SolTrans staff said they will return to the board in September with a final Comprehensive Operational Analysis (COA) that incorporates public feedback and costed options for service to Davis after a recent presentation to the regional transit authority.

Staff reported that Jarrett Walker and Associates presented Solano Express service concepts to the Solano Transportation Authority (STA) board and summarized public feedback. “The takeaway…was supportive of relocating the Walnut Creek destination for the blue and yellow line to Concord BART and then the merging of the green and red line with the caveat of having some express trips from Fairfield to El Cerrito Del Norte BART during that really high peak period in the morning and in the afternoon,” a staff presenter said.

The STA board requested a supplemental analysis showing what providing “quality service” to Davis would cost SolTrans; staff committed to include a draft schedule and cost analysis in the COA final report. “Jarrett did emphasize very strongly that and SolTrans believes that Davis is an important destination that we need to be going to. But with the restraints of our budget and resources right now…that wasn’t a possibility,” staff said, adding the agency will provide costed alternatives.

Staff described next steps: vetting draft schedules with operations, presenting revised materials to the public advisory committee, and returning a final report and staff recommendation in September. If the board endorses the COA in September, staff said it would move forward with public outreach for a major service change the following August.

Board members asked whether staff would return to STA with the supplemental answers requested; staff replied the board will review the materials first and then staff will work with STA. Board members also discussed specific routing details, including how a Concord BART relocation would shorten some bus trips and how merged lines would affect frequencies at peak periods.

No vote was taken; the item was presented as an informational update.