STA To Consider Corridor Committee For Highway 12

STA To Consider Corridor Committee For Highway 12
By DANNY BERNARDINI
Article Launched: 12/14/2007 08:18:30 AM PST
The Reporter, Vacaville

Rather than consider Highway 12 and its safety in segments, an idea is gaining ground for three counties to collaborate through a corridor advisory committee for the roadway.

The Highway 12 Steering Committee, composed of officials across Solano County, unanimously approved the corridor committee concept Wednesday and received a positive reaction to it Wednesday from the Solano Transportation authority.

If approved by the STA in January, the committee would comprise two members of the STA, two members of the San Joaquin Council of Governments and one member of the Sacramento Area Council of Governments.

The group would meet twice a year and act as a forum for the counties, transportation agencies, law enforcement and others to convene and discuss issues involving Highway 12.

Fairfield Mayor Harry Price, a member of the steering committee, said instead of looking at Highway 12 in pieces, the new committee would see the roadway as one.

"It's a more integrated approach so the whole corridor is the issue," Price said.

San Joaquin County Supervisor Ken Vogel made the trip to Wednesday's meeting and said after seeing the barriers and other improvements on what has been a deadly stretch of Highway 12 in Solano County, he was excited to work with the STA.
"I want to congratulate you on the work you've done," Vogel said. "We are very concerned about what's going on. Highway 12 safety is our number-one transportation priority."

The STA has several upcoming projects and studies involving Highway 12, such as a Rio Vista Bridge study and a Highway 12 corridor study, that the committee would oversee, if created.

Bob Macaulay, STA director of planning, said with the upcoming studies and the upcoming release of various transportation grants, now is a good time to form the committee.

"You have been through the evolution of the factors (behind the committee)," Macaulay said. "Now seems like the appropriate time to get this corridor committee up and running."

Danny Bernardini can be reached at county@thereporter.com.