Drivers on Highway 101 are seeing another change to their morning and evening commutes as Caltrans backtracks on a controversial policy.
Per the Press Democrat, for the second time in six months, crews have updated signs along the 52-mile corridor through Sonoma and Marin counties. Starting this week, carpool hours are now 6:00 to 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 to 6:30 p.m. The move is a retreat from a massive expansion last September that nearly doubled carpool times, sparking widespread outrage and a petition signed by nearly 9,000 residents.
Caltrans admitted its previous analysis overshot the actual periods of congestion. Officials say the shorter window will provide more lane capacity for all drivers, helping to ease a notorious bottleneck in San Rafael.
While organizers of the protest say the new hours aren’t perfect, they are calling it a win for commuters who saw their drive times skyrocket last fall.
