1. Markley Lane Malfeasence

Parents seek answers on restoring a portion of Markeley Lane

by

Amy Maginnis-Honey

Daily Republic

Oct 1, 2023 Updated May 17, 2024

FAIRFIELD — Street Talk 2023 became Straight Talk 2023 as several dozen people gathered in a Vanden High School parking lot Saturday morning to talk about restoring the portion of Markeley Lane that used to connect to Peabody Road.

The event was hosted by Matt Bidou, trustee of the Travis Unified School District and Fairfield Vice Mayor Pam Bertani. Catherine "Cat" Moy, Fairfield's mayor, and Mitch Mashburn, Solano County supervisor, were guests.

All four told those gathered, mainly parents, organizing is the key to get the portion of the road restored. The portion of the road was closed when the Peabody Road overpass was built.  

Markeley Lane offered easy access to Center Elementary, Golden West Middle and Vanden High schools. 

Now, drivers must access the schools via other streets, often leading to long traffic backups and many safety concerns about students.

Vanden High senior Brooklyn McCrary was there. She drives herself to school. The trips are about 15 minutes each. She arrives at school early and is able to leave early.

Shantel Smith has a daughter at Vanden who is getting ready to get a driver's license. "I'm already frantic about her driving," she said.  

Getting to and from school takes between 30 and 45 minutes, she said. Her daughter then hikes from the road alongside the school to Whitney Drive where she meets her mom.

"School is out at 3:20," she said. "I tell her I will pick her up at 3:35 or 3:30."

Smith was there to take in all the information and possibly get involved. "I've learned over the years you can complain and complain, yell and scream, but your voice is not heard until you are organized."

Then, like McCrary, they take the Peabody Road Overpass to reach their homes.

Bertani and Moy emphasized they need two more council votes to help secure funding. To get the money, the council must re-prioritize its list of Capital Improvement Projects.  

Frustrated parents had many questions and thoughts. Children from Vacaville and Fairfield also attend the Travis schools. It's estimated as many as 50% of the children are Vacaville residents.

Moy said she had approached Vacaville about helping and was offered a cheering section, not money.

One man said he worked on building the overpass and the plan for a whole Markeley Lane to remain was there and the money.  

"It's the same rhetoric," one woman said. "You organize it," said another to Moy and Bertani. "Can you see our frustration? Hold yourself accountable."

The area is in the Train Station Specific Plan adopted by the Fairfield city council in July 2011. Bertani and Moy were not on the council then.

The plan calls for the developer of the first development to fund the construction. The Fairfield planning commission and city council recently voted to allow Canon LLC begin building homes without the New Canon Road.

Mashburn encouraged those attending to lobby Congressman John Garmamendi for an earmark.

"We don't need fancy landscaping or a sidewalk, just a road," Bidou said. 

 Fairfield City Council moves forward on plans for new Markeley Lane

by

 Susan Hiland

Daily Republic

January 26, 2024

FAIRFIELD — Safety concerns have been at the forefront of complaints from parents, teachers and students over Markeley Lane ever since the new overpass was constructed. A portion of the road was closed when the Peabody Road overpass was built.

Before the overpass, Markeley Lane gave easy access to parents and students for Center Elementary, Golden West Middle and Vanden High schools. 

Drivers must now access the schools using other streets, often leading to long traffic backups and many safety concerns. 

Mayor Catherine Moy has good news about the issue. In an annual planning session a few weeks ago, the City Council pulled money from another project and will use that to start getting Markeley Lane fixed.  

"The money is coming from a project on West Texas that we don't need to do anymore," Moy said in a phone interview. "It is a few million dollars." 

Moy said originally the idea was to use funds from the Capital Improvement Project, but the money just wasn't there. 

"The funding has been the big issue, but this should help," she said. 

The mayor said people need to be patient as this process is in the very early stages of development. Several issues will need to be addressed before things can go forward.

"We will need to buy land, find a developer and an engineer," Moy said. "It may take up to five years to complete. Some have estimated that if we put the shovels in the ground this year, it would be three years. I don't think that is going to happen." 

A group in early May stood on Peabody Lane, opposite the old Markeley Lane entrance, with signs bringing attention to the issue.

"The safety issue is a real concern for me," Moy said. 

The council formed a subcommittee in July to pursue finances and support for a new Markeley Lane, off Peabody Road.

The City Council has reached out to Vacaville to see if some funding could be shared between the two towns. 

"They aren't handing over money, but I would think they would also be concerned because students from Vacaville are using the road to get to school in Fairfield," Moy said. 

Moy said she understands some of the issue is financing and it took work to get the amount that they do have for the new road from another project. 

"People have said we aren't working on it, but that is not true. We have been working on it, but the financing has been the issue," she said.

The lies begin to be uncovered, the truths begin to be revealed...