Could reversible lanes break up the highway clog?
Q You had an article on a toll commuter lane on Highway
101 to allow single drivers to use the lane. How about a reader poll asking what readers think will reduce freeway traffic — more buses, freeways or wider freeways? — Steve Phillips, San Jose A Your wish is my command, but first …
Q
Having lived in San Jose all of my life, I feel the pain of everyone on the horrific traffic everywhere. Are there plans to build new freeways anywhere in the Bay Area? With Interstate 280 and highways 85 and 87, plans were in the works since the 1950s. All I hear is raising taxes, raising tolls, toll lanes, “road diets”, etc., but that will not improve traffic. Unless we have new freeways, highways and expressways, we are doomed. — Lori Steinhauer Cougill, San Jose A There are no serious plans for new freeways, and here’s a differing view. Q I grew up in Palo Alto and will be 66 in July. I’ve watched the valley change into enormous parking lots once known as roads and freeways with no one going anywhere. Massive mass transit seems like the only possible way to go. Cars aren’t doing it anymore.
Who’s working on new, alternative ideas for moving the growing numbers of people on the roads now? Wider roads are obsolete by the time they are up and running. Is there anyone thinking out of the box on moving large groups of people around beyond widening roads, etc.? — Jan Pfuhl, Mountain View A And from former Bay Area residents stunned by our traffic jams during a recent visit …
Q
We don’t see anything coming in the future that is going to make it any better in the Bay Area. What say you, oh sage monitor of the highways and byways? — Glenn and Virginia Neklason, Florence, Oregon A Yes there are folks thinking out of the box. SamTrans is considering reversible lanes on the Dumbarton Bridge and Santa Clara County may look at this on Lawrence Expressway. FasTrak lanes will have carpool hours from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Special lanes for autonomous cars from downtown San Jose to the airport could happen. Then there are double carpool lanes on Interstate 580 that are coming to Highway 101. And maybe I should stop sneering at a new bridge crossing for BART and cars across the bay.
More housing is essential near transit lines. Think the planned Google complex near the Diridon Station. The VTA has plans for radical changes to run more routes through downtown San Jose where most of its riders are.
Anyone have any other radical ideas? Fire away.