Q I have been trying to take Caltrain after dropping off my daughter at school. But when I arrive at 8:15 or 8:30 a.m. at the Palo Alto station in time for a couple of the fast trains, there is no parking left! So I end up driving to San Francisco every day, which can’t be good for congestion. Will they be adding parking soon to match the demand?
Gowri Grewal
Palo Alto
A I’m afraid not. Caltrain says purchasing additional land for new parking lots is something the agency cannot afford at this time. You might try a different station with more parking. Several bullet trains also stop at Mountain View and Menlo Park.
Parking shortages are also a problem at BART and Valley Transportation Authority stations. All three are reviewing how commuters get to their stations — via car, bus, shuttle, bicycle or on foot — to see if those options can be improved.
Q Yes to the new metering lights for onramps leading to Highway 101 north between Gilroy and Morgan Hill, but why were they green at 6 a.m. last week? This year I have added an additional 15 minutes to my commute time due to the increase in traffic. I hope there are plans to change the settings on these lights.
Kathi Farmer
A The 101 metering lights from Monterey Road to Bailey Avenue began cycling red to green this week. They were resting in green last week to let motorists get used to the lights being on from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Q One Friday around 8 a.m., I saw something I haven’t seen before on the road. I was driving alone westbound on Highway 4 next to the HOV lane. Traffic was literally stop-and-go for about 25 feet, then stopped again. I saw a large confused rat walking very cautiously across the lane I was in toward the HOV lane. How it got that far is anybody’s guess. The car in that lane actually stopped for the rat to finish his journey safely toward the center divider.
Chris Mitchell
Antioch
A I’ve heard of drivers stopping for cats, dogs and ducklings — but never a rat.
Q I’d read that exit/entry ramps may be added to the Mabury Road overpass at Highway 101 in San Jose. Was this only a rumor or is it actually going to happen?
Joe Davis
A Someday, yes, but it is anyone’s guess when that day will be.
Q The vista point along southbound Highway 1 in Santa Cruz County near Buena Vista has been closed for some time. Why is that and when will it reopen?
Steve James
Watsonville
A Caltrans is remodeling several vista points from Santa Barbara to La Selva off Highway 1. Work will last until the end of the year.
Follow Gary at Twitter.com/mrroadshow, look for him at Facebook.com/mr.roadshow or contact him at mrroadshow@mercurynews.com or 408-920-5335.
