I-880 express lane scofflaws: CHP will be on the lookout

QI have had the opportunity to use the express lanes on Interstate 880 several times over the past month, and really appreciate them. But now I have a question.

What is the speed limit for the express lane? It seems that everyone does at least 75 mph in the express lane. If you drive slower, you get aggressively tailgated, and you cannot move over because of the double white line and slower traffic to your right.

— Adele Ho,

Richmond

A

The speed limit is 65 mph, but you and I both know that some drivers go much faster than that and take risks by crossing the double white lines.

Q

The double white lines on I-880 give a false sense of security to express lane drivers zooming along at 60 mph with traffic almost halted in the next lane, and often with no space between the express lane and the median divider. This risks a bad wreck whenever anyone jumps the double whites into the fast lane. I’ve never once driven 880 without seeing multiple drivers cross these double white lines moving into and out of the express lane.

It feels more dangerous driving in the 880 express lane than anywhere else in the Bay Area. — Doug McKenzie, Berkeley

A

The CHP will be out to try to reduce illegal lane changes, but it is not going to be easy. It is up to everyone to follow the rules. Excessive speed and unexpected lane changes are dangerous. Q

The stoplight turning left from Guadalupe Parkway onto Coleman Avenue in San Jose takes forever. There are times when the light will allow cars turning left from Coleman onto Guadalupe and then return to green lights for Coleman. Please help!

— Pam Oliverio,

San Jose

A

Signals have been changed to give more time for traffic traveling on main streets. Because Coleman is a main street, side streets may experience delays in getting the green light. For Coleman and Guadalupe Parkway, the city has changed the timing to run in “free” mode, which means the intersection serves the green light by demand on Coleman.

You can email feedback about this or other traffic signals to traffic.signals@ sanjoseca.gov or call 408975-3700.

Q

I hope to be riding BART again. Has it made any improvements at the stations?

— Mary Ramos,

Daly City

A

Yes, it has. Riders now can access the Powell Street station platform on an escalator, as BART moves forward with its escalator renovation project. The Market Street Escalator Project will replace the 22nd Street escalators and 18 platform escalators that make up some of the system’s most dated units. Civic Center station also will receive a new streetto-concourse escalator soon.