Overhead Sign Installation Nearing Completion
Interstate 80 SMART Corridor Project on Schedule for Activation in Spring 2015 to
Increase Safety and Travel Time Reliability along I-80
Contact:
I-80 SMART CORRIDOR/
Integrated Corridor Mobility (ICM) PROJECT
[email protected]
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) began installing overhead sign frames (gantries) at eleven
sites along westbound I-80 between Cutting Boulevard in Richmond and Powell Street in Emeryville in August 2014.
The sign frames support new, state-of-the-art electronic signage, which, when activated in spring 2015, will provide
real-time traffic information to motorists traveling on the I-80 corridor.
The gantry installations, which will be completed by the end of the year, are part of the I-80 SMART Corridor
Project, a 20-mile-long network of variable message, lane-use and advisory speed signs and other elements
designed to enhance motorist safety, improve travel time reliability and reduce accidents and associated traffic
congestion along one of the busiest corridors in the Bay Area.
The San Pablo Avenue corridor and some local roads are also part of this project, integrating the interstate and local
road operations into a single system. For example, the project supports transit by providing preferential access lanes
to buses through signal priority along San Pablo Avenue and ramp-meter-bypass lanes on some ramps.
The I-80 SMART Corridor Project is one of the most comprehensive high-tech networks of its kind in the State of
California. The project was developed through a partnership between the California Department of Transportation
(Caltrans), the Alameda County Transportation Commission (Alameda CTC), the Contra Costa Transportation
Authority (CCTA) and the West Contra Costa County Transportation Committee (WCCTAC) in collaboration with
transit agencies and nine municipalities along the corridor.
PROJECT STATUS & WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE COMING MONTHS:
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Completed: Caltrans has completed the installation of way-finding signage and transit prioritization signals along
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San Pablo Avenue, as well as adaptive ramp meters on 44 on-ramps along the I-80 corridor. Overhead sign
installation is nearly complete, with eight of eleven sign frames installed.
Current: In addition to the installation of the last overhead sign frames along the corridor, the current phase of
construction includes the development and integration of the traffic management software and local testing of the
electronic message, speed, lane use and other signs.
Upcoming (Late 2014 into 2015): After the signs are installed, the communications software that integrates the
project components will be tested extensively, ensuring that the system is ready for activation. When the fullycoordinated project elements come online in spring 2015, all systems will be monitored and managed from the
Caltrans Traffic Management Center in Oakland.
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Way-finding signage: signs placed along local roads that direct traffic to the highway past an accident/incident.
Adaptive ramp metering: ramp meters that adjust signal green times according to traffic volumes on I-80 and the ramp.
As many as 270,000 vehicles per day use the I-80 corridor, one of the busiest in the Bay Area. The I-80 SMART
Corridor Project, representing one of the most comprehensive Intelligent Transportation Systems in the state, is
implementing a network of integrated electronic signs, ramp meters and other state-of-the-art elements between the
Carquinez Bridge and the Bay Bridge to enhance motorist safety, improve travel time reliability and reduce accidents
and associated congestion. 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. Once activated in 2015, these ramp meters and
real-time message signs along the corridor will contribute to optimized roadway operations and improved safety, and
will be integrated with, and managed from, the Traffic Management Center at the Caltrans Bay Area headquarters in
Oakland. Additional improvements include adaptive ramp metering on 44 on-ramps to reduce merging conflicts and
manage traffic volumes on I-80.
The $79 million project is funded by the Corridor Mobility Improvement Account (CMIA) created by State Proposition
1B, approved by Californians in 2006 for transportation needs, Contra Costa Transportation Authority's Measure J
half-cent sales tax and Alameda County Transportation Commission's Measure B half-cent sales tax. Alameda
County's transportation sales tax is on the ballot for reauthorization this November in Alameda County as Measure
BB, to fund essential transportation improvements and continue to implement projects like the I-80 SMART Corridor
that improve the efficiency and safety of the current highway system.
Please visit http://www.80smartcorridor.org for more information and to watch a video overview of how the project
components work together in unison, or call 1-800-747-5031 with questions. Follow #80SMART on Twitter for project
updates.