Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Whither Suburbia? Virginia all but outlaws cul-de-sac construction in face of traffic costs]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/24/virginia-outlaws-cul-de-sacs-in-face-of-increased-traffic/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/24/virginia-outlaws-cul-de-sacs-in-face-of-increased-traffic/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/24/virginia-outlaws-cul-de-sacs-in-face-of-increased-traffic/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Virginia lawmakers are taking a metaphorical battering ram to suburban culs-de-sac, those little dead-end roundabouts that are almost all adorned with a yellow sign saying "No Outlet." Caught out by spiraling maintenance and development costs, the Washington Post reports that legislators are now mandating that the state will only maintain new subdivision roadways that meet its revised requirements for narrower dimensions and increased connectivity. That maintenance includes not only things like pothole patches and striping, but also plowing in winter, meaning that the state's new laws will carry very real consequences for planners and developers who choose not to comply.

The rise of culs-de-sac occurred when suburban city planners and private developers decided it was better to have a few roads act as central spines instead of connecting all roads in a grid. Unfortunately, the result has been that the large thoroughfares connecting all those culs-de-sac suffer from traffic jams, high maintenance costs, as well as a constant need for widening as populations increase. They're also annoying to ambulance drivers who can't take alternate routes while responding to an emergency because side streets off of main arteries often don't connect, resulting in longer response and transport times.

Suburban dwellers are, of course, against the change. They chose culs-de-sac for particular reasons, notably because they are generally safer for children and quieter than connected streets. Cul-de-sac homeowners are worried that if connector streets are added, speeding commuters will start flying through their formerly safe developments like they do on the few connecting roads currently exist.

While there is little that homeowners can do now to change the rules, urban planners and designers are looking at making more pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly subdivisions with enough connectivity that there isn't just one road that's either clear or gridlocked. Said one council member, "We're trying to create flexibility... instead of a one size fits all."

Kids, play in the streets while you can, because the times, they are a-changin'...

[Source: Washington Post via Wallet Pop]

Whither Suburbia? Virginia all but outlaws cul-de-sac construction in face of traffic costs originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Mar 2009 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cul de sacCulDeSacculs de sacCulsDeSacgovernmentlegallegislationstate governmentStateGovernmentsuburbansuburban sprawlSuburbanSprawlsuburbiasuburbsurban planningUrbanPlanningvirginiaTue, 24 Mar 2009 19:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1496746/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/03/24/virginia-outlaws-cul-de-sacs-in-face-of-increased-traffic/1496746/article-detail.xml 1496746 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/03/va_culdesac_prohib2_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/03/va_culdesac_prohib2.jpg <![CDATA[Traffic sim: Recreate your morning commute on a PC]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/19/traffic-sim-recreate-your-morning-commute-on-a-pc/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/19/traffic-sim-recreate-your-morning-commute-on-a-pc/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/19/traffic-sim-recreate-your-morning-commute-on-a-pc/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Here's something we wish every highway planner was required to use any time they had a bright idea (like those darned roundabouts they're so fond of calling "rotarys" here in Massachusetts!). This neat little Java-powered (much like us AutoBloggers!) website allows you to adjust and model traffic flows on a variety of road conditions. The Dresden University Institute for Economics and Traffic has made quite a study of traffic dynamics, and this website is just part of a larger study of where those pointless standstills for nothing come from. The microsimulation of traffic flow appears to treat traffic as a "fluid" and working the variables allows you to see how you could use traffic density to control speed limits, passing and light cycling.

It'd be great if more attention could be paid to maximizing the efficiency of the infrastructure we've already got. Sure, we need a new infrastructure to go along with the massive volume in some areas, but some thought and calculations would go a long way in smoothing out the flow on existing roads. There's lots of information and different simulations at your fingertips here. We don't pretend to understand all of it, but it looks like just a little bit of this deeper thinking would go a long way to alleviating the pressure on our backsides every morning. Very cool little toy, bring your slide rule!

Thanks for the tip, mfridman!

Traffic sim: Recreate your morning commute on a PC originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Dec 2006 12:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>engineeringhighwayhighway planningHighwayPlanningroadroad planningRoadPlanningTraffictraffic dynamicstraffic flowTrafficDynamicsTrafficFlowurban planningUrbanPlanningTue, 19 Dec 2006 12:05:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/721001/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2006/12/19/traffic-sim-recreate-your-morning-commute-on-a-pc/721001/article-detail.xml 721001 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/12/helilarge_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/12/helilarge.jpg -1 2