Fix 50 and UC Davis: Resources (and links), continually updated.

Updated 8 a.m. May 28: Today I decided to stick with the freeway, and guess what? I got to campus three minutes earlier than yesterday! Meaning my overall delay, because of Fix 50, was only seven minutes! I got on the freeway just after 7 a.m. and hit the backup around 39th Street, whereas yesterday the traffic was already backed up to 59th Street at around the same time. So, clearly, commuters were caught off guard yesterday, and by today they had adjusted their commutes. I moved through the construction zone this morning at an OK pace, maybe coming to a complete stop once or twice. Here’s hoping it’s like this all through Fix 50! So far, my only real complaint? Those news helicopters flying over my house at 6 a.m.!

By Dave Jones

My commute to campus is relatively quick and straightforward: I get on U.S. Highway 50 at 59th Street in east Sacramento, move to the far left lane (or one lane in, depending on which lane has fewer potholes) and stay there all the way to the UC Davis exit, usually 20 to 25 minutes.

All that changed this morning (May 27) when Fix 50’s Stage 2 (westbound) got underway, and the California Department of Transportation and its contractor blocked off the three inside lanes of the elevated freeway in central Sacramento.

I left my house just after 7 a.m., after hearing on TV that traffic was backed up to 65th Street, six blocks to the east of me. (Eventually, the backup would extend to Watt Avenue, according to The Sacramento Bee).

I saw the backup myself as I crossed the freeway, en route to my onramp. So I skipped it and took Folsom Boulevard instead, traveling through the Fab 40s and into downtown.

I didn’t detect any surge in traffic as I maneuvered to 15th Street, where I hopped on the congestion-free freeway west of the construction zone.

Total driving time to Davis: a little more than 30 minutes. Not bad. But something tells me more people may be following me on surface streets in the days to come — so I may telecommute a few days a week, per the agreement I arranged with my supervisor before Fix 50, but which I never used during Stage 1, because the congestion wasn't all that bad.

Stage 2 is different, though, with Caltrans pointing out how the freeway serves a larger number of commuters coming west from El Dorado and eastern Sacramento counties. Not only that, but, coming westbound, we are on our way to work, instead of going home — and may have less flexibility in our hours.

Commuters from the south on state Highway 99 ran into a backup of their own, more than a mile long, according to The Bee, as they transitioned from 99 to westbound U.S. 50. It doesn't help that Caltrans has reduced the connector ramp to one lane, to allow for safer merges onto 50 in the construction zone.

No doubt you know by now, if you live in the Elk Grove area, you should consider taking Interstate 5 into Sacramento.

The connector ramp from westbound Business 80 to westbound U.S. 50 also has been reduced to one lane. Alternative routes include Interstate 80 around the north end of Sacramento, and state Highway 160 into downtown.

Construction is scheduled 24 hours a day, seven days a week, through June 25.  C.C. Myers of Myers & Sons Construction finished six days early on the eastbound side, so, perhaps he can do it again on the westbound side!

Caltrans is still urging people to consider alternative transportation, including buses and light rail.

UC Davis is doing its part to alleviate congestion by encouraging people to park their cars and take the university shuttle that runs between the Sacramento and Davis campuses. As of today, the shuttle is back on an expanded schedule (the same as during Stage 1), and the fare waiver is still in effect — in other words, rides are free for employees and students.

The university also is continuing to remind students, faculty and staff about the traffic congestion that visitors to campus might encounter, especially for commencement — given the fact that every graduation ceremony except one is scheduled during Fix 50’s Stage 2. This Friday (May 30), the School of Medicine holds its commencement on the Davis campus, and 11 other ceremonies are scheduled here from June 11 to 15.

Commencement schedule

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