Buses need the HOV system through San Mateo

Going north after 92 on 101 traffic is congested because the HOV system ends. CCAG favored metered onramp timing which hasn't worked. Buses like the KX are delayed as a result making one more good commute option unviable; even though this is the best option to the airport on the peninsula.

At a recent Senate hearing of the Sustainable Transportation Committee in Redwood City before Senators Leland Yee and Tom Torlakson the major points of all the transportation chiefs in the Bay Area was
1- we need to plan better to get to a jobs housing balance by taking advantage of the transportation resources that we already have
2- we already know how to build low emissions walkable cities. Now we need to incentivize people to live an alternate or low energy lifestyle.

A low cost option could be achieved for the cost of paint if special legislation allowed the fast travel lane to be converted to an HOV lane, without road expansion, completing the HOV system from the South Bay. This would be a one only case since all the other missing segments are already in the project loop with funding. I-580, I-80 in Solano, 101 in the North Bay and a few other stretches are already planned and partially funded. And such legislation would align with the goals of AB32.

According to MTC:
The 2002 HOV Master Plan Update identifies the segment between Whipple
Ave (the current terminus in Redwood City) and Millbrae Ave (near SFO)
as a Priority 2 segment. Priority 2 segments are those that appear to
have benefits from an HOV perspective but have design or environmental
challenges and for which no funding is currently identified in the
region's long range transportation plan, Transportation 2030. The
thought is that it would be even more difficult to develop an HOV lane
north of Millbrae, and this segment is not included in the HOV Master
Plan Update.

In the absence of ready HOV solutions, the San Mateo City/ County
Association of Governments has been actively pursuing ramp metering,
interchange improvements and a series of auxiliary lanes to improve
traffic operations throughout the corridor.

At this time, there are no more specific plans on the drawing board for
on HOV lane on US 101 through San Mateo County; however, it remains of
general interest since it is an obvious gap in a the regional network.
The segment between Whipple and Millbrae is being looked at a very high
level in the regional High-Occupancy/Toll Network study.

The HOV Master Plan is available on the MTC web site at:
http://www.mtc.ca.gov/planning/hov/plan.htm
US 101 through San Mateo is addressed on pp 46-47.

Background:
Caltrans tried a lane conversion at the beginning ,when HOV lanes were first proposed in Southern CA for commuters, as a means to reduce congestion for Single Occupant Vehicles. Then the concept was a novelty, widely derided and called mommy lanes because moms with child seats were eligible to drive as HOVs. Taking a lane away at that time was considered a travesty against the lone working male commuter.

Since then both multiple occupant vehicles (MOV)s and SOVs have seen the benefit of these lanes. HOV usage is up and some regions with poor transit like Santa Clara County have congested HOV lanes and are talking about adding a second HOV lane. Commuters today go out of their way to look for a second occupant so that they take time off their commutes as MOVs.

Thus today the situation is completely different than what Caltrans experienced at the beginning of the program. We are looking at closing the last piece of the HOV puzzle. The goal is to provide commuters with a credible option up and down the Peninsula. RTP 2035 has committed money to complete the HOV all around the bay except for the San Mateo section.

Without the San Mateo section drivers are left without a credible HOV system and are stuck in SOV traffic. We think that consumers will welcome a lane reassignment. They have seen the success of these lanes, recognize the need for more such lanes in Santa Clara, and are willing to tax themselves to get these benefits. Consumers recognize that just painting these lanes with lane reassignment is faster, cheaper and benefits everyone since by keeping multiple occupant vehicles in HOVs we create room for SOVs in the remaining lanes. Its the number one proposal I hear from the public whenever I talk about transportation in San Mateo.