U.S. 101 Auxiliary Lanes Project

Overview

The project will construct auxiliary lanes in each direction of a 3.2-mile segment of U.S. 101 between Route 85 in Mountain View and Embarcadero Road in Palo Alto.

Objective

The purpose of this project is to relieve existing and future traffic congestion along U.S. 101 between Route 85 in Mountain View and Embarcadero Road in Palo Alto, and to improve safety along the U.S. 101 corridor in Santa Clara County by eliminating bottlenecks while providing additional capacity for vehicles to merge.

Project Features

The proposed improvements would:

• Construct auxiliary lanes between on-ramps and off-ramps;
• Widen and modify on-ramps and off-ramps at each interchange to improve efficiency of the auxiliary lanes;
• Widen the freeway to a 10-lane cross section between interchanges;
• Improve traffic operations on the freeway by providing more room for traffic entering and exiting the freeway at each interchange;
• Allow traffic traveling from one interchange to the next interchange to use the freeway without impacting the main through lanes.

Maintenance of Traffic Flow

For the safety of the public and construction workers, traffic control measures (such as temporary lane closures and detours) will be used as needed. Contractors will be required to make every effort to maintain access and minimize disruptions. The public will be notified before traffic control measures are implemented.

Operations

Upon completion, Caltrans will operate and maintain the highway improvements.

Capitol Cost / Project Funding

$102 million: $84.9 million in Corridor Mobility Improvement Account (CMIA) Funds, $17.3 million in VTA Local Program Reserve Funds.

Project Schedule

Construction begins: Summer 2011

Construction completes: Summer 2014

How to Reach Us

For more information on the U.S. 101 Auxiliary Lanes Project, please contact VTA Community Outreach (408) 321-7575, TDD for the hearing impaired (408) 321-2330.   You may also visit us on the web at www.vta.org, or email us at community.outreach@vta.org.

For information regarding existing light rail and bus transit service, please contact VTA Customer Service (408) 321-2300, TDD for the hearing impaired (408) 321-2330.