Talking Traffic

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.

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.

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.