USA Today: National Study gives Springfield "stellar" marks for managing traffic.

|Zach| · 04-26-2005, 05:19 AM

Springtown news.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/...-signals_x.htm

Nation's traffic signals get a D-minus for delays
By Larry Copeland, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — The nation's traffic lights are woefully inefficient and outdated, forcing frustrated commuters to sit in congestion, waste gasoline and pollute the air, a traffic engineering group said Wednesday.

Two-thirds of 378 traffic agencies in 49 states don't actively monitor traffic lights, or they simply respond to problems as they occur, the Washington-based Institute of Transportation Engineers reported. Overall, the nation's traffic signals earned a D-minus, the group said in a report card on its Web site.

"While traffic signals do turn green, yellow and red, they are not operating as efficiently as they should," says Shelley Row, the group's associate executive director. "The traffic changes during the day. (Agencies) need to be able to time the signals differently at different points during the day. "

A study by a Maryland researcher last year found that 35% of the nation's traffic agencies had not retimed their traffic signals in 10 years. That means they haven't responded to business and residential growth that affects traffic patterns, says Philip Tarnoff, director of the Center for Advanced Transportation Technology at the University of Maryland. "The costs (of traffic signal management) compared to building a highway are trivial," he says. "The question is why isn't it being done more often?"

The stakes are high. Ideal management of traffic lights would cut delays by 15%-20%, reduce travel time by up to 25%, cut emissions by up to 22% and reduce gas consumption by up to 10%, according to the transportation engineers, who conducted their survey with the Federal Highway Administration and other groups. The survey estimates that improving traffic signal operations would cost about $965 million a year.

Two cities that get stellar marks for managing traffic lights are Bellevue, Wash., and Springfield, Mo.

Bellevue (population 120,000) connects 90% of 172 traffic lights to a centralized network that includes 20 cameras, traffic engineering manager Mark Poch says. "That allows us to make adjustments for events that are happening right now," he says.

An example: About 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, construction on northwest Fourth Street forced the closure of one westbound lane on the six-lane road. Engineers adjusted the timing of traffic lights on Fourth Street to take time away from drivers on intersecting streets to compensate for the closed lane, Poch says.

In Springfield, engineers use cameras to monitor 28 miles of roads and 100 traffic lights and alert drivers to problems, says Earl Newman, assistant public works director. Voters in the city of 156,000 have approved eight local sales tax initiatives to reduce congestion, which ranks as the public's top concern, he says.

"It's higher than crime," he says. "We don't have the congestion of a major city, and the citizens don't want it to become like that."

Rukdafaidas · 04-26-2005, 05:27 AM

I can't stand driving in Springfield. Although the new James River extension helps tremendously, it still takes forever to get to the heart of the city.
A few years ago, I decided to take Sunshine off of 65 Hwy to go to Bass Pro, it took me around 40 minutes to go what, 4 miles? I would expect that in a city like Chicago, but not Springfield.

**Bob Dole** · 04-26-2005, 05:37 AM

What about the lost revenues for the business people who sell stuff to motorists at red lights? Did they consider the economic impact of that?

MOhillbilly · 04-26-2005, 07:03 AM

its a damn shot better than it used to be.

Ralphy Boy · 04-26-2005, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rukdafaidas

I can't stand driving in Springfield. Although the new James River extension helps tremendously, it still takes forever to get to the heart of the city.
A few years ago, I decided to take Sunshine off of 65 Hwy to go to Bass Pro, it took me around 40 minutes to go what, 4 miles? I would expect that in a city like Chicago, but not Springfield.

That had to have been rush hour, but getting thru the middle of town is the biggest pain. Chestnut and Kansas "Expressways" aren't Expressways at all, they just have median's in the middle of the road to restrict people getting on or off the road except thru the stoplights. I'm not a traffic expert, maybe that makes them "Expressways".

Hammock Parties · 04-26-2005, 08:13 AM

My cousin's always bitching about that one road in Springfield...it's super-congested.

Abba-Dabba · 04-26-2005, 08:15 AM

FINALLY! Springfield now has something to be proud about.

|Zach| · 04-26-2005, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gochiefs

My cousin's always bitching about that one road in Springfield...it's super-congested.

Prob national.

I don't know, there is a ton of them.

**Skip Towne** · 04-26-2005, 08:18 AM

That intersection at Kansas Ex and Sunshine has been horrid for about two years. At least they work on it a little bit each week.

Hammock Parties · 04-26-2005, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZachKC

Prob national.

I don't know, there is a ton of them.

It's like the "main road" where he lives. There's a frozen custard place on it.

Sorry I don't live in Springfield.

**Donger** · 04-26-2005, 08:19 AM

Heh. Bitching about traffic in Springfield?

|Zach| · 04-26-2005, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gochiefs

It's like the "main road" where he lives. There's a frozen custard place on it.

Sorry I don't live in Springfield.

Glendstone.

Hammock Parties · 04-26-2005, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZachKC

Prob national.

I don't know, there is a ton of them.

