Q It is nice that the 280-880-Stevens Creek undertaking is getting underneath approach. However after facing the entire deliberate improvements, I USED TO BE unhappy to peer one thing lacking.

Brady Eidson

San Jose

A And that is?

Q Interstate 280 north is 4 lanes until the 880-17 underpass, the place it narrows to a few lanes prior to establishing again as much as 4 1 / 4 of a mile later. In spite of light, fast-moving site visitors this bottleneck may cause 280 to return to a screeching halt. I BELIEVED that solving this evident drawback can be a part of solving the opposite issues in that house. Does Caltrans plan to solve this?

Brady Eidson

A Now not each time quickly. This lane drop will stay after paintings at the interchange is done in many years. As a result of restricted width to be had with present column places below the bridge, commencing a fourth lane at this pinch aspect may contain in depth and dear enhancements among the Winchester Street overpass and the I-880 overcrossing. The point of interest of the impending challenge is to enhance the glide of site visitors from north 280 to north 880 and from south 880 to westbound Stevens Creek.

But there's one more reason for the narrowing on 280, which is sensible. It lets in drivers coming north on 17 to have their very own lane for a brief distance

and no longer be compelled to right away merge with 280 site visitors. There are plans to study this problem, however so that they can require a glance on the affect on different ramps, corresponding to ...

Q No longer extraordinarily lengthy ago, the cloverleaf interchange ramp connecting north Freeway 17 to north I-280 in San Jose had lanes. However one day it was re-striped for just one lane. The now off-limits expanses of concrete the place visitors lanes used to exist are obviously visible, let alone traumatic. Why was this done?

Geoff Miller

Boulder Creek

A The 2 lanes from north Freeway 17 have been decreased to 1 lane to permit drivers heading on 280 to Stevens Creek to go into into their very own lane and steer clear of merging with visitors seeking to get to north 880.

Q I trip a pair occasions per week from Saratoga to Santa Cruz and can't take into accout why the Freeway 17 specific bus doesn't prevent in downtown Los Gatos. If there have been a forestall there, it might be possible for vacationers from the West Valley to take it. Simple on- and off-exits exist, and it will minimally have an effect on the bus agenda. Because it now stands, one should go back and forth to downtown San Jose to capture this bus, which might simply upload a pair hours for West Valley riders. It would take seven or eight mins so as to add this forestall to the present time table. What's fighting this transformation from happening?

Paul Bonnet

Saratoga

A There aren't any plans to make the amendment you are seeking for and this is why, says Brandi-the-VTA-Spokeswoman:

"Express bus strains are designed to supply the quickest provider among common locations -- on this case, from Santa Cruz to downtown San Jose -- with the smallest amount of stops alongside the direction. Including downtown Los Gatos as a forestall could upload no less than eight to ten mins in each and every course -- no longer an inconsequential quantity of time.

"It might value extra buses and operators to offer the provider with this deviation; however such a lot importantly, doing one thing like this may be an enormous inconvenience for the present riders that fill those coaches to capability sooner than they go away downtown Santa Cruz or downtown San Jose. The deviation might most probably get advantages just a very small selection of passengers within the Los Gatos house. In addition, many Freeway 17 journeys are particularly scheduled to hook up with Capitol Hall trains and Caltrain in addition to San Joaquin rail/bus connections."

Q On your bumper strip bag, I LATTERLY noticed this at the rear of a Chevrolet Silverado in Palo Elevado: "I WOULD otherwise be pushing a Ford than using a Chevy." Is not sensible to me.

Charles Hansen

Palo Alto

A Me neither. Ford owners, please explain.

Look for Gary Richards at Facebook.com/mr.roadshow or touch him at mrroadshow@mercurynews.com or 408-920-5335. The fax quantity is 408-288-8060.