The Project will construct approximately 17 center-line miles of Tolled Managed Lanes in both directions on Interstate 80 (I-80) and United States 50 (US-50) in Yolo County and portions of Sacramento County to alleviate bottlenecks and address an increasing capacity constraint.
Project components includes installation of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) elements, such as fiber optics, detection, changeable message signs, to enhance mobility conditions and incident management strategies between jurisdictions; and improved bicycle and pedestrian access and safety to the eastern and western termini of the Yolo Causeway Class I facility that includes reduced curve radius, and analyze additional crosswalk, sidewalk, lighting, and safety elements.
The proposed improvements represent a scope guided by a variety of stakeholders from local and regional entities along the corridor. The Project begins at the Solano/Yolo County line on I-80 and ends at the I-80/West El Camino Avenue interchange, and on US-50 from the I-80/US-50 Interchange to the I-5/US-50 interchange, in Sacramento County. The project area includes the entire I-80 and US-50 corridors in Yolo County. This Project will result in direct and significant benefits to the economic vitality of the region by enhancing the operational performance and safety for regional and interregional travelers and national freight movement.
The I-80/US-50 corridors are subject to high travel demand, especially during peak commute periods and recreational weekend travel. The demand has created severe traffic congestion and impaired mobility along the route. At various locations, specifically I-80 through the city of Davis, and along the Yolo Bypass Causeway between the cities of Davis and West Sacramento, travel demand has exceeded highway design capacity, resulting in bottlenecks during the AM and PM peak periods. Multiple factors contribute to these bottlenecks, including high traffic volumes, short weaving and merging areas, lane drops, limited sight distances, lack of ITS elements, and incomplete bus/carpool, ramp metering, and auxiliary lane networks. Heavy congestion and stop-and-go traffic have contributed to increased vehicle emissions, increased travel costs, and reduced travel time reliability.