FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE April 6, 2021
For More
Information, Contact:
Jamie
Livingston
(408) 299-5050
office
(408) 309-6418
cell
jamie.livingston@bos.sccgov.org
TRAFFIC
SIGNAL IMPROVEMENTS ON FOOTHILL, SAN TOMAS AND MONTAGUE EXPRESSWAYS GET A GREEN
LIGHT
SAN JOSE –
The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously today to receive
funds needed to implement and update traffic responsive signal timing on
Foothill, San Tomas and Montague Expressways. By monitoring traffic patterns and
adjusting traffic signals as needed, these technologies aim to increase the
likelihood that a light will be green when cars arrive and limit the time that
drivers must spend stopped at intersections.
“I’m really pleased to see
this project moving forward,” said County Supervisor Joe Simitian, whose
district includes parts of Foothill Expressway. “Investing in smart
technologies like these is crucial for lightening the traffic burden on these
roadways, and making sure we can all get to wherever we need to go as quickly
and conveniently as possible.”
“I hear from folks all the
time who wonder why they have to stop at every single intersection, even when
traffic is light. And,” said Simitian, “it also makes sense environmentally to
reduce the amount of stop and go traffic and the associated emissions.”
Traffic
responsive signal timing will be implemented for weekdays and weekends on
Foothill Expressway and for weekdays on San Tomas and Montague Expressways once
commuter traffic rises closer to pre-pandemic levels. County staff expect this
to take place in Fall 2021 or Spring 2022.
Funding for the improvements
comes from a Transportation Fund for Clean Air grant the Valley Transportation
Authority (VTA) awarded to the County late last year.
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