Cheers! New interchange coming at 101-San Antonio
Q
The on-ramp to Highway 101 south from San Antonio Road in
Palo Alto is the shortest I’ve ever seen. It is unsafe at any hour, especially during commute hours due to the number of cars already on 101 in the right lane and the number of cars entering the highway and attempting to merge. Any plans to lengthen this ramp? — Stacey Ashlund, Palo Alto
A
Thank goodness, yes. This is one of the interchanges that will be rebuilt with money from the Measure B sales tax approved by Santa Clara County voters last year and it could be on the fast track. The $35 million job will have design work done next year and construction between San Antonio and Charleston could begin by late summer.
Q
Do you know when they are going to activate the two right-turn arrows on Vallco Parkway at Wolfe Road? Currently only the right lane can turn right on red but everyone seems to ignore the sign as the second lane also turns right as traffic backs up constantly
A
on Vallco Parkway. It seems like they planned ahead with these two right-turn arrows but currently they have yellow tape on them in the shape of an “X”. — T. Cerami The lights will be working this fall. When the right-turn arrows are turned on, southbound U-turns will be prohibited. Because there are quite a few southbound U-turn movements, Cupertino is waiting until Apple is closer to being fully occupied and right-turning traffic demands are heavier. Plus, over the next few months final paving on Wolfe north of Interstate 280 will result in some lane closures and drivers will use that southbound Uturn at Vallco Parkway as an alternate route.
Q
Since purchasing my Spark EV I have been using Highway 85 to Sunnyvale from my home in the Santa Cruz mountains. The first few weeks I used the 17 to 85 connector and found the metering lights often took 15-20 minutes to get through. One day I had to stop in Los Gatos and got off on Lark Avenue. I then proceeded down Los Gatos Boulevard northbound and took the left turn onto 85. What a surprise. A carpool lane and I was quickly on the freeway. Well now every morning I join what appears to be many people that get off 17 at Lark to enter 85 from Los Gatos Boulevard. Do you think they could add a carpool lane to the connector from 17 to 85? That would surely be a relief. I even see the Google buses from downtown Los Gatos exit at Lark and use the 85 entrance off of Los Gatos Boulevard. — Steve Joesten
A
Those Google bus drivers know the shortcuts. I like your idea, however there are no plans to do this.
Q
The other day I got a phone call asking me to sign a petition to stop the 12-cent a gallon gas tax increase. The legislators are the ones who could have tied the gas tax to inflation and we would have the best roads in the nation. — Robert Peeks, Saratoga
A
Robert did not sign the petition, and the new legislation will be adjusted for inflation.