When you’re driving the highways, do you ever wonder why traffic slows down and then speeds up for no apparent reason? Often, it’s not clear why that happens. Sure, it could have been because of an earlier incident, but sometimes it’s not as clear cut as that. Our Operations Center gets asked this question a lot. People will call and say, “After the hill, traffic speeds up, but I don’t know why.” Perhaps the volume of traffic is heavy, but not that heavy. Of course, if an accident or breakdown happens, you can see why traffic is slow. Other times, the reasons are less obvious to the casual observer. Here are some of those lesser-known reasons:

Residual Delays: We receive a lot of calls on this. Drivers say, “I was jammed up to this exit and the traffic just opened up, though there is nothing here.” Generally, that’s a residual delay caused by an earlier crash or breakdown. It takes some time for that traffic flow to filter out once an incident is clear.

Hills: Even a gradual upward incline can, given the proper circumstances, slow traffic flow, especially for those of us driving small, somewhat underpowered vehicles. It can be difficult to maintain highway speed going uphill. If you’ve ever driven Route 128 South in Burlington going uphill near Route 3 you know what I mean.

Solar Glare: We talk about this a lot especially in the spring and fall, when the sun rises and sets at the peak of the rush hour. It’s natural, and safest to slow down and give yourself additional space when your ability to see the car in front of you is limited. Sunglasses help, but don’t solve the problem. Clean windshields, inside and out, lessens the significance of solar glare.

Lane Drops: Mean that the roadway narrows by one lane. The lane drop on Route 93 South by Dascomb Road is an example, as is Route 1 south at Route 99. Of course, lane additions are great for relieving traffic congestion approaching it.

Merging Volume: Any heavily populated area can handle additional on and off ramp volume, which can result in delays. The best example of this is on the Neponset Circle onramp to the NB Xway. During the afternoon, it’s not unusual to have delays approaching that on-ramp. Then, once past the ramp, traffic improves.

Curves: Can also slow traffic if the driver is unsure whether traffic has backed up around the corner.

A travel company has put together a list of the best subway systems in the world. 

Where does the MBTA fit?

http://www.virgin-vacations.com/site_vv/11-top-underground-transit-systems-in-the-world.asp

And that's the last time I shall use the Oscars as a platform for my bad traffic puns.  Well, at least until next year!  Wait until they come up with the Os-TRUCK awards...I'll stop now.

February school vacation is over, and the light commutes that we enjoyed last week were simply memories today. Post-vacation volume coupled with light snow made for a long and slow ride, particularly south and west of Boston. We reported large backups on the northbound sides of Routes 24, 95, 3, and 128 south of the Pike. It was one of those “double the normal drivetime” days that tested the patience of many drivers. Especially those drivers who just returned from sun splashed vacation retreats!

The good news is that although the snow meant longer travel times and visibility issues, we did not see a large amount of spinouts and crashes. Sure, we had a few, but the heavy volume and delays meant that most crashes were low-speed and minor in nature.

Make sure you keep the windshield washer handy and the fluid tank filled up.  You will need to clear the windshield often because of all the road spray.  Also, bring the sunglasses.  When the sun is bright, solar glare will be intense off the white snow. 

What has changed in the traffic patterns in Boston since all the Big Dig roadways have all been opened?

A lot.

The following is a completely unscientific traffic reporter's assessment of the alterations in the traffic pattern around Boston resulting from the Big Dig.

Better:

Xway NB – Particularly in the afternoon the Expressway moves much better than it had before the opening of the O’Neill Tunnel. Some time ago, it was generally expected that there’d be a delay from at least Mass Ave. up to the old South Station Tunnel. That delay is now significantly diminished. It should be noted that during the morning the pattern is still much the same as before the opening.

Pike EB and WB – Metro West travelers have probably experienced the greatest benefit related to the Big Dig.  Getting to and from Logan Airport is significantly faster these days. Yes there are still delays on the EB Pike approaching the Xway and South Station ramps. But travelers heading to Logan no longer have to make that excruciating trip up the NB Artery to the Callahan.

Storrow / Memorial Drives EB – There are still delays on Storrow Drive approaching Leverett Circle, but they are generally shorter and less frequent than they were before the new lane configuration at Leverett Circle. Delays on Storrow Drive can still be expected when there’s an event at the Garden, or an incident affecting the Leverett Connector, or the O’Neill Tunnel, or even if it’s a heavy volume day.   Memorial Drive EB backs up much less than it used to as well.

