[Mpls] Freeway ramp meters in Minneapolis

[Steller at tripark.org]

There's real science behind freeway ramp metering, as I understand it‹the
semaphore-type signals (modeled on good old city stoplights) provide a
steady but variable drip of traffic so highways don't come to a standstill
(at least not as often).

But in rush hours I've seen shorter city on-ramps back up more quickly than
their more roomy suburban counterparts, and the surrounding urban
environment can't handle the overflow as easily as more sprawlingly built
areas can. Sometimes that means multiblock gridlock in the neighborhood,
with queueing cars blocking thoroughfares, bike lanes, crosswalks, alleys
and even intersections.

Is this just an occasional occurrence in Minneapolis or is it a regular side
effect of city ramp meters? Perhaps the flow rate at our on-ramps needs to
take into account the system's unintended urban consequences.

Chris Steller
Nicollet Island-East Bank