Interstate 80 express toll lanes could officially launch in Solano County before year's end
A Caltrans project in its final stages is set to launch new FasTrak express lanes on I-80 in both directions from Vacaville's 505 interchange to Fairfield, as soon as December.
In late June, Caltrans wrapped up construction of a brand new express lane in Vacaville that stretches down to Fairfield, where an existing HOV lane was converted to an express lane. The project took about a year and a half to complete.
"It's more than just people driving from Vacaville or Fairfield, it's the whole region," said Vince Jacala, a spokesperson for Caltrans District 4, which encompasses Solano County.
Drivers may have noticed within the past three weeks, the new lanes through Solano County are already open.
In late June, Caltrans went ahead and opened the lanes to drivers to be used as temporary carpool or HOV lanes, allowing drivers a free sample of the soon-to-be I-80 express.
The toll, once it launches, will be optional for drivers who want to pay the price for a quicker commute.
"This project is a big deal. It's the first time Caltrans has widened Interstate 80 through this stretch of Solano County in 50 years," said Jacala.
The temporary carpool lanes are already helping address the bumper-to-bumper backups that the project set out to fix.
"It's really helped with traffic and helped relieve things for now," said Jacala. "When there's a lot of congestion and stop-and-go traffic, it creates a safety issue."
Since Caltrans has finished construction of the lanes, the project is now in the hands of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) to finish the final steps.
MTC tells CBS Sacramento that right now, the agency is collecting data to test the toll system and make sure it is working properly. They also have to finish installing the electronic signage and capture systems needed.
Caltrans said the projected completion date is set for December, but it could be pushed to Spring 2026 depending on the weather.
So, how much is it going to cost drivers?
MTC said it depends on the trip's time and distance.
"For reference, the most recent data for average toll assessed on the I-680 express lanes in Contra Costa County was about $4.00 and over 60% of paid trips cost drivers less than $3.00," an MTC spokesperson told CBS Sacramento in a statement.
Still, this is not just about Solano County traffic. Caltrans is eyeing regionwide upgrades. Plans are already in the works for an express lane from Davis to Downtown Sacramento, as CBS13 has previously reported.
Jacala then described "the gap" from Dixon to Davis that they would want to fill in.
"We want to extend express lanes all the way into downtown Sacramento," said Jacala.
Meaning, the future of freeway traffic could look like an express lane drivers can take all the way from downtown Sacramento to the Bay Area and everywhere in between.
Drivers interested in using the express lane once it launches need a FasTrak account linked to their license plate. To use the lanes as a carpool, drivers need to purchase a FasTrak flex toll tag for the vehicle that they can then set to the number of people currently in the car.
Carpools with three or more people can use the express lane toll-free with a FasTrak flex tag. Two-person carpools will pay half-price tolls.
For more information on the project, visit the Caltrans website.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Better EV Stock: Alphabet vs. Tesla (Hint: Robotaxis Are the Key)
Key Points The future of the auto industry lies in electric vehicles and ridesharing in autonomous vehicles. After many years in service, Waymo still can't point to a timeline of profitability. Tesla also faces challenges with its robotaxi offering, but it's well positioned, provided it can demonstrate safety and efficacy. These 10 stocks could mint the next wave of millionaires › Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL) isn't, strictly speaking, an electric vehicle (EV) company. However, its autonomous driving technology company, Waymo, is committed to only using EVs in its fleet. Funnily enough, it could be argued that Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) isn't really a pure EV company either. After all, most of its sky–high valuation is attributable to the potential of its robotaxis. However, the comparison of these two as EV companies is valid because the future of the auto industry is EVs, and ridesharing in autonomous vehicles will be a larger part of the industry in the future. But which company is better placed, and which is the better stock? Alphabet vs. Tesla It's entirely possible that Alphabet could decide to spin off Waymo, not least because it reportedly could be valued at more than $45 billion. Meanwhile, one of Tesla's biggest supporters, Cathie Wood's Ark Invest, ascribes 88% of Tesla's enterprise value (market cap plus net debt) to robotaxis in its investment case for the stock, producing an expected value of $2,600 for the stock in 2029. As I have previously discussed, the Ark targets should be taken with a pinch of salt, as its track record on Tesla hasn't been good. However, Ark's core argument is sound and points to Tesla being potentially a far more valuable stock than Waymo ever will be. Pathways to profitability The core argument is that Tesla's business model is scalable to profitability