Just checked a map. I believe it's Campbell Ave.

ChiefsOne · 04-26-2005, 09:13 AM

Quote:

It's like the "main road" where he lives. There's a frozen custard place on it.

Sorry I don't live in Springfield.

It's S. Campbell. Not bad around Andy's Custard, but going south getting on James River Expressway really sucks on Friday. Nobody works on Friday in Springfield!

beavis · 04-26-2005, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

Heh. Bitching about traffic in Springfield?

Cracks me up too. Hell, KC isn't even bad compared to most towns.

04-26-2005, 05:19 AM
\|Zach\| For The Glory Of The City Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $5266768	USA Today: National Study gives Springfield "stellar" marks for managing traffic. Springtown news. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/...-signals_x.htm Nation's traffic signals get a D-minus for delays By Larry Copeland, USA TODAY WASHINGTON — The nation's traffic lights are woefully inefficient and outdated, forcing frustrated commuters to sit in congestion, waste gasoline and pollute the air, a traffic engineering group said Wednesday. Two-thirds of 378 traffic agencies in 49 states don't actively monitor traffic lights, or they simply respond to problems as they occur, the Washington-based Institute of Transportation Engineers reported. Overall, the nation's traffic signals earned a D-minus, the group said in a report card on its Web site. "While traffic signals do turn green, yellow and red, they are not operating as efficiently as they should," says Shelley Row, the group's associate executive director. "The traffic changes during the day. (Agencies) need to be able to time the signals differently at different points during the day. " A study by a Maryland researcher last year found that 35% of the nation's traffic agencies had not retimed their traffic signals in 10 years. That means they haven't responded to business and residential growth that affects traffic patterns, says Philip Tarnoff, director of the Center for Advanced Transportation Technology at the University of Maryland. "The costs (of traffic signal management) compared to building a highway are trivial," he says. "The question is why isn't it being done more often?" The stakes are high. Ideal management of traffic lights would cut delays by 15%-20%, reduce travel time by up to 25%, cut emissions by up to 22% and reduce gas consumption by up to 10%, according to the transportation engineers, who conducted their survey with the Federal Highway Administration and other groups. The survey estimates that improving traffic signal operations would cost about $965 million a year. Two cities that get stellar marks for managing traffic lights are Bellevue, Wash., and Springfield, Mo. Bellevue (population 120,000) connects 90% of 172 traffic lights to a centralized network that includes 20 cameras, traffic engineering manager Mark Poch says. "That allows us to make adjustments for events that are happening right now," he says. An example: About 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, construction on northwest Fourth Street forced the closure of one westbound lane on the six-lane road. Engineers adjusted the timing of traffic lights on Fourth Street to take time away from drivers on intersecting streets to compensate for the closed lane, Poch says. In Springfield, engineers use cameras to monitor 28 miles of roads and 100 traffic lights and alert drivers to problems, says Earl Newman, assistant public works director. Voters in the city of 156,000 have approved eight local sales tax initiatives to reduce congestion, which ranks as the public's top concern, he says. "It's higher than crime," he says. "We don't have the congestion of a major city, and the citizens don't want it to become like that."
Posts: 53,446

04-26-2005, 05:27 AM	#2
Rukdafaidas lifelong Chiefs survivor Join Date: Mar 2003 Casino cash: $4739900	I can't stand driving in Springfield. Although the new James River extension helps tremendously, it still takes forever to get to the heart of the city. A few years ago, I decided to take Sunshine off of 65 Hwy to go to Bass Pro, it took me around 40 minutes to go what, 4 miles? I would expect that in a city like Chicago, but not Springfield.
Posts: 2,671

04-26-2005, 05:37 AM	#3
Bob Dole King Shit of **** Mountain Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Texarkana, Texas Casino cash: $2454497	What about the lost revenues for the business people who sell stuff to motorists at red lights? Did they consider the economic impact of that?
Posts: 48,619

04-26-2005, 07:03 AM	#4
MOhillbilly Mama Tried Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Missouri Casino cash: $9949903	its a damn shot better than it used to be. __________________ True Son of Liberty
Posts: 23,371

04-26-2005, 08:13 AM	#6
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $4580478	My cousin's always bitching about that one road in Springfield...it's super-congested. __________________ Chiefs game films
Posts: 278,308

04-26-2005, 08:15 AM	#7
Abba-Dabba MVP Join Date: May 2001 Casino cash: $4502970	FINALLY! Springfield now has something to be proud about.
Posts: 18,145

04-26-2005, 08:18 AM	#9
Skip Towne Supporter Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: T-Town Casino cash: $10004900	That intersection at Kansas Ex and Sunshine has been horrid for about two years. At least they work on it a little bit each week.
Posts: 69,689

04-26-2005, 08:19 AM	#11
Donger "Think BOOM!" Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: 33.675° N 106.475° W Casino cash: $10229900 VARSITY	Heh. Bitching about traffic in Springfield? __________________ I think the young people enjoy it when I "get down," verbally, don't you?
Posts: 180,987