Recent AM 95N Congestion--What's gives?
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Topic: Recent AM 95N Congestion--What's gives?
Posted By: HOVer
Subject: Recent AM 95N Congestion--What's gives?
Date Posted: 18 Oct 2004 at 10:53am
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Hello all! Does anybody know why it's been so congested inside the beltway in HOV going north on 95 in the AM lately? With the exception of last Friday, every single day we've been slowed down somewhere between Springfield and Seminary for at least a few miles, and sometimes all the way into town. There's never been an accident or other obvious explanation. What do you know?
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Replies:
Posted By: ScarletLSG
Date Posted: 18 Oct 2004 at 11:31am
HOVer ... I agree. This morning, I waited to leave until 10:00 a.m. from Quantico and was still backed up forever BEFORE getting to Springfield. I've no idea why as there were no accidents/incidents or police pullovers.
ScarletLSG
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Posted By: SlugBuddy
Date Posted: 18 Oct 2004 at 11:35am
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Cheaters and hybrids, enough said....
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Posted By: pplmvrs
Date Posted: 18 Oct 2004 at 12:00pm
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no..it's something other than that. It is all of a sudden
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Posted By: SlugBuddy
Date Posted: 18 Oct 2004 at 12:26pm
Depending on how much the police are seen to be enforcing sometimes determines how many cheaters will chance it on the HOV. I've also heard that the hybrids are selling like hotcakes due to the HOV exemption. Have you counted how many cheaters and how many hybrids you've seen on the HOV lately? Have you noticed a lack of enforcement lately? If you want to do something you can:
1) Contact the state police and complain about the lack of enforcement
Bud Cox
Management Analyst
Virginia State Police
804-674-2127
bcox@vsp.state.va.us
and/or
2) Write to your legislators and ask them to pull the HOV exemption for the hybrids
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Posted By: SpongeBob
Date Posted: 18 Oct 2004 at 12:37pm
Another thing you can do: lobby for alternate work hours, flex time, and telework. These solutions are going to be necessary to reduce commuting pressure. I notice the backup on the news at 7:30 each morning, but by the time I get there an hour later it's gone.
(Gosh, maybe we need to drive the whole commuting problem into total gridlock... then we could all work from home!!!)
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Posted By: Baz
Date Posted: 18 Oct 2004 at 1:10pm
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Slugbuddy, Thanks for that email address for the VA St Police. We "legal" commuters need to complain about this lack of enforcement. Wish we had a whole list of persons to email! Are police and officials just going to let HOV to to hell until the real hell comes when they start building HOT?
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Posted By: gsteele
Date Posted: 18 Oct 2004 at 1:12pm
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I don’t think that the backup is due to cheaters (hybrids maybe. when is there exemption up for experation?). But I rarely see cheaters. I think more people have wised up to slugging or carpooling. O'well, zooming to work on the hov was good while it lasted.
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Posted By: scottt
Date Posted: 18 Oct 2004 at 1:55pm
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Radio traffic report said that the backup today was a result of extra security at the Pentagon today. I bypassed slugs, took Van Dorn to King to 395 and got to work right on time.
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Posted By: Stuck2
Date Posted: 18 Oct 2004 at 3:49pm
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I didn't notice anything different on the Hill today. But the road crews were still working regular lanes at 5:00 am and from the TV the roads were packed!
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Posted By: arob196
Date Posted: 18 Oct 2004 at 6:49pm
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re: cheaters, we saw about 5 cars pulled over this morning I think around Spfld....I think there are more cheaters than we think...today the police seemed to be ON...have a good week!
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Posted By: sluDgE
Date Posted: 19 Oct 2004 at 7:24am
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Enforcement Report: This morning, 6:35 AM, between Glebe Rd and P'gon, Jeep Grand Cherokee violator, Virginia Highway Patrol had him in the left lane. The Jeep may have been the one that passed us at about 80 mph. [:)]
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Posted By: Andy
Date Posted: 19 Oct 2004 at 3:41pm
See "Recent Backups on HOV Lane" on the Morning forum.
quote:
Originally posted by HOVer
[br]Hello all! Does anybody know why it's been so congested inside the beltway in HOV going north on 95 in the AM lately? With the exception of last Friday, every single day we've been slowed down somewhere between Springfield and Seminary for at least a few miles, and sometimes all the way into town. There's never been an accident or other obvious explanation. What do you know?
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Posted By: Bamboo
Date Posted: 23 Oct 2004 at 9:43pm
Speaking of cheaters, I have been half-tempted to start a thread here posting the license plate #, make and model of the car, time of day spotted and in which direction (N or S) of people I spot cheating.
What does everyone think? Or better yet is there a way this info could be given to the police?
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Posted By: tdar20
Date Posted: 25 Oct 2004 at 7:30am
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Bamboo, how could the police act on this information? Its your word against theirs. I would suspect that the police need to actually catch somebody in the act before something could be done. Otherwise people could post any license plate and say they were in violation of the rule.
