RES 95024X - Laserfiche WebLink

Recommended Improvement Plan The Tri-Valley Transportation Plan includes r~rnp metering with HOV bypass with the proviso that this not seriously impact local streets and that local implementation be tied with implementation along all of 1-680 and 1-580 in neighboring communities. Freeway HOV Lanes. High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes are under construction along 1-680 between Rudgear Road and 1-580. HOV lanes provide the advantage of reducing travel times for ridesharers and transit patrons. They also enhance mobility during off-peak hours by being available for all vehicles. This is especially important when considering truck traffic, which increasingly relies on off-peak hours to reach destinations without undue delays. The TVTC recognizes the benefits of HOV lanes, but realizes that take-a-lane pro- " grams do not work. Such an ill-fated attempt at providing HOV lanes on 1-580 resulted in federal legislation prohibiting their use on that freeway in unincorporated areas. Thus, HOV lanes must be added to the freeways. HOV lanes on both 1-680 and 1-580 are included in the plan. Due to the expense of the projects, however, some segments are included as lower priority projects. 1-680 south '-- of 1-580 has been designed to accommodate the addition of HOV lanes, but pavement widening would be required. Top funding priority should be given to the section south of Route 84 to the top of the Sunol Grade, which is the border of Area 4 in the Alameda Countywide Transportation Plan. This section will experience significant traffic increases due to the planned capacity increases to Route 84. The section of 1-680 between Alcosta Boulevard and Route 84 should also be planned to include HOV lanes but with a lower funding priority. On 1-580, HOV lanes would be more difficult and costly to build because the inter- -- changes have not been built to accommodate them. However, the Caltrans Route Concept calls for 10 lanes plus BART in the median for 1-580. The most important segment for funding priority on 1-580 is the segment between Tassajara Road and North Livermore Avenue. This segment is predicted to experience the highest traffic demand along 1-580 in the Tri-Valley. To accommodate the extra freeway width, the interchanges at E1 Charro/Fallon and Airway would need to be rebuilt. The El Charco/ Fallon interchange is planned to be rebuilt anyway. In addition, the planned new interchange at Isabel Avenue (Route 84) would need to be built to accommodate the width. As a lower funding priority, the plan also includes extending the 1-580 HOV lanes east to the Ai~meda County border. This would require widening four interchanges in Livemore (N. Livemore, First, Vasco, and Greenville), and three interchanges/crossings east of Livermore. Extending HOV lanes on 1-580 west of Santa Rita Road is more problematic. With the BART extension and the 1-580/I-680 interchange project, this section will be built out to its full Route Concept width of 10 lanes plus BART. The section will have four through lanes, as it does today, plus auxiliary lanes between interchanges. Thus, HOV lanes on 1-580 west of Santa Rita are not included i_n the plan. ~- Barton-Aschman Associates, Inc. 126