TAMIEN STATION PARKING LOT PROBLEMS
In the project centered around the Tamien station, the major problem centered around the area is the overflow of parking on both the east and the west sides of the light rail and Caltrain station.
VTA plans to build a multi-story garage and attempt to move the cars from the Caltrain side to VTA's light rail side, located near the intersections of Lelong and Alma Streets in San Jose. The meeting was on the other side of Alma Street at Elk's Lodge, where I witnessed several VTA representatives giving the facts on what the project may mean to the public.
For a typical light rail trip, I normally use the Ohlone-Chynoweth light rail station as the station provides easy access to both 85 and 87 freeways. But sometimes, when needed, I may also use either the Santa Teresa or the Tamien stations.
For the project itself, the housing on the Caltrain side and a multi-story parking garage as transit would be very essential as severe congestion already exists on northbound 87 on a typical weekday from 6 to 10am.
I would recommend putting a five-story parking garage instead of four because the overflow of customers parking on the Caltrain side of the Tamien station would make it harder for people to have a space to park, and unfortunately, first time customers that needs to park there would be unable to find a space to park.
The same reflection would also apply on both sides of the Ohlone-Chynoweth station. A sample of pictures taken by me in the many times I have parked my vehicle has uncovered that some cars must also be parked at a space that is not supposed to be taken as a result of cars taking up all of the available space.
NORTH-SOUTH BUS STUDY
VTA is also looking at another project that is still trying to gather input from the public, known as the North-South Bus Study. In that part, VTA wants to modify several routes in the area that would improve service and address some issues in terms of ridership and other things.
For the most part, I think that may be a nice idea, though mentioning "Clockwise" in the front and side of the bus would be more helpful if the loop is planned. This would be the first time that VTA has ever put routes in a loop direction (must mention "Clockwise" or "Counterclockwise"). VTA would also need to study AC Transit's use of "Clockwise" or "Counterclockwise" in order for VTA to display those signs more properly.
EL CAMINO REAL BUS RAPID TRANSIT (BRT)
For the BRT in the El Camino Real portion, VTA has big plans to put the BRT in that portion to big use, much like the scenario that is currently building for the Bay Area's first BRT in the Alum Rock portion.
The only ongoing problem is if VTA has a severe deficit at least two years after the BRT opens to the public, it looks like that VTA may want to use the same headway method as what BART does currently, which is 15 minutes on weekdays between 5am to 8pm, and 20 minutes at all other times. As SamTrans has similar headways on weekdays and weekends much like what BART uses, VTA may be strongly urged to do the same, which is what I would strongly suggest.
In addition, when VTA buys new ticket vending machines for use at the new stations, VTA must provide the same type of day passes as on the buses. When I asked VTA about the day passes in terms of where it was purchased, VTA promised a comparison of why buying a day pass on board buses is not the same as buying a day pass at light rail stations. So far, in advance of the opening of the BRT stations, VTA board members are currently not talking about the day pass issue.
VTA board members have yet to discuss of what to do in terms of adding a feature that would also dispense new adult Clipper cards in addition to day passes, which the same type of machines are already existent at several underground LR stations within the service area of San Francisco's Municipal Transit Agency (SFMTA, or MUNI).
MOUNTAIN VIEW DOUBLE TRACK PROJECT
As part of the Mountain View Double Track Project, VTA is currently building a second track in two phases that will include several things such as the permanent closure of the Evelyn light rail station, a station with the second fewest boardings in the light rail system. While VTA may be in discussions about the light rail project that could impact some residences in Mountain View, I view as the project very important for those headed to work or to Levi's Stadium. Residents must understand how double-tracking the light rail in the Mountain View area will make it easier for riders to get to their destinations faster.
OTHER PROJECTS IN THE WORKS?
On weekday mornings, KSBW traffic anchor Michelle Allen often sees 101 northbound from San Martin Avenue to Cochrane Road as a common bottleneck running through the city of Morgan Hill. City streets are also crowded during commute hours going from south to north. Caltrans is currently setting up metering lights from Gilroy to Morgan Hill in hopes of easing congestion on the freeways, but traffic continues to be a bottleneck with the metering lights not in operation.
VTA's response to the congestion is to build an extension of the 8-lane freeway from Cochrane Road to as far south as Tennant Avenue as part of the 101 Express Lanes Project, but that still may not be enough, particularly when traffic continues to increase. But with the metering lights scheduled to be on late 2015, the question is whether the express lanes is even worth it.
I personally want to see the 8-lane freeway along 101 to be extended to right near the Masten Avenue exit as my biggest personal concern is the continued congestion from as far south as Masten where most of the traffic enters NB 101. I would highly suggest that the 8-lane freeway would go there and construction's south end would be right at Little Llagas Creek, which is directly north of Masten.
Auxiliary lanes would also be helpful between East Dunne and Tennant Avenue exits in both directions as some drivers mistakenly change lanes from the right-hand lane to the semi-auxiliary lane when attempting to exit the freeway.
But will VTA ever do such a project like that? I will be watching...
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