Highway Projects

PROJECT HISTORY

1994 - Route 85 freeway opens to traffic.

1996 - Measure B approved by county voters enacting new ½ cent sales tax. Advisory Measure A was approved by voters listing potential projects to be funded by any new sales tax funds; the only advisory project on Route 85 was construction of a median safety barrier to prevent head-on collisions.

1998 - Due to community concerns regarding freeway noise, Caltrans completed study of potential alternatives that could be expected to reduce freeway noise by 3 dBA, but Caltrans made no commitment to implement as actual noise levels were in line with expected noise levels from original freeway project environmental studies. Alternatives were:

•  Reduce speeds in the corridor by 10 mph

•  Resurface the existing concrete pavement with an open-graded asphalt concrete (OGAC) material

•  Increase noise barrier heights at certain locations that had not been constructed to the maximum height allowed

•  Place acoustically-absorptive material on vertical wall surfaces

1999 - County Board of Supervisors adopted Base Case Implementation Plan for the Measure B Transportation Improvement Program. As Caltrans had installed a Route 85 median barrier with their own funding and public testimony after receiving public testimony regarding the freeway noise concerns, the Route 85 Noise Mitigation Project was included in the Base Case Plan.

2001 - As the County's project delivery agent for Measure B rail and highway projects, VTA completes study recommending a test project to micro-grind (texture-grind) a portion of the freeway corridor and conduct noise analysis to determine if an improvement is achieved.

2002 - County Board of Supervisors acts to defer sales tax construction funding for some 1996 Measure B Transportation Improvement Program projects due to downturn in county economy effecting anticipated sales tax receipts. Funding for completion of Route 85 Noise Mitigation test project is retained.

2003 - VTA completed test project with results that indicated while overall freeway noise levels were not significantly reduced, the frequency characteristics of the noise was modified where it could be harder for humans to hear. This scientific conclusion was consistent with feedback VTA received from the effected communities that the freeway noise was perceived to be less obtrusive.

2003 - Mayors of West Valley Cities unanimously request the County Board of Supervisors that should sales tax funding increase allowing the Route 85 Noise Mitigation Project to be constructed, the texture-grinding alternative should be the project alternative implemented.

2004 - In December, the County Board of Supervisors restored funding for the Route 85 Noise Mitigation Project and request VTA to complete environmental studies, design, construction documents, and construct the texture-grinding project alternative.