while Waymo's is far less so. The issue of Waymo's profitability arose in a recent CNBC interview with Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana, where she was asked whether Waymo is profitable. She replied, "We're proving out that it can be a profitable business." When asked when Waymo would be profitable, she replied, "not clear." It's also not clear if Alphabet/Waymo doesn't have an internal forecast for when it will hit profitability, or if Mawakana preferred not to divulge what the company considers an uncertain forecast. However, it's inconceivable that Alphabet is not internally crunching the numbers on this, and if it does decide to spin off Waymo, it's a question that needs to be answered. The point here is that a business that can't be profitable isn't worth anything, let alone $45 billion, so at some point, its management is going to have to set some timelines. Tesla and timelines Whereas investors need to hear more about timelines from Waymo, whose public self-driving ride-hailing service was launched in 2018, there's probably a need for fewer declared timelines from Tesla, or, rather, a need for more accurate ones. For example, in 2019, CEO Elon Musk famously told investors to expect a million self-driving vehicles on the road by mid-2020. In April 2022, he also stated that Tesla aspired to reach volume production of a dedicated robotaxi (Cybercab) in 2024 -- a timeline that has now been pushed back to 2026. These timeline estimates matter because plugging overly optimistic assumptions from them into valuation models can produce dramatically erroneous conclusions. Why Tesla is better positioned With all that said, Tesla has clear advantages over Waymo, provided it can demonstrate safety and reliability and achieve regulatory approvals. Its advantages include: Lower vehicle costs, with Musk aiming for a $30,000 price tag for a dedicated robotaxi, the Cybercab. Meanwhile, Wall Street analysts estimate Waymo's current vehicles cost more than $120,000. In addition, Tesla manufactures its own cars (Waymo does not), and existing Teslas can be converted into robotaxis using Tesla's as-yet-unreleased-to-the-public unsupervised full self-driving (FSD) software, giving Tesla a significant advantage in scaling the robotaxi business. Tesla's use of camera-centric technology is inherently less expensive than Waymo's combination of cameras, light detection and ranging (Lidar) lasers, and high-definition maps. Every Tesla car (robotaxi or not) on the road is effectively a data gatherer, with the data used to improve the AI that powers its AI models. As such, even though Waymo was first, Tesla has significantly more data than Waymo. Which is the better EV stock? Waymo may become profitable in the future, particularly if Lidar costs continue to drop. However, it's challenging to think that it will be a strong competitor to Tesla, provided Musk's company can master safe, unsupervised FSD using a camera-centric approach. That's a big "if" at this stage, but it becomes a smaller "if" as time goes by and Tesla expands its nascent robotaxi offering across new geographies. Tesla's next robotaxi launch is expected to be in Phoenix, as it plans to continue slowly building its robotaxi business. I think Tesla is the better EV stock when comparing Tesla and Alphabet. Should you buy stock in Tesla right now? The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $636,628!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,063,471!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,041% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 183% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of July 21, 2025 Lee Samaha has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet and Tesla. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Better EV Stock: Alphabet vs. Tesla (Hint: Robotaxis Are the Key) was originally published by The Motley Fool Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Tesla (TSLA) Misses on Q2 Earnings, But Morgan Stanley Still Says Buy
Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) is one of the . On July 24, Morgan Stanley reiterated the stock as 'Overweight' with a $410 price target. Morgan Stanley says Tesla remains a top pick following the company's earnings report on Wednesday. The electric vehicle maker reported a top and bottom line miss on second-quarter results, with automotive revenue falling 16% year-on-year to $16.7 billion. While Analyst Adam Jonas is a well-known Tesla bull, he has lowered his fiscal year 2025 earnings per share expectations by 14% as opposed to prior forecasts. Lower deliveries and higher operating expenses have caused this change. '2Q numbers were a slight beat with FCF near break-even. Tesla is crossing the chasm to autonomy while absorbing slower volume, EV incentive elimination, tariffs and investing in new initiatives that may not make margins for years." Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) is an automotive and clean energy company that leverages advanced artificial intelligence in its autonomous driving technology and robotics initiatives. While we acknowledge the potential of TSLA as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: and . Disclosure: None. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Skift
2 hours ago
- Skift
What if Airbnb Builds the Killer AI Travel Search App?
