Commuter pleads for better metering light strategy on 880: Roadshow

In addition, a reader inquires about the repair of a dangerous intersection in the South Bay.

Q: I commute in the South Bay on Interstate 880. Caltrans changed the metering light strategy a while back. Please tell me this is just a failed experiment that will be over soon. As I drive to work at 5 a.m. in light traffic, the lights are all on, slowing any poor driver attempting to merge onto the freeway. I experienced the same thing on my way home. We all stop and go without any space between vehicles as we transition from 237 to 880. What’s the point?

This appears to be a waste of fuel/battery charge as well as a safety issue at some short merges.

Russell Baker

A: According to Victor, the Caltrans spokesman for Santa Clara County, advance warning signs on this connector have been repaired, and the metering light is operational. I’m not sure this addresses all of your concerns. Please let me know if things have improved.

Q: A reader recently claimed that reporting bike lane obstructions by calling 311 is impractical. He stated that the only option was to leave a voicemail.

This is untrue. When I called, after selecting 1 for English, 5 connected me to a human at the police non-emergency number. When I called about cars illegally parked in bike lanes during the week, the dispatcher transferred me to 408-277-8900, a San Jose PD non-emergency line, where I spoke with a human who dispatched Code Enforcement to deal with the problem. During normal weekday hours, instead of dialing 311, dial 408-277-8900.

The most dangerous bike lane violators are parked cars with no occupants. Drivers who stop in bike lanes to use their cellphones are nearly as bad, but they usually leave after a few minutes.

San Jose’s Peter Ross

A: It’s useful to know.

Q: Almaden Expressway and Blossom Hill Road have historically been one of the busiest intersections in Santa Clara County. Red light runners are the issue here. I see people running the lights almost every day. It’s gotten so bad that I recently saw six cars run the red light at the same time.

I would like the city and county to investigate road-calming measures that could reduce the risk of driving through this dangerous intersection before there is a major fatality.

San Jose resident Steve Brock

A: I will pass along your recommendation.

Q: I have a first-world problem. I take Highway 17 to work in Los Altos. A sign on the northbound side, just south of Lexington Reservoir, says “Road work, speed limit 40.” It’s been there for a long time. There is no road construction. Except for my stupid self-driving Tesla, everyone knows to ignore it. It notices the sign and slows down dangerously. Could you persuade Caltrans to take down that sign? That appears to be less difficult than teaching the car when to ignore signs.

Capitola’s Michael Sherman

A: Yes, trouble training our cars is a first-world problem.