Q: The brand new specific lanes are opening on Freeway 101 on Friday. As somebody who has pushed electrical automobiles for over 10 years, nearly at all times with my spouse, I've loved with the ability to use the carpool lane. However now indicators suggest that the specific lane might be free just for automobiles with three or extra individuals.
Say it ain’t so! As senior residents who at all times drive collectively in an EV, don’t we deserve a free lane with much less site visitors?
Mark Robichek, Sunnyvale
A: I’m sure many others agree with you, however these are the brand new guidelines and they're going to apply in most specific lanes.
Carpools with three or extra individuals, in addition to buses, will be capable of journey freed from cost within the specific lanes. These driving clean-air automobiles with a legitimate decal from the DMV will qualify for a 50 p.c low cost for solo drivers or automobiles with two individuals.
Specific lanes might be in impact from 5 a.m. to eight p.m. weekdays, between the San Mateo County line and Whipple Avenue in Redwood Metropolis.
For extra data, go to 101express.com for particulars.
Q: I simply unretired and am driving Interstate 880 every day utilizing FasTak. Whereas heading south from Hayward, the primary signal reveals a toll of $1.75 to Thornton and $2.50 to Decoto Highway. A mile or extra later, the signal reveals $2.50 to Thornton and $4 to Decoto. Which is it?
John Bingham, San Jose
A: You'll be charged a toll based mostly on the place you enter the specific lane.
Q: With the beginning of FasTrak lanes on 101, we're going to have an fascinating drawback. Freeway 85 northbound has a 2+ automotive lane that merges into the FasTrak lanes on northbound 101. The 85 lane has the traditional commute hours restrictions, however plainly 101 is sort of 24 hours. So, outdoors commute hours you need to use 85, however then must rapidly merge into the traditional two righthand lanes, if driving alone.
Does this imply that I have to get a FasTrak to drive from 85 to 101 throughout non-commute hours if I need to keep away from the inevitable site visitors circulation issues?
John Dobyns, Cupertino
A: This could possibly be a headache till the 85-101 interchange is rebuilt, and we don't but know when that might be. The lane striping on 101 might be dashed on this space, permitting drivers an extended distance wherein to merge.
Q: One of many variations between specific lanes on 101 and people on 680 is drivers can enter and exit at any level on 101. Gained’t this make it simpler for drivers to idiot the FasTrack readers by diving into the lane after a reader and coming out earlier than the following reader?
Nolan Kuan, Santa Clara
A: Some will do this, however over time, this could diminish.
Search for Gary Richards at Fb.com/mr.roadshow, or contact him at mrroadshow@bayareanewsgroup.com.