Yes, please build better public transit in the county instead of more or wider highways. In addition to Hwy 85, how about building light rail along Foothill Expressway? That would bring people from Cupertino and San Jose up to jobs around Stanford.

I like light rail when it works, but here it's way too slow (decent when it has grade-separated right of way and few stops; not so good going through downtown SJ) and way too expensive ($150M+ per mile). Some kind of automated bus is probably more achievable.

These bureaucrats exist in an echo chamber and have no idea what they're talking about.

"We need to get people, even when they have their electric vehicles, out of the HOV lanes because it defeats the purpose," he said.

^^^No, we need to abolish HOV lanes nationwide, period. The LEFT lane is for passing. With no carpool lanes, faster-moving vehicles will be able to use the far left lane, there will be far less lane weaving of drivers trying to get around 50-mph slowpokes on their phones, and traffic will flow beautifully.
HOV lanes create a dangerous situation and frequently cause accidents. They have never been proven to work; its been a failed experiment for a long time and no one wants to question it. They sure are nice for generating revenue with those $500 tickets though!

"McAlister said he hopes the concurrent studies will land on a similar technology aimed at getting more people out of cars, which, he said, is the only way to reduce congestion."
[Portion removed due to disrespectful comment or offensive language]
The ONLY way to reduce congestion? I can think of a million other ways, like the aforementioned, or how about limiting immigration to the Bay Area, or kicking Google and Facebook out? Hardly the ONLY solution. [Portion removed due to disrespectful comment or offensive language]

@Resident (the one with the upper-case "R"): It is good to see that there are experts out there that know how to solve our traffic problems. Have you ever tried to run for public office and solve the problems at the root? If not, why?

Ah, maybe talking is easier than actually doing things? And maybe the solution that you are proposing may not quite work as well, even though you are claiming that "traffic will flow beautifully"? Talk is cheap, but this talk in particular seems to be targeted to provoke and spread division. There is another thing strange about this posting: The 48 likes, and the timing of them. They showed up shortly after posting your comment, and there have been no additional likes since. Did you like your own comment? I am wondering why you are writing this sort of propaganda, and if you are doing it out of your own motiviation or if there is some other incentive.

If anyone wants to know more about John McAlister, his biography can be found here: Web Link

Bus lane will make the most sense here. Support a combination of existing public and private mass transit. Private transit pays into the system to support its maintenance. Any fixed rail option will have an insurmountable "last mile" problem.

Put some money to fixing mass transit connectivity to major campuses as well (ahem, Shoreline exit and its perpetual .5-mile of standstill traffic)

@Matt

Actually, I was kind of stunned by that influx on likes. No idea where it came from.

I am not claiming to be a transportation management expert. I am stating the obvious.

I worked for 5 years as a van driver frequently using 101 and 85, 45+ hours a week, so I have a lot of firsthand observation of traffic.

The resume you linked shows that McAlister, indeed, has never worked a day in his life.

Please let's don't get into another "push the bus option at all costs" argument. That failed when the VTA tried to take over El Camino, because busses are a 20th century option in a 21st century world. With all the engineering genius in this area, I know a light rail can be done right - so let's look at that and find something that will actually work.

The VTA should have considered 12 passenger vans on El Camino instead of their expensive and ridiculous double busses that run mostly empty. The vans could run more often and be more flexible in directions off the main road. Now the VTA is trying their people pushing busses on the 85 median, but busses are out of date (and I suspect the only real supporters are the VTA employees).

Please get some good minds on this. I appreciate all the good things and bright citizens corporations (Google, etc.) bring to Mountain View and hope they can contribute to the solution.

I'm sorry for the people stuck in that traffic, and for the pollution it brings as well, but we need to make this solution one that works for decades to come. That most probably means light rail, if it is done right.

Ignorance is bliss! John McAlister has worked 45+hr weeks for over 40 years and counting while raising a family and tirelessly giving back actively to the community in many forms.[Portion removed due to disrespectful comment or offensive language]

How much center lane space would Skytran need. I would love to see a test run.

Despite its enormous costs of course, I am all in favor of this, especially reworking the median of the section of Highway 85 north of Interstate 280 to get Light Rail up and down the entire 24 mile freeway. Sure there will be challenges. Let them happen and let the engineers figure out a way to get gridlock off of this freeway.

Remember that the first section of highway 85 was was built in the mid 1960's BEFORE any thought of gridlock happened. And the freeway ended at Stevens Creek Blvd, just before De Anza College.

At any rate, high speed rail, BRT, or any other transportation of the future will be greatly appreciated by me and others. Just to get the massive cars off the freeway.

Also Light Rail should be built along every single Expressway in Santa Clara County. Will that cost many funds? You bethcha!!! But Light rail is needed, even up and down Page Mill Road, between El Camino and 280!!! Engineers, get to work!!!

It's not acceptable to close any of those ramps or overcrossings. The Dale Ave pedestrian overcrossing was just built a few years ago. The Dana Street overcrossing is used by hundreds of kids every school day, it's the only way across the freeway for miles.

VTA needs to get a clue, it's not acceptable to tear down infrastructure. Build the new rail underground, or don't build it.

I'd like to point out that Foothill Expressway exists because the rail line from Cupertino through Los Altos to Palo Alto was removed in the 60's.

Personally, I'm not a fan of mass transit, as it's often much too slow. I'd prefer that we build *rapid* transit instead.

My current commute to work is 40 minutes one way by car but almost three hours by transit, if I make all the connections. If transit was a hour-long or less option, I'd gladly take it.

When VTA was discussing light rail early on, I proposed high-speed, grade-separated express light rail route down El Camino Real from Palo Alto to East San Jose as the first light rail route, supported by feeder bus lines. I still think it was a missed opportunity for rapid transit.