Airbnb is hiring an engineer for an AI-powered natural language search product. If the tech delivers, it could create new creative pressure in shaping how people choose where to go and stay. Airbnb is preparing to rebuild its internal search engine with generative AI at the core. In a recent job posting for a search infrastructure engineer, the company outlined plans for a 'next generation search platform' designed to support 'generative AI (large language model) use cases.' Candidates with expertise in search and recommendation systems are encouraged to apply, and experience with GenAI or LLMs is listed as a preferred qualification. Search is one of the most critical components of Airbnb's business. It determines how guests discover homes and experiences, and how hosts reach customers. And while Airbnb has not made any public announcements about an AI-native search product, the technical scope and job description point to ambitions beyond incremental improvements. The listing suggests Airbnb is looking to reconstruct its core search product to accommodate AI. The new platform is described as one that will 'power different products at Airbnb,' suggesting that generative AI could become a foundational layer across the company's marketplace. In response to a request for comment, an Airbnb spokesperson said the company is 'always working to enhance the overall Airbnb experience' and is 'actively seeking talented individuals who share our mission to transform the way people travel.' Give Me a Room With a View If Airbnb succeeds in launching a functional AI-powered search system, the move could change how travelers interact with the platform. Traditional travel search engines rely on structured inputs: location, dates, price filters, and a fixed set of amenities. Generative AI has the potential to interpret natural language queries, understand user context, and return relevant results with fewer steps and less manual sorting. For example, instead of filtering by location and bedroom count, a guest might enter a query such as 'a quiet place in the mountains with fast Wi-Fi, a hot tub, and a view' – and receive listings that match even if the keywords don't align exactly. Several other travel companies have begun integrating AI tools into their platforms, including chat-based trip planning assistants and personalization features. When Data is King But Airbnb may be in a stronger position than some of its competitors to make that shift. The company has access to a large volume of structured and unstructured data: millions of listings with detailed attributes, user-generated reviews, booking behavior, search history, and messaging between hosts and guests. This data could support the training or fine-tuning of models capable of delivering more personalized and accurate search outcomes. Airbnb also owns its entire supply-side platform. Unlike online travel agencies that depend on inventory from third-party providers and hotel chains, Airbnb's listings are user-generated and directly managed on its system. That vertical integration provides a cleaner dataset and more flexibility in how results are ranked and surfaced, key advantages for any machine learning application. The introduction of a new AI-native search system could also create competitive pressure in the broader travel sector. Google, Booking Holdings, and Expedia Group have all made recent announcements about generative AI experiments, including itinerary generation and trip planning tools. Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky has previously hinted at AI's potential role in product discovery, referring in past earnings calls to a vision of Airbnb as a kind of intelligent travel concierge. A generative AI system could take that vision further, allowing for contextual, conversational discovery that adapts to different user intents in real time. The company has not disclosed what timeline it is working toward, what specific models it may be using, or whether it intends to partner with external AI vendors or develop proprietary solutions. The job posting does not mention OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, or any of the major LLM providers by name. Beyond the Short-Term Rental What if Airbnb is thinking bigger than site search? There's a huge world of travel beyond short-term rental listings and its new experiences product. Airbnb's focus on design and its ability to attract talent put it in a position to compete in ways that other travel brands can't. Chesky also has a strong relationship with Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI. They've known each other since the 2000s, first at Y Combinator, the startup accelerator. And Altman has talked about the counsel Chesky gave him at OpenAI. Airbnb has always had ambitions beyond booking a room, and the focus on AI search will help it compete against players like Expedia when it comes to airline search or any other part of the travel journey.
