The Briefing Room

General Category => Science, Technology and Knowledge => Topic started by: rangerrebew on August 04, 2018, 04:55:55 pm

Title: Scientists present concept for the elimination of traffic jams
Post by: rangerrebew on August 04, 2018, 04:55:55 pm

Scientists present concept for the elimination of traffic jams
August 3, 2018, University of Cologne


A team of researchers from Cologne and New York has presented proposals for future traffic management. A dynamic, fair toll for road use could reduce congestion.

In the current issue of Nature, the economists Peter Cramton, Axel Ockenfels (both University of Cologne) and R. Richard Geddes (Cornell University) describe a concept in which drivers would have to pay a dynamic fee for the use of roads. This would contribute to avoiding traffic jams and protecting the environment, the researchers argue. Fees that respond to traffic volumes in real time and with site precision, taking into account factors such as vehicle type and exhaust emissions, can significantly improve traffic flow and contribute to reducing air pollution.

https://techxplore.com/news/2018-08-scientists-concept-traffic.html
Title: Re: Scientists present concept for the elimination of traffic jams
Post by: truth_seeker on August 04, 2018, 05:47:25 pm

One of the worst traffic places is the "405" freeway, along the west side of Lost Angeles.

IOW LAX (airport) Santa Monica, San Fernando Valley beyond the Sepulveda Pass northward. Long Beach, Orange County southward.

aka the "San Diego freeway" For years it seems to be perpetually under construction.
Title: Re: Scientists present concept for the elimination of traffic jams
Post by: Suppressed on August 04, 2018, 05:53:00 pm
The leftists would hate it without understanding it, just like paid toll lanes, which help everybody.

The first Computer-Aided Engineering I did was traffic engineering at Cornell, though I didn't know Dr. Geddes.  But they were on the cutting edge decades ago, and already had struggles between what was smartest and what politics wanted.

Peter Cramton et al, Set road charges in real time to ease traffic, Nature (2018). DOI: 10.1038/d41586-018-05836-0
Title: Re: Scientists present concept for the elimination of traffic jams
Post by: Cyber Liberty on August 04, 2018, 06:23:00 pm
Fees that respond to traffic volumes in real time and with site precision, taking into account factors such as vehicle type and exhaust emissions, can significantly improve traffic flow and contribute to reducing air pollution.

Right.  All we have to do, then, is convince the businesses these people are commuting to, to change their business hours to match the fees.

Hey Author:  People are commuting at the times that they do for a reason.
Title: Re: Scientists present concept for the elimination of traffic jams
Post by: thackney on August 06, 2018, 08:45:50 pm
Right.  All we have to do, then, is convince the businesses these people are commuting to, to change their business hours to match the fees.

Hey Author:  People are commuting at the times that they do for a reason.

Yep, I'm getting out of bed at 4:30 am to beat the heavier traffic.
Title: Re: Scientists present concept for the elimination of traffic jams
Post by: Joe Wooten on August 07, 2018, 10:09:19 pm
Yep, I'm getting out of bed at 4:30 am to beat the heavier traffic.

I did just that for almost 15 years to avoid the heavy traffic times on I55......

Now I am damn glad Westinghouse laid me off a year ago last week, allowing me to take a new job with a consulting company that lets me work from home...
Title: Re: Scientists present concept for the elimination of traffic jams
Post by: Fishrrman on August 08, 2018, 01:21:52 am
"A team of researchers from Cologne and New York has presented proposals for future traffic management. A dynamic, fair toll for road use could reduce congestion."

Yup.
Impose tolls, then increase the rates until drivers won't use the toll road any more. Congestion... solved!
Title: Re: Scientists present concept for the elimination of traffic jams
Post by: Elderberry on August 08, 2018, 01:48:28 am
Not working in D.C.

https://qz.com/1155736/washington-d-c-s-new-expressway-tolls-charged-drivers-40-after-its-debut/ (https://qz.com/1155736/washington-d-c-s-new-expressway-tolls-charged-drivