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What are the Silicon Valley Express Lanes?
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is implementing the Silicon Valley Express Lanes Program to provide congestion relief through effective use of existing lanes. Silicon Valley Express Lanes (sometimes referred to as High Occupancy Toll or “HOT” Lanes) will have no toll booths, and fees will be collected electronically using FasTrak. Tolls for solo drivers will vary based on the level of congestion and will be adjusted to maintain a free flow of service in the Express Lanes. All eligible carpool vehicles will have free access to the Express Lanes. For more information, please visit: http://www.vta.org/expresslanes.
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Where will the SR 237 Express Lanes be located?
The majority of the SR 237 Express Lanes corridor will be along SR 237 in Santa Clara County between Interstate 880 and North First Street. The westbound SR 237 Express Lane will be a total of 6.5 miles long between Dixon Landing Road on I-880 and Lawrence Expressway on SR 237. The eastbound SR 237 Express Lane will be a total of 4.5 miles long between North First Street on SR 237 and Dixon Landing Road on I-880. The westbound SR 237 Express Lane will operate from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. The eastbound SR 237 Express Lane will operate from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information, please visit: http://www.vta.org/expresslanes/SR_237_project.html.
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What are the Alameda County Express Lanes?
As part of a long-term plan to improve traffic flow on Interstates 680 and 580, the Alameda County Congestion Management Agency is converting some existing carpool lanes to Express Lanes – sometimes called High Occupancy Toll (HOT) Lanes. Carpools will continue to use the lanes for free while solo drivers will use the lanes for a fee that will vary depending on the level of congestion in the Express Lanes. The variable fee will make excess capacity available to paying motorists while guaranteeing a reasonable travel time for all users of the lanes.
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Where is the Alameda County Express Lanes project?
The I-680 Express Lane project is located on a 14-mile stretch of southbound I-680 between Highway 84 on the north and Highway 237 on the south. Approximately 80% of the project is located in Alameda County, with the remainder in Santa Clara County.
The I-580 Express Lanes project is located on a 12-mile stretch of I-580 from just west of the Hacienda Drive Interchange to just east of the Greenville Road Undercrossing in Alameda County.
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How will the Express Lanes work?
The new Express Lanes will operate as follows:
- Solo drivers who want a more reliable trip on southbound I-680 and eastbound I-580 will need to obtain and mount a FasTrak toll tag on their windshields. They will be charged a toll each time they choose to use the Express Lane. Carpool vehicles with two or more people, motorcycles, transit buses and eligible hybrids will continue to use the lane for free.
- The existing carpool lanes have been converted to Express Lanes with new striping, specific entry and exit points, overhead electronic signs and a FasTrak electronic toll collection system. The new Express Lanes are separated from general-purpose lanes by triple lines, except at entry and exit points.
- The operation is fully electronic. There are not any tollbooths or traffic gates, so customers do not need to slow down or stop to provide a toll payment.
- Motorists with a FasTrak toll tag can enter the Express Lanes at designated places. An overhead electronic sign displays the current toll being assessed. Toll costs will vary based on real-time traffic levels on the Express Lanes to ensure that traffic in the lanes flows smoothly.
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Where can I find more information about the Express Lanes in the Bay Area?
For more information about the Alameda County Express Lanes, go to: http://www.680expresslane.org/Home.asp.
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