The light rail lies begin to materialize
Light rail will reduce traffic congestion by 54 percent.
Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon
September 9, 2004
Speed limit near light-rail tracks to be lowered
by Jen Bondeson
The Arizona Republic
November 27, 2007
Tempe drivers are going to have to lighten up on the gas pedal starting December 8.
The speed limit on Washington Street from Priest Drive to Mill Avenue will be reduced to 35 mph, from 45 mph, to better match street conditions when cars travel near future light-rail trains and stations.
The light-rail system, under construction from central Phoenix, through Tempe and into Mesa, will have a maximum speed limit of 35 mph.
Metro has been testing trains in Phoenix and will conduct similar tests in Tempe and Mesa. Before the tests begin, residents will be made aware of precautions they should take when traveling adjacent to and across tracks, said Marty McNeil, Metro light rail communications manager.
During test runs, vehicles may be stopped at intersections.
Drivers along the rail line should never stop or park on light-rail tracks. When near the tracks, drivers, bikers, and pedestrians should watch for flashing white train headlights and warning bells or horns.
Safety devices that have been added along the route include countdown signals, walkways to reduce jaywalking, and protected turn lanes that only allow cars to turn left across light-rail tracks when given a green arrow.
Also starting December 8, speed will be reduced to 40 mph, from 45 mph, on Washington Street from Tempe's western limits to Priest Drive. [Source]
Labels: congestion, Phil Gordon
posted by Mark Yannone at 3:49 PM
1 Comments:
Gee, they didn't tell the reporter how they are going to time the lights.
At least in Phoenix, the lights are on a 90-second cycle over most of the city, which makes for a 45 mph travel speed. Of course, if you go 35 mph, then you will hit a stop light. Lowering the speed limit by 23 percent won't help the congestion. As the start-up date approaches the rhetoric will be coming to a stop, and COLD HARD REALITY WILL TAKE OVER. We have seen the price escalate from $1.2 billion to $1.4 billion, and we still have a year to go.
The time has still held to December 2008 for commercial operation, but we get a hint that that may slip because the "construction is not where they would like it." That statement is just getting us ready for the truth. There is lots of work which the rules say that the public should be involved in (anything and everything) that is going on behind closed doors. And then we have the City Tax collection. Look for more reductions of essential city activities and an increase in FLUFF spending.
AND THEY HAVEN'T [YET] HAD TO SUBSIDIZE THE TROLLEY AT $30 MILLION A YEAR (AND MAYBE TWICE THAT MUCH).
bob mcknight
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