Innovation

Transportation planners seek out innovation to make it easier for people and goods to get where they need to be, whether it be in San Joaquin County or beyond. The benefits are limited only by our imagination. They can make it more convenient to take public transit, which eases traffic congestion, takes cars off the road, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and improves air quality. Innovation can come from looking at a challenge differently.

Diverging Diamond Interchanges – Manteca, Tracy

The City of Manteca used Measure K funds to help fund the first-in-the-state diverging diamond interchange (DDI). Manteca is planning for more DDIs – at State Route 120 and Main Street and State Route 120 and Airport Way. And Tracy is using Measure K funds to help pay for the design and construction of a DDI at Interstate 580 and International Parkway/Patterson Pass Road. While unnerving at first since traffic travels to the left for a distance crossing the interchange, there are several benefits. DDIs improve safety by reducing potential conflict points between vehicles and between vehicles and pedestrian and bike traffic. The Manteca DDI increases safety for pedestrians and cyclists by providing a separated 10-foot-wide lane so they never come in conflict with motorized vehicles. Traffic flow is improved, the overall interchange footprint is compact by comparison, and is a cost effective, efficient solution.