Work has begun to create double carpool lanes on the 3.2-mile stretch of Highway 101 between Highway 85 in Mountain View and Embarcadero Road in Palo Alto.
The work will include merging lanes and a second carpool lane in both directions of 101, according to the Valley Transit Authority.
The $72 million project will include widening the southbound Oregon Expressway onramp, adding a lane on the southbound Old Middlefield Way onramp and adding meters the northbound Ampitheatre Parkway and San Antonio Road ramps.
Completion of the project is planned for late summer 2013.
Comments
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Apr 30, 2012 at 10:30 am
on Apr 30, 2012 at 10:30 am
Good idea!
Adobe-Meadow
on Apr 30, 2012 at 10:41 am
on Apr 30, 2012 at 10:41 am
Where is this $72 million dollars coming from? If the VTA is paying for it, I assume the money is coming from local sales taxes. Boondoggles like this are why are local sales taxes are so high and why local merchants are going out of business.
Studies have shown that building more highways does not work. In the short term, new highways encourage people to move farther away from their jobs. In the long term, all those extra commuting miles cause more traffic over longer distances. The $72 million dollars is just a down payment on higher gas prices and greater air pollution.
And remember that this $72 million is on top of the $100 million they just spent on those useless new "merging lanes" along Hwy 101 in Palo Alto and Menlo Park.
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Apr 30, 2012 at 10:50 am
on Apr 30, 2012 at 10:50 am
This is part of the Santa Clara County portion of the auxiliary lanes project. On the southbound side, VTA and Caltrans is adding an auxiliary lane between Embarcadero Road and San Antonio Road, and again south of the second Rengstorff entrance. But they are not fixing the insane short entrance/exit merge at Charleston and adding an entrance from San Antonio Road onto 101 South, with a merge lane between that and the Rengstorff exit. So South Palo Altans won't benefit from an improved Rengstorff interchange with southbound 101.
Apparently, Mountain View doesn't want to close the dangerous Charleston onramp onto south 101 and replace it with a ramp from San Antonio Road. (They want Palo Alto cars going by their big box stores near 101.) And Palo Alto didn't fight hard enough for this change.
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Apr 30, 2012 at 10:52 am
on Apr 30, 2012 at 10:52 am
What a huge waste of money. I agree with all the good points that "72 million dollars?" made.
another community
on Apr 30, 2012 at 10:53 am
on Apr 30, 2012 at 10:53 am
It's probably part of the future conversion of carpool lanes to revenue-generating Lexus lanes.
Old Palo Alto
on Apr 30, 2012 at 10:58 am
on Apr 30, 2012 at 10:58 am
I travel 101 South each workday. I'd like to see an exit lane for Embarcadero/Oregon. Cars getting on 101 going south from University stay in the right lane instead of merging into the other lanes and this creates a very slow exit for those of us getting off at Embarcadero/Oregon. We need a separate lane! Thanks for letting me vent. I know it won't happen.
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Apr 30, 2012 at 11:03 am
on Apr 30, 2012 at 11:03 am
> Studies have shown that building more highways does not work.
Really .. care to cite a few sources.
By the way, do you use highways to get where you are going, or do you take "mass transit"?
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Apr 30, 2012 at 11:10 am
on Apr 30, 2012 at 11:10 am
All these carpool lanes finally got my over 40 year old son to marry. He and his new Bride carpool along H.85 to work. With the backup of traffic on H.85, that's the only way they can get to work!!!
Carpool lanes are good for love and marriage even at $72 Million!!!!
South of Midtown
on Apr 30, 2012 at 11:28 am
on Apr 30, 2012 at 11:28 am
This has changed the insane Charleston sb entrance for the worse...in a big way! I see this heading towards a major accident in the near future and recommend that everyone avoid it. Silly expenditure or not, this change is DANGEROUS...
Old Palo Alto
on Apr 30, 2012 at 11:46 am
on Apr 30, 2012 at 11:46 am
I travel 101 north to just north of SFO a couple of times a week. It has been just wonderful to see the progress they have made in improving the traffic flow with fairly simple changes. It has made a huge difference. Now the projects are moving into our part of the world and that is great too. It is always interesting that some people do not appreciate the progress that is slowly made that makes our collective lives better year after year. As pointed out, there are other changes that would be nice and I hope to see them implemented as well some day.
