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TRANSACTIONS NEWSLETTER ONLINE

July-August 2002

Facts and Figures

Freeway Service Patrol Beefs Up Beats, Trucks and Hours
The Freeway Service Patrol (FSP), the region's roving tow truck fleet, will phase in a major expansion of service this July. The number of FSP "beats" (segments of coverage) will jump from 30 to 33, and the miles covered will increase by more than 50. Thirty of those miles and four new tow trucks will be added to the FSP safety net in Santa Clara County alone, linking existing beats and extending the FSP's reach on segments of U.S. Highway 101 and State Route 85. Another new beat will close an 11-plus-mile gap in service on U.S. Highway 101 in Sonoma County.

On the Peninsula, a nearly 10-mile service gap along State Route 92 between Interstate 280 and U.S. Highway 101 will be bridged.

In the East Bay, Interstate 580 in Castro Valley will benefit from three miles of new service and an additional tow truck. And beginning in October, the FSP will patrol an additional six miles along the approach to the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. Another truck and Sunday afternoon hours will be added as well.

In addition to boosting the number of trucks and instituting midday and Sunday service in some of the region's most heavily traveled corridors, the FSP also is tacking a half hour to an hour onto its morning and evening peak period coverage on some freeways.

Even more service could be on the horizon thanks to a new $5 million statewide pot for FSP service contained in the governor's fiscal year 2002-03 budget. Savings from downsizing the region's call box network also could be applied to the tow truck program.
-- Réka Goode

FSP at a Glance
Assists per month (2001) 9,600
Assists since inception 900,607
Cost to operate (2002-03) $7,500,000
Cost/benefit ratio 1:11
Hours of operation (2002-03) 162,084
Miles of coverage 451
Saved auto emissions (tons 2001)
  • Hydrocarbons - 43
  • Carbon dioxide - 443
  • Nitrogen dioxide - 11
Tow trucks 66
Other trucks
(including pickups, backups and flatbeds)		 17
Trained drivers 146
"Excellent" service rating from motorists (average) 93%
Wait time (average/in minutes) 10

FREEWAY SERVICE PATROL EXPANSION PLAN
Map of FSP Expansion Plan

(See also: detailed FSP map with list of beats)

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