There’s a Tesla-free block in Palo Alto?! Alert the media!

Q I live on the last Tesla-free block in Palo Alto, Lincoln Avenue, and this has me very worried. How will this affect the property values on our street? Is there any possibility that we could get federal assistance? Maybe we could be declared a redevelopment zone and have a charger installed to attract a Tesla.

To add insult to injury, there are only two Priii out of 30 cars on the block. What do you recommend so that we can remedy this situation? — Scott Carr, Palo Alto

A This is an outrage. If you’re not going to fork over the big bucks for a Tesla, you’ll need to pack up your bags and move. That’s the only option I see.

Q I live on St. James Street in downtown San Jose, and I’m one of the many people perplexed as to how I will navigate to Highway 87 when the street realignment is finally complete. One concern I see is that they are adding a set of stoplights on Terraine Street right where you exit 87 onto Julian/St. James. It is a very short block from the existing light at the end of the ramp off 87 and Notre Dame.

Do they really plan to activate another light so close to this major intersection? It will cause gridlock as the lights are never timed correctly. — John Ragsdale, San Jose

A Maybe not. The new traffic signal at Terraine will be connected with the freeway off-ramp signal and synchronized to minimize impact. This new signal was necessary to help pedestrians.

It will allow for a left turn from St. James to Terraine, but not for a left from Terraine onto St. James. As a result, the signal cycle will be shorter and easier to coordinate with others. Work should be done in a few more months.

Q A lot of shrubbery along our highways is growing over roadside edges and obscuring traffic signs, exits and oncoming traffic. Please ask Caltrans and our legislators to do a proper job of maintaining our roads. This isn’t a beautification issue; it’s a safety issue. — Larry Shoemaker, San Jose

A It is indeed. Some money from the new state gas tax might be set aside for this.

Note

Because of a production issue, some Roadshow answers were left out of this week’s columns. We’re rerunning a couple of those questions with their answers below.

Q >> Whose responsibility is the road circling the Kaiser facility at Santa Teresa? My little car jumps off the road going 20 mph and the big heavy car even jostles over the large potholes and uneven pavement. — Katie Barronk

A >> International Circle is maintained by San Jose. This street was slurrysealed in 2002 but due to a lack of funding a 2011 job didn’t happen. It could make the city’s 2018 todo list.

Q >> Kudos, kudos, kudos! For helping with my husband’s DMV issue, may we send you a nice bottle of wine? — Genie Hawkins

A >> A donation to the Second Harvest Food Bank would make me happy.