Community Center
on Apr 30, 2012 at 11:50 am
on Apr 30, 2012 at 11:50 am
What they need is an entrance for SB between Oregon and San Antonio.
Like just before the old Ford plant.
Palo Alto Orchards
on Apr 30, 2012 at 11:53 am
on Apr 30, 2012 at 11:53 am
a big problem with the traffic at Shoreline is that when they redid the overpass they took out the true cloverleaf entrance/exit that was there.
It is a major reason there is backup there.
A true cloverleaf entrace/exit is a thing of beauty that functions without the need of a single traffic light.
South of Midtown
on Apr 30, 2012 at 11:54 am
on Apr 30, 2012 at 11:54 am
Why don't they continue the carpool lanes past RWC all the way to the City? That would make more sense than doubling up on carpool lanes here!
And yes, the Charleston entrance/Rengstorff exit is a b!#@h already! That must be what the right lane ending (with the cones) is part of right after the Rengstorff exit is. What a mess!
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Apr 30, 2012 at 11:55 am
on Apr 30, 2012 at 11:55 am
I agree completely with Brendan.
SB Charleston on ramp merge is a disaster waiting to happen! It has always been poor now it is idiotically dangerous!
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Apr 30, 2012 at 1:00 pm
on Apr 30, 2012 at 1:00 pm
Do we need another carpool lane? During my commute hours the carpool lane moves well while everyone else is stuck in traffic.
Registered user
Adobe-Meadow
on Apr 30, 2012 at 1:47 pm
Registered user
on Apr 30, 2012 at 1:47 pm
Yep, I AGREE with Brendan/Resident,a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood and KP:::
The Charleston entrance/Rengstorff exit is a b!#@h already. Less that a 100 FEET between the ON and OFF ramp..
I would LOVE to close one or the other one. In the late fifties (1950s/early sixty (1960s) Orlando florida had one (Gore ave "on ramp"/South St "off ramp") and we had a couple of wrecks a day. Some of them were deadly.. Gore was DOWN HILL and South was UP HILL. They findly wake up and closed the Gore on Ramp..
Hopefully CalTran will wake and close one these!!!!!
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Apr 30, 2012 at 8:42 pm
on Apr 30, 2012 at 8:42 pm
It is an excellent idea! Our family has used this portion of the road for years and it will be a much smoother ride when it is done. Thank you VTA!!
For those of you who are complaining... you can walk to work.
South of Midtown
on Apr 30, 2012 at 9:28 pm
on Apr 30, 2012 at 9:28 pm
This article is misleading and confusing. There is no way they can widen the freeway for $72 million. In order to widen the freeway they would need to purchase more right of way at an exorbitant cost. What they can do is squeeze more lanes into the existing right-of-way, widen the ramps and convert a regular lane to a carpool lane.
It is obvious that the current funding streams for freeways are inadequate and VTA is slowly beginning a trend towards charging for use. I think they should save years of transition and just make all the freeways toll roads starting as soon as they can.
Midtown
on May 1, 2012 at 11:08 am
on May 1, 2012 at 11:08 am
If you drive or bike on Bay Shore (either side of the highway but particularly on the east side these days), plan for your commute to be impacted for a long time... It was very dangerous biking with my kids in that area this past weekend, where it used to be very safe.
Santa Rita (Los Altos)
on May 1, 2012 at 12:06 pm
on May 1, 2012 at 12:06 pm
The OC Jones construction bid was only $35M. The engineer's estimate was $55M. What happens to the remaining budget?
Registered user
Midtown
on May 1, 2012 at 4:26 pm
Registered user
on May 1, 2012 at 4:26 pm
What a marvelous argument for computer commuting. Imagine a 20 step commute from breakfast table to work station.
Woodside
on May 2, 2012 at 11:27 am
on May 2, 2012 at 11:27 am
Adding more lanes is a good idea, but it does boggle the mind that 3 miles of such can cost $72 million. I doubt that is efficiently spent - we are probably overpaying by quite a bit due to "prevailing wage" (ie, union) laws.
South of Midtown
on May 14, 2012 at 10:46 am
on May 14, 2012 at 10:46 am
HOW STUPID!
Why not just continue the current carpool lane beyond Willow Rd to the City. The carpool lane is never an issue - the non carpool lanes are the backed up lanes...DUH!
Here we are with another stupid person with a budget they "need" to spend and then end up over budget.
