Jul 21 2008
Jul 18 2008
Episode Coming! And Blog Changes
Yes, yes. I know it’s been a while, but I finally polished up Episode 22 and will be recording it this weekend. You’ll get to have it on Monday morning, as usual.
Also, stay tuned for more changes to the blog theme. This one, unfortunately, has some issues I don’t feel like dealing with. I’ve been working on my personal blog over at The Evil Eyebrow and with some modifciations, I’ll probably use that theme. Then I don’t have to worry about two different sets of headers, stylesheets, etc.
Jun 19 2008
Blog Theme
The Theme I had originally installed on Talking Traffic was dissatsifying me. So I’ve changed it. What do you think?
I plan to alter the header image to something more transportation-engineering centric, eventually, but until then it’s a nice picture.
Jun 18 2008
Ramp Meters
Alluding to yesterday’s post concerning the inaccuracies in an Atlanta Journal Constitution article about Ramp Meters, I have an anecdote:
My wife and I go to plays at Oglethorpe University in Atlanta every few months. In order to get there from our house (during rush hour), we avoid the interstates and use surface streets (Johnson Ferry Road, for those of you in the area). We’ve made this trip often enough at the same approximate time that we know what the traffic is like and yesterday we encountered an unusual hang-up as we approached Interstate 285.
The traffic engineer in my cannot let things like traffic backups slide. I began speculating out loud as to the cause of the congestion: wrecks, congestion on the interstate, signal being out, whatever. After 10 minutes or so, we arrive at the interchange and I see it: The Ramp Meters are On!
I laughed. This was the first day that this particular ramp meters was activated and I had totally forgotten.
I predict that there will be a lot of complaints forwarded to the DOT concerning the congestion (on the approach streets) caused by the meters. This sort of project always needs tweaking when it’s first implemented. I opine that the observed congestion (by yours truly) was a bit excessive, but it was only day one. We’ll see how it all falls out. Hopefully, the AJC won’t run with the complaints and publish anything scathing. Give the DOT a chance to get the kinks worked out. This will improve traffic flow in the area.
Jun 16 2008
Why Talking Traffic?
Why do I do this Talking Traffic website, with its podcast and tidbits?
Because of this:
From the Atlanta Journal Constitution:
Ramp meters are traffic lights that are intended to control the number of vehicles entering and exiting the highway. They are to reduce traffic congestion on the ramps. [emphasis mine]
Argh! This is one hundred percent wrong! Ramp meters in no way are designed to reduce congestion on the ramps, they’re designed to reduce congestion on the highway by “metering” the input of vehicles from the ramps. Instead of a flood of vehicles entering the highway all at once, a steady one…two…three…four addition of vehicles allows the highway to avoid congestive backups. Unfortunately, this causes delays on the ramps and possibly the roadways leading to the ramps.
While your wait to get on the highway will lengthen, the time you spend on the highway itself will decrease. That is why Ramp Meters are being installed in multiple locations throughout the country.
Sounds like a podcast topic to me.
May 05 2008
Traffic Tidbits: 5 May 2008
Housing & Transportation Costs in your Neighborhood: If you live in a metropolitan area, it’s possible that your town is on this survey of transportation & housing costs by median income. Check it out.
A Blow for Gender Equality: Sweden introduces a new walking-woman symbol to optionally replace the walking-man at pedestrian signals.
UK Stepping on Lollipop Violators: I’d never heard the term ‘lollipop’ as it’s applied in this article about Lollipop Road Rage.
“STOP! In the name of Love”: Stop sign accoutrements to increase awareness. FHWA says, “Nuh uh.”
Apr 30 2008
Traffic Tidbits: 29 April 2008
Hold the Presses! US Trans Sec has a Blog!: US Transportation Secretary Mary Peters announced that she has a blog now! Call my cynical, but how much “blogging” is really done by the top politicians, rather than their staffers. I may be giving Secretary Peters short shrift here, but I think my point is valid.
Valley Girl Hates Freeways: An LA Blogger discusses the freeway culture.
Texas is Cutting its Highway Maintenance: Through policy decisions, the Texas Department of Transportation is cutting $4.9 Billion from it’s next 10 years of maintenance. Unfortunately, I don’t know what that equates to in terms of percentage per year.
Transportation Improvements due to World Sports: Everyone knows that Beijing is spending uberbucks to get ready for the Olympics. Did you know that Germany spend $15 billion for the World Cup in 2006, and Brazil is building new infrastructure for the 2010 Cup?
Apr 24 2008
Traffic Tidbits: 24 April 2008
It’s been a while since my last tidbits post. Let’s try to make this a good one!
Laser walls!: Laser walls for visual cueing of the car/pedestrian interface and trying to make it safer for pedestrians in urban areas. It’s interesting.
Canadian Airspace for American Airliners: When flights heading to NY Laguardia or Newark or Kennedy amble into harsh weather, there’s not a lot of room to stack them up, or to avoid the strong winds and thunderstorms. A plan may be in place to allow these airliners to cross Canadian airspace to find favorable conditions. This is also apparently running into Homeland Security roadblocks from a quid pro quo perspective.
Passenger & Freight Rail UP while Air Transport DOWN?: Some discussion about the future of transportation and how it’s affecting the rail and air industries.
Sao Paulo has Bad Traffic: Check out this TIME article about Sau Paulo and its commuters
Wired Photo Contest: Wired magazine is having a transportation themed photo contest.
Apr 22 2008
