Higher bridge tolls are there to help East Bay road woes

Q The morning commute westbound on the San Rafael/ Richmond bridge is a disaster. The backup always extends 2 miles from the tollbooth. Are there plans to open up one more lane just like what they did eastbound in the afternoon? They are going to raise bridge tolls $3 in the next few years. I think they should do something about it. — Philip Shih, San Jose

A I’ve got good news and bad news. The higher tolls set aside $210 million for Richmond Bridge improvements on both the Marin and Contra Costa sides. Three months ago bridge officials began studying the schedule and cost that could allow for more traffic along westbound Interstate 580 from Richmond Parkway to Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. So help is on the way.

The bad news? This will play out over years, not months.

Preparing the new environmental document will take at least a year. And to not shift congestion from Contra Costa County to Marin County, conversion of the bridge’s westbound shoulder to a peak-period traffic lane would be just one piece of a more complicated puzzle requiring other improvements such as widening the I-580 crossing over Main Street near San Quentin Village, relocating the San Quentin ramp to west 580 and more lanes on Sir Francis Drake.

Q So Contra Costa County officials “have design plans ready for the next phase of improvements on Vasco Road, and are now looking to come up with the $15 million needed for construction.” Um, so where are all those billions from the new gas tax going? Sigh. — Eric Lee

A Contra Costa County submitted numerous projects for the first two-year allocation of gas tax funds. Unfortunately, Vasco Road phase two was not one of them since the additional funds would not cover the $15 million price tag of the project.

But stop sighing. Here’s the good news: Higher bridge tolls will provide $15 million for Vasco. While there is no timeline yet, more safety improvements are in the works.

Q Why are they closing the northbound ramp to Highway 85 near Fremont Avenue? All I could get out of the Caltrans website was “miscellaneous work” (thanks, guys). — Lisa H.

A The northbound Fremont Avenue onramp is going to be repaved beginning today. It will be closed through the weekend.

Q Just imagine how much road rage could be avoided if slow drivers just moved to the right if others are going faster. If the Bible had been written at a time when there were cars, it would be the 11th Commandment. — Paul Jacobs

A Oh Lord, you let us down.