237Pilot English
FACT SHEET: Express Lanes State Route 237 Express Lanes Pilot Project Project Description Located on State Route (SR) 237, the Pilot Project will modify express lane access on the westbound direction between the Zanker Road on-ramp and North First Street off-ramp in San Jose. Once implemented, the Pilot Project removes the existing buffer stripe on westbound SR 237 near the Zanker Road on-ramp, to allow eligible carpoolers earlier access to the express lane. About 4,100 feet of double solid white stripe will be replaced with a dashed stripe which indicates the entry and exit points. This allows commuters to exit the express lane to the North First Street off-ramp. The existing SR 237 Express Lanes Phase 1 endpoint for the transition zone near Lawrence Expressway in Sunnyvale would be maintained. The Pilot Project would be in place for a period of approximately six months, or until its early termination, as warranted by discovery of safety or operational issues: in this case the double solid white stripe would be put back to its original configuration. VTA, Caltrans along with project partners will perform a comprehensive safety and operations monitoring program to assess the results of the Pilot Project.
N. First Street
On ramp
237 Phase 1
No exit from Express Lane
No entrance to Express Lane from Zanker Rd
Zanker Road
BEFORE
EXPRESS LANE
on
Dix
N. First Street
On ramp
237 Pilot Project
Exit from Express Lane OK
Entrance to Express Lane from Zanker Rd
EXPRESS LANE
4100 feet
Rd
880
Zanker Road
AFTER
ding
Lan
Westbound
SR 237 Express Lanes
s N Fai r Oak
Mathi lda A ve
Lawrence Expwy
101
tS
r Rd
Tasman Dr
Zanke
Dr
1s
t
Tas m
gue
nta
Mo
880
an D
Great America Pkwy
Java
N.
Carthy Blvd Mc
237
Phase 1 Pilot Project Carrib bean Dr Phase 2
r
py
Ex
Continued on back side Project Partners Cen
tral E
xpy
A new choice for a better commute! 237 PILOT 5/5/15
Schedule Spring 2015: Implementation will take approximately one week requiring night work with lane closures. Approximately six median roadway signs, along southbound I-880 and westbound SR 237, would be replaced (e.g. signs saying “No exit to Zanker Rd or N First St,” to be replaced with “No exit to Zanker Rd”). Spring - Fall 2015: Analysis of traffic conditions will take place during the monitoring of the facility’s mobility, operations, and safety to determine if the dashed stripe will remain permanent or the double solid white stripe buffer will be restored. Fall 2015: Completion of pilot project.
SAN MATEO COUNTY
Palo Alto
Silicon Valley Express Lanes
680
ALAMEDA COUNTY
SAN FRANCISCO BAY
Local Highways
I-680 Led by ACTC
101
1-Lane Express Lanes
Pilot Project
2-Lane Express Lanes
880
101
Los Altos
85
Future Express Lanes Authorized Under Legislation
Milpitas
237
Mountain View
HOV Lane Direct Connector
680
Santa Clara
Sunnyvale
San Jose
280
Cupertino 87
Campbell
San Jose
85
Saratoga
Los Gatos
101
17 0
1.25
2.5
5 Miles
Frequently Asked Questions Q: Why is this State Route (SR) 237 Express Lanes pilot project and not a permanent one? A: The buffer separating the express lane and the general purpose lanes is a critical component of maintaining smooth traffic flow within the respective lanes. This pilot project will evaluate if improved accessibility for carpoolers can be provided with a reduced buffer length while maintaining the traffic flow in the corridor. The evaluation would include monitoring the mobility, operations, and safety of the facility. Once this evaluation is completed, either the new dashed stripe will become permanent or the double solid white stripe buffer will be restored. Q: How did VTA and Caltrans determine that six months is a sufficient amount of time to gauge the traffic conditions that come with restriping the double solid white lines to dashed white line? A: The use of six months for a pilot is adequate given the extent of change, and will complete the evaluation in time to start the SR 237 Express Lanes Phase 2 project. Contingent on the collected data during this test period, an assessment on the striping change could happen sooner than the planned six-month period. Q: Why are you doing this now and did not do this as part of the implementation of SR 237 Express Lanes Phase 1? A: The dashed striping option was evaluated as part of the Phase 1 project, but based on the evaluation at that time, the decision was made to implement the double white line striping due to concerns related to operations and safety. Q: What will this mean for commuters who traverse the area on a daily basis? A: The proposed changes to the striping on westbound SR 237 between Zanker Road and North First Street will allow eligible carpoolers from Calaveras Boulevard and McCarthy Boulevard to get into the express lane earlier. Also, commuters in the express lane will be able to exit the express lane to get to the North First Street off-ramp. Q: Following the pilot project’s planned six-month duration, how will VTA and Caltrans determine if the pilot project becomes permanent or if the striping reverts back to the pre-pilot project condition? A: Data collected and analyzed over the course of the six-month evaluation period will be reviewed based on performance related to mobility, operations, and safety as mentioned previously. Q: How much is this project going to cost and where are the funds coming from? A: The total pilot program is estimated to cost about $250,000 with the funding coming from local VTA funds. How to Reach Us If you have any questions about the VTA Express Lanes Project, contact us at: www.vta.org/expresslanes. Email: [email protected] VTA’s Community Outreach Department: (408) 321-7575, TTY for the hearing-impaired: (408) 321-2330
VTA Mission: VTA provides sustainable, accessible, communityfocused transportation options that are innovative, environmentally responsible, and promote the vitality of our region.
