Honkin' Mad

Is this you?

If this is your car, you need a driving lesson to brush up on your driving skills.

This driver was weaving in and out of southbound traffic Tuesday afternoon on the DFW Airport southbound service road. It's never a good idea to speed on that road, which is a DFW DPS speed trap, and most good people who work out at the airport know that.

But this dude decided it would be fun to pass people on the RIGHT shoulder, doing about 60 mph in a 35 zone.

Where are those smokies when you need them?

Of course, listen to me the hypocrite ... I'm complaining about other peoples' driving yet I was willing to shoot this pic with a cellphone while driving!

Transportation changes in Austin

Guv Perry has declared that Texas Transportation Commission member Hope Andrade of San Antonio will be temporary chairwoman, replacing the late Ric Williamson of Weatherford. Hope has been on the commission since '03. Read more at the Star-Telegram's political blog.

She'll preside over the commission's next monthly meeting Thursday in Victoria. It'll be the first meeting since the loss of Williamson, Perry's close friend who died of a heart attack in late December.

Quorum Report predicts that former Perry chief of staff Deirdre Delisi may be named Williamson's successor, and possibly next chair.

If that came to pass, it'd be the first time in a long time that the commission hasn't had at least one member from North Texas.

The commission oversees the Texas Department of Transportation, and under Perry has dramatically expanded the use of alternative financing, debt and tolls to pay for roads.

An Honest Weather Report

Anchorman Clover Manleaf likes ice in his scotch, but not on his streets. CHECK OUT MY LATEST VIDEO

"Back to you"

This morning’s drive was a non-event despite what the TV weather types were predicting The roads were wet – which, in Texas, can be a hazard anytime – but no signs of icing anywhere. My car’s outside temp read between 35 and 37 degrees the whole way from Burleson into downtown Cowtown. But don’t you know, despite the lack of problems, some poor TV reporter was standing somewhere on a bridge in the rain saying, “Nothing to see here. Back to you in the studio.”

J.R.

Where's the ice?

121 from Grapevine to Fort Worth is wet but not icy this morning. Pretty easy drive, actually. No slowdowns, no cops. We'll see what happens this evening if the rain keeps up and the temp drops.

Wile E. Driver

Enjoy the warm dry roads while U can ...

Last night’s drive home, 360 South, was back to normal with the stop and go traffic starting right after crossing over 183. No big issues or problems – just a little slow.

This morning traveling 360 North was good. The traffic was moving at a good pace with no accidents or problems, and no cops. Tomorrow morning might be a different story if we get some streets that accumulate some of that wet stuff that decides to freeze.

Zoom Zarate

Good traffic flow, and pretty cheap gas

Traffic report from Zoom Zarate:

Pretty easy drive into work today, which was nice. There must be some in-service days for school this week beyond the MLK holiday for the traffic to be a little better. No accidents in the past several days, but the police were out on 360 South with the radar this morning.  We shall see what the evening drive, 360 North will bring.

P.S. Last night gas was $2.69 a gallon on Southlake Blvd/1709 going East.  I will check it tonight on my way home to see if it is still $2.69 a gallon.  Of course I filled up my almost empty tank last night.

www.fortworthgasprices.com

70 minutes to drive 24 miles ...

Wile E. Driver had a rough drive this morning:

My effort to get to work early was destroyed by a backup on 121 South that started at the 183 split and continued until North Richland Hills. No visible wreck. I left Grapevine at 7:30 and arrived in downtown Fort Worth at 8:50. The only thing good about this morning's drive was a yellow VW bug wearing black mouse ears and a tail.

Hey Wile E.: Did it look like this? I found this pic at www.angelsil.com/blog/maz14.jpg

 

What's a "Grapevine Funnel?"

Check out my new GRAPEVINE FUNNEL VIDEO ... How did the mess of highways in Grapevine get their collective nickname, and what's being done about it?

Takin' calls on I-20

Gary Pina is a Star-Telegram news editor. He also a road warrior. He's "The Other Guy on I-20." That'll be his handle on Honkin' Mad. Here's a traffic report from him:

It’s usually  leisure an afternoon stroll from Duncanville on I-20 to 287 to Fort Worth, but today I was in a hurry. To pass the time, I took an informal poll on people with handheld cell phones. In the 40-minute drive, I counted 15 holding cell phones. Six in cars and 9 in SUVs/trucks. 5 women, 9 guys and an other, who I couldn’t tell. And only two had one or more passengers. Of course, I might’ve missed some when I made a beeline from the fourth to the first lane.

The other guy on I-20