Transportation
The Bay Area’s north-east county has long been known as the trade corridor for goods and services headed north and points east along I-80. Solano lies within a 50-mile radius of Sacramento and Bay Area markets and is also the gateway to Napa Valley and Sonoma wine regions.
With six highway corridors, Solano is a perfect location for goods movement. A robust public transportation system, highlighted by the Capitol Corridor train between the Bay Area and Sacramento, supports a regional workforce that extends well beyond county boundaries.
Distance to Markets
Interstate 80 is the only direct corridor between the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento. Solano is crisscrossed by 5 additional corridors:
- I-505 (to I-5 north)
- I-680 (to San Jose)
- I-780 (Benicia to Vallejo)
- SR-12 (to Napa and I-5)
- SR-37 (to US-101)
| Distance to Markets | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Distance from Solano Cities (miles) | |||||||
| Destination | Benicia | Dixon | Fairfield | Rio Vista | Suisun | Vacaville | Vallejo |
| Regional | |||||||
| Sacramento (Capitol) | 60 | 23 | 42 | 44 | 44 | 34 | 57 |
| I-5 (nearest junction) | 55 | 43 | 40 | 18 | 39 | 46 | 56 |
| Davis (UC Davis) | 46 | 9 | 28 | 35 | 30 | 20 | 44 |
| Napa | 29 | 40 | 21 | 42 | 21 | 28 | 16 |
| San Francisco | 36 | 65 | 46 | 61 | 48 | 54 | 31 |
| Oakland | 29 | 60 | 41 | 53 | 42 | 48 | 26 |
| San Jose | 63 | 98 | 79 | 87 | 81 | 87 | 70 |
| North | |||||||
| Portland, OR | 609 | 580 | 590 | 606 | 593 | 583 | 606 |
| Seattle, WA | 781 | 751 | 764 | 778 | 765 | 754 | 778 |
| East | |||||||
| Reno, NV | 192 | 156 | 177 | 178 | 176 | 165 | 189 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | 709 | 674 | 694 | 695 | 696 | 685 | 706 |
| Chicago, IL | 2,106 | 2,070 | 2,091 | 2,091 | 2,090 | 2,079 | 2,103 |
| South | |||||||
| Los Angeles, CA | 379 | 394 | 390 | 368 | 390 | 403 | 385 |
| San Diego, CA | 497 | 512 | 509 | 486 | 508 | 521 | 504 |
| Tijuana, Mexico | 514 | 529 | 526 | 504 | 525 | 538 | 521 |
| Source: Google Maps Directions | |||||||
Air Travel
One big advantage to operating in the north-east Bay Area is access to 3 international airports within a 60-mile radius. In addition to the commercial facilities, Travis Air Force Base, near Fairfield, operates the largest air mobility unit in the United States.
| Airports - International | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name / ID | Associated City and Distance | Longest Runway (Length / Width) | Land Area | Control Tower |
| Oakland International Airport (OAK) (Commercial) |
Oakland / 47.6 mi | 10,520’ / 150’ | 2,600 ac. | Yes |
| Sacramento International Airport (SMF) (Commercial) |
Sacramento / 57.1 mi | 8,605’ / 150’ | 6,000 ac. | Yes |
| San Francisco International Airport (SFO) (Commercial) |
San Francisco / 57.1 mi | 11,870’ / 200’ | 5,207 ac. | Yes |
| San Jose international (SJC) (Commercial) |
San Jose / 76.1 mi | 11,000’ / 150’ | 1,050 ac. | Yes |
| Sources: Federal Aviation Administration Airport Master Records as posted on GRC Inc.; 2015 Data; Rand McNally, Distance from Fairfield, County Seat, July 2016 | ||||
| Airports - Municipal & Private | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name / ID | Associated City and Distance | Longest Runway (Length / Width) | Land Area | Control Tower |
| Maine Prairie (13CL) (Private) | Dixon / 19.4 mi | 1,950’ / 50’ | 20 | No |
| Travis AFB (SUU) (USAF Private) | Fairfield / 6.6 mi | 11,001’ / 150’ | Yes | |
| Rio Vista Municipal (O88) (Public) | Rio Vista / 22.4 mi | 4,199’ / 75’ | 273 | No |
| Blake Sky Park (CA57) (Private) | Vacaville / 17.1 mi | 1,600’ / 75 | n/a | No |
| Kaiser Medical Center Vacaville (CN88) (Private) |
Vacaville / 14.2 mi | 54’ / 54’ | n/a | No |
| Nut Tree (VCB) (Public) | Vacaville / 12.6 mi | 4,700’ / 75’ | 262 | No |
| Vaca Valley Hospital (CL96) (Private) |
Vacaville / 11.8 mi | 40’ / 40’ | n/a | No |
| Sources: Federal Aviation Administration Airport Master Records as posted on GRC Inc.; 2015 Data; Rand McNally, Distance from Fairfield, County Seat, July 2016 | ||||
Ports
The Bay Area evolved as a port region from the California Gold Rush on, and it is no surprise that Solano County houses one port (Benicia) and has nearby access to four more. The Port of Benicia dates back to the 1800s and had a military connection until closure of The Arsenal in the 1960s. Today, the 3,000-acre Benicia Industrial Park operates adjacent to the port.