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Posted By: mirangus
Date Posted: 25 Oct 2004 at 10:19am
quote:
Originally posted by Bamboo
[br]Speaking of cheaters, I have been half-tempted to start a thread here posting the license plate #, make and model of the car, time of day spotted and in which direction (N or S) of people I spot cheating.
What does everyone think? Or better yet is there a way this info could be given to the police?
Besides, the police won't ticket unless they see it. From what I heard, they stopped taking citizen calls alerting them to cheaters.
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Posted By: Brake4Slugs
Date Posted: 25 Oct 2004 at 11:56am
One morning HOV was really backed-up due to a broken down car. I saw a few cheaters in our HOV lanes...and boy did they look miffed. [;)] Isn't it ironic, don't you think?
Brake for Slugs
~I'd enjoy the day more, if it started later~
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Posted By: vabigblue
Date Posted: 26 Oct 2004 at 12:33pm
quote:
Originally posted by tdar20
[br]Bamboo, how could the police act on this information? Its your word against theirs. I would suspect that the police need to actually catch somebody in the act before something could be done. Otherwise people could post any license plate and say they were in violation of the rule.
The police won't act on hearsay information. When the HOV lanes ended at Springfield years ago, the extreme left lane was designated as the HOV lane as far down as Woodbridge. That program thought it could take license plate numbers of violators; however, that ended after a couple of months because it was considered "hearsay" information. Mail in information won't work on violators. The law needs to be there to cath them red handed.
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Posted By: dkofva
Date Posted: 01 Nov 2004 at 10:45am
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I think the answer might be, well aleast for this morning the traffic was backed up due to the "BUMP" in the road where they have taken up the pavement on the bridge right at Seminary Road. It has been like that for a week or so and although VDOT should probably get with it and pave it ASAP, it isn't that big of a drop. I am guessing some are afraid to drive over it at a reasonble rate of speed. But this morning was ridiculous - 1.5 hours to Rosslyn. . .the resume is getting updatd today! [;)]
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Posted By: scottt
Date Posted: 01 Nov 2004 at 10:49am
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Yes, couldn't believe it. HOV was bumper to bumper from Springfield at 7:15am this morning while the regular 395N lanes were flying. And I pick up slugs why????????? :-)
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Posted By: Bob
Date Posted: 01 Nov 2004 at 11:05am
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As I mentioned on another thread, I think what is happening is that the regular lanes have an accident. This causes massive backups, then several thousand singles dive into the HOV lanes, and finally, we have the pavement milling at Seminary on 395. Meanwhile, once past the accident, the regular lane folks fly all the way to the Pentagon.
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Posted By: mirangus
Date Posted: 01 Nov 2004 at 12:31pm
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I can't believe we were all back up this morning because of a bump. And the only difference between that bump and any other bump on the hwy is the fact that, oooooooooooooooh, it had a sign. Whoopee doo people!!
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Posted By: pplmvrs
Date Posted: 01 Nov 2004 at 12:34pm
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This morning was riduculous! I was backed up from Horner Road to the BUMP! What was wrong with people? It wasn't that big of bump. I was so annoyed when I finally got to the bump.
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Posted By: glacier
Date Posted: 01 Nov 2004 at 12:47pm
I heard on the radio that the Bump won't be fixed for tomorrows commute.
Cheers,
Glacier
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Posted By: glacier
Date Posted: 01 Nov 2004 at 1:20pm
But, VDOT just told me they're evaluating that spot now. Not sure what that means.
Cheers,
Glacier
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Posted By: Uhura
Date Posted: 01 Nov 2004 at 1:42pm
quote:
Originally posted by SlugBuddy
[br]Depending on how much the police are seen to be enforcing sometimes determines how many cheaters will chance it on the HOV. I've also heard that the hybrids are selling like hotcakes due to the HOV exemption. Have you counted how many cheaters and how many hybrids you've seen on the HOV lately? Have you noticed a lack of enforcement lately? If you want to do something you can:
1) Contact the state police and complain about the lack of enforcement
Bud Cox
Management Analyst
Virginia State Police
804-674-2127
bcox@vsp.state.va.us
and/or
2) Write to your legislators and ask them to pull the HOV exemption for the hybrids
Hey-I wrote: Check it out-
-----Original Message-----
From: XXX@XXX.com
Sent: Monday, November 01, 2004 12:30 PM
To: bcox@vsp.state.va.us
Subject: HOV Enforcement Northern, VA
Mr. Cox, I would like to make an observation regarding enforcement of HOV
rules during the morning rush hour from Woodbridge to the DC Area:
Enforcement should be increased. This morning I noticed THREE police
vehicles parked side by side on one of the off ramps that goes unused when
the HOV is northbound--the occupants laughing & talking with one another
rather than enforcing the HOV rules. I was thoroughly disgusted.
XXXXXX XXXXX
703-XXX-XXXX
Dear Ms. XXX:
Lieutenant Colonel E.A. Stockton, Director of the Bureau of Field Operations
for the Virginia State Police asked that I thank you for and respond to your
e-mail of November 1, 2004 concerning HOV enforcement.
I regret your displeasure with the State Police regarding HOV enforcement
from Woodbridge to Washington, D.C.
