Ramp metering coming to KC

[dangerboy]

MARC just approved a project for MoDOT and KDOT to do a pilot of ramp metering on I-435 between Metcalf and US 71.  Not sure on the timeline, but I'd guess in the next year or two.

[loftguy]

what is ramp metering?

[kcmetro]

what is ramp metering?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramp_meter

It helps to regulate traffic entering a freeway.

[staubio]

Excellent. I hope they put in queue jumpers for HOV.

[Moniker]

Hopefully, they'll introduce a law in both KS and MO to make metering illegal. Nothing annoys me more than people metering in the left lane with slow traffic. 

[kard]

...on I-435 between Metcalf and US 71.

needs to be started further west at antioch, quivira.

[dangerboy]

needs to be started further west at antioch, quivira.

And needs to go further east, along I-470 to Lee's Summit.  But this is a just a pilot...

[MidWestSider]

I seen these last time I was in Minneapolis...  kinda a pain in the ass.

[phxcat]

We have them out here- they only run during rush hour, and its not that big of a deal.

[anniewarbucks]

I would like to see this thing work. I think though that there will be a lot of people just drive through the lights and think of them as a joke.

[enough]

ramp metering can work.  you might have to wait a minute to get on the freeway, but once on you should experience improved traffic flow -- in part because ramp metering will encourage some people to choose another time or route for travel.

priority for hov's would be an even better feature as it would provide an incentive for people to carpool.  that would result in fewer cars wanting to get on the freeway, and thus further improve traffic flow (as well as reduced air pollution).

[dangerboy]

I experienced just last week in Denver, in heavy rush our traffic.  The queue was never more than 4-5 cars, and I never had to wait more than about 2 minutes.  The big difference I noticed was being able to merge onto the highway without forcing my way in.

[Moniker]

I seen these last time I was in Minneapolis...  kinda a pain in the ass.

Might be a PITA, but traffic in the Twin Cities is navigable as compared to the Bermuda Triangle out here in OP and Minneapolis's commuter population is huge.

[phxcat]

I would like to see this thing work. I think though that there will be a lot of people justdrive through the lights and think of them as a joke.

I've never seen that happen.  I have had people skip their light because they are still coasting to a stop when it turns green.

ramp metering can work.  you might have to wait a minute to get on the freeway, but once on you should experience improved traffic flow -- in part because ramp metering will encourage some people to choose another time or route for travel.

priority for hov's would be an even better feature as it would provide an incentive for people to carpool.  that would result in fewer cars wanting to get on the freeway, and thus further improve traffic flow (as well as reduced air pollution).

We also have HOV lanes for the lights in places too, but that is a lot harder to control than actual HOV lanes (which is also difficult to control- especially when pro-lifers start claiming that their fetus counts as a person!)

[KCPowercat]

I thought the ones in Minneapolis were just a test and they aren't used anymore?  I had never seen them on when I have been there.

[GRID]

God, KC needs ramp metering bad.  That way I will be forced stop and wait rather than freak out as the ten cars in front of me attempt to enter the freeway at 40 mph.

[anniewarbucks]

i think that instead of controlling these ramps with lights they shuld build longer acceleration lanes. Also make bonus lanes inside of the freeways for carpoolers to use at a higher rate of speed. I have seen these at St. Louis and thought they would almost work anywhere else.

[MidWestSider]

I thought the ones in Minneapolis were just a test and they aren't used anymore?  I had never seen them on when I have been there.

Nope, they were in full effect when I was last up there.  According to the Wiki article KCMetro posted..  in 2000 they shut them off to test if they were actually effective.

[Beermo]

i think that instead of controlling these ramps with lights they shuld build longer acceleration lanes. Also make bonus lanes inside of the freeways for carpoolers to use at a higher rate of speed. I have seen these at St. Louis and thought they would almost work anywhere else.

you don't need longer acceleration lanes. you need people to get over if they can when a car is entering the hiway and folks entering the hiway need to notice that there are yield signs at all entrances and pay attention to what "yield" means. it does not mean haul ass as soon as you can once you get halfway up the ramp.

people drive like crap around here. doing 50 in the fast lane. doing 45 in any lane while talking on the phone, eating, putting on makeup, sending text messages, reading books, painting their toenails. doing everything but what they are supposed to be doing.

annie, do you even have a car?

[anniewarbucks]

annie, do you even have a car?

oh yes. a crappy white dodge pickup.