Want to REALLY save some gas? Reduce congestion!

[MindPilot]

Washington: Anti-Congestion Referendum Gathers Momentum
Washington state voter initiative to remove profit from red light cameras, synchronize traffic lights and reduce congestion clears first hurdle.

It appears increasingly likely that Washington state voters will have a chance to approve an anti-congestion initiative on the November ballot. Initiative 985 would remove profit from red light cameras, synchronize traffic lights and create a fund devoted to reducing congestion. Later today, activists representing the group Voters Want More Choices are planning planning to hand the Secretary of State's office more than 226,000 signatures -- exceeding the minimum required to certify the measure for the upcoming election.

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Initiative 985 is a package of specific measures intended to reduce traffic congestion. First among these is a simple requirement forcing city and state traffic engineers to synchronize traffic lights at busy intersections. The state auditor would be required to verify the performance of these changes to travel time, emissions and fuel consumption. The state auditor predicted between ten and twenty-five percent reduction in these factors from synchronization alone.

http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/24/2431.asp


The big dirty secret is that most municipalities have either completely ignored their traffic light timing or have deliberately timed the lights to be more ticket-friendly than traffic friendly. Vehicles traveling at a constant speed use less fuel, pollute less and have fewer accidents. When lights are synchronized to allow a smoother flow of traffic, compliance with the traffic laws also increases. Which is exactly why this issue is largely ignored; making it easy for a driver to get from A to B negatively impacts ticket-generated revenue.

[notadmblnd]

1. You know what I have seen recently that totally relieves congestion and saves gas?

Round abouts. Instead of intersections. there are two of them out by my house and I've never stopped or seen anyone stopped at one.

[MindPilot]

3. Good point!!

And no lights to use electricty or fail at just the wrong time. Also much safer because it is nearly impossible to have a T-bone crash.

[Xithras]

4. Yep, we've had quite a few put in around here recently.

I live a few miles from Modesto California, and they've been big on roundabouts in recent years. Opinions seem pretty polarized on them though...some people love them, and others hate them. I love them because I've never had to stop at one for more than a few seconds. I do know several people who dislike them because of near misses...all caused by people who either didn't know how they worked or ignored the rules (a common problem is people trying to go all the way around in the outer lane, cutting off the thru drivers). They actually had a developer throw a temper tantrum and cancel an entire shopping center development when they found out that the city was putting a roundabout on its major intersection. The city stood its ground, the people love that roundabout now, and another developer came in and built a center there.

I always wonder at people who claim that stoplights are superior. Stoplights are all about STOPPING. Roundabouts are designed to keep you moving. Why some people would prefer to spend 3 minutes staring at a red light, instead of 3 seconds waiting for a merge opportunity in a roundabout, is beyond me.

[notadmblnd]

9. shaving or putting on makup on their way to work, is the only reason I can think

of for people wanting to stop.

[high density]

11. I like the roundabout idea

Twenty years ago the traffic engineers around here decided that every slightly busy intersection needed a light. And now we're paying the price. I think roundabouts at some of the low-mid volume intersections would significantly reduce the time everybody is waiting around. There are also a couple of high volume intersections that would probably benefit from becoming a rotary but the space just isn't there to make one.

[tridim]

2. There are also several unnecessary stop signs in my neighborhood.

Lately I've been rolling through them to save gas. I assume I'll eventually get a ticket, but the gas it saves will likely offset the cost of the ticket. I plan to let the cop know exactly why I didn't stop.

[MindPilot]

6. Yes those are called "traffic calming".

The idea being that if you don't make drivers stop every 1000 feet, they will lose all sense of self control and live out their NASCAR fantasies for the next seven blocks.

And just because three people last year did that, everybody has to pay the price.

[high density]

12. Yeah I hate that crap

Last year my city installed speed tables throughout my neighborhood. They aren't quite as annoying as stop signs, since you can go 15mph over them, but there's nothing stopping me from flooring it on the other side of the table and defeating the purpose of it. I swear the city must get get kickbacks from the brakepad manufacturers or something for installing these stupid things.

[NV Whino]

5. Well, that's going to blow the Prius gas mileage all to hell and gone.

[lonestarnot]

7. The stop lights in Phoenix are all timed wrong. People sitting @ red lights, with not

one car coming the other direction. Just sitting for nothing in many cases at many intersections.

[MindPilot]

8. "Just sitting for nothing in many cases at many intersections"

Nothing is right; sitting at a light you are getting exactly zero miles per gallon.

It's really irritating late at night or early morning when you know you are the only car within a quarter mile radius, but you still have to sit at that damn light. Especially those flat intersections where you can actually SEE for that quarter mile radius.

[MindPilot]

10. Another article -- Seattle is re-syncing it's lights and proves it works

Retiming traffic lights should help improve downtown traffic flow

Seattle officials said Wednesday that they've synchronized signals at 258 downtown intersections for the first time in more than two decades and promised quicker, less polluting trips through the central business district will result.

Drivers will still encounter red lights between Jackson Street, Denny Way, Boren Avenue and Elliott Bay, but the city predicted a 12 percent reduction in stops and 40 percent shorter travel times through the 1.25-mile long district.

snip

Mayor Greg Nickels, announcing the downtown signal changes Wednesday, said they should help reduce motorist frustration and cut fuel consumption and cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Sheridan quoted the mayor as saying, "the best car trip is one not taken. However, we all have to drive and based on that the city is committed to making travel ... faster and more efficient."

snip

In a separate set of changes, the city last year resynchronized signals at 193 other intersections around the city; and based on subsequent checks, travel times there improved an average of 40 percent during morning peaks, 28 percent in afternoon peaks and 33 percent at mid-day, the city said.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/transportation/369392_streetlight03.html