I am forwarding your e-mail to Captain G.M. Counts, Division Commander at
our Headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia asking that he have a supervisor
review this matter to ensure all policies and procedures were followed and
to take appropriate corrective action.
Thank you for bringing this incident to our attention.
Bud Cox
Business Manager
Virginia State Police
804-674-2127
bcox@vsp.state.va.us
Live Long and Prosper
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Posted By: Bob
Date Posted: 01 Nov 2004 at 2:33pm
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I put a complaint in to WTOP about the need to have much more specific info on traffic radio about where the backups start in the regular lanes and HOV. Assuming that we are dealing with HOV volume here, at the very least one thing they could do to help would be to have very specific info on the backups, so that at least some folks may choose to exit at Springfield. But I know everyone is VERY reluctant to do that, especially with the poor, almost worthless traffic information on HOV vs regular lanes. Are there any stations t hat do a good job of this?
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Posted By: pb1974
Date Posted: 01 Nov 2004 at 2:55pm
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I've found that 101.5 gives excellent traffic reports. This morning they commented on the backups on the HOV, and the specific points at which both HOV and the regular lanes backed up. They even said that the HOV backups were due to unpaved road.
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Posted By: adjguy
Date Posted: 01 Nov 2004 at 11:11pm
Yeah 101.5 is stationed in Fredericksburg. They have the "10 minute traffic guarentee" and always start with VA problems first and formost. WTOP seems to focus on Maryland allot. Is it just me?
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Posted By: NoNo
Date Posted: 02 Nov 2004 at 11:07am
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My satellite radio traffic channel is better than WTOP, and its only supposed to serve DC. WTOP didn't broadcast about the HOV delays and the "Rumble strip" until we were less than 1/4 mile from it. I find them useless.
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Posted By: ScarletLSG
Date Posted: 03 Nov 2004 at 6:57am
Roadrunner,
I AGREE ... not only is WTOP useless ... but I find it VERY annoying when Ms. Lisa Baden LAUGHS in the middle of every traffic report. When she's talking about delays, stopped traffic and such, she's almost giddy with delight at having something to report. When things are moving smoothly, she seems disappointed to share it! Drives me CRAZY!!!
ScarletLSG
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Posted By: sluDgE
Date Posted: 03 Nov 2004 at 7:15am
Roadrunner,
Don't understand why you can't pick up WTOP in the DC area. They broadcast on 4 different frequencies 107.7 FM, 104.3 FM, 1500 AM,
and 820 AM (WXTR) -- and their coverage map at their website shows at least one of those freqs covers an area from Pennsyvania to about Richmond and from West Va to beyond the Eastern Shore.
Agree with some of the postings above that it seems whenever there's some sort of back-up on I-95/I-395 in Va and we're trying to get some info, the WTOP traffic reporters seem likely to be reporting on Maryland traffic. t Hope they don't do that intentionally. Good that someone pointed out 101.5 as a good alternative for Va traffic reports. Keep on sluggin'! [:)]
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Posted By: adjguy
Date Posted: 07 Nov 2004 at 4:17pm
I recently sent an email to B101.5 in Fredericksburg complimenting them on their outstanding service with their traffic reports. I let them know that slug-lines.com readers enjoyed thier show and traffic reports and got this in response. Management there is great, they seem to care about what listeners think.
-----Original Message-----
Sent: Thursday, November 04, 2004 9:08 PM
To: ssloan@wbqb.com
Subject: Great Traffic Reports
John:
Thanks for the email. It's always good to hear that we're doing something right (there's never a problem hearing from people when we mess up).
I'll pass along your comments to Baxter, Heather and Robert.
Again, thanks for writing and for listening!
Shawn
Shawn Sloan
General Manager
B101.5/WBQB & NewsTalk 1230/WFVA
540.373.7721 - Fredericksburg
703.490.2727 - Woodbridge
ssloan@wbqb.com
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Posted By: NoNo
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2004 at 10:50am
Response to my complaint from WTOP. They are incorrect about the recorded satellite traffic reports, btw.
Thanks for taking the time to write. We have a satellite radio set up
right outside the studio where Bob Marbourg does his traffic reports.
We do frequent A to B comparisons to see what they have versus what we
have. What we have learned is that their traffic reports are
pre-recorded and played over and over. Ours are always live with the
latest information. I've written to Dr. Gridlock at the Washington Post
to suggest he do a side-by-side comparison between WTOP traffic reports
and those from the satellite. I am convinced that an independent
outside party would tell you and me and everybody else that our
information is more reliable. We have access to more traffic cameras,
helicopters, airplanes and mobile units than they do. In addition, we
have something they don't: thousands of loyal WTOP listeners who call us
to report traffic tie-ups. If you are interested, the numbers are:
On Verizon # 1500
On Cingular * 1500
all others (202) 895 5047
Whether you choose to call us or not, I'm sure you'll listen to traffic
reports both on WTOP and on your paid service. I'd love to hear back
about your experiences whether you think we are better or not. Thanks
again for writing and thanks for listening to WTOP Radio.
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