| El Dorado County Supervisor Jack Sweeney challenged Board Chair Rusty Depray to a bike ride at last week's Board meeting just before adopting a proclamation announcing last week as 50 Corridor Bike To Work Week. |
The new Alder Creek light rail bridge also features the granite foundation (under the bridge) used for the original Sacramento Valley Rail Road bridge which was built almost 150 years ago. RT and City of Folsom worked together to make sure this foundation was preserved and incorporated
into the design of the new light rail bridge. |
Regional Transit's Ed Scofield reviews plans for the Sunrise Extension opening (scheduled for June 11) with members of the Folsom Extension Community Advisory Committee. |
Trees make way for trains
Sacramento Regional Transit District has begun work around Sutter and Leidesdorff Streets as part of the construction of the Historic District Light Rail Station. Workers removed four small to medium trees at the southwest corner of the Railroad Block site, near the Leidesdorff and Pony Express plaques. The trees were removed to allow the construction of the boarding platform at the Historic Folsom Station. No additional tree removals are planned at that site, but construction adjacent to it will be continuing off and on for the next month to accommodate the new platform.
50 HOV Lanes are effective
A just-released report by Caltrans demonstrates that the new HOV lanes on US 50 are indeed carrying more people that their adjoining mixed-flow lanes.
The report measured westbound traffic volume during peak hours, 6-10 a.m. It found that the HOV lanes moved 25% of the people using 13% of the total vehicle volume. Volume in the HOV lane included 25 buses during a typical morning commute. In 2002, 16 commuter buses were using the HOV lanes during commute hours.
The report also measured eastbound afternoon commute times and calculated that congestion delay decreased 16% on US 50 compared to the Fall 2001 data. The decrease in congestion was partly attributed to ramp metering which was implemented in June 2003 at the Sunrise Blvd. interchange.
In 2003, it is estimated that westbound, the average occupancy rate of a car in the HOV lane was 2.25 occupants per car compared to 1.03 in the mixed flow lane.
For those using the HOV lanes, it was estimated that they saved 7.5 minutes on their typical commute time. This savings decreased from the previous year's savings of 8 minutes and was attributed to normal fluctuations in traffic data from year to year.
The report established that the HOV lanes are performing at 98% of the required minimums during the second year of operation. The minimums are established the Federal Highway Administration and Caltrans.
Cycling awards announced
Kudos were announced Friday at the 50 Corridor Bike To Work Week Rally for those who contributed to improved cycling conditional along the corridor. Verizon Wireless of Folsom was named Bicycle Friendly Employer, and receive a traveling trophy to display at their Folsom campus for the next year. Jim House, employee of Apple Computer's PowerSchool, was named 50 Corridor Cyclist of the Year for his enthusiasm for cycling which has influenced many other PowerSchool employees to become bike commuters and enjoy lunch-time bike rides. And, finally, Tony Powers, chair of the Folsom Area Bicycle Advocates and chair of the 50 Corridor Bike To Work Week event, was named Cycling Advocate of the Year for his untiring efforts to improve cycling along the 50 Corridor and specifically in Folsom.
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