Comments on: Sound Off: Caltrans sign likely cause of Highway 37 backup

By: Ren

Ren — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 21:05:58 +0000

Betty,
The only way to know when a crosswalk is safe to cross is when you make eye contact with the driver and come to an agreement that the driver will not run you down. The lights do not make it safe, just more obvious to the drivers who are paying attention.

Danny,
Our roads from the 1950s are still better than third world countries. And they will remain better until they return to dirt paths with donkeys and women doing the hauling rather than your SUV.

By: jeff

jeff — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 17:41:16 +0000

its those darn tents for rent that have been put out by someone on there property just as you get close to 121… it looks like there is an event going on due to how close they are to the road and everybody rubbernecks to see what is going on… im tempted to call the number on them and voice my opinion…it started backing up worse then usual immediatly after they were put up

By: Steve Klausner

Steve Klausner — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 15:57:35 +0000

Danny, it is penny pinching, not the tree hugging that slows Hwy 101expansion.

By: Bill

Bill — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 02:13:47 +0000

On the down hill stretch on Fountain Grove Pky. East bound from the Chanate merge to Brush Creek Road the speed limit is 35 mph. There is one of those radar boxes that shows a vehicles current speed. Regularly I observe vehicles going 50 to 55 mph or more. At the same time I have NEVER seen the SRPD doing enforcement in this area. WHY?

By: Jeff

Jeff — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 01:28:22 +0000

The guess work is still there. You have to guess if the signs are accurate because KTVU recently did a story about the signs and the ground sensors that predict those times because most of the ground sensors have failed or are faulty and Caltran’s has not spent the money to fix them nor have they informed the public that the sensors aren’t doing what our $$ have paid for.

By: Danny

Danny — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 00:52:10 +0000

As a person who was a ‘traffic expert” before I retired…there are a few problems that are causing the back up on 37 and 101 going north in the afternoons.
#1. People driving and going far below the speed limit when there is nobody in front of them or any other reason to drive so slow. If you can’t do the speed limit, stay off the freeway.
#2. Cal-trans added more to the N/B HOV lane- but it abruptly ends in north Novato right about where cars are also merging onto the freeway from the Atherton on ramp. So there are many lanes funneling into 2 lanes just a short ways north…this is causing a huge back up is actually making traffic WORSE!
#3. The only way to ease this congestion, that is also adding to the E/B 37 problem is to add more lanes north of Novato! Tell the tree huggers etc to get a life and expand the dang freeway! This area hasn’t been upgraded since the 1950’s. It’s like driving in a third world country.

By: Bill

Bill — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 21:47:54 +0000

Mike,

I’m sure you meant to say that the article struck a “chord” with you, not a cord. Darn spellcheckers.

By: Bert

Bert — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 21:44:34 +0000

Not only that but when the Hwy 37 route doesn’t work out, they cut back on Atherton Avenue to Hwy 101, thereby clogging the new 4-to-3-to-3 lane merge at 101 & Atherton.
The obvious solution is to activate the metering lights at Atherton and finish the Novato narrows widening!

By: betty DeConter

betty DeConter — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 21:27:59 +0000

when crossing at a crosswalk that has the flashing lights, why can’t the pedestarian see the light flashing in the street so they know for sure it’s safe to cross? Even if a car is stopped one way doesn’t mean they will stop going the other way.

Thanks

By: Keith

Keith — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 19:05:27 +0000

I’m not sure I see a correlation here on Mike’s reply. The sign announcing times to Petaluma and Cotati has been up and running for years, not just the few months that the back ups have been occurring. AND, having traveled Hwy 37 to the Vallejo area to get to I-80 and coming in to the “mess” at Lakeville Hwy and continuing in the mess until Vallejo I doubt that the problem occurs due to people wanting a different way to Petaluma and Cotati…