Continuous flow at Y opens at midnight (Austin, Howe: living, store)

[austin-steve]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

The north-south light has been lengthened, it appears. Within a few minutes of the same time as yesterday, my wife traveled through the intersection. Yesterday, 6 cars go through. Today, she was eighth in line but got through, as well as maybe 5 or 6 behind her. Traffic was improved enormously. Some co-workers experienced a 40 minute delay yesterday at the light, but presumably that is no longer an issue. I don't know if that affected E-W traffic, but hopefully not.

I think it would necessarily have to slow the E-W traffic as fewer get through with shortened green.

[Trainwreck20]

Originally Posted by austin-steve

I think it would necessarily have to slow the E-W traffic as fewer get through with shortened green.

I should have said 'significantly' affected E-W traffic. I suspect that there are non-linear variables when tuning an intersection. For example, during the first few seconds a light turns green, very few (if any cars) pass through the intersection. Then there is a period of time where each unit of time results in an increase in cars passing through the intersection as the traffic approaches free-flow. Once free flow is established, there is a potential drop-off in cars passing an intersection, as there may now be gaps in traffic. Apply this to multiple directions and various turn lanes, and it can get quite complex.

So, a minor increase in length of light one way may have a much greater impact than the minor decrease in another direction.

[austin-steve]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

I should have said 'significantly' affected E-W traffic. I suspect that there are non-linear variables when tuning an intersection. For example, during the first few seconds a light turns green, very few (if any cars) pass through the intersection. Then there is a period of time where each unit of time results in an increase in cars passing through the intersection as the traffic approaches free-flow. Once free flow is established, there is a potential drop-off in cars passing an intersection, as there may now be gaps in traffic. Apply this to multiple directions and various turn lanes, and it can get quite complex.

So, a minor increase in length of light one way may have a much greater impact than the minor decrease in another direction.

That makes sense.

I normally go Mopac/Davis but I'm going to start popping out at Convict Hill or Wm Cannon on 290 more often to check how things are moving.

[Trainwreck20]

Originally Posted by austin-steve

That makes sense.

I normally go Mopac/Davis but I'm going to start popping out at Convict Hill or Wm Cannon on 290 more often to check how things are moving.

To get to work, I need to get to the 360 Exit off of MoPac. I gave up the David>MoPac route years ago, so maybe it has changed, but Escarpment>Wm Cannon>290>MoPac was always, ALWAYS faster than David>MoPac when I was trying out alternatives many years ago. The Escarpment route has seen an increase in traffic over the years, but MoPac has, as well.

Stress-wise, the Escarpment route is much nicer - I can stop for gas (Escarpment/Wm Cannon) or stop at Wal-greens if I need to pick up something quick. Also, it is a set number of 'stops' with pretty much moving traffic in-between, while MoPac is slow-n-go for a long while, which is much more 'painful' in my book .

[cBach]

Interesting data Trainwreck20 & austin-steve. Hopefully they'll tune things if they need to.

Right now there are a few things that are complicating things:
1. Some people didn't know this was going to be a CFI and so when it changed they missed the turns. They probably now understand the changes.
2. People haven't developed a "system" about which lanes are best. You know it's something you figure out over time (i.e. get in this left lane after this street, this right lane after this street). I figure 1-2 more months for people to figure out the flow.
3. TxDot will need to adjust the timing of the signals to tune everything. This will take time.

We just need to have patience. This is pure engineering and engineering rules!

[Topaz]

I drove through tonight coming east on 290 turning onto William Cannon north. It was completely weird and I'm fairly sure there will be accidents.

[cBach]

I went through it rush hour on Friday. It was moving fairly well for eastbound. That's the first time I ever saw it moving like that.

[Trainwreck20]

Neither me or my wife travel E-W through that intersection, so it is hard for me to tell how much it may have improved; however, if I had to guess, I would think it must have improved it quite a bit - mainly based on the additional traffic piling up on the 290E to MoPacN flyover .

[cBach]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

Neither me or my wife travel E-W through that intersection, so it is hard for me to tell how much it may have improved; however, if I had to guess, I would think it must have improved it quite a bit - mainly based on the additional traffic piling up on the 290E to MoPacN flyover .

Yep, improve it one place and it just kicks the bucket down the road to the next bottleneck.

[10scoachrick]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

Neither me or my wife travel E-W through that intersection, so it is hard for me to tell how much it may have improved; however, if I had to guess, I would think it must have improved it quite a bit - mainly based on the additional traffic piling up on the 290E to MoPacN flyover .

It's like the old POlice chief once said, "We can't eliminate crime; but we can sure send it somewhere ELSE!"