Q: You are driving on Hostetter, which becomes Murphy, then Brokaw and eventually Airport Boulevard. Why don’t they use one name for this road? It’s the same physical street.
Jeff Hack, San Jose
A: Some road segments and their names date back to the valley’s farming days. The roads may have crossed city lands and county lands and when roads connected, agencies may not have coordinated naming. Today, the process for street naming and renaming is highly coordinated. Renaming a road involves the post office, fire department, county, and city building division. It requires public hearings, buy-in from affected property owners, and a funding source. Businesses must publicize their new address, if it changes. Address numbers on a road must be in sequence, so hundreds of property owners could be affected, if road segments were renamed to be consistent. Keeping road names as they are is often the preferred path for the people who are most impacted.
Q: I have another question. To get through the intersection of Oakland and Main in San Jose, you must be in the left lane. As you reach Interstate 880, you are forced to get on 880 north if you are still in that lane. There is no warning about this until it’s too late, and often traffic is so heavy that it is dangerous to change lanes from the left lane.
Jeff Hack
A: Warnings saying “NB 880 Only” begin just after a westbound driver crosses Ridder Park Drive, about 1,400 feet before the intersection with the 880 on-ramp. There are no on-street warnings farther east to avoid confusing drivers turning left on Ridder Park Drive. As there will be an upcoming repaving project here, the city is checking to see what improvements could be made then to make things clearer here.
Q: I am a faithful reader of your column and recall seeing this topic in your column before. I think the most dangerous road in Santa Clara County is Arastradero, which runs from Alpine Road in Portola Valley to Page Mill Road in Los Altos Hills. This winding, circuitous road is used by commuters, bicyclists, equestrians, joggers, and many persons leaving the famous Alpine Inn in their cars after a long day of celebrating and drinking alcohol. I’ve driven this road since 1977 and it has become even become more dangerous as GPS redirects people from a crowded 280 south to Arastradero Road. There is always someone trying to pass a cyclist, which usually ends up badly for the cyclist.
Greg Van Hauser
A: I understand. You describe a very dangerous mix of people and driving conditions here. Sadly, there is not much planned now to try to ease these problems.
Look for Gary Richards at facebook.com/mr.roadshow or contact him at mrroadshow@bayareanewsgroup.com.
Source: www.mercurynews.com