Written by -- Burl Vance
Prince George
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Wednesday, 21 May 2008 |
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By adding up the Highway 97 traffic-light controlled intersections in the city and applying simple math to north/south traffic only, there are more than 1,200 vehicle idle-hours a day occurring on a three-mile route. Add ICBC costs at a likely conservative estimate of $500,000-plus per intersection (maintenance plus accidents costs), I think there are nine or 10 with traffic control lights. Now try and get your head around Highway 16 and the tangled traffic-light mess that leads travellers to a stop at at least 12 controlled intersections as they migrate east/west through the city.
Being conservative it is reasonable to double the negative effect of idling your way through the city on the Yellowhead as compared to the Highway 97 route. Total: 3,600-plus vehicle idle hours per day, $10-million-plus annual costs in ICBC claims and maintenance for these controlled intersections.
Then there is the lack off overhead pedestrian walks in the city. Make them safe and they will work. Who hasn't stopped at a light-controlled pedestrian walk and shook their head at the traffic inefficiency when the red light comes up?
I'm asking that city councillors and the mayor start considering just how "ungreen" our traffic bypasses are. Think "bypass," "underpass," "overpass" and do something that actually makes indisputably good sense.
Harping on about idling vehicles at drive thrus doesn't even touch the edge of reality when it comes to what needs to be done to make a move to green up Prince George on a permanent level. I certainly do not have the accurate numbers for all that I've mentioned here, but I have purposely underestimated what the situation is.
For the mayoral wannabes who are lining up for the upcoming civic election, you've just been handed a platform you could win with.
-- Burl Vance
Prince George
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 08 October 2008 )
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