US 101 and State Route 85 Express Lanes Project (Phase 3)

VTA, as part of its Silicon Valley Express Lanes Program, has combined the SR 85 and US 101 Express Lanes projects into Phases 3 and 4. Phases 3 implemented express lanes through the US 101/SR 85 interchanges in Mountain View .

The Phase 3 project on US 101 and SR 85:

• Converted the existing single carpool lanes to express lanes in the following locations:
  • US 101 from near SR 237 to SR 85 in Mountain View.
  • SR 85 from SR 237/Grant Road to the US 101/SR 85 interchange in Mountain View including the existing US 101/SR 85 carpool lane-to-carpool lane direct connector ramps.
• Converted existing double carpool lanes to double express lanes on US 101 from the US 101/SR 85 interchange in Mountain View to the San Mateo County line in Palo Alto.

When complete, the US 101 portion of the Silicon Valley Express Lanes will convert 36 miles on US 101 to express lanes and add a second express lane for the majority of the corridor from Dunne Avenue in Morgan Hill to the San Mateo County line. The second express lane will provide a two-lane facility with urbanized segments. The US 101 express lanes will connect with the SR 85 express lanes in San Jose and convert US 101/SR 85 HOV direct connectors in Mountain View to express lane connectors.

The SR 85 portion will convert approximately 24 miles of existing High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV or carpool) lanes and will add a second express lane between SR 87 and I-280 in the median. The project will also convert the existing HOV direct connector in south San Jose from US 101 to SR 85 to an express lane connector.

San Mateo County has also implemented express lanes along the 101 corridor, where there is a seamless transition at the county line with VTA express lanes. For more information on San Mateo 101 express lanes, visit the Caltrans project page.