Dan Prozinski wrote:
Red light cameras are not needed. Let's back up.
This inner city speeding and red light running has been a growing problem in recent years not coincidentally as the timing of traffic lights throughout the city has become more aggressive. The Traffic Control Department should ease up on light timing and let the traffic move.
Where's the evidence that traffic light timing has become more "aggressive?" How is de-synchronizing lights an aggressive policy versus one of neglect?
And while they're at it they should take down and recycle the majority of the "No Turn On Red" signs in Minneapolis. It should be more about "Traffic" and less about "Control".
The No Turn On Red signs in my neighborhood (except one) were removed this past spring/summer, and I've noticed a similar change in at least one other place. So obviously the traffic department is paying some attention to this issues and making appropriate adjustments.
My pet peeve are the lights which turn red for non-existent cross traffic, especially during times of extremely light traffic of any kind. Nothing like sitting at a light on say Penn Ave. with no other car around for miles. Make them blinking red/yellow at night, or install the sensors to properly detect traffic.
Years ago most lights were timed to allow traffic to flow at the posted speed.
It may seem that way, but I wonder if it's true. Very often I see citizens suggest that the lights be synchronized on heavy two-way streets like Lake Street, or complain that they used to be but are no longer. The laws of physics don't make that possible. In general, you can synchronize one way streets, or one direction of travel on a two way street, but not both directions at once on a two way street. One direction has got to get a red from the other's passing eventually.
I would never condone or encourage speeding or light running. I'm just saying that what you are seeing is the resulting response by some drivers to a policy of more restrictive traffic light timing. Wether this policy is based on any sound or tested theories, I don't know. Did the policy to install light meters at every freeway ramp prove to be effective or prudent after it was actually put to the test?
Is there such a policy? I'd guess it more likely that there is just less money and/or man-power being spent on traffic studies and then follow-up light timing to best move the traffic through with the minimum of stops. I'd be surprised if there was actually a policy of timing lights so as to result in more stops. We already have an air pollution problem on heavily traveled streets in Minneapolis. More stops make that problem worse. It also creates more congestion, wasting more time, and is again something that seems counter productive.
Yes, ramp meters have proven to be effective.
Chris Johnson - Fulton
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