Willow Glen road diet may become permanent
QI continue avoiding Lincoln Avenue, where San Jose installed a “road diet” last year — removing two through lanes in Willow Glen — except for necessary trips. But recently I was returning from OSH on Auzerais Avenue about 3:30 p.m. and absent-mindedly turned left onto Lincoln.
I continued to Willow Street, where the light was green, and I continued on Lincoln. By the Garden Theatre building, there was gridlock all the way to Minnesota, where I turned right and proceeded home.
This isn’t Market Street in San Francisco or the Embarcadero — it’s Willow Glen. I think the road diet causes more problems than it solves and I hope the city reconsiders it. Dee Danna San Jose A The city’s Department of Transportation disagrees. It recommends that the narrowing of Lincoln from Coe Avenue to Minnesota Avenue be made permanent. The City Council will vote on this June 28.
The DOT reviewed data in February and found that sales tax receipts from area businesses had risen, meaning customers have been not been driven away; speeds had slightly improved; and bicycle use had jumped 83 percent and pedestrian traffic 20 percent. However, the number of minor crashes — while below the average over the past five years — was higher over the past year.
But the biggest change? Complaints to Roadshow dropped to almost zero, which has been the case involving road diets throughout the Bay Area. Over time, we seem to tolerate and adjust.
Agree? Q What is the status of the work on Highway 101 south in Palo Alto, near the Embarcadero exit? It’s a chokepoint pretty much any time of day.
Mike Lazich Redwood City A This is an $18 million flood control project. Caltrans is replacing the bridge over San Francisquito Creek. The bridge was constructed in 1931 and has deteriorated due to wear and tidal action. The work won’t wrap up until 2017. Q I see repairs have started on Bascom Avenue from Newhall Street until Scott Boulevard. While Bascom has always been bad at that area, even worse is Newhall between Park Avenue and The Alameda. I drive much slower than the speed limit through that strip because the road is so terrible. Are there plans to fix that in the future? Vien Phan A Smile. Newhall Street from Park to The Alameda will be resurfaced later this year. Q Are they ever going to repave Branham Lane in San Jose? They had it torn up for months while replacing water lines. Now they seem to be finished with that but they’ve repaved only a short stretch.
Jill Swanson Los Gatos A The part of Branham from Narvaez Avenue to Vistapark Drive is not on the paving list but is not being ignored. The city replaced some failed pavement with asphalt and later this year will apply a surface seal.