N. First Street
On ramp
237 Phase 1
No exit from Express Lane
No entrance to Express Lane from Zanker Rd
Zanker Road
BEFORE
EXPRESS LANE
on
Dix
N. First Street
On ramp
237 Pilot Project
Exit from Express Lane OK
Entrance to Express Lane from Zanker Rd
EXPRESS LANE
4100 feet
Rd
880
Zanker Road
AFTER
ding
Lan
Westbound
SR 237 Express Lanes
s N Fai r Oak
Mathi lda A ve
Lawrence Expwy
101
tS
r Rd
Tasman Dr
Zanke
Dr
1s
t
Tas m
gue
nta
Mo
880
an D
Great America Pkwy
Java
N.
Carthy Blvd Mc
237
Phase 1 Pilot Project Carrib bean Dr Phase 2
r
py
Ex
Continued on back side Project Partners Cen
tral E
xpy
A new choice for a better commute! 237 PILOT 5/5/15
Schedule Spring 2015: Implementation will take approximately one week requiring night work with lane closures. Approximately six median roadway signs, along southbound I-880 and westbound SR 237, would be replaced (e.g. signs saying “No exit to Zanker Rd or N First St,” to be replaced with “No exit to Zanker Rd”). Spring - Fall 2015: Analysis of traffic conditions will take place during the monitoring of the facility’s mobility, operations, and safety to determine if the dashed stripe will remain permanent or the double solid white stripe buffer will be restored. Fall 2015: Completion of pilot project.
SAN MATEO COUNTY
Palo Alto
Silicon Valley Express Lanes
680
ALAMEDA COUNTY
SAN FRANCISCO BAY
Local Highways
I-680 Led by ACTC
101
1-Lane Express Lanes
Pilot Project
2-Lane Express Lanes
880
101
Los Altos
85
Future Express Lanes Authorized Under Legislation
Milpitas
237
Mountain View
HOV Lane Direct Connector
680
Santa Clara
Sunnyvale
San Jose
280
Cupertino 87
Campbell
San Jose
85
Saratoga
Los Gatos
101
17 0
1.25
2.5
5 Miles
Frequently Asked Questions Q: Why is this State Route (SR) 237 Express Lanes pilot project and not a permanent one? A: The buffer separating the express lane and the general purpose lanes is a critical component of maintaining smooth traffic flow within the respective lanes. This pilot project will evaluate if improved accessibility for carpoolers can be provided with a reduced buffer length while maintaining the traffic flow in the corridor. The evaluation would include monitoring the mobility, operations, and safety of the facility. Once this evaluation is completed, either the new dashed stripe will become permanent or the double solid white stripe buffer will be restored. Q: How did VTA and Caltrans determine that six months is a sufficient amount of time to gauge the traffic conditions that come with restriping the double solid white lines to dashed white line? A: The use of six months for a pilot is adequate given the extent of change, and will complete the evaluation in time to start the SR 237 Express Lanes Phase 2 project. Contingent on the collected data during this test period, an assessment on the striping change could happen sooner than the planned six-month period. Q: Why are you doing this now and did not do this as part of the implementation of SR 237 Express Lanes Phase 1? A: The dashed striping option was evaluated as part of the Phase 1 project, but based on the evaluation at that time, the decision was made to implement the double white line striping due to concerns related to operations and safety. Q: What will this mean for commuters who traverse the area on a daily basis? A: The proposed changes to the striping on westbound SR 237 between Zanker Road and North First Street will allow eligible carpoolers from Calaveras Boulevard and McCarthy Boulevard to get into the express lane earlier. Also, commuters in the express lane will be able to exit the express lane to get to the North First Street off-ramp. Q: Following the pilot project’s planned six-month duration, how will VTA and Caltrans determine if the pilot project becomes permanent or if the striping reverts back to the pre-pilot project condition? A: Data collected and analyzed over the course of the six-month evaluation period will be reviewed based on performance related to mobility, operations, and safety as mentioned previously. Q: How much is this project going to cost and where are the funds coming from? A: The total pilot program is estimated to cost about $250,000 with the funding coming from local VTA funds. How to Reach Us If you have any questions about the VTA Express Lanes Project, contact us at: www.vta.org/expresslanes. Email: [email protected] VTA’s Community Outreach Department: (408) 321-7575, TTY for the hearing-impaired: (408) 321-2330
VTA Mission: VTA provides sustainable, accessible, communityfocused transportation options that are innovative, environmentally responsible, and promote the vitality of our region.
