Destroy them. They are definitely making it worse.

Ive noticed them working on North Loop again after years of not working. If they plan to use them they need to do it more obvious like in AZ, Utah where they are more like overhead traffic lights and well marked.

I mean turn them off - they are terrible. I never stop at them and everyone who does makes things worse.

I'm talking north loop as well - so annoying

Ragoo said:

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Ryan the Temp said:

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Ramp metering does actually improve the flow of traffic under normal (i.e. off-peak) conditions. It's when there is already heavy traffic that it becomes ineffective.

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what improves the flow of traffic is an entering vehicle meeting or slightly exceeding the speed of the established flow. Less than and it causes undue turbulence in the main stream.

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You're assuming that the cars entering the freeway aren't bumper to bumper and the cars on on the freeway aren't also bumper to bumper even if driving at a decent speed (to intentionally not let people in front of them).

Yes, if people allowed reasonable following distances and didn't intentionally close that distance to prevent someone from having the audacity of getting in front of them, then vehicles simply entering the freeway at the same speed would be the most efficient process.

TX04Aggie said:

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Ive noticed them working on North Loop again after years of not working. If they plan to use them they need to do it more obvious like in AZ, Utah where they are more like overhead traffic lights and well marked.

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Same. They have been on for years and just noticed them the other day.

htxag09 said:

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Ragoo said:

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Ryan the Temp said:

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Ramp metering does actually improve the flow of traffic under normal (i.e. off-peak) conditions. It's when there is already heavy traffic that it becomes ineffective.

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what improves the flow of traffic is an entering vehicle meeting or slightly exceeding the speed of the established flow. Less than and it causes undue turbulence in the main stream.

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You're assuming that the cars entering the freeway aren't bumper to bumper and the cars on on the freeway aren't also bumper to bumper even if driving at a decent speed (to intentionally not let people in front of them).

Yes, if people allowed reasonable following distances and didn't intentionally close that distance to prevent someone from having the audacity of getting in front of them, then vehicles simply entering the freeway at the same speed would be the most efficient process.

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if you are going to put an emotional condition to a scientific approach then there is no best fit solution.

we got a live one!!

With another 100,000 people coming to Houston every year for the foreseeable future, just remember: Traffic will always get worse.

Ragoo said:

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Ryan the Temp said:

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Ramp metering does actually improve the flow of traffic under normal (i.e. off-peak) conditions. It's when there is already heavy traffic that it becomes ineffective.

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what improves the flow of traffic is an entering vehicle meeting or slightly exceeding the speed of the established flow. Less than and it causes undue turbulence in the main stream.

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Yep. I drive a Ford Econoline-line van. Last thing I need is a dead stop before hitting a ramp. Those lights were designed by out of work engineers who decided it was easier to bill the city.

https://houstonstrategies.blogspot.com/

This is an interesting blog about Houston. I bet the author knows who to contact about the light sequencing as he is very knowledgeable about I believe has worked with the City regarding traffic.

Looks like we've got a virtual cornucopia of informed opinions on this thread.

Yep, here's another one. In congested downtowns, the best way to improve traffic flow is to prohibit left turns. If you have a street with say two lanes going north and two lanes going south, if you hold the light for left turns, only the few cars who are turning left will be able to get through during that time. (This is true even if there is a left turn lane). And if there is no left turn lane and the cars turning left have to yield to oncoming traffic, it's even worse, since traffic in the left lane is stopped waiting for the left turner to clear. However, if you prohibit left turners, then the lanes are open for longer, higher average speed, and more cars get through while the light is green. The left turners can turn right and make the block, and since more cars are getting through, there is less back up and they make it in the direction they want to go more quickly than they would if they were sitting and waiting to turn left (on average).

You can see this dynamic at Kyle Field. When new Kyle first opened, people of course queue at the bottom of the escalators (or top if its after the game). But security would let people who took a flight of stairs then try to get the escalators. The problem is that if I'm coming off the escalator I can't stop and let you in, because people are going to be dumped off the escalator right behind me. It happened to me more than once. Now they finally have a clue and they stop people and leave gaps before they can get on the escalator, which means if people who think they can handle the stairs need to get into the escalator system they can without causing everybody else to be afraid of being crushed from behind. I always leave a few steps open in front of me just in case they forget.

ChemAg15 said:

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False. In congested downtowns the best way to improve traffic flows is to install bike lanes and bus only lanes. Everyone knows that.

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I'll admit it - I laughed.