| Seaports | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | Distance | Services |
| Port of Benicia 1997 Elm Street Benicia, CA (707) 745-2394 |
18.7 mi | 1 deep water pier can berth 3 vessels with an operating depth of 38 ft. LLW. Break bulk, heavy-lift, barge stripping, high and heavy, RoRo service. Served by Interstates: 680 (north-south) 780 (west to I-80). Rail service: Union Pacific (up to 170 cars) |
| Port of Oakland 530 Water Street Oakland, CA (510) 627-1100 |
41.9 mi | 18 deep water berths, 35 container cranes(incl. 31 Post-Panamax type), Foreign Trade Zone, Warehouses and intermodal facilities, Served by Interstates: 80 (south), 880 (south), 550 (east) and 980 (east), Rail service: Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Union Pacific |
| Port of Richmond 675 Harbour Way South Richmond, CA (510) 215-4200 |
32.4 | 5 City-owned terminals (10 private), 2 wharves,2 warehouses – 140,000 total sq. ft., Berthing length – 720 with 2 dolphins at north end, 5 total acres, Rail service: Burlington Northern Santa Fe and UPSP |
| Port of West Sacramento 2895 Industrial Blvd, West Sacramento, CA (916) 371-8800 |
39.5 | 50 Trucking companies service the port, 200 Railcar terminals (BNSF, UP, Sierra Northern),Paved open storage, covered warehouse, domed warehouse, flat storage, General cargo,bulk, grain, containers, Foreign Trade Zone, West Sacramento Enterprise Zone, 480 ac. of maritime property, 7,000 sq. ft. of enclosed storage |
| Port of San Francisco Pier 1 The Embarcadero San Francisco, CA (415) 274-0400 |
45.8 mi | 5 berths, on-dock rail, acres of paved land for starting cargo, Over 550,000 sq. ft. of covered storage for weather sensitive cargo, Cranes capable of working both breakbulk and containers, 624 reefer outlets, Harbor and cargo service facilities located near terminals offering easy access to tug and bargecompanies, Heavy lift crane services, Foreign Trade Zone,Cold storage / warehousing, CFS facilities, Full service ship repair, 145 acres of paved cargo staging, Rail service:San Francisco Bay Railroad and Union Pacific |
| Source: California Association of Port Authorities, 2016 Data; and each Port’s website: Port of Oakland, Port of Richmond, Port of San Francisco, Port of West Sacramento, Rand McNally, August 2016. (1) Distance from Fairfield, County Seat. | ||
Rail Transportation
Union Pacific serves 23 western states to Chicago, Illinois, providing an important link between the 5 nearby ports, regional industry, and the rest of the country.
| Rail - Freight | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Direction | Main or Branch | Short or National | Nearest Intermodal |
| Union Pacific (800) 877-5123 |
North, South, East & West | Branch | National | Oakland |
| Source: Union Pacific Railroad; Benicia Industrial Park Association, July 2016 | ||||
| Rail - Passenger & Commuter | |
|---|---|
| Name | |
| AMTRAK (800) 872-7245 |
AMTRAK has a nationwide service area. Solano Express provides connections to AMTRAK Station in Suisun City: 177 Main Street, Suisun City (The Capitol Corridor commuter train also operates from the AMTRAK station; see Public Transportation) |
| Source: AMTRAK; August 2016 | |
Public Transportation
As part of the 9-county Bay Area commuter ecosystem, Solano sees 107,000 residents commute daily toward San Francisco, Silicon Valley, and Sacramento. To alleviate congestion, public transportation systems include bus, ferry services, and rail. The Suisun/Fairfield AMTRAK station was recently renovated to better accommodate Capitol Corridor commuters.
