[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: Red Alert

[Email subscription to blog articles]

Posted by Speed Gibson:
Red Alert
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1201879578.shtml


   In true liberal fashion, the intelligentsia at MnDot are once again
   "ramping up" their plans to limit our access to the roads we've paid
   for. [1]Channel 5 Eyewitness News reported on this last night.

     The Minnesota Department of Transportation will change operating
     hours on some Twin Cities Metro area ramp meters beginning Feb. 4.
     The new hours of operation will be 5:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
     to 6:30 p.m. The new operating hours will go into effect on the
     following heavily traveled corridors, with additional corridors
     adjusting operating hours over the next several months:
     * Highway 10 from Highway 169 in Anoka to Interstate 35W in Arden
       Hills
     * Highway 100 from I-494 in Bloomington to I-394 in Golden Valley
     * I-494 from 34th Ave. in Bloomington to I-94 in Maple Grove

     Previous hours of operation on these corridors have 6 a.m. to 8:30
     a.m. and 3 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.

   In other words, your commute will take longer starting Monday.
   The only long term conclusion MnDot apparently drew from Senator Dick
   Day's six week experiment (2000) was that accidents rose 26% during
   that period. Embarrassed by the obvious results, a huge drop in
   congestion, the meters were largely disabled. But even before this
   story, I have noticed that these ramp meters seem to be more active of
   late.
   MnDot doesn't get it. As the 2000 hiatus unquestionably proved, ramp
   meters cause far more congestion than they prevent. Far more.
   Senator Day is promising action this session, talking of taking a
   chain saw to these ramp meters. Maybe we need a museum to remind us of
   past failures. We could have a solar powered WiFi transmitter from St.
   Louis Park, a ramp meter, and pictures of the Duluth Aquarium, the
   Hiawatha Line, the Shubert Theatre, Block E, etc.

References

   1. http://kstp.com/article/stories/S331740.shtml?cat=1