New carpool lane opens on Highway 50 - Delayed, now open

Updated: Caltrans has opened the westbound bus/carpool lane for Highway 50 between Rancho Cordova and Sacramento, which will ease traffic congestion, reduce air pollution, and shorten travel time for an estimated 140,000 daily drivers in the region. “Our state is working through tough economic times, and projects like this help support the recovery effort for local economies,” said Acting Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty. “Caltrans continues to partner with local governments on projects not only to help the region with infrastructure improvements, but also to improve the overall driving experience for travelers.” The $108 million project received $55 million from Proposition 1B, the 2006 voter-approved transportation bond. To date, the state has allocated nearly $12 billion in Proposition 1B funds for transportation purposes statewide. “A project like this not only helps reduce traffic congestion and air pollution, it also improves the daily commute for thousands of drivers in the region and for those who transport goods and services throughout the state,” said Caltrans District 3 Director Jody Jones. The project adds approximately 7.5 miles of new bus/carpool lanes in the westbound direction on Highway 50, from Sunrise Boulevard to Watt Avenue. With this new addition, the continuous carpool lane stretches 22.5 miles on eastbound Highway 50 between Watt Avenue in Sacramento County and Bass Lake Road in El Dorado County. The eastbound direction was opened in December 2011. The project also replaced bicycle/pedestrian overcrossings at Manlove and White Rock roads to meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards. Additional enhancements included new sound walls and improved landscaping and lighting. ===================================================== Highway 50 carpool lane opening delayed Sacramento Business Journal The opening of the westbound carpool lane on Highway 50 is not open after all. The California Department of Transportation previously announced it was opening Monday, but now the opening of the 7.5 mile stretch of high-occupancy vehicle lanes between Rancho Cordova and Sacramento has been delayed. The additional HOV miles between Sunrise Boulevard and Watt Avenue, when open, are expected to ease traffic congestion, reduce air pollution and shorten travel time for commuters. The project was started two years ago. The eastbound lane opened in December. Caltrans said final work on "delineation" between Zinfandel Drive and Sunrise Boulevard was postponed over the weekend because of weather. There’s no word on when the carpool lane will be open, and now a storm is expected in the region.

A carpool lane on westbound Highway 50 between Rancho Cordova and Sacramento has opened. With the added mileage, a continuous carpool lane of nearly 23 miles exists from on westbound Highway 50 from Watt Avenue in Sacramento County to Bass Lake Road in El Dorado County.

Caltrans said the project added 7.5 miles of new carpool lane in the westbound direction on Highway 50 between Sunrise Boulevard and Watt Avenue.

http://www.sacbee.com/2012/03/12/4330791/new-carpool lane-opens-on-highway.html