Mike on Traffic

Snow on LED Signal Indications - Low Tech Solution

My last post discussed snow covering LED lights.  Its a story that doesn't seem to want to go away. 

I came across a low tech solution sold by McCain (a large traffic signal supplier whose products are widely used in Minnesota).  Their Scoop Tunnel Visor has a beveled opening that provides air circulation around the LED lights which reduces snow build up.  They cost about $20 each (which isn't much of an upcharge if they are being put on new signals instead of the standard visor). 

The Colorado DOT has been using the scoop visor and seems to think they work.  According to CDOT spokeswoman Mindy Crane - "They've helped immensely in terms of keeping the snow off the traffic lights.  It's not high-tech and it's very economical."

Snow on Traffic Signals Lights

Most of you have probably heard about snow sticking to LED traffic signal lights, blocking the view and causing crashes.  The Associated Press put together an article on the topic this week.  It even quotes a few people from Minnesota.

The problem discussed in the article is slushy snow that falls in a windy storm can fly onto and then stick to the signal lights.  Old fashioned light bulbs were warm and would melt away the snow.  Most traffic signals have upgraded to using LED lights which allow the snow to stay because they aren't warm.  

There was a big push for LEDs about ten years ago because of the economic benefits (LEDs last longer and use less power - they're about three times more economical than incandescent lightbulbs).  I was a member of the local traffic signal committee and we discussed LED lights at length, including their inability to melt snow.  Another big issue was whether or not we need a $2000 battery backup system at every signal to keep the lights working when the power goes out (see MnDOT's dark signal report). Our conclusion after going through crash data was that there are few crashes caused by a traffic signal light that can't be seen.  Most people are more attentive in snowy or power outage situations and come to a voluntary stop when they are uncertain.

I would prefer to see the media focus on inattentive driving.  I think this is a much bigger safety issue (although its harder to get good photos for a news story).  Here are the crash risk results from a 2006 study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (these results don't fully address the impacts of texting):

• Driving drowsy increases an individual’s near-crash or crash risk by four to six times.
• Engaging in secondary tasks that require multiple steps or eye glances away from the forward roadway increases risk by two to three times.
• Certain behaviors increased the risk of involvement in a near-crash or crash. Reaching for a moving objects increased risk nine times, looking at an external object 3.7 times,reading 3.4 times, applying makeup 3 times, and dialing a hand-held device 2.8 times.
• Talking or listening to a hand-held device increased risk by 1.3 times, but this result wasnot statistically different than normal driving.
• Looking away from the forward roadway for long glances at inopportune moments increase crash risk by two times that of an alert driver.

From Tuition to Promotion by Mike Spack

Please forgive me for straying from my traffic theme this week, but I want to let you know about my new book - From Tuition to Promotion (available here at Amazon.com and hopefully coming soon to Barnes & Noble). 

The book was inspired by my co-teaching the civil engineering senior design class at the U of MN.  I've come to realize folks with professional degrees (accounting, engineering, architecture, etc.) are taught very little about the working world in their undergrad programs.  From Tuition to Promotion tracks Chris through the ups and downs of his first three years on the job, hopefully giving some insight on how the beginning stages of a career will play out.

From the back cover of the book:

You’re Hired.  Now What?

What’s it like to sit in a cube from 9 to 5?  How should you interact with your boss?  What kind of work assignments will be best for you?  How can you make the biggest impact?  How will you make it through the world’s most boring meeting?  What do you need to do to get that promotion and raise?  These questions (and many more) are ones Mike had when he started his career as a civil engineer - the same kind of questions his students at the University of Minnesota have. Your professors don’t talk about these issues and your boss probably won’t either. 

That’s where this book comes in, as a guide for not only surviving but thriving in the first three years of your new career.  It’s honest advice that your boss may not want you to hear, because sometimes the company’s interests won’t line up with your interests. 

Let Uncle Mike be your first mentor!

Thanks for indulging this little bit of self promotion.  I'll get back to traffic stuff with my next post.

Minneapolis Transitway plus Commuter Rail

Anyone who has visited the heart of downtown Minneapolis in the last year and a half is painfully aware that Marquette and 2nd Avenues are under construction.  A Christmas present for those office tower workers downtown - the improved corridors will be fully opened next week.  The major improvement lies in building side by side bus lanes, causing the Metropolitan Council to term this new one way pair the "crown jewel of the new express bus network."  Buses used to be stuck behind each other in a single file line, even if a particular bus wasn't making a stop.  Now the 60+ express bus routes using the corridor have a passing lane, which will significantly reduce their delay downtown.

On another transit note, the Star Tribune reports the Northstar Commuter train is averaging 2,207 passengers per day.  The headline Northstar LRT Ridership Below Metro Transit Goals is too pessimistic in my view.  The 2010 goal is to have 2,460 passengers use the train per day.  The train probably has a bump up because of the newness factor, but it also probably has a dip because of people working less during the holidays (its only been open for two weeks).  The train will eventually attract people to move to housing near train stations.  I will be surprised if the train ridership doesn't increase by ten percent to meet the goal by next December.

New Type of Red Light for Traffic Signals

Damjan Stankovic of relogik has come up with an innovative red light indication called the Eko.  It is a type of countdown red light for traffic signals (we already have numerical countdown indications for pedestrian lights).  The bars circling the light go dark as the wait at the red light gets shorter. 

The Eko could have two benefits -

(1) Less Stress - Drivers would see that they are getting closer to a green light.  It's the same concept used by computers with the spinning hour glass when you are opening a file or program.

(2) Environmentally Friendly - There are some folks out there who turn off their engine at a red light to save gas.  The Eko would let those people know when to turn their car back on.  Maybe this would encourage more people to use this gas saving/pollution reducing technique.