![PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS Mike Sons recently updated Candlestick Park exit signs on Highway 101 to read 3Com Park. There are now 18 highway signs proclaiming 3Com, an expample of Silicon Valley invading the San Francisco hills. [960708 LO 1B AL 1; color] SIGNS B,1,A 7/08/96 SPECIAL FOR THE SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS--Mike Sons covers the old Candlestick Park exit signs off Highway 101 with the new 3Com Park signs, Wednesday, June 19, 1996, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Lacy Atkins)](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/20160122__3com1.jpg?w=456)
Q: I drove from Carmel to Redwood City one night last week, via highways 1, 156, 101, 85 and Interstate 280. I have never driven that route before and really needed to be able to read the highway signs in order to avoid going off course and to exit far enough in advance in heavy traffic. But it was a crap shoot.
In my two-hour trip, I think only a couple of the signs were lit, even though they appeared to be equipped with lights. The only sign I remember seeing lit was the one for the 84/Woodside Road exit off 280.
I saw your earlier response regarding Caltrans plans to replace the signs, but why the hell are they not being maintained and lit in the interim? This is a major safety hazard.
P. Taylor
Redwood City
A: It is here and on far too many other highways.
Q: Are we so poor that we can’t light more Bay Area exit ramp signs? Currently, only actual exit ramps are lit. Those which give the mileage to two or three upcoming exits are not. … Since September, the five lights that line the roadway at Exit 12B on Highway 4 east to Interstate 680 in Martinez have not been lit during the early morning commute. This is in the middle of a major interchange and it sure would be nice to have the signs lit.
Bob Marshall, Eileen Keenley and many more
A: Caltrans has installed nearly 700 new retro-reflective signs above Bay Area freeways that throw back the light from headlights of oncoming vehicles much better than the older green reflective signs. Yet many of these older signs are dark now for a variety of reasons ranging from copper thieves to burned-out bulbs to state officials not wanting to spend additional money with new signs coming.
And another problem. Some signs are so dirty that they are hard to read. Maybe the winter rains will help remove the grime.
Q: The big question is “When will changes be coming to Capitol Expressway?” It took 10-plus years to build bus shelters on Capitol between Story and Tully roads. Based on that experience, I would think bringing light rail to the expressway is many, many years off.
Peter Skinner
San Jose
A: It may be. VTA completed new sidewalks, street lighting and a landscaping buffer in 2012. The reconstruction of the Eastridge Transit Center was finished in 2015.
Now for light rail from Alum Rock to Eastridge, right-of-way acquisition and utility relocation could be done early next year. Construction would begin in mid-2019 and end in 2023.
We hope.
Look for Gary Richards at Facebook.com/mr.roadshow or contact him at mrroadshow@bayareanewsgroup.com.
