Be prepared for the ‘Fix 50’ highway project

by Dave Jones
March 04, 2014

Graphic: Caltrans Fix50.com logo

INTERCAMPUS SHUTTLE

As of today (March 4), shuttle buses run hourly from 5:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. See the schedule here. Tickets or passes must be purchased in advance.

Davis campus (cash or check only):

TAPS — north of the west entry parking garage, along the Dairy Road Bikeway
Cashier’s Office — 1200 Dutton Hall

Sacramento campus:

Parking and Transportation Services — 4800 Second Ave., Suite 1100 (FSSB Building)

University leaders are gearing up to cope with a massive repair project on the freeway that connects the Davis and Sacramento campuses, and are urging staff, faculty and students to do the same — the sooner the better.

The project on the elevated section of U.S. 50 in Sacramento is not scheduled to start until May 2, but, said Nick Crossley, who leads Emergency Management and Mission Continuity, the time to start preparing is now. Here’s a good place to start: the Fix50.com website (including maps of alternate routes).

“This project will affect a great many people: our UC Davis commuters, people who need to travel between Davis and Sacramento during the workday, and people who are expecting visitors from off-campus,” Crossley said. “Everyone needs to factor in extra travel time.”

The California Department of Transportation, or Caltrans, is estimating one-hour delays during the 1½-month-long project, during which one side of the viaduct and then the other will be closed for about 20 days each, all day: 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

During each closure, traffic from the closed viaduct will be diverted to the other viaduct — so eastbound and westbound traffic will be sharing one side or the other. Side streets are sure to be packed, too, as people look for detours.

The commuters who will be most affected are those who come to the Davis campus from the east on 50, from the south on state Highway 99 and from the northeast on Business 80. If you live in West Sacramento, you are not entirely out of the woods — as traffic is likely to back up between West Sacramento and Davis.

The construction schedule and related closures:

• Stage 1, May 2-22, eastbound lanes closed, traffic diverted to the westbound viaduct — Two onramps will be closed, at 16th Street and 11th Street; and two connector ramps will be closed, from eastbound 50 to southbound 99, and from eastbound Business 80 to eastbound 50.

• Stage 2, May 28-June 17, westbound lanes closed, traffic diverted to the eastbound viaduct — Two offramps will be closed, at 16th Street and 10th Street, and two connector ramps will be closed, from northbound 99 to westbound 50, and westbound Business 80 to westbound 50.

Caltrans is estimating one-hour delays, and reminds people that the construction schedule is dependent on weather.

As of now, there is no work scheduled during Memorial Day weekend, Saturday-Monday, May 24-27, coinciding with the Sacramento Music Festival (held in Old Sacramento and other venues) and the Sacramento County Fair (at Cal Expo). Finish-up construction will continue beyond Stage 2, but this work is not expected to interfere with traffic, and there will be no work at all during the state fair (July 11-27).

The viaduct closures will be in effect during every commencement, from the law school's (May 16) and the School of Medicine's (May 29 on the Davis campus), and for all the others, June 11-15. which means event planners should alert their guests. Likewise for any other events on the calendar.

The UC Davis Health System has patients to notify, and the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital has patients' owners to notify. In addition, the health system is working with law enforcement to ensure ambulances can get through.

Buses, trains, carpools

Transportation officials on both campuses are considering extra buses for the intercampus shuttle, and are talking with Amtrak to see if it will add service, and to Sacramento Regional Regional Transit to see if it will add service to the Amtrak depot.

Unitrans’ Anthony Palmere, general manager, said the city-campus bus service will connect with any added trains at the Davis depot, shortly after each arrival or shortly before each departure, just as it does under Amtrak’s existing schedule; conductors can provide transfers for Unitrans rides free of charge to and from campus.

“I would like to encourage people to think about alternative transportation,” said Leslie Mancebo, transportation demand and marketing coordinator at Transportation and Parking Services, or TAPS, on the Davis campus. “Buses, trains and carpools will likely be the best options for most of the people effected by the Fix 50 project.”

The TAPS goClub offers discounted bus passes and "commuter checks" for the purchase of Amtrak tickets. To join the goClub, you must give up your UC Davis parking permit — flexible options may be available during the freeway project.

The goClub’s carpool site includes a link to the Zimride ride-matching service, complimentary to all staff, faculty and students.

Mancebo said she is available to consult with employees on their commute options. You can reach her by phone, (530) 752-6453, or you can send her an email.