destinations, save time and make the schedule more reliable. 
• Reroute via Ascot Parkway to streamline the route, save time and make the schedule more reliable.

Route 8 serves Benicia Rd, Glen Cove Pkwy, and Rollingwood Dr. It is SolTrans’ second-lowest ridership route.

• Discontinue Route 8.
• Service to Hogan MS would be provided by extended Route 3. Modifications to Route 38 will also be made based on input from VCUSD.
• Service to Glen Cove would be discontinued.
• Service along Benicia Rd would be discontinued.

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Learn more about the SolanoExpress draft concepts by line below:

Red & Green Line

• No change to Red Line stops.
• Green Line discontinued.
• Green Line resources used to increase Red Line frequency, targeting:
  
  • 30-minute peak / midday El Cerrito del Norte to Vallejo
  • 30-minute peak Fairfield – El Cerrito del Norte
  • Analysis currently underway to determine if extra peak capacity would be required to absorb Green Line ridership

Yellow Line

• Shift routing to serve Concord and North Concord BART, not Walnut Creek.
• This reduces travel time to BART and provides access to a broader range of local connections in Concord. 
• No change to routing Vallejo or Benicia; maintain existing 60-minute frequency.

Blue Line

• Discontinue service to Davis:
  
  • Currently, about 2.4 revenue hours per day going between Dixon and Davis 5-6% of total Blue Line revenue time.
  • In September 2024, averaging about 9 boardings per day at Davis, compared to 28 at Dixon. 
    
    • i.e. 3.75 boardings / revenue hour, not including any cost of deadhead required to serve these trips.
• The cost of Davis service is approximately equivalent to the cost of another round trip between Vacaville (106 average daily boardings) and Walnut Creek.
• In our Existing Conditions report, we observed the strong market for travel along the I-80 corridor within Solano County, as well as the limited service currently available to Vacaville on the Blue Line.

Full COA Draft Concept Presentation