Wolk introduces bill to address Route 12 safety issues

Legislation establishes double fine zones on dangerous highway

SACRAMENTO–Assemblywoman Lois Wolk (D-Davis) today introduced legislation to address the treacherous driving conditions on State Highway Route 12.

Wolk introduced AB 112 to double the base fines for certain moving violations such as speeding, reckless driving, and drunken driving along Highway Route 12 between the State Highway Route 80 junction in Solano County and the State Highway Route 5 junction in San Joaquin County.

“I have worked on this legislation for over a year to improve safety conditions on this increasingly congested and dangerous stretch of highway,” said Wolk. “These double fine zones are intended to deter the reckless, unsafe driving that has claimed too many lives on what has come to be known as ‘Blood Alley.’”

“We’re very grateful for the Assemblywoman’s willingness to take the lead in authoring AB 112 to create a double fine zone on Route 12, a key component of our proposed safety improvements for this very dangerous stretch of highway,” said Daryl Halls, executive director of the Solano Transportation Authority. “Over the past four years, we have been working with Assemblymember Wolk to address safety concerns with Highway 12, through legislation and budget action. Lois has been a strong advocate for safety improvements for Route 12 as well as other critical local transportation projects.”

This past fall, Wolk’s efforts resulted in an agreement by California Department of Transportation to advance $46 million for safety improvements more than two years ahead of schedule. Those improvements include rumble strips, to be installed later this year along the highway’s center median and shoulder areas, as well as widening of the shoulders, and widening various intersections.