| Public Transportation | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name / Type | Service Area | Operator |
| Rail | ||
| Capitol Corridor (800) 872-7245 |
Rail. Serving 8 Northern California counties: Placer, Sacramento, Yolo, Solano, Contra Costa, Alameda, San Francisco, and Santa Clara, a 170-mile rail corridor; Suisun/Fairfield station: 177 Main Street, Suisun City, part of the AMTRAK line |
The Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority |
| BART (510) 465-2278 |
Light rail. BART serves 5 Counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, and San Mateo with extensions to the city of San Jose and the Silicon Valley under construction. Connections to BART can be made through: SolTrans ― Vallejo Transit Center Route: 78 Benicia to Pleasant Hill or Walnut Creek BART stations and Route 80 to El Cerrito Del Norte BART station |
Bay Area Rapid Transit |
| Ferry | ||
| Baylink (Ferry & Express Bus) (877) 643-3779 |
Cities of Vallejo and San Francisco | Blue & Gold Fleet (for City of Vallejo) |
| Prop SF (Ferry) Contact City of Benicia, Mario Guilliani (707) 746-4202 |
Private service for Genentech employees, Benicia to SF. May expand or add public line in future |
Prop SF (for City of Benicia) |
| Bus | ||
| Dixon Readi-Ride (Local Bus Service) (707) 678-5020 |
Dixon | MV Transportation |
| Fairfield and Suisun Transit (FAST) (Local Bus Service) (707) 422-2877 |
Fairfield & Suisun City | Fairfield and Suisun Transit |
| SolTrans (Local Bus Service) (707) 553-7269 |
Vallejo & Benicia | MV Transportation |
| Rio Vista Delta Breeze (Local Bus Service) (707) 374-2878 |
Rio Vista | Transportation Concepts |
| Vacaville City Coach (Local Bus Service) (707) 449-6000 |
Vacaville | First Transit |
| Solano Express (Intercity Bus Service) (800) 535-6883 |
Vallejo, Fairfield, Vacaville, Dixon, Benicia, Rio Vista, Davis, Sacramento, El Cerrito del Norte, Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek |
FAST, SolTrans, Rio Vista Delta Breeze, Napa VINE |
| Source: Solano Transportation Authority, BART; Capitol Corridor; July 2016 | ||
Motor Freight & Shipping
Long known as a logistics and distribution power player on the I-80 corridor, Solano has a wealth of shipping companies to handle long haul deliveries as well as local manufacturer-to-packager, farm-to-food processor connections, and so on. Here is a short sampling of available services.
| Motor Freight & Contract Carriers (partial list) | |
|---|---|
| Company | Services / Terminal |
| Budget Freight Shipping (888) 615-6861 (LTL) or (888) 614-6861 (FTL) |
Trucking brokerage firm offering scheduled pickups. Services include: Less than Truckload (LTL) Shipping Services, Truckload (TL) Shipping Services, Dry Vans, Flatbeds, Temperature Controlled Shipping (Reefers) |
| Pinole Valley Trucking (800) 878-9992 |
Services ranging from: warehousing & distribution to Truckload & LTL service and a Third Party Logistics provider. A modern fleet consisting of the following types of equipment. We also have access to heavy haul and other specialized equipment as needed. Shipping throughout the US, selected Canadian provinces and parts of northern Mexico. |
| Federal Express Freight Central formerly Viking Freight (800) 463-3339 |
FedEx Freight provides the choices needed for less-than-truckload (LTL) freight shipping with a streamlined network, extensive coverage and careful handling. Choose the LTL freight service that fits your need: FedEx Freight® Priority when speed is critical or FedEx Freight® Economy when you can trade time for savings. |
| YRC Freight 3872 Sprig Drive Benicia (800) 610-6500 |
YRC Freight's North American LTL services: standard LTL freight transportation: United States, Canada, Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam. Guaranteed Standard ground service by noon or 5 p.m. or Multiday Window. Expedited: YRC Freight Time-Critical TM expedited, guaranteed air and ground service By noon or 5 p.m. or Hour window and Specialized services. No terminal. |
| Source: Budget Freight Shipping; Pinole Valley Trucking; Federal Express Freight Central; YRC Freight, August 2016 | |
| Parcel Carriers (partial list) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | Latest Drop-off | Earliest Delivery |
| DHL (800) 225-5345 |
1:30 Benicia 2:15 Fairfield 2:30 Vacaville 1:45 Vallejo |
9:00 a.m. |
| FedEx (800) 463-3339 |
4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. | 8:00 a.m. |
| Greyhound Package Express (707) 373-4796 - Vallejo |
8 am – 6:30 pm Mon–Fri 8 am – 4:00 pm Sat |
8 am – 6:30 pm Mon–Fri 8 am – 4:00 pm Sat |
| UPS (800) 742-5877 |
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. | 8:00 a.m. |
| US Postal Service (800) 275-8777 |
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. | 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. |
| Sources: DHL; FedEx; Greyhound Package Express; UPS; US Postal Service, August 2016 | ||