Hiawatha Stoplights (was Re: [Mpls] Personal Rapid Transit)

[Dan]

AG:
> This is pure speculation on my part.  I figured the real problem with the
> traffic lights on 55 is that they haven't dug up the streets to install
> proper traffic sensing equipment so the signals can function according to
> cars that are present.  They seem to be on timers at the moment which just
> doesn't work for a route that busy with a pesky train thrown into the mix.

Whatever the problem is, I pray someone will figure it out, and fix it. When
Hiawatha was rebuilt, it was a very nice route from the airport to downtown,
and just a nice quick path through South Minneapolis. Now, everything about
it is terrible. Trying to cross, or turn onto Hiawatha is a cruel experiment
in human tolerance, and travelling either direction down it depletes brake
pads more than gas. The more they tinker with the lights, the worse it gets.
I've had a deepening suspicion the engineers want travel by car on Hiawatha
to be torturous to try to coerce us onto the train. Before the train opened,
I recall being told that driving down Hiawatha  would be even better,
because if you shadowed the train, you'd never have to stop. Well, such is
not the case. Cars speed limit is 40. Train goes about 50, but then makes
stops, and the latest timing of the stoplights for approaching trains
completely baffles me. being in proximity to a train while driving Hiawatha
virtually guarantees stopping at every intersection.

While we're on the subject, can anyone explain to me the reasoning behind
dropping the speed limit back to 35 for like 2 blocks by the freeway exit at
62 and Hiawatha? Our city council in action? They always resisted raising
the limit on Hiawatha. Looking for more ticket revenue? I remember before
the speed limit was raised to 45 and 40, some brilliant city council member
(reacting to demands to raise the limit) challenged this list to find a
single street in the metro which had pedestrians crossing with a speed limit
over 35. That council member must not get around much (can't remember who it
was). Suburban streets with a design and use similar to Hiawatha typically
have speed limits in the range of 40-55 MPH.

By the way, we already have personal rapid transit. It's called the
automobile.

Dan McGrath
Longfellow
http://www.smokeoutgary.org