Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Route 82 topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
SolTrans board agrees to keep Route 82 running, contingent on intercity partners' review
Summary
SolTrans voted to maintain SolTrans Route 82 service using about 2,500 available revenue hours, but the action is contingent on review by the intercity funding consortium and TAC next week; board members emphasized avoiding loss of established riders and working with funding partners to finalize the funding arrangement.
The Solano County Transit (SolTrans) Board voted to maintain Route 82, a direct Fairfield–Vallejo–San Francisco express service, after staff identified roughly 2,500 available revenue hours in the system schedule.
Staff planner Mandy presented updated blocking and scheduling that left enough hours in the FY26–27 budget to run four round trips on Route 82 beginning with the August service change. Mandy said the route’s ridership rose about 27% in the most recent quarter and currently averages roughly 12.7 riders per revenue hour, exceeding SolTrans’s 12-rider standard. "The Route 82 has increased in ridership, approximately 27% this quarter," Mandy said.
Board members and staff discussed the timing and legal and interagency implications. Christina, SolTrans executive director, said staff discovered savings while finishing run-cut work and recommended acting promptly to avoid losing riders. Legal counsel Bernadette advised that the board may use hours within the already approved 45,000-hour COA budget but noted that the intercity funding agreement with STA and partner agencies gives those partners a role in funding decisions; if partners do not agree to include the reinstated route in the funding agreement, the board could choose to fund the route locally.
Several elected members said they did not want to “burn” ridership by cutting a popular service and urged a course that preserved the line while the intercity group reviewed the change. Supervisor Mashburn moved that the board approve staff’s recommendation to maintain Route 82 contingent on the intercity consortium and TAC meetings next week; the motion was seconded and passed on a roll call vote.
Staff and STA representatives said the intercity working group meets the following Tuesday and the TAC the next day; if those bodies support the change, STA staff will recommend the same to their board. Robert Guerrero, STA deputy executive director of planning, said staff planned to put the matter before those bodies and could also pursue a special board meeting if needed.
Public commenters urged retention of the route. Vallejo resident Caroline Cavallero, who rides the route to San Francisco, told the board the bus provides a calmer, more convenient commute than late-night BART transfers and suggested a fare increase from $6 to $9 to help cover costs. "Losing this route would force people to take the BART system late at night," Cavallero said.
The board’s action keeps Route 82 in the August service change pending the intercity partners’ review; staff said they will report back after consortium and TAC consideration and will implement any operational actions consistent with union posting and run-cut timing.
Next steps: STA’s intercity consortium meets the week after the SolTrans vote; if consortium and TAC recommend approval, STA staff will present the item to its board; if either partner objects, the board may consider funding alternatives or revisit the service change at a future meeting.
