Temporary Highway Changes Put Carpoolers in the Fast Lane

Region Braces for BART Strike

OAKLAND, Calif., July 5 -- In the event of a BART strike, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), Caltrans and the California Highway Patrol (CHP) will take several steps to increase the efficiency of the Bay Area highway network. The Bay Area's Freeway Service Patrol (FSP) fleet of roving tow trucks will extend its service hours in order to assist heavier volumes of traffic expected on Bay Area freeways. Carpool lane requirements on Interstates 680, 880 and on state Route 4 will be extended -- from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. -- to match Interstate 80's carpool hours. Additionally, Oakland's West Grand Avenue on-ramp to the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge will be open only to buses, carpools with three or more people, motorcycles and trucks with six or more wheels during commute hours (5 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.).

The FSP normally operates a 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. morning shift and a 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. evening shift. If the anticipated BART strike occurs, the FSP will deploy 26 trucks an hour earlier (starting at 5 a.m.) during the morning shift, while evening shifts will start at 2 p.m. and extend until 7:30 p.m. The additional service will be in effect on freeways coming into San Francisco (U.S. Highway 101 and Interstate 280); freeways feeding the Bay Bridge (Interstates 80, 580, 880 and state Route 24); freeways in Antioch, Concord and Walnut Creek leading to the Caldecott Tunnel (Interstate 680, state Routes 4 and 24); and along Interstate 580 over the Altamont Pass and through Castro Valley.

If a prolonged strike occurs which changes congestion patterns, FSP can modify its deployment plan. "Since the tow truck patrol is a flexible service, we'll be able to adapt the service to congestion patterns on a day-to-day basis. We can either increase or decrease hours or the number of trucks as well as change the placement of the trucks," states Danielle Stanislaus, MTC's FSP Program Coordinator. MTC, acting as the Service Authority for Freeways and Expressways (SAFE), oversees FSP in partnership with the California Highway Patrol and Caltrans.

Revised carpool lane hours (see table below) will be in effect in both directions during both morning and afternoon periods along Interstate 80 (for vehicles with three or more passengers) between state Route 4 in Hercules and the Bay Bridge toll plaza; Interstate 680 (two or more passengers per vehicle) between Marina Vista in Martinez and North Main Street in Walnut Creek, and from Livorna Road in Alamo to Alcosta Blvd. in San Ramon; and Interstate 880 (two or more passengers per vehicle) between Marina Blvd. in San Leandro and Mission Blvd. in Fremont. Carpool lane hours on state Route 4 (two or more passengers per vehicle) will run from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. in the westbound direction, and from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the eastbound direction.

  Highway           Location          Regular           BART Strike
                                      Carpool           Carpool
                                      Hours             Hours

  Interstate 80     Between state     5 a.m. to 10 a.m. 5 a.m. to 10 a.m.
  - Westbound and   Route 4 in        3 p.m. to 7 p.m.  3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  eastbound         Hercules and the
  Vehicles with 3+  Bay Bridge toll
  passengers        plaza

  Interstate 680    Between Marina    6 a.m. to 9 a.m.  5 a.m. to 10 a.m.*
  - Southbound and  Vista in Martinez 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.  3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  northbound        and N. Main St.
  Vehicles with 2+  in Walnut Creek
  passengers

  Interstate 880    Between Mission   5 a.m. to 9 a.m.  5 a.m. to 10 a.m.*
  - Northbound and  Blvd. in Fremont  3 p.m. to 7 p.m.  3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  southbound        and Marina Blvd.
  Vehicles with 2+  in San Leandro
  passengers

  State Route 4 -   Between Railroad  6 a.m. to 9 a.m.  5 a.m. to 10 a.m.*
  Westbound         Ave. and Port
  Vehicles with 2+  Chicago Hwy
  passengers

  State Route 4 -   Between Port      3 p.m. to 7 p.m.  3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  Eastbound         Chicago Hwy
  Vehicles with 2+  and Railroad Ave.
  passengers

  * revised carpool hours during the BART strike

If there is a BART strike, access to the West Grand Avenue on-ramp to the Bay Bridge will be limited to buses, carpools with three or more people, motorcycles and trucks with six or more wheels during commute hours. Other westbound traffic will be diverted away from West Grand Avenue at Mandela Parkway.

The FSP program plays an important role in increasing the efficiency of the Bay Area highway network. FSP drivers currently stop an average of over 11,000 times a month to clear accidents, assist stranded motorists, remove dangerous road debris, tag abandoned vehicles and otherwise help make the region's freeways safer and less congested. FSP drivers attempt to get stalled autos running within a few minutes by providing basic services free of charge such as changing a tire, jump-starting a battery, taping hoses or providing a gallon of fuel. If that doesn't work, the vehicle is towed to the nearest CHP-identified location off the freeway at no cost to the owner.

MTC is the transportation planning, coordinating and financing agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area.