Community Corner
Freeway Service Patrol Expands Coverage in San Mateo County
Two service trucks will now patrol a 20-mile segment along Interstate 280 between State Route 92 and State Route 85, helping stranded motorists, clearing accidents and removing roadway debris.
The Bay Area’s roving fleet of service trucks, which drives up and down local freeways searching for stranded motorists and roadway debris, will now add to its coverage area a 20-mile segment along Interstate 280 between State Routes 92 and 85.
The Freeway Service Patrol (FSP), overseen by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission in partnership with Caltrans and California Highway Patrol, employs nearly 80 trucks to monitor 560 miles of freeways in the Bay Area.
MTC announced Tuesday that two drivers will now be assigned to I-280 from San Mateo to Woodside, patrolling both highway directions Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and then from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
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The new segment, which straddles San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, fills in a gap in the program's coverage area, since it already services I-280 north of Highway 92 and south of Highway 85.
“Half of all the congestion on Bay Area freeways is due to accidents, stalls, debris spills and other incidents,” MTC Chair and San Mateo County Supervisor Adrienne Tissier said in a press statement. “These beloved ‘Guardian Angels of the Freeway’ deliver a vital service by providing assistance that helps unclog critical travel routes.”
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CHP describes the program as "a congestion management tool which strategically addresses commute traffic pattern problems" to keep the flow of traffic running smoothly. A commputerized system allows CHP dispatchers to locate and communicate with trucks on scene.
According to MTC, the patrol drivers stop a combined average of 11,000 times each month to repair or remove disabled vehicles, clear accidents, remove road debris and tag abandoned cars.
Services to stranded motorists are offered free of charge and include changing tires, jump-starting the battery, taping hoses or providing a gallon of fuel if needed. Vehicles requiring more extensive assistance are towed to the nearest off-freeway location identified by the CHP.
The program utilizes private tow truck companies and is paid for through a combination of federal, state and local funds, including a portion of the $1-per-vehicle annual registration fee assessed to all Bay Area motorists.
