What is Caltrans doing about water leak on Highway 17?
QIt appears some work is about to start on Highway 17 where water often leaks onto the road, causing spinouts and a lot of collisions. What is Caltrans doing?
— Manny Franco, Santa Cruz
ACaltrans is installing a new drainage system to stabilize the slope, adding a high friction surface and striping between Big Moody Curve and Brush Road. This has been a nasty spot for years. Work will be completed by November.
QDo you have any idea why San Jose city parking garages prohibit motorcycles? I have Superior Court jury duty coming up and that big fat parking garage across the street is off-limits to me for some reason.
There is a free five-bike parking spot at East St. James and First streets that I hope to use if it isn’t filled up. However, it would be nice to have the garage option.
How much space does a motorcycle take, anyway?
— Bret Mannon, Los Gatos
ANot a lot, but it turns out that the in-ground loop detectors that trigger the gate arms to raise and lower do not accurately detect motorcycles. This can lead to circumstances where the motorcycle is not detected, and the arm either does not raise or lowers when the motorcyclist is in the way, neither of which are a situation city officials want to let happen. The restriction is fairly common.
There are motorcycle spots available in the lot across the street from the Market Street garage. The loop detectors still work the best, for most vehicles, most of the time. But not for motorcycles.
QRecently there has been a change in the lights at the intersection of Highway 85 north and Branham Lane and Camden Avenue.
They have now reduced the green lights to those traveling north on Camden entering 85 that causes severe backups. Those traveling north now have to wait through approximately five to seven light changes while those traveling from Branham and south on Camden
have no wait at all. Do you know if they intend to change it back?
— Wendy Seagraves, San Jose
AThe signals team took a look at morning traffic and made some timing changes. Has it helped?
QI have a temporary handicap placard. Whenever I use it, I always lock my car. The other day I parked my car in front of a store at Westgate Shopping Center. For some unknown reason, I forgot to lock my car. When I got into my car, the placard was gone. I hope the person who stole my handicap placard is caught and charged with a felony. I have to wonder about the character of the person who would steal a handicap placard just to get preferred parking. Sad.
— Joe Galiardi,
Cupertino
A Sad, indeed.