Tobin Bridge – Prior to the completion of the new road, the Tobin Bridge commonly backed up to the tolls and beyond during the morning rush. There are still delays on the loop ramp, but they are less significant than before. Just as before, delays sometimes occur approaching the toll plaza.

Sumner Tunnel – Before the Ted Williams Tunnel opened your only real choice was the Sumner. The Sumner regularly backed up every morning onto the McClellan Highway (Route1A). Nowadays, those backups are rare.

Central Artery / O’Neill Tunnel – Do you remember the old days on the Artery? It used to be a literal parking lot between 3 and 6 pm every afternoon. Do you remember mornings with the cops at Dock Square with the lane restriction that backed up the SB Artery onto the Lower Deck? Sure there are still slowdowns, but it’s nothing compared to the old Central Artery.

Downtown Surface Streets: Traffic flows more smoothly now that there are more efficient access ramps to 93 and the Mass Pike.

Worse:

Xway NB – While traffic is better on the approach to the O’Neill Tunnel, as discussed above, nowadays we regularly see significant delays between Braintree and Neponset Circle during the afternoon rush hour. This was rarely the case before the O’Neill Tunnel opened.

93 North of Boston – In the same way that the NB Xway is backed up in the afternoon, 93 NB now commonly sees delays leaving the city from Somerville up to 128. This is a delay that we did not regularly see before the O’Neill Tunnel opened. In the morning, Route 93 South is routinely backed up beyond Route 128 coming into the city. After the Leverett Connector exit, traffic generally moves better into the O’Neill Tunnel. Before the Big Dig, we reported delays on Route 93 all the way the Central Artery.

Boston Recurring Congestion - Before the Big Dig

Boston Recurring Congestion - Now

Update (3-1-07):

Below is a link to another blog with an additional opinion.

http://www.briankaneonline.com/2007/02/just_dont_get_off_the_highways.html

Isn't it silly the way we get so excited over temperatures that are slightly above freezing?  After my bitter cold walk from the garage to the office in minus 21 wind chills the other morning, I am happy to see 40 degree temps. 

Actually, the warm up has melted some of the concrete-like ice from the sidewalks and streets.  You'll still find some icy patches here and there, but yesterday's melting helped a lot.  Keep in mind that melting during the day can lead to ice at night when the temperatures drop.  This morning, there were a few scattered patches of black ice on some of the secondary roads to the north, though the south shore's temperatures were warm enough to allow a better ride.

Solar glare was again a factor in slowing the east and southbound rides this morning, and although we had volume, it was lighter than normal due to school vacation week.

This afternoon’s commute will be very heavy as many skiers head north for next week’s February school vacation. Expect increased volume this afternoon and Saturday morning on Routes 93, 3, and 95 heading toward New Hampshire.   Monday's President's Day holiday commute should be non-existent!

Those of us not on vacation next week should enjoy lighter volume, particularly in the morning. However, the afternoon ride will likely not reflect light vacation volume. Those who are on vacation and staying home will visit Boston and attend various events, so we expect a fairly typical afternoon ride. 

Disney on Ice has several shows scheduled this weekend and all next week at the TD BankNorth Garden. Expect mid-morning and afternoon delays daily around North Station. In fact, if you are heading to the Garden, take the MBTA’s Commuter Rail or Subway to North Station to avoid vehicular delays. We see heavy volume on the Leverett Connector, Storrow Drive, and the O’Neill Tunnel when there is an event at the Garden.

Also, before you get on the roads, State Police ask that all drivers clear their vehicle of snow and ice for the safety of other motorists. Snow falling off vehicles not only redeposits back on the roadway, but can result in damage to other vehicles and injury to other drivers.

Have a great weekend and if you are on vacation, a fun week off!

