Decongestant prescribed for Los Gatos roads and freeways
Ramps will be added
By Gloria I. Wang
Traffic is bad, but help is on the way.
That's what the Valley Transportation Authority seems to be saying, after arriving at the results of its congestion management report, compiled during the year 2000.
The report, released on Feb. 7, covers Santa Clara County. The results show that Los Gatos roads are inefficient and overcrowded.
However, help will be coming soon in the form of planned improvements on various sections of Highway 17. Ramps on 17 and 85 will be modified, while new ramps on 85 and Lark Avenue will be installed.
John Pilger, public information manager for the VTA, says that workers will do their best to "minimize disruptions." Construction will close lanes for short amounts of time and will be scheduled during minimal traffic hours. All the improvements will be made during the next three years, and will be completed sometime in 2004.
Although the improvements may seem minor, they will have a great impact, said Pilger. For example, the exit and entrance ramps at Lark Avenue and Highway 17 contribute significantly to the traffic slowdown, "The improvements should dramatically increase flow."
The VTA observed certain intersections and highways during morning and afternoon rush hours, then gave letter grades for each segment, based on average speed, ease of merging and efficiency of carpool lanes. Fewer than a third of the local roads were given a B grade or higher, with only two receiving an A. Freeways fared better, with a higher percentage of A and B scores; still, many flunked the test.
Few of the Los Gatos roads studied did better than C. Both Highway 9 at Santa Cruz Avenue and Los Gatos Boulevard at Lark Avenue were rated D; Highway 9 at University Avenue was given a C. In the morning, northbound 17 was given an F and southbound 17, As and Bs, while the reverse was true in the afternoon hours.
According to Pilger, the report shows that 80 percent of county roads flunked. "As anybody can see anecdotally, traffic is lousy out there," he said. In contrast, only 39 percent were at F in 1997.
The congestion report, "is kind of validating that the improvements are necessary," said Lupe SolÌs, spokeswoman for the VTA.
The nine improvements in the entire project will cost more than $50 million. Funding comes from two 1996 regulations, authorizing the county to collect a nine-year sales tax for transportation improvement purposes. Known as Measures A+B, the tax is also the funding source for other freeway widening, light rail extensions--such as the Vasona Light Rail project--and other transportation services.
The Highway 17 improvements have been in the works for years, but construction is just beginning. Although a San Tomas Expressway modification began late last year, there is no exact timeline on when specific improvements will start. After completion of the improvements, the VTA will hand the freeways over to Caltrans for future maintenance and financial responsibility.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
