Posted on 06/03/2008 11:50:27 AM PDT by dcarey
Sunday’s Arizona Republic had a cover story on Phoenix-area traffic congestion that reaffirmed my belief that we’re stuck in traffic because we’re stuck in some very limiting ways of thinking.
The article described four major traffic bottlenecks and the improvements that are planned to alleviate them. Funding for each project, or lack thereof, was shown. The article was so depressing that desperate readers (and commuters) could easily reach the wrong conclusion that a tax increase to fund transportation improvements is a good idea.
By focusing on the trees--four very real bottlenecks--The Arizona Republic missed the forest, which is that Phoenix and Tucson need an east-west alternative to I-10. A bypass could remove most of the truck traffic that’s passing through the state. If we could get those trucks off the roadways, especially during rush hour, those bottlenecks would be much improved. ADOT has studied a possible bypass but says funding for such a project might be as many as 50 years away.
How do we get such a bypass built? Why not take a line from Willie Sutton and go where the money is? That’s the private sector, which has billions of dollars ready to invest. Under long-term agreements, private firms are building roads that drivers pay tolls to use. Some 21 other states have embraced this approach. Arizona can either stifle its economy with traffic congestion and taxes, or it can expand its thinking on how to provide transportation solutions.
The best way to decrease congestion would be a $500 fine and 6 month loss of license for anybody who blocks the left lane.
AMEN!!!!
If you like, Texas will loan Arizona our governor who will be more than happy to build toll roads throughout your state.
However, under the terms of the loan you would have to keep Gov. Perry for 99 years.
We probably need to think seriously about better and more public transportation.
WHAT?????? Let some private investors make a profit???? Surely you jest.
I want a system where I can drive my car onto something like a train car - except encapusulated. Then, a maglev system sends my capsule on my way at 500 mph to my destination, while I sleep. Then, at my destination, I just drive my car off the train car.
That way, I have transportation at both ends and very short travel time in the middle.
I can dream, can’t I?
Getting rid of 20 million illegals would be a start.
When “Day Without A Mexican” occurred in southern CA, the only noticeable impact was dramatically reduced traffic congestion. No shut down of the ecocomy, just a light traffic day.
In Houston we have congestion by willfull design.
The Inner Loop politicos (inside Houston’s central 610-loop freeway) and downtown business establishment in particular resent commuters who live in the suburbs and commute into town for work, medical, shopping, and parks. The suburbs were annexed long ago so this is not financial jealousy.
This is pure stupidity on the part of local Democrats because the I-10 Interstate passes through this corridor and includes much traffic on a cross country journey that is not making any local stops. We share the traffic burden. A bypass would address that.
They are on record saying that they don’t want to improve throughput that might encourage even more people to live outside of the loop.
Also we’ve gone to tollroads in our city. There are free feeder roads adjacent to those tollroads but they have traffic lights that are 180 degrees out of phase from one light to the next to induce some congestion and encourage you to “pay” to ride the “faster” tollway.
Get the real estate developers out of the decision process of what highways go where and how many people they can carry.
And they almost sold our tollroads to Spain for some quick cash.
I was was in New Orleans last week and talking to some friends about the corrupt politicians in Louisiana and Texas.
I said, “In Louisiana the politicians steal thousands of dollars, in Texas they steal money in the billions.”
That is absolutely inappropriate in the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas - even though they've built quite a bit of light rail in the Valley.
Public transport assumes the commuter spends a fair amount of time waiting outside for transport - bus, train, etc. - and that ain't happening when the mercury tops 120oF in the shade.
Phoenix (for unknown reasons) has neither left hand turn lanes or left hand turn signals. Maybe if they could get out of the 50’s things might improve.
If that’s doable, yes.
True, there’s a lot of places where it isn’t all that feasible.
Really? Where? I use 'em all the time...
Maybe I should read the article to see where the four major bottlenecks are.
Also in MD, unless it says it's o.k. (rarely) you can't turn right on a red. That used to be law in Phoenix too if I remember correct.
Ah, downtown...I think you may be right. I rarely venture into that pit.
I do my driving in Chandler/Gilbert/Queen Creek; Scottsdale; Glendale/Peoria/Surprise; and Avondale/Goodyear.
Arizona has joined the ranks of right turn on red states now. It’s a godsend, as long as idiots don’t change lanes approaching an intersection.
I’m thinking the congestion they are complaining about is at Freeway interchanges and where the freeways go from 6 lanes to three or two. There are several places there where that happens, and those are some nasty parking lots at certain times.
My son will travel surface streets to get to work rather than use the freeways just to avoid the congestion on them.
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