Bill would aim to ease Bay Bridge traffic congestion

QTraffic is increasing across the Bay Bridge. Any thought to extending carpool hours or other changes to get more people out of their cars?

— Bill Dexter,

Berkeley

AA big, big change is being considered. Assembly Bill 455 would require bridge officials to speed up bus and very high occupancy vehicles, dubbed Very HOVs (defined as carpools of five or more passengers), in a one-year test in a special lane. Up to 59 buses would run during commute times. New metering lights would be installed, and ramp changes would be made at West Grand Avenue, Interstate 580 and I-880, where backups now occur. The cost would be $65 million.

The goal is to get 20% of drivers out of their cars and shave 21 minutes off their commutes. Think it will work?

QIn Livermore, the on-ramp to west Interstate 580 from southbound Vasco Road had a carpool/express lane and a regular lane until a few

days ago. With no notice, Caltrans blocked the carpool lane entrance, creating large backups on Vasco.

This move seems completely illogical except to inspire New Jersey-esque pain. Can you find out the rationale behind reducing access to the on-ramp?

— CAmeron H., Livermore

ASure can. Before the lane was closed, the three lanes from southbound Vasco and one lane northbound for motorists using Vasco had to merge in a very short distance.

Therefore, traffic was backing up, as drivers were using the right lane and avoiding the carpool lane on the left side. Now solo drivers can use both lanes,

To alleviate this problem, Caltrans has put two signs up on either side of Vasco, instructing motorists to use both lanes.

When changes are made, it takes a while for drivers to become accustomed to the new conditions. Caltrans anticipates that more people will begin to use both lanes in the coming weeks, and the backup will diminish.

Q

It sounds like a great idea to add plastic to California roads! Will it be recycled plastic? … Or are we going to see more plastic made with no end in sight? Petrochemicals need to stay in the ground.

— Lynne Ellinwood, MArilynn Smith

And others

A

Yes. behind allows 150,000 The for this technology approximately plastic innovation recycled reused water per lane bottles mile to of be asphalt.

This new mix is durable and promises to last even longer than traditional hot-mix asphalt. It’s now being tested on a section of Highway 162 in Oroville, using recycled asphalt pavement and liquid plastic made with single-use plastic bottles.

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