I hate stupid people.
Los Altos
on Oct 18, 2012 at 2:36 pm
on Oct 18, 2012 at 2:36 pm
72 Million? Are you kidding me? To add MORE carpool lanes?
This at a time when states around the country are getting rid of useless carpool lanes, which only cause more congestion, more pollution and wreak havoc on traffic flow.
And let's not forget that the true cost of this project won't be limited to 72 million. I'd love to see an estimate of what the continued traffic will cost in lost productivity and lost tax revenue.
Mountain View
on Jun 6, 2013 at 4:02 pm
on Jun 6, 2013 at 4:02 pm
I'd like to see more normal freeway lanes and less carpool lanes.
How often does one really carpool? Not many people live close enough to hop in the car together then head to the same or neighboring job each morning.
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Jun 6, 2013 at 4:16 pm
on Jun 6, 2013 at 4:16 pm
The big problem with the carpool lanes is that the don't go all the way to SFO, which has often been a problem. Most people driving to SFO are carpooling!
Midtown
on Feb 12, 2014 at 12:49 pm
on Feb 12, 2014 at 12:49 pm
I agree, carpools need to extend all the way to SFO. The reason they don't: San Mateo County residents voted against them way long ago. We need another ballot to address this issue.
Midtown
on Feb 12, 2014 at 12:50 pm
on Feb 12, 2014 at 12:50 pm
Here's a link regarding carpool lanes in San Mateo. An interesting read.
Web Link
Duveneck/St. Francis
on Feb 12, 2014 at 1:36 pm
on Feb 12, 2014 at 1:36 pm
Please keep us posted on developments on this project, PA Online. I am in favor of steps that will make driving on 101 more bearable and move traffic along smoothly.
However, I am concerned about the floated government scheme -- from whom?? State government - Caltrans? - local municipalities?? - regional transportation agency?? - who knows? for TOLL LANES.
I strongly oppose making the carpool lanes in this region into toll lanes requiring Fast Trak. Some of us rarely go over the bridges and therefore don't have Fast Trak and don't particularly want to have to be "in the system." In addition, our tax dollars pay for these costly roadways and now we are supposed to pay for toll lanes, in order to pay high bureaucrat salaries. (I wonder if they wish to transfer the $$$ to pay for the outrageous cost overruns on the new Bay Bridge?!)Caltrans doesn't have a stellar record on THAT project.
I'm not that old but I swear someone told me that after the GG Bridge was to be paid off, there would "never" be any tolls anymore....laugh at that one. Government is like a monster that is threatening to envelop all of us. We taxpayers need to see clear plans and proposals and understand what is being done with our tax dollars to ensure it makes sense.
Downtown North
on Feb 12, 2014 at 4:31 pm
on Feb 12, 2014 at 4:31 pm
The article says the project will be completed in "summer 2013". Did it actually happen, or was $72 million just wasted? You can tell that I don't drive Hwy 101 very often, but I'm sure a chunk of that $72 million came out of my wallet. Money for nothing.
Downtown North
on Feb 12, 2014 at 6:02 pm
on Feb 12, 2014 at 6:02 pm
The toll money generated from the new carpool lanes will be offered to cities as enticements to cooperate with One Bay Area's (ABAG, VTA, Regional Air Quality Board) land use plans for dense urban infill. This is where the money will come from to reward cities for building stack and pack projects near Caltrain and El Camino bus routes.
Menlo Park
on May 2, 2014 at 1:58 pm
on May 2, 2014 at 1:58 pm
Are we done yet? Not close to finished as of 5/2/2014.
Downtown North
on May 2, 2014 at 5:10 pm
on May 2, 2014 at 5:10 pm
This story is a hoax. The truth is that Caltrans just stole our $72 million and wasted it. The 2nd carpool lane will never ever be built. This is the same agency that bungled the $7 BILLION new section of the Bay Bridge is is now prentending that the bridge is safe. More of your tax dollars down the drain.
Duveneck/St. Francis
on May 3, 2014 at 8:59 am
on May 3, 2014 at 8:59 am
We don't have Fasttrak as we rarely go across the bridges. Now it appears we will have to get that system - yet one more government bureaucracy to be paying into - in order to pay for the toll lanes.
Community Center
on May 3, 2014 at 10:09 am
on May 3, 2014 at 10:09 am
Still waiting, will die waiting.