All the pretty politicians
Or, killing the traffic to save it.
I don't really have anything to say about the 405-101 improvements other than, finally. But I find these ubiquitous snapshots of assorted politicians and politically adjacent playas in L.A. mugging for posterity somehow amusing. That's Gov. Arnold with MAV and Chamber o' Commerce Chairman David Fleming -- standing in the middle of Camarillo Street in Sherman Oaks to talk about improving traffic. I wonder how long traffic on the overpass was stopped so that all the pretty pols could have their self-congratulatory moment.
I'm going to start holding a celebratory press conference every time I do my job. Would be gratifying, I think.
They are right down the street from me on Sepulveda at the Skirball Center overlooking the 405.
The "contraflow" or changing lanes at rush hour was already tried some years ago. Placing rubber cones to open up a lane and then reversing it later, is only slightly more dangerous than strolling the streets of Fallujah in American uniform.
When last tried, it did improve flow at rush hour--except for the times that it made it much, much worse because of accidents caused by the confusion of people over the appearance and disapperance of lanes.
Lastly, it is hard to believe that a program to put down and pick up cones should cost $11 million dollars. Must be for the insurance claims on workers' comp and wrongful death.
Jonathan