Honkin' Mad

Red light dilemma

Worthwhile question about red light cameras just e-mailed from Wayne:

"I was coming up to a red light with someone just barreling up behind me. I ran the light in order not to get plowed into. He, the guy behind me, ran the light, too. What about that?"

Wayne: As you can probably guess, I'm no lawyer, but I'd be tempted to fight the ticket. Take it to an adjudication hearing, where the city's hearing officer will be able to review the video and see for himself what happened. Maybe something in the video will make it obvious you're being tailgated.

From a Florida campaign -->

Caught Red-Handed

Check out this short video about red light cameras in Dallas-Fort Worth:

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

Lots of interesting comments from readers today about the story in this morning's paper:

Leone "Le" Moore, who lives in the Summerfields area of far north Fort Worth, wonders why cities don't put more visible signs around the intersections ... or at least attach an orange flag to them. "Those signs are smaller than a speed limit sign. If we really want to stop these red light runners, and prevent accidents, then why not make them more visible?

Jim, who didn't leave his last name or phone number, challeged the assertion in the story that license plate sprays, which could cloak the license plate number from a camera, are illegal. "There is no state that has such a law. Why don’t you guys just get it straight? What you’re really talking about here is generating more taxes for states. This is what this is really about."

Jim: Here's a link to the 2003 state law that made it illegal to apply any coating on a plate that obscures the numbers: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/78R/analysis/doc/SB00439F.doc

Express lanes open

HOV lanes are now open on Interstate 30 between Arlington and Dallas, forming a convenient express route for people willing to share a ride. The six-mile stretch of high-occupancy vehicle lanes opened Tuesday from the Tarrant/Dallas county line to Loop 12. Both lanes are reversible, and are open to eastbound traffic from 6 to 9 a.m., and westbound traffic from 3 to 7 p.m. In 2008, the HOV lanes are scheduled to become "managed lanes" — which means they’ll likely still be free for carpoolers, but also available for a toll to drivers of single-occupant vehicles. Eventually, the lanes will operate 20 hours a day from Loop 820 in Fort Worth to downtown Dallas, according to officials at Dallas Area Rapid Transit, which will operate the HOV lanes. Who else can use HOV lanes? Buses, motorcycles and any vehicle with at least two occupants — blow-up dolls not included!

READ MORE HERE

Progress on I-35W, Airport Freeway, Loop 820

Well, really it's just an incremental step. But every little bit helps, right ...

Seven teams of private companies have been competing for the right to build toll lanes on some of Tarrant County's most congested roadways. The list has been narrowed to FOUR finalists.

What's the next step? READ ABOUT IT HERE

NE Loop 820 at Meadow Lakes Drive, in NRH

The North Texas Tollway Authority board has selected a new executive director.

Jorge Figueredo was a senior division manager at the PBS&J consulting firm, where he worked on toll projects with the Northeast Texas Regional Mobility Authority and Texas Turnpike Authority in Austin. Prior to that, he was director of operations, communications and marketing for the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority in Florida.

Rick Herrington will stay on as Figueredo's deputy. Figuerego replaces Allan Rutter, who left NTTA in February. After Rutter left, former NTTA director Jerry Hiebert returned to serve as acting director, and guided NTTA's winning bid for the Texas 121 toll road project.

Live traffic updates online

Traffic problems are updated live online at www.daltrans.org. The map is reallly easy to navigate. Just drag your mouse over any orange or red dots appearing on the road of your choice. At the moment, the Metroplex roads are remarkably clear.

'Course, to embellish an old saying ...

If you like the looks of DFW traffic, just wait a minute ...

Mixmasters are mixing well at the moment

At the moment, traffic is moving normally on the Dallas Mixmaster, and the Fort Worth Mixmaster for that matter.

Which isn't to say traffic's good at either location. People who drive thataway know it's congested even on a good day. But the explosion fallout is gone.

Call this # to check traffic

To check traffic on the I-30/I-35E Dallas Mixmaster, or anywhere else anytime, try calling this number:

(800) 452-9292.

The Texas Department of Transportation operates the travel information line -- toll free, statewide and around the clock.

If you're concerned about explosion-related traffic, or any other potential gridlock, call ahead first.

Dallas Mixmaster is cleared to re-open

The I-30/I-35E Dallas Mixmaster will re-open momentarily, nearly 10 hours after the natural gas explosions.

I just got word from Texas Department of Transportation spokesman Mark Ball that the agency's central Dallas maintenance office is "in the process of opening up everything except the I-35E exit at Industrial Boulevard," which is where the incident occurred.

So, commuters can rest assured that the roads will be available tomorrow morning for the a.m. commute.

But you might wanna avoid it for the next hour or so, to allow time for gridlock to unwind.

-- Gordon.

Cross your fingers, Mixmaster may open by 6

I-30 and I-35E may be open by 6 p.m., the Texas Department of Transportation now says.

Here's a fresh, hot e-mail from TxDot spokesman Mark Ball:

DPS coordinator Jim Badgett has instructed TxDOT to begin clean-up of debris on all State maintained roadways involved in the closure this morning.

TxDOT's Central Dallas County Maintenance staff advised me that this might take as long as two (2) hours. Work began by TxDOT crews at approximately 3:50 p.m.

And now a friendly note of caution from Honkin' Mad: Even if the road opens at 6 p.m., that doesn't mean it'll be a good option for afternoon commuting. If you know a good detour, take it.

But at least things are looking better for Thursday morning's drive :)

-- Gordon.

p.s. The Trinity Railway Express is putting together a plan to add railcars for Dallas-bound commuters who want to try transit tomorrow. It may be the equivalent of 1,000 extra seats. All abo-o-o-ard!

See if you can get someone to drop you off at the train station, as many park-and-ride lots are often near capacity.