MEMORANDUM

This memo is an overview of what Yuba-Sutter Transit is planning to do to maintain our existing routes and schedules during the upcoming Interstate 5 reconstruction project. To keep up to date on the project, sign up for Caltrans project alerts at www.fixi5.com. This website includes a great project calendar to track the alternating directional I-5 closures. An excellent project presentation is also on our website at www.yubasuttertransit.com.

Based on the current project schedule, the project will have the most impact on our service during the 18 weekdays of alternating directional closures of I-5. During the weekday commute period, northbound I-5 will be closed from Monday, June 2nd through Friday, June 6th and from Friday, June 27th through Wednesday, July 2nd. Southbound closures will be in effect from Monday, June 16th through Friday, June 20th and from Wednesday, July 9th through Monday July 14th. During all other interim periods, traffic will be open in both directions. During the entire project, the southbound exit to J Street will remain open.

Yuba-Sutter Transit is planning to take the following initiatives for the period Monday, June 2nd through Monday, July, 14th. First, no changes are planned for any Yuba-Sutter Transit routes or schedules during the project with the following exception. During both northbound closures, the stop at P & 5th Street will be moved to existing Regional Transit stop and shelter at 5th & P Street. During these periods, the northbound P Street on-ramp to I-5 will be closed so our buses will detour from P Street on 5th Street to the L Street on-ramp to northbound I-5.

Second, Yuba-Sutter Transit is planning to have additional capacity on-call each morning beginning with the first schedule in anticipation of additional passengers especially early in the morning. This will be in the form of smaller supplemental buses that will be available as needed should passenger demand for regularly scheduled buses exceed capacity. Such supplemental service will be available for Highway 70 and 99 schedules to the limit of existing equipment and personnel.

Third, Yuba-Sutter Transit is planning to modify and add to the recently implemented afternoon supplemental schedule. Beginning Monday, June 2nd, the first supplemental bus will begin service from the J & 4th Street stop a few minutes earlier at 3:55 p.m. and a second supplemental bus will begin service from the same stop at 4:15 p.m. Both buses will travel on Highway 99 though both will also stop in East Nicolaus by request. These supplemental schedules are designed to provide the maximum relief possible to the first five afternoon schedules that are all now running at or near capacity on a daily basis.

Fourth, no Yuba-Sutter Transit buses will be parked in downtown Sacramento during the project period to allow maximum flexibility in their local departure time to maintain the existing afternoon schedules in downtown Sacramento to the extent possible. Three buses are now usually parked in downtown Sacramento each day for cost saving purposes, but that practice will be suspended during the project.

Fifth, Yuba-Sutter Transit will be well connected to the Caltrans, City of Sacramento and Regional Transit operations centers throughout this project. As a result, we will be able to monitor traffic conditions and take action as necessary and when possible to maintain our existing operation in downtown Sacramento. We anticipate that the worst traffic conditions will occur in the morning during the combined total of nine weekdays of southbound closures so our drivers and dispatch staff will have been briefed on alternate routes into downtown though that will certainly mean delayed morning arrival times.

Finally, all of this is subject to change without notice due to completely unpredictable traffic conditions that are likely to change day to day even minute by minute. The above action plan is expected to be in operation Monday through Friday throughout the project though the nature and scope of the plan may change should conditions warrant. Regular e-mail updates are expected to be sent during the project period, but they may not always be possible due to extremely fluid conditions.

Here are a few I-5 project survival tips for you to consider:

• If you haven't already done so, sign up for our commuter e-mail alerts by sending an e-mail request today to keith_martin@sbcglobal.net or calling 530-634-6880.
• Consider riding one of our schedules where more seats are now available (1st & 2nd AM 70; 1st, 2nd and 6th AM 99; 3rd PM 70; and, 4th, 5th & 6th PM 99 - especially the 6th PM 99).
• Inform your employer and childcare providers of the potential for schedule delays.
• Take advantage of any telecommute, flexible schedule or vacation options that you may have.
• Put the Yuba-Sutter Transit information number (530-742-2877) on your cell phone speed dial.
• Bring a sense of humor, a ton of patience and be glad that this happens only once every 30 or 40 years!

For more information, please contact Keith Martin at 530-634-6880 or by e-mail at keith_martin@sbcglobal.net.