Bay Area Traffic San Jose freeways – highways 101 and 280
San Jose has several major freeways that serve the city. The main one is highway 101 running north and south. This is the main highway taking you into San Francisco to the north, and down to central and southern California to the south.
Avoid highway 101 during the hours of 6:00am to 9:00am, and 4:00pm to 7:00pm Monday through Friday. This is the highest commute time in the area. If you have to be on the roads during these hours, try and drive between 10am and 3pm. All lanes are open during these times without carpool restrictions. The traffic flow is usually good during these hours.
Also avoid these freeways on Friday nights especially going south out of town, and Sunday night going from south to the north back into San Jose. Many people travel on weekends in the area and the freeways get backed up quickly.
Another good option if you want to go to San Francisco take highway 280 north which turns into 19th avenue (highway one) in San Francisco leading straight to Golden Gate Park, and the Golden Gate Bridge.
One note about highway 280-at the entrance near downtown San Jose, if you are going north on 280 to meet up with highway 680, the highway reads “280 South”, when in reality, you are traveling north. Because 280 north, becomes 680 north, this is very confusing, Highway 280 to San Francisco is North. Highway 280 South to Sacramento turns into North 680.
Bay Area Traffic San Jose freeways – highway 85 and 280
Highway 85 skirts the west side of San Jose and meets up with highway 280, then highway 101 on both ends, and finally highway 880. This is a good highway to avoid going north in the mornings, and south in the afternoons when traffic is heaviest during those times. The traffic flow can be very fast with sudden repeated halts.
Bay Area Traffic San Jose freeways – highway 87
Highway 87 is a short freeway that takes you into the downtown area off highway 85 and 280. They recently added a commute lane to highway 87 making the traffic flow better than it has been in years past. This is one of the main freeways to the airport.
Bay Area Traffic San Jose freeways – highways 17 and 880
Highway 17 and highway 880 in San Jose are the same freeway. To the west, it becomes 17 going over the mountains to Santa Cruz. This is a very winding road with accidents being a common occurrence. It runs only two lanes on each side over the mountain. This is the main highway to the beach during the summer and is usually very congested. Highway 17 to the east becomes highway 880 taking you to Oakland. During the morning the traffic is heavy coming over the mountain into San Jose. In the afternoons it is the opposite.
Bay Area Traffic San Jose freeways – carpool lanes
Highway 101, 85, and 87 offer carpool lanes of 2 or more people. The restrictions are only Monday through Friday from 5:00am to 9:00am, and 3:00pm 7:00pm. All other times the lanes are open to all.The fine is $280.
Bay Area Traffic San Jose freeways –toll roads
The only freeway at this time that is a toll road in San Jose is highway 680 coming in from the north only. This is a new commuter toll lane that recently opened and has a varying toll–up to $6 depending on the time of day. It is available free for commuters who carpool, and for single drivers who want to pay the toll. You must use a FasTrak system to use the lane. If you have a FasTrak and are commuting, put it in the sleeve to avoid an unnecessary charge.
This commuter lane will save you a great deal of time if you are coming in from the north into San Jose on highway 680 especially during high traffic times. The lane is restricted Monday through Friday 5am to 8pm. Be aware that this lane only offers 4 exits and entrances.
Source:
http://www.bayareafastrak.org/
