How Caltrans goes about cleaning Bay Area tubes

Q I complained to you about the grimy walls in the Posey and Webster tubes between Alameda and Oakland.

In spite of faithfully reading your column, I did not see a reply.

But last week the walls in the Posey tube were clean and gleaming. Your friends at Caltrans must have got the word from you.

Anyway, I give you the credit. Now for the Webster tube. — Roger Ecker, Alameda A Oh, you have much more to say! Q We take the Posey and Webster tubes to leave for another city and return home.

In spite of the fact that they were built in 1937 and go underwater rather than through rock, they have proven to be very sturdy and serviceable.

Webster tube is so coated with black dirt that people have been writing on the walls by using a presumably moist rag to spell words out.

What is the schedule for cleaning each tube and how does it compare with the Caldecott?

Our tubes are the lifeline, along with our four bridges, to get out of Alameda in a disaster, or for emergency responders to come to Alameda.

Much more crucial than the Caldecott, granted that the latter serve many more vehicles daily.

Because there are only two lanes in each tube, we have significant daily stop-and-go traffic, so they are inadequate for the load.

Oakland to Orinda has four tubes. The newest is spacious, well-lighted and ventilated. Ours are narrow, dark and dirty. Our chance of getting a third or fourth crossing is zero.

Why are they so neglected by Caltrans? — Roger Ecker A The tubes are scheduled to be scrubbed every six months or so.

But with just two tubes, closing one can really mess up traffic.

And that is a big reason cleaning is sometimes delayed.

The Webster Tube is next up on the cleaning schedule. Q Why can they build the Chase Center in San Francisco in no time and yet the paper says BART to San Jose is still not ready to go? — Gary M., San Jose A Building a train line is much more complicated than building an arena, but this is getting frustrating, I agree. Q We have just about given up on driving between Lodi and San Jose on weekdays.

The drive now takes three to four hours on a Thursday afternoon. On a Sunday, it can take 90 minutes.

We will be riding the Capitol Corridor train from Sacramento. — Gregory S. A Be glad you have that option.