Erica Barnett introduces me to the concept of “traffic calming”, in a post about negative side-effects of I-985:
Traffic light synchronization seems like a good idea, and in many cases, it is—for example, on busy, congested downtown streets in big cities like Seattle. But in other cases, it makes no sense whatsoever. Many small towns, for example, deliberately de-synchronize their lights (a strategy also known as “traffic calming”) to discourage drivers from using their main drag as a highway.
That’s pretty interesting. I do look forward to the “smarter synchronization” that will be part of Rapid Ride: synchronization for buses only. Looks like one more aspect of BRT that Eyman is trying to kill. I-985 is definitely the enemy of public transit.
Do people think that I-985 will be upheld as constitutional?
I don’t know.
The last Eyman initiative that was ruled unconstitutional had it’s laws passed by the state legistlature anyway.
Yeah, but I think this is different. The legislature wouldn’t craft an unfunded plan, wouldn’t take money from cities, and wouldn’t close the HOV lane on SR-520.
You’re probably right.
Quick. Name a small town with more than one traffic light in close succession.
I thought so.
I’m sure there are many of them brad, this isn’t a very convincing argument. I sure can name many highways in this area with HOV lanes, though.
You sure you’re still a democrat? http://www.noon985.com/2008/09/who-opposes-i-985.html
Colfax.
sultan has 3 lights on us2 in about 1 mile, does that count as close?
Did you spike the ball and do a little dance in the endzone after your run?
Ephrata.
We learned from Roger Geller (of Portland DOT) the other night that Portland either does or plans to synchronize some of its lights for bike speeds.
I was listening to Dave Ross have his on-air debate, and after that, he took calls on it, and someone from Napavine said they had 1 traffic light, and already synchronized. It goes from Green, to Yellow, to Red!