To say that the New Hampshire ride on Route 93 was problematic this morning is an understatement.   The roadway was closed for several hours from at least 5 AM to 9:30 AM or so. The major culprit was icy roads. Two tractor trailers jackknifed on both sides of Route 93 early this morning. As a result, the southbound side was closed at Exit 4 in Londonderry, and the northbound side was closed at Exit 3, Route 111 in Windham. Add to that a series of spinouts and minor crashes from the NH/MA Line to Exit 5, Route 28 in North Londonderry. Vehicles were scattered all over the roadway. The SmarTraveler Operations Center received many calls from NH commuters who were stopped for over two hours in the traffic backups. Major alternates Route 28 and the Everett Turnpike were heavily traveled as motorists looked to avoid Route 93.

In Massachusetts, we fared better. No roads closed here, but we saw very heavy volume, long delays, and many spinouts and minor accidents. Route 495 South was slow with a truck rollover on the Double Decker Bridge in Lawrence. Drive times were double or triple the norm north of town. Route 93 South from NH to 128 wasn’t backed up too badly, as most of the traffic was stuck in NH. However, Route 128 South was jammed from Peabody to Weston and travelers reported a two and a half hour drive time. Route 3 South was an hour’s drive from NH to 128. Many people sought Route 3 as an alternate to Route 93 in NH.

Another reason for today’s slowdowns was solar glare. After a snowstorm, the sun’s reflection off the wet roads and the white snow banks can be intense and temporarily blinding to the driver. That translates into slower speeds and longer travel times.

Not an easy trip for pedestrians today, either. Many sidewalks are coated with ice and extremely slippery, so be careful walking. Side roads are slick and stopping distances are greater, so be extra careful crossing the street.

How long did it take you to drive in this morning? How did you find the road conditions?

Well, winter weather is finally here. A messy mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain plagued the morning commute today. It’s been a long time since any of us have driven in winter weather, and some drivers threw caution to the wind. Commuters who didn’t respect the weather and road conditions learned their lesson the hard way. We had a slew of minor accidents and spinouts, cars into the guard rail, vehicles off the road and into the woods. There were a few rollovers this morning, too. Thankfully, none of these incidents involved serious injuries.

An accident involving a tractor trailer and a car on Route 95 North by Neponset Street in Norwood closed the road for a period of time. A few lanes were open by about 6:30 AM, but the truck was off to the side of the road all morning and curiosity delays held traffic back to Route 1 in Sharon.

Generally, speeds were reduced and drive times were increased. Traffic moved anywhere from 20 to 40 MPH on all roadways. Plows and sanders continually treated the highways, which was not an easy task given the mixed precipitation and constantly changing weather conditions.

If you did not have sufficient windshield washer this morning, I’ll bet you had to stop at the store and get it. On the ride in at 4:30 AM, a near constant stream of washer fluid was barely adequate to keep the windshield free of ice and snow.

The bright side? Volume was lighter this morning because many schools were closed and parents were home with their kids.

This afternoon’s commute will also be very slow. Keep in mind that the roads may freeze later this afternoon and tonight. Tomorrow morning’s commute could be icy on any untreated road surfaces, so we are looking at delays for tomorrow morning as well.

How long did it take you to get to work today? How did you find the road conditions?

We haven't had to drive in snow this year.    It's a skill.  And like any skill, if you don't practice, those skills can atrophy.   It may not take long for you to remember how to drive in the snow.   But the rest of the people on the roads may not be as quick as you. 

Be safe, put on your seatbelt.  

Take your time.

Not me. Snow way, snow how. I will not profess my love for snow on any occasion.  Cupid will give us snow and mixed precipitation for Valentine’s Day.  Thanks, but I would be happy with a dozen roses and a nice dinner instead!

Rest assured, Channel 5’s weather team will stay on top of the snowstorm and SmarTraveler will be on hand to provide the latest road conditions. Your best bet tomorrow is to leave early. You will need extra time to shovel the driveway, warm up the car and clear it of snow. Also, visibility and speeds will be reduced on all major and secondary roads. Drive times will be at least double the norm. Consider taking the MBTA as an alternate. This storm will affect both morning and afternoon commutes, so you can take the MBTA in the morning and not have to worry about the afternoon drive home.

With tomorrow’s storm fast approaching, local traffic is busier than usual. It seems everyone is doing errands, stopping at the grocery store, and filling their tank at the gas station. Hardware and home stores are busy with people buying shovels, brooms, ice melt, sand, and ice scrapers.

