Haggerty eyes more funds to fix I-580 Haggerty eyes more funds to fix I-580 (June 17, 2005)

Toll lanes, Hwy. 84 expansion could ease gridlock
by Jeb Bing

Freeway toll lanes, another flyover at Interstates 580 and 680 and expanding Highway 84 to four, or even six, lanes between the two freeways could alleviate much of the rush hour gridlock during the morning and evening rush hours - with the added benefit of reducing cut-through traffic in Pleasanton.

Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty identified the improvements as part of his countywide roadway wish list in an exclusive interview with the Weekly.

Haggerty said the key to solving transportation problems is a funding formula that focuses on congestion vs. population.

"What has frustrated me the most is the funding formula that doles out highway improvement money based on population," Haggerty said. "Here in the Tri-Valley, we can't compete with the population centers of Oakland, Berkeley and those other adjacent cities."

A congestion-based formula would benefit I-580 commuters and adjacent communities, he said, defining I-580 as, "the No. 1 congested corridor morning and night in the nine Bay Area counties."

Haggerty said Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has pledged to restore money for transportation funding through a gasoline sales tax measure, Proposition 42, which voters approved. However, the money was redirected in 2002 to help pay down the budget deficit. Now the governor said he plans to release $1.3 billion of Prop. 42 money for streets and transit improvements in the 2005-06 fiscal year.

"What this area can get from these funds could go a long way toward starting projects we need." Haggerty said. "With Prop. 42 and other funding, I think we will see some work under way very shortly."

Already, work has begun to add more traffic lanes and a new interchange on State Route 238 that connects I-580 to I-880, a heavily traveled (and congested) route for commuters to Bayside cities and the San Mateo Bridge. Part of the funds for that $91.5-million-dollar project, which Tri-Valley cities approved, were borrowed from the 1986 Measure B sales tax funds that were supposed to cover Hwy. 84 expansion work.

With Prop. 42 funds to be available soon, Haggerty said the Hwy. 84 financing will be restored and work on providing truck-climbing lanes could start late this year. If we build that correctly, a wider Hwy. 84 could provide a tremendous amount of relief to the 580 corridor."

Haggerty also favors building carpool lanes on I-580, and wants the various transportation agencies to consider moving the long-planned and now-approved toll lanes scheduled for the Sunol Grade on I-680 to I-580 instead.

"We need to be flexible in recognizing changes that affect our long-range plans as they move to the top of the list," Haggerty said. "The 680 High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes were needed when they were planned, but probably not now."

"They may be similar to what we saw happen with the Bart extension to Colma and Daly City," he explained. "At one point that was a great project, but since we opened it, it's been a loser."

"Frankly, it's 580, not 680, where the HOT lanes could be most effective and help pay for themselves while giving commuters the option of faster travel to their homes," he added. "And they might help reduce cut-through traffic on Pleasanton streets."

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