Amongst art, wine and frivolity, passengers from Allegiant airline's first flight from Phoenix-Mesa were warmly greeted as they arrived at the Stockton Metropolitan Airport last night. According to Airport Director Harry Mavrogenes the inaugural flight had 120 passengers and 153 were booked for the return flight to Phoenix-Mesa. The new non-stop flights will operate twice weekly between the Stockton airport and Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport. Phoenix becomes the third destination offered to Allegiant travelers flying out of Stockton. The flurry of arrivals and departures took place during ArtExpressions of San Joaquin "Gallery on the Move" with wine tasting, olive oil tasting and more than 20 artists displaying their works through the facility. Even the banners twisting from the ceiling were designed by local photographer Arturo Vera.

  The Altamont Corridor Express passenger train service, which now runs between Stockton in the Central Valley and San Jose in Silicon Valley, is planning to expand.

The project includes improving existing service and extending new ACE rail service to downtown Modesto by as early as 2018 and to Merced by as early as 2022.

The San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission is holding five public scoping meetings over the next two weeks to get public comment on its plans, which it calls "ACEforward."

The SJRRC and the Federal Rail Administration are jointly preparing an Environmental Impact Report and Environmental Impact Statement for the ACEforward program in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. 

The meetings will be open houses and attendees can drop by anytime during the three hour meetings. Public scoping meetings will be held at the following locations: