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Roadshow: More Dumbarton FasTrak lanes wanted Q What is the status on the realignment for St. James and Julian streets in San Jose? What is the target completion date? Will it open in stages as segments are completed?

Mehrdaud Nik-Ahd

San Jose

A The changes are part of plans to redevelop perhaps the most blighted area in San Jose, from Highway 87 to St. James Street to Market Street and the Union Pacific tracks. Nearly 1,500 housing units will be constructed. It will cost $25 million for street work that could be done by early 2017, weather permitting.

Here are the next steps: Crews will close West Julian and West St. James streets between Market Street and Notre Dame Avenue to work on traffic signals. Then, as early as this week (again, weather permitting), the existing S-curve on East Julian between Market and Terraine streets will be permanently closed to through traffic, with limited access to local traffic.

Both westbound East Julian and southbound Coleman Avenue traffic will be permanently redirected to West St. James Street, which will be converted to two-way traffic.

.Q You are my go-to person when it comes to any road-related issues, and I have one. On Branham Lane in South San Jose they were doing repaving and what appears to be crosswalk additions between Almaden Expressway and Vista Park Drive. Now between Pearl Avenue and Vista it appears they will be reducing the lanes from three to two. Why? This is a major thoroughfare from Monterey Road to Almaden, and it doesn’t make sense.

Robert Rosales

San Jose

A It’s another “road diet” on a street known for speeding and some horrific crashes between Vista Park and the expressway. Branham will go from three to two lanes with a buffered bike lane.

Q I guess the drag racing on Branham Lane that has caused so many accidents and a few deaths has finally caused the city to remove a lane. Oh well, as long as I can get to and from my neighborhood safely and quickly, I’m OK with it.

John Flowers

San Jose

A Folks, be patient and, if the road diet gets drivers to slow down, be thankful as well.

Q Many of the metering lights along northbound Highway 87 don’t seem to be working during the morning commute. The metering lights getting onto south Highway 87 at Taylor Street aren’t working during the evening commute. What’s going on and when the situation will be corrected?

David Burnley

San Jose

A There have been electrical issues at these ramps, with copper thieves striking again. Crews hope to have the meters working late this week.

Q I enjoyed your article about the 10 worst traffic jams in the Bay Area. My only comment is that it is probably already out of date, as things are getting worse month by month. I know we are not supposed to text when we are sitting still in traffic. Is it legal to read the paper?

Tom Scott

Morgan Hill

A Only Roadshow. (Kidding.)

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