Q: Well, the Grand Experiment with express lanes is over, and we can deem them a failure. The new lanes from Highway 85 to 101 north in Mountain View have made it a commute-hour mess.
One can expect more traffic with one freeway merging into another, but what one doesn’t expect is a traffic jam caused by 40 percent (2 of 5) of the available lanes dedicated to the very few who blow by at 80 mph, while those in non-express lanes are inching forward at 5-10 mph.
Before express lanes were activated, we were doing a reasonable adjustment to post-pandemic commute traffic patterns that, while heavier, was not too bad. Now there’s a ton of frustration from drivers using off-ramps as merge lanes and quickly diving back into the flow without signaling. It gets better after San Antonio Road, but with almost half the lanes hardly being used, it shouldn’t be this way.
There are probably data showing that the average time for everyone is shorter, but averaging in Formula One cars in the left two lanes skews the data. Far more important would be a survey of drivers and taxpayers who can’t afford to, or who choose not to pay twice for the same real estate. Can you ask them what they think?
Barry Hennings, Los Altos
Q: It’s too early to declare express lanes a failure, but there are issues. Among them, some FasTrak lane drivers go very fast. Others illegally veer over double white lines, trying to get ahead a few cars. Some drivers are confused by when they can use the express lanes, not realizing express lane hours extend almost the entire day.
The goal with express lanes is to entice solo drivers out of their cars into carpools. We will not know for quite some time how the change has worked out.
Q: Is there a valid reason for double lines segregating the express lane on Interstate 680 southbound from Walnut Creek into Alamo? It infuriates locals who can’t get into or out of the express lane.
Gary Ware, Danville
A: Thanks for this input. This may be reviewed after more traffic data are available.
Q: Why not make express lane rules consistent? When I am driving, I have to check to see 2+ or 3+, 5-9, 5-10, 3-8, all days, M-F, etc.
Soon you will have to stop and read a billboard explaining the rules for the next 20 miles.
Dan O’Neal, San Jose
A: Express lane rules ought to be uniform. Their basic restrictions are different from those for regular carpool lanes, which are in operation from 5-9 a.m. and 3-7 p.m. This difference will change over time, as more carpool lanes are converted into paid express lanes.
Look for Gary Richards at Facebook.com/mr.roadshow or contact him at [email protected].
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