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Re: Who to talk to at CalTrans about lane markings
In article <3vb1fb$ljo@hustle.rahul.net> Chuck Fry <chucko@rahul.net> writes:
>In article <3v9u9j$fju@engnews2.eng.sun.com>,
>Panos Tsirigotis <pgt@sunlight.Eng.Sun.COM> wrote:
>>I have noticed that the lane markings on 85N at the location of
>>the on-ramp from 237N to 85N in Mountain View have recently
>>changed. The right lane of 85N now becomes an exit lane
>>for the Evelyn exit (before the change, the right lane would merge
>>with the center lane, after the El Camino exit).
>
>>Unfortunately, people stay on that lane even when they don't plan to
>>exit, making it very dangerous for the cars using the 237N->85N on-ramp
>>to merge with traffic on 85N (the on-ramp has practically zero merging
>>distance with the exit lane).
>
>I guess you use this ramp a lot, perhaps at rush hour? I come through
>here occasionally, but I'm usually headed north from 280.
>
I do use the ramp frequently, but never at rush hour (I don't need to).
As a matter of fact, I don't use the freeways at rush hour.
>IMHO the new striping here is much preferable to the old striping, which
>forced traffic getting on from El Camino Real to merge left across the
>traffic getting off for 237 EAST (which you labelled north?) into much
>faster through traffic.
>
>I can see why you'd complain, but on the whole I like the current layout
>better. I think it is safer for the majority.
>
First, 237 being an odd number should be considered a north-south freeway;
the true direction is NE-SW.
My observation, on two occasions so far, has been that cars who have no
intention of using the Evenyn exit stay on the right lane, after it
becomes an exit lane. Because of a strategically located tree, they
cannot see cars on the on-ramp. It is hard for the car on the on-ramp
to judge if an approaching car on 85N is in the exit lane or not. The
on-ramp has insufficient merge distance, and no sign warning of the fact.
Perhaps the solution is to put a YIELD sign and a MERGE sign on the
on-ramp to warn drivers of the new situation.
Panos
--
Panos Tsirigotis
Email: panos.tsirigotis@sun.com
Standard disclaimer: I am speaking only for myself, and not for Sun.
References: