Posted by Boycott 680 Express Lane, a resident of the Del Prado neighborhood, on Sep 29, 2010 at 6:37 am

Very funny and very accurate. Cal Trans reported that we commuters were not used to the new lane configuration to explain the backup they have created on 680 south. We're just so dumb. A couple of weeks later the backup is worst than ever. Maybe Cal Trans is trying to create a demand for the new express lane they are charging for. They cannot be that smart, can they?

Posted by Noedup, a resident of the Danville neighborhood, on Sep 29, 2010 at 9:35 am

Didn't Scott (knockout) Haggerty and Pleasanton Mayor Hosterman push for and celebrate this toll road opening?

Posted by Jeff, a resident of the Del Prado neighborhood, on Sep 29, 2010 at 11:41 am

Thanks. I'm just a frustrated 680 commuter like many of you. I appreciate your comments.

Posted by Bill, a resident of the Amberwood/Wood Meadows neighborhood, on Sep 29, 2010 at 12:25 pm

In response to Noedup - yes, Scott (knockout) Haggerty and Pleasanton Mayor Hosterman were present at the kickoff ceremonies and grinning ear to ear at the photo-op. The kickoff ceremony was on Mission Road that parallels I 680 over the Sunol grade and is out of view of the cars traveling on 680. If the ceremony had taken place within view of the traveling public I would have imagined that the elected and appointed officals at the ceremony would have been tarred and feathered by the ticked-off motorists.

Really appreciate Jeff Durban's tale about the trials and tribulations of commuting on I680 during the morning commute. Humor is good medicine.

Posted by Kurt Kummer, a resident of the Highland Oaks neighborhood, on Sep 29, 2010 at 1:39 pm

Thanks Jeff, I didn't think anyone could make me laugh about this newly-terrible commute, but you sure did!

Posted by Marshall, a resident of the Val Vista neighborhood, on Sep 30, 2010 at 9:55 pm

I suppose one good thing to come out of all of this is my car doesn't get beat to death by the craters in the roadway leading up to the new lanes, since now I'm doing 0.2mph instead of 65mph.

Posted by Kurt Kummer, a resident of the Highland Oaks neighborhood, on Sep 30, 2010 at 11:10 pm

Wow Marshall, you're definitely a 'glass half full' kind of guy! Thanks for that. I hadn't thought of it that way. I was selfishly thinking about the hours of time I'll waste sitting on 680, and now I realize it's just a wonderful opportunity to sit and measure the potholes, or count acorns growing in the oaks along the side of the road, or watch hikers up on Pleasanton Ridge. Of course, it's a little discouraging to see that the hikers are making better time than me.