Signals on freeways
A few years ago I started a thread about traffic signals on high-speed roads. Here in CA they're still everywhere, and still drive me nuts when towing.
Being a glutton for punishment ( you know government), I finally got the nerve to contact Caltrans about the signals on the 86 'freeway' between Coachella and the Mecca truck stop. It's a 55mph divided road with no fewer than 3 signals. They have 24hr/day flashing yellow lights a few hundred feet before the intersections. I suggested they change that to flashing warning lights when the signal is about to go yellow. I also suggested they go out and look at the skid marks at those intersections if they wanted to see just how effective their 24/7 warning light is - (that's sarcasm.)
Caltrans replied (after pestering from me) that, in effect, "it's not in our traffic design code." I told them that wasn't much of an answer, and I asked that my request get elevated to the next level of expertise in their engineering department.
I can't imagine how this is anything more than a money issue...or the typical "we've always done it this way" type of thing. We have these in WA near Moses Lake, so it's obvious it's in somebody's "design book."
I'm not hopeful I'll ever hear anything again.. but if I do I'll keep you posted.
Being a glutton for punishment ( you know government), I finally got the nerve to contact Caltrans about the signals on the 86 'freeway' between Coachella and the Mecca truck stop. It's a 55mph divided road with no fewer than 3 signals. They have 24hr/day flashing yellow lights a few hundred feet before the intersections. I suggested they change that to flashing warning lights when the signal is about to go yellow. I also suggested they go out and look at the skid marks at those intersections if they wanted to see just how effective their 24/7 warning light is - (that's sarcasm.)
Caltrans replied (after pestering from me) that, in effect, "it's not in our traffic design code." I told them that wasn't much of an answer, and I asked that my request get elevated to the next level of expertise in their engineering department.
I can't imagine how this is anything more than a money issue...or the typical "we've always done it this way" type of thing. We have these in WA near Moses Lake, so it's obvious it's in somebody's "design book."
I'm not hopeful I'll ever hear anything again.. but if I do I'll keep you posted.
