New Solano Co. Train Station To Be Named After Former Assemblyman

SOLANO COUNTY, CA— The newest stop in Fairfield along the Amtrak Capitol Corridor route will soon be named after a man who envisioned rail service between the Bay Area and Sacramento. Tom Hannigan saw in the mid-1980s that an inter-city rail system along the Interstate Highway 80 corridor would transport commuters and other travelers through the growing region.

That vision became one of Amtrak's best performing corridors based on ridership. An average of 3,600 trips a month originate from the Fairfield-Vacaville Hannigan Station that has served riders since November 2017. The north-south street at the station will be renamed Tom Hannigan Way.

"It is because of Tom's vision over 30 years ago that we have this great route between the Bay Area and Sacramento," Fairfield Mayor Harry Price said. "We are so proud of Tom's accomplishment of bringing this line to fruition through his legislative work between 1987 and 1991."

Hannigan was a Fairfield city councilman between 1970 and 1974. He served as a Solano County supervisor from 1974 to 1978 when he was elected to the state Assembly where he served until 1996. He died at 78 in 2018.

"Thanks to Hannigan, more than 1.7 million riders are able to get to work and school or visit friends and family in comfort aboard the Capitol Corridor," said Rebecca Saltzman, board chair of the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority.

A memorial plaque honoring Hannigan will be unveiled during a ceremony sometime in the early fall.

— Bay City News Service