I-80 SMART Corridor Project
The purpose of the I-80 SMART Corridor Project is to enhance motorist safety and reduce traffic congestion on one of the busiest freeways in the Bay Area. Spanning multiple jurisdictions, I-80 is a major route for commuters and transit services and is crucial to the transport of goods into and out of the Bay Area. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), Alameda County Transportation Commission (Alameda CTC), and Contra Costa County Transportation Authority (CCTA), in cooperation with nine cities and two transit agencies, will optimize the use of the existing infrastructure within the corridor by implementing strategies to reduce congestion and travel time, provide real-time information to drivers, and improve safety. The project will significantly reduce primary and secondary accidents, improve traffic flow along the corridor, integrate the interstate with local arterial systems, and reduce cut-through traffic and driving times.
As part of incident management, real-time information will be provided to motorists using electronic changeable message signs, variable advisory speed signs, and informational message signs. Real-time traffic information will allow drivers to make better choices during their trip regarding route and mode to reach their destination. These improvements include Adaptive Ramp Metering (ARM) on 44 on-ramps to reduce merging conflicts; High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) bypass lanes at ramp meters; active management of traffic during freeway incidents; electronic variable advisory speed and changeable message signs; lane management on the freeway and coordinated traffic signal timing, including Trailblazer (wayfaring) signs on local streets to redirect traffic back onto the freeway past the site of an accident; bus priority at traffic signals and ramp meters; enhanced traveler information; and the coordinated monitoring and operation of all system components from Caltrans' Traffic Management Center in Oakland.
With average daily traffic reaching 290,000 vehicles, the I-80 corridor is one of the busiest freeways in the Bay Area. The I-80 SMART Corridor Project, representing one of the most extensive Intelligent Transportation Systems in the state, is implementing technological solutions to enhance motorist safety, reduce congestion and improve travel time on I-80 between the Bay Bridge and Carquinez Bridge. Real-time traffic information, such as variable speed signs and blocked lane signs, will allow drivers to make informed decisions in the event of an incident. Additional improvements include real-time ramp metering on 44 on-ramps to reduce merging conflicts and manage traffic volumes on I-80 and its arterials. Once activated in 2015, these Adaptive Ramp Meters and real-time message signs along the corridor will contribute to optimized roadway operations and will be integrated with, and managed from, the Traffic Management Center at the Caltrans Bay Area headquarters in Oakland.
Please visit the I-80 Smart Corridor website for additional information, or call 1-800-747-5031. Follow #80SMART on Twitter for project updates.
As part of incident management, real-time information will be provided to motorists using electronic changeable message signs, variable advisory speed signs, and informational message signs. Real-time traffic information will allow drivers to make better choices during their trip regarding route and mode to reach their destination. These improvements include Adaptive Ramp Metering (ARM) on 44 on-ramps to reduce merging conflicts; High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) bypass lanes at ramp meters; active management of traffic during freeway incidents; electronic variable advisory speed and changeable message signs; lane management on the freeway and coordinated traffic signal timing, including Trailblazer (wayfaring) signs on local streets to redirect traffic back onto the freeway past the site of an accident; bus priority at traffic signals and ramp meters; enhanced traveler information; and the coordinated monitoring and operation of all system components from Caltrans' Traffic Management Center in Oakland.
Background Information
The $80 million project is funded by the Corridor Mobility Improvement Account (CMIA) created by State Proposition 1B, approved by Californians in 2006 for transportation needs, the Contra Costa Transportation Authority's Measure J half-cent sales tax and the Alameda County Transportation Commission's Measure B half-cent sales tax.With average daily traffic reaching 290,000 vehicles, the I-80 corridor is one of the busiest freeways in the Bay Area. The I-80 SMART Corridor Project, representing one of the most extensive Intelligent Transportation Systems in the state, is implementing technological solutions to enhance motorist safety, reduce congestion and improve travel time on I-80 between the Bay Bridge and Carquinez Bridge. Real-time traffic information, such as variable speed signs and blocked lane signs, will allow drivers to make informed decisions in the event of an incident. Additional improvements include real-time ramp metering on 44 on-ramps to reduce merging conflicts and manage traffic volumes on I-80 and its arterials. Once activated in 2015, these Adaptive Ramp Meters and real-time message signs along the corridor will contribute to optimized roadway operations and will be integrated with, and managed from, the Traffic Management Center at the Caltrans Bay Area headquarters in Oakland.
Please visit the I-80 Smart Corridor website for additional information, or call 1-800-747-5031. Follow #80SMART on Twitter for project updates.