Q: What will it take to force these bumbling bureaucrats to realize that closing a single lane during the afternoon commute hours on Highway 17 is a really dumb idea? For example, traffic was at a standstill in Los Gatos one recent day. It took me 10 minutes to travel two blocks. It was that way for everyone.
Terry Swinggi, Aptos
A: I know this is frustrating. It will be better when work is complete. Just a reminder that Caltrans will close one lane of Highway 17 in each direction from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., starting Monday, April 17. This is for pavement rehabilitation, highway striping, guardrail repair and highway maintenance from Hebard Road to Highway 9. Work will be completed in July.
Q: I agree with your advice to call the police, not contact the business owner, when finding handicap spaces blocked by non-handicap vehicles, especially large trucks. Recently I was at the Walgreens in Scotts Valley and a delivery truck was occupying two handicap spaces. I pointed out to the man unloading the truck that it was blocking handicap spaces, and the truck needed to be moved. The man said that was not going to happen. I called the Scotts Valley police, who showed up within three or four minutes, and they assured me the driver would be cited.
Stephen Reynolds, Santa Cruz
A: Good to hear. You handled this properly.
Q: The traffic flow was usually pretty smooth on Mathilda Avenue from El Camino to Maude Avenue in Sunnyvale, until last week when the traffic lights were adjusted, for no reason. Now during the rush hours, the traffic on Mathilda is terrible, cars are all stop-and-go, and the traffic backup is miles long, I really don’t understand the logic behind it.
Could you help bring this to the attention of the traffic lights control department?
Sang Lam
A: Yes. Here’s what Jennifer-the-Sunnyvale-spokesperson said: There are two items related to the construction of the new City Hall that may be contributing to the stop-and-go traffic you are experiencing. The first is that the loops on Olive Avenue had to be disconnected while the road was being worked on. The signals were operating on a fixed timing so that they could ensure each leg got a green cycle. The loops have been reinstalled and, hopefully, that helps.
The other item has to do with the setup of Sunnyvale’s Traffic Management Center. That equipment is being moved to and reconnected in the new City Hall. This could be contributing to uncoordinated traffic signal timing. As soon as they have finished installing and testing the equipment, they’ll be able to synchronize and coordinate all of the systems.
The good news, Sang, is that it should get better.
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