Speaking of ice scrapers and brooms, please do your fellow commuters a favor and clear snow and ice from the roof of your vehicle. Snow blowing off a roof at highway speeds can temporarily blind other drivers and redeposit snow and ice back on treated roadways. Ice chunks can fly off, crack a windshield and make you generally unpopular with fellow drivers.

Be careful out there tomorrow. Or as we say in the traffic world, “Be car-ful.”

And we are not talking about cold and flu season, either. This time, it’s traffic congestion!  Every day, our SmarTraveler Operations Center in Boston receives many calls from helpful motorists. Commuters call to update us on road conditions, traffic backups, drivetimes, and weather-related slowdowns. We are always appreciative of every phone call. Sometimes, though, we have to do a little digging to find out what “congestion” really means. As we have come to understand, it is a very subjective term.

Congestion to some motorists means that they aren’t going 80 miles per hour. Others think terrible backups occur when their speedometer doesn’t get above 65. People have called us saying, “Route 495 is jammed”, and when we ask how bad the traffic is, they say “I am only going 55 mph.” By the way, 55 mph and above is not slow during any rush hour!

So what does congestion mean to SmarTraveler traffic reporters? “Standstill” means the car might as well be in park. “Stop and go” means just that. Sometimes you stop, sometimes you go, and you might reach 20 mph at best.  A "beep and creep" of sorts.

“Congestion” means that traffic is moving below the speed limit. All lanes might be full, but moving at around 40 mph or less.  Sometimes much less!

So, tell me.  How do you define congestion?

This morning’s ride was a tough one on Route 3 south of town. Water leaked from the Washington Street overpass in Quincy onto the highway below. The running water froze on contact with the pavement and created a very icy patch. Also, large icicles formed on the overpass above.  As a result, the right lane was closed on Route 3 Northbound at Washington Street until about 6:30 AM to prevent accidents. Traffic was jammed from Route 228 in Rockland for a time, but once the lane restriction was lifted, we had the usual delays from Derby Street to Union Street for the rest of the morning.

Route 93 South was very heavy from Commerce Way to the Lower Deck for most of the morning because of two accidents: one at the Hood Plant and the other at Sullivan Square.

Other than that, it was not a bad ride.

I’ve spent a little time on this blog discussing Massachusetts drivers, or more specifically how we are not the greatest drivers around. And we all know I’m being very generous in that phrasing.

There doesn’t seem to be much disagreement. People from other parts of the country are horrified by our driving. We, on the other hand, take a perverse pride in that fact.

We’re aggressive, we look at the laws as if they are suggestions, and it appears that many of us are not clear on the laws (suggestions) to begin with.

Clearly there’s no magic bullet that will solve the problem. No piece of legislation will make every driver better. Police can help with enforcement, but that requires funding. The roads could be improved for better safety and efficiency. Driver’s education is obviously an integral element, but how to make that work?

So let’s discuss this idea of education. Recently I asked for the return of “Traffic School” beyond that which is required to first get your license.

Clearly a requirement for driver’s education prior to getting your license is a good one. To get a license in Massachusetts teens must graduate from a state-approved driver education school with at least 30 hours of classroom instruction, six hours behind the wheel, and another six hours of observation from the back seat of the training vehicle.

But what happens after that? But what about people who have had their licenses for 20-30-40 years and may have forgotten those laws (suggestions). I’ve talked to police, to people who run driver education facilities, to transportation professionals of all kinds, and everyone seems to agree that some sort of “refresher course” should be beneficial.

I’m not suggesting that everyone be required take a refresher course, just the bad drivers. You know who you are!!!

If you get a couple of tickets, you go to Traffic School.

Cause an accident; go to Traffic School.

Traffic School doesn’t necessarily have to be limited to lecture time in a classroom. Let’s go right to the source, put an instructor in the car. Let’s create professional backseat drivers. Let’s recreate real-world driving scenarios to learn from.

Nobody thinks they are a bad driver, and yet there are so many out there. How can that be?

Wow, it is cold out there today.  So cold, in fact, that many travelers decided not to participate in the morning commute!  The post-Superbowl Monday commute is often very light, as many people stay up late and have a difficult time feeling motivated to get to work on time Monday morning.  Add to that the frigid weather, and there's really no good reason to leave the house!

Well, Pats fans, look on the bright side.  At least we don't have to deal with Boston road closings associated with a post-Superbowl parade, right?  It's way too cold to stand outside and cheer for the team anyway.  Feel better?  No, I don't, either! 

As expected, we saw our share of cold weather-related "brrr-eakdowns" today.  That will likely be the theme for this entire week, as it's not expected to get any warmer for a while.  Even the MBTA's commuter rail was affected by the freezing temps and reported 10 to 60 minute delays on a few lines.  

So, what were your plans today?  Did you stay home or go to work late?

Pedestrian safety is an issue that is very close to me.  My sister sustained serious injuries as the victim of a pedestrian accident in 2000. Since then, I have been far more cognizant of crosswalk rules and pedestrian safety.

Pedestrians and vehicles must share the road, sometimes without success. It’s not uncommon to see near-accidents and close calls almost daily.

We’ve all heard the war-cry that “Pedestrians have the right of way”. Well, this isn’t always the case. And even when it is, people still need to walk with care and pay attention to traffic.

Both sides can be at fault. Pedestrians cross when and where they shouldn’t, or don’t pay sufficient attention. Drivers often don’t recognize pedestrians’ rights and drive aggressively.

Often I see pedestrians who don’t use crosswalks. It frightens me every time I see people walk into the street, outside of a crosswalk, oblivious to oncoming traffic because they are talking on their cell phone or listening to their I-Pod and have not bothered to see if the coast was clear. It’s even more risky when pedestrians dart into the street from between two parked cars. They are often not seen until they are several feet from the sidewalk.

Still other people walk quickly into a crosswalk and expect that vehicular traffic will spot them, brake in time and let them pass. Even if you have the right of way, it’s very important to make sure there’s no car or truck barreling down on you. Being in the right legally means little if it causes you injury.

Pedestrians and drivers alike must take ownership of their safety. Here are a few rules of crosswalk etiquette for drivers and walkers:

Pedestrians must always follow the “walk/don’t walk” signs. Do not stop the flow of traffic in order to cross the street. The law is not on your side here, you don’t have the right of way.

When crossing, ensure that the driver of an oncoming vehicle sees you and can stop safely. Make eye contact with the driver to confirm that you’ve been seen. Be particularly vigilant when visibility is poor, even on very sunny days. Solar glare can often blind drivers suddenly and completely.

And drivers, let’s all try to be more patient. Pedestrians suffer the most physical injury in a collision. If a walker is slower than others and doesn’t make it across the street in time for the light to change, realize that the time it takes them to cross might eclipse the time they are given.

Traffic and transit is back to normal after yesterday’s plethora of road and lane closings, heavy congestion, transit delays and police activity related to the electronic advertising devices found all over Boston. Many commuters were inconvenienced and left to find alternate routing when the devices were mistaken for a public danger and road and lanes were closed for safety.

When the first device was found in the morning, Route 93 North was closed at Sullivan Square and traffic was at a standstill from the Expressway North at Mass. Ave. Northbound travelers were detoured to Mystic Ave. to reach the Sullivan Square ramp to Route 93 North, and that was a terrible ride, too. Route 93 South was open, but the Sullivan Square offramp was closed. Southbound delays stretched back to Route 16 in Medford.

MBTA Orange Line travelers were bused from Wellington to North Station and many bus routes serving Sullivan Square were detoured around the area. Once the device was detonated around 10 AM, the northbound roadway opened to traffic and the southbound Sullivan Square ramp opened shortly thereafter. The MBTA was back in service about 15 minutes after the roadway opening.

During the early afternoon, the biggest impact on travel resulted from a device found under the Longfellow Bridge. While responders worked the scene, the Longfellow Bridge was closed to traffic, which necessitated the termination of Red Line service between Park Street and Kendall Square. Storrow Drive was closed eastbound with traffic detoured through Charles Circle. The resulting backup extended to Kenmore Square and jammed traffic into Back Bay. Storrow Drive WB was briefly closed, causing backups onto the Leverett Connector.

Later in the afternoon, another device was found on Mass. Ave. on the bridge which passes over Memorial Drive in Cambridge. While that site was being cleared, police shut down traffic on Mass Ave in both directions, which tied up Mass. Ave. over the bridge and around MIT in Cambridge. Memorial Drive was never closed.

Delays were seen in the other areas where devices were found, but the impact was less significant.

Was your commute affected by the activity yesterday?  How so?