One of the main complaints about carpool lanes is that they take away a current lane of traffic, often during the most congested of times.
Express lanes or toll lanes would have the same knock. However, a recent report released by Caltrans on a managed lanes proposal in San Mateo County shows it might be possible to squeeze in a new lane to be used by buses and carpoolers for free, with a charge for solo drivers, without taking away a current lane. Though there might be some need to use auxiliary lanes — those that connect on-ramps to off-ramps — but, for the most part, those will remain, at least according to the report.
That’s good news. While the verdict is out on toll roads since they benefit those who can afford them, creating a lane for buses and carpools seems largely acceptable since there are already those on the highway lumbering along usually in the fast lane. Creating a new lane for them might actually take some burden off the current lanes while also encouraging others to consider that form of transit. It would also provide a benefit to SamTrans, which is looking to expand its service along the highway as long as it makes financial sense and serves to take cars off the road.
But it is still early in the process, and now is the time for public input. Any change to a major freeway is cause for attention and we recall some major questions about the auxiliary lane proposal nearly a decade ago. And while traffic on Highway 101 crawls at all hours, we cannot imagine what it would be like without that project.
While some may suggest that the money for this lane reconfiguration might be best spent on projects that would immediately reduce vehicular traffic, that is not grounded in current reality. That reality is that many people use their cars to get to homes, workplaces, schools, day cares and a variety of other destinations. Many would like an additional lane added for all traffic, rather than reserved for a certain class of traveler. Yet that is also not grounded in the current reality. The reality is that more should be done to encourage buses and other modes of automotive travel that don’t include just the solo driver.
This proposal shows promise and also reflects a political reality that taking away a lane of travel would be a fiery proposition for many considering the current crowded state of Highway 101. We look forward to the discussion as this particular proposal moves forward.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.