[Mpls] auto anxiety

[Michael Atherton]

David Wilson wrote:

> I drove Hiawatha Ave. today and paralleled the LRT route.  My 
> experience wasn't as bad as Jason describes (it was aprox.  
> 3:20 pm) but the waiting time at the lights was a quantum 
> level greater than pre-LRT.  The sequencing didn't make much 
> sense to me.  I can imagine what that stretch will be like 
> during rush hour--bottled up, slow-going, anxious, and angry
> drivers.

Maybe drivers should just ride the LRT. ;-)  Of course riding the 
LRT would only be a reasonable argument if there was a complete system
in place, rather than one line.

> Drivers are willing to adapt to change if things "make sense" 
> and if they feel that everyone has to endure the consequences.  
> On MPR there was a report on the traffic light sequencing while 
> I was driving that route. The report stated that Federal regulations 
> governing the LRT funding, and the MTC's committment to the passengers 
> mitigate against changing the sequencing.  To me that doesn't pass the 
> smell test.  The disruption is too great to explain it away like that.  
> The public will rebel against such changes if they think they are 
> unreasonable and if they feel that no effort is made at coming up with 
> a compromise.

> For all their attempts, the MTC hasn't explained why they can't sequence
> the traffic lights in a more balanced way (without dumping on the drivers)
> and the rationale for changes.
> 
> Very bad traffic planning and public relations.

Federal regulations aside, it may not be possible to satisfy the
constraints for both LRT and autos.  I think that it's not that
difficult of a problem to model, if you can get the constraints
right.  I'd like to hear what the traffic experts have to say.

Michael Atherton
Prospect Park