Why NOVA traffic is so bad

[seiketsu]

We're stuck with the roads we have, but one thing that can be done to improve the flow of traffic is to improve the timing of traffic lights. I drive on surface roads in Alexandria and Arlington every day, and if I don't catch the lights right, a 5 mile drive with very little traffic can still take 20 minutes.

There are way too many intersections that have double lights because several roads meet unevenly, and it's pretty common to hit a red, drive three car lengths, then hit another red. Or have to wait at a light for 2-3 minutes because with six roads at odd angles, only one road in one direction can go at once. And then have to wait at that intersection for multiple cycles because only a handful of cars can through each green light.

There are also a lot of roads with no right turn on red even when you have clear sightlines, or a red left turn arrow even when there's no traffic in the opposite direction. And don't get me started on the lack of turning lanes on major roads, and people who insist on holding up a mile of traffic behind them while they wait to turn left instead of making right turns until they're facing the direction they want to go.

We don't have to build more roads, we just have to be smarter using the roads we have.

[Middlin]

Sort like having a traffic light on 28 as soon as you exit 66. Gee, and we wonder why 66 is backed up so badly

[goofy328]

Originally Posted by tysonsengineer

by often times cutting off people from being able to use local roads, walk, or bike because they become massive obstacles (see how 495 splits Tysons for instance), can't walk from one side to the other, despite it being only 500 feet apart. So the minimal benefit to the system as a whole you do see, dissipates even more because you have added new drivers who would have otherwise been open to alternatives.

Can pedestrian bridges and tunnels help with this?

[stoutboy]

One reason the traffic is bad is because of HOV violators. On I-66 during rush hour, cars are supposed to have a minimum of two occupants. Yet I daily see scores of single occupant vehicles. Thankfully, the VHP has launched a recent crackdown that has had a measurably beneficial effect.

Another thing to mention is the human factor. Drivers here just plain suck a**. When traffic lights turn green, people just sit there taking their sweet time before moving, often as long as five seconds--often because the birdbrains are oblivious with their smart phones. Same on the interstates, 90% of the commuting idiots are yapping on their cell phones or texting. They don't react quickly when traffic moves and this has a cumulative effect for miles. Or they proceed at a crawl in the passing lanes and won't move over.

So yes, traffic volume overwhelms the roads, and would do so regardless of highway expansion, but the major reason for gridlock is the utterly atrocious driving of ALL OF YOU!!!

[Erix]

One possible improvement would be I-66 on Saturday and Sunday evenings. Eastbound, and westbound often, get jammed at 123 all the way to the beltway. It would appear that the incoming traffic from Vienna and the number of people changing lanes to get on 495, is what is causing this. I understand how adding lanes doesn't help (in general theory) but wouldn't opening the break-down lane starting at 123 during evening hours on the weekend help? In some places there is a place further to the right where disabled cars stop. That lane just seems like a waste...you know, like the end of a merge-in lane (end of right or left lane) or end of an on-ramp that so few people use.

[Eagle4Life]

Originally Posted by Erix

but wouldn't opening the break-down lane starting at 123 during evening hours on the weekend help? In some places there is a place further to the right where disabled cars stop. That lane just seems like a waste...you know, like the end of a merge-in lane (end of right or left lane) or end of an on-ramp that so few people use.

Interstates are required to have a shoulder X feet wide. 66 got some sort of special permission to open this during rush hours. Having the shoulder lane open all the time would be dangerous for broken down vehicles, emergency stops, etc.

[tysonsengineer]

Originally Posted by goofy328

Can pedestrian bridges and tunnels help with this?

Some what, but those also become high crime areas (for a criminal it would be pretty easy pickings as it acts as a funnel) see the Route 50 overpass in Seven Corners which has been a complete failure in public safety.

The other issue is, pedestrian improvements should cost millions of dollars each. Ped/bike improvements are only provided a fraction of the funding (if any... this year looks like a lot of it has been moved to a bond ref) that transit/roads are which means it has to be spent more wisely and more thriftily. Spending an entire years funding on a single project like a ped bridge, helps that one very specific spot, but forces other areas of need to wait longer in unsafe conditions.

[gomason]

Originally Posted by Erix

One possible improvement would be I-66 on Saturday and Sunday evenings. Eastbound, and westbound often, get jammed at 123 all the way to the beltway. It would appear that the incoming traffic from Vienna and the number of people changing lanes to get on 495, is what is causing this. I understand how adding lanes doesn't help (in general theory) but wouldn't opening the break-down lane starting at 123 during evening hours on the weekend help? In some places there is a place further to the right where disabled cars stop. That lane just seems like a waste...you know, like the end of a merge-in lane (end of right or left lane) or end of an on-ramp that so few people use.

That shoulder lane will open and close based on congestion and not the time of the day starting in 2015. Long overdue.

[tysonsengineer]

*that should be a shouldn't (clear in context but typo)