SR 237 Express Lanes

The California Transportation Foundation (CTF) recognized the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority’s SR 237 express lanes as Project of the Year in May 2013. This project, described in greater detail on this page, has cut trip time for drivers in all lanes and provides a model for self-sustaining congestion pricing on Santa Clara County’s highways. VTA congratulates its project partners: Caltrans D4, Federal Highway Administration, CHP, Bay Area Toll Authority, Gray-Bowen, Parsons Brinckerhoff, CDM Smith, TransCore, and RGW. Please see the video below to learn more about the CTF award.

SR 237 Express Lanes Video

VTA has opened express lanes along the SR 237 and I-880 corridor. Express lanes provide a reliable travel option to Bay Area commuters and maximize usage and capacity in the lanes during commute hours. Carpoolers and solo drivers who utilize the express lanes have experienced several changes, such as new signs, road striping and traffic laws, limited entry and exit points, and hours of operation.

Project Overview

Express lanes along the SR 237 and I-880 corridor in Santa Clara County are between just south of Dixon Landing Road on I-880 and North First Street on SR 237.

237 and 880 project map

Signs and Striping

As you approach an express lane you will see a series of signs in the median indicating the oncoming express lane, hours of operation, signs reminding drivers not to cross the double white lines, and the current toll rate. These rates will vary depending on the level of congestion in the express lane.

New to many drivers is the sign reading HOV 2+. HOV means High Occupancy Vehicle (also known as a carpool). The 2+ designates the need to have a minimum of two or more occupants.

In late January 2012 new striping was painted to delineate express lanes from general purpose lanes with a two-foot wide buffer zone featuring double solid white lines. Whether you are carpooling or a solo driver, do not cross double solid white lines to enter or exit express lanes. It is a violation of the state vehicle code for any driver to cross solid lines and the California Highway Patrol will enforce traffic laws. Related fines can range from $481 or more. The double white lines are in effect 24 hours a day, seven days a week, regardless of carpool or express lane hours of operation.

Entry and Exit Points

Express lanes have limited entry and exit points. The limited entry and exit points will allow for a smoother flow in the corridor with minimal merging.

(click to enlarge map)

Driving southbound on I-880 you enter the express lane in Milpitas, south of Dixon Landing Road. As you continue westbound on SR 237 toward Mountain View, the double white lines will end after the North First Street exit. Toll paying drivers will have until Lawrence Expressway to exit the carpool lane.

(click to enlarge map)

Traveling eastbound on SR 237, you enter the express lane between North First Street and Zanker Road. The double white line striping begins just after Zanker Road and will continue through northbound I-880, ending south of Dixon Landing Road in Milpitas. Toll paying drivers will have until Dixon Landing Road to exit the carpool lane.

Planning Your Commute

Limited entry and exit points may require some changes to your commute if you are traveling on express lanes.

Westbound SR 237 express-lane traffic cannot exit at Zanker Road or North First Street.

Suggested route: Continue on to Great America Parkway and loop back. While it is an additional two miles, commuters using express lanes will bypass congested lanes and benefit from a six-10-minute travel time savings..

Likewise, access to or from the express lanes will not be available for vehicles entering or exiting SR 237 at Calaveras Boulevard, McCarthy Boulevard, or Zanker Road.

Carpoolers heading westbound on SR 237 will be able to access the carpool lane after North First Streetor northbound I-880 just south of Dixon Landing Road.

Hours of Operation

Express lanes will operate the same hours as carpool lanes, with the exception of an extended hour on westbound SR 237, 5am until 10am. Eastbound commute hours will remain 5am-9am. The afternoon hours in both directions remain 3pm-7pm.

During non-operational hours, anyone can use express lanes. At all times, however, drivers must adhere to the limited entry and exitsand may not cross the double solid white lines. As stated above, the double white lines are in effect 24 hours a day, seven days a week, regardless of carpool or express lane hours of operation.

"HOV Only" mode

When you see “HOV Only” on the gantry sign over the carpool/express lane, it means solo drivers may not use the HOV/express laneunless they are driving a motorcycle or clean air vehicle with applicable decals. The “HOV Only” sign comes on when traffic congestion in the lane, or at the end of the express lane, is so great that it is not possible to maintain the minimum 45 mph speed in the express lane. Sometimes it may appear that traffic is moving well, but there could be congestion at the end of the express lane. Therefore, the sign will indicate “HOV only” to ensure smooth traffic flow and to enhance safety.

Traffic congestion has increased in the afternoon hours along northbound I-880, resulting in the “HOV only” mode being activated more frequently during the evening commute than during morning hours.. Congestion can be the result of many factors, including nearby construction activities, additional motorists on the road due to improved employment, weekend travel plans, or the summer school break. Although traffic may appear to be moving well on the express lanes connector ramp, it may be necessary to activate the “HOV only” mode due to heavy congestion at the end of the express lane, near Mission Blvd.

VTA is evaluating options for a long-term solution to this backup that will reduce the frequency of “HOV only.” activation. Commuters who wish to use the express lanes can plan their afternoon commute to avoid the peak traffic congestion by leave work earlier/later if possible. One potential long-term solution for traffic congestion relief is to expand the network of express lanes within Santa Clara County. For more information, please visit http://www.vta.org/expresslanes.

Tolling and FasTrak

Tolls for solo drivers are collected electronically using FasTrak. Revenues from these tolls remain in the corridor and will be used for operation, maintenance, enforcement costs, and transit improvements. Tolls on SR 237 (first phase/segment) have ranged from $0.30 to $4.75, with an average toll of $1.60.
When a car equipped with a FasTrak transponder passes under an express lane antenna, the antenna will read the transponder, and the correct toll will automatically be deducted from the driver’s prepaid FasTrak account.

You can get your FasTrak transponder, set up your pre-paid account, and learn more about FasTrak from www.bayareafastrak.org, or by calling 1-877-229-8655.

Carpoolers with FasTrak Transponders and Mylar Bag Replacement

Carpoolers can use the express lanes for free. If you are carpooling and you have a FasTrak transponder, make sure to place your transponder in the Mylar bag it came with to prevent the antenna from reading and deducting a toll. If you need a Mylar bag replacement, call Bay Area Fastrak at 1-877-229-8655and speak with a customer service agent. They will send you a free replacement in five-10 business days.

If your FasTrak transponder was not in its Mylar bag and you were charged a toll while carpooling, you should contact Bay Area FasTrak at 1-877-229-8655 and speak to a customer service representative.

Transponder License Plate Frames

If you have a transponder license plate frame and you will also be carpooling in the express lane, you may consider switching to a transponder that can be mounted on your windshield. This choice will provide access and all the transponder to be placed in its Mylar bag to avoid the toll charge.

Transponders and Rental Cars

You can use your toll tag with rental vehicles. Please refer to Bay Area FasTrak to learn more about your options.

cars on general purpose lanes and express lanes

Project Benefits

Increase efficiency of existing roadway: Existing carpool lane connectors have the available capacity to accommodate more vehicles. More efficient use of existing roadways is accomplished by encouraging transit and carpools and allowing solo drivers to pay a fee to access the lanes.
Fast, reliable travel: Through the use of dynamic pricing, VTA manages the amount of traffic in the express lanes and maintains free-flowing speeds even when the general purpose lanes are congested. Motorists who choose to use the express lanes will benefit from reliable travel times.
Revenue reinvested in the corridor: Revenue from tolls will be used for operation and maintenance costs, enforcement costs and transit improvements within the corridor.

Project Funding

$3.5 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)
$4 million Federal Value Pricing Pilot Program (VPPP)
$4.3 million local funding
$11.8 million total funding