Taking electric vehicles out of carpool lanes creates better flow

QThe carpool lanes are flowing smoothly at Highway 237 and Interstate 880. Taking 220,000 electric vehicles out of the carpool lanes was the right decision. Carpooling means as a driver and rider you are helping eliminate one additional car from the roads.

Thanks for restoring the true purpose of the carpool lane. Let the state reward the owners of electric vehicles by other means.

A

Folks, is traffic flowing better in the diamond lanes since Jan. 1? And how about in the other lanes?

EV owners still have significant perks with rebates or tax credits up to $2,500 to $7,500 for the purchase or lease of new, eligible zero- emission vehicles, including electric, plug-in hybrid electric and fuel cell vehicles. But if get a rebate, you cannot get red carpool lane stickers.

Q

We might see some changes in carpool use in the near term, but long term it seems that Tesla’s ramp up in pro- duction might well replace most of those ejected cars in little more than a year. Unfortunately, I don’t think we’re going to see much of a change.

And explain how this could possibly reduce congestion? All it would do is give those willing to pay the option to join the mess. Though now if you really want to get picky, it could allow those willing to pay at earlier hours to make it through before or after the peak congestion and slightly lower the number of cars in the regular lanes. — Alan Arndt, San Jose

A

If traffic speeds in express lanes fall lower than 45 mph, tolls will rise and more drivers are likely to move into the turtle lanes.

Q

Parking is a real pain at all BART stations. But there is a very large empty dirt field at the Antioch station. I swear it would not take much money to turn it into a parking lot and get cars off Highway 4. — Therese Konz, Antioch

A

Your wish will be granted. BART will add 800 spaces at Antioch, east of the current lot. Construction will begin this fall with the new lot opening in late 2020.

Q

I took BART from the North Concord/ Martinez station and printed out a map to get there. It’s good that I did because there were no signs whatsoever to indicate the station. To make matters worse, the station is below street level, so you can’t see it from the street. I feel sorry for first-time BART riders. — Renée Morton, Benicia

A

Look again. Alicia, a BART spokesperson, uses this station. She says, “I can confirm there are signs on Highway 4 and at the offramp and split so you know to curve right. There is also a big white tall station sign where you turn left on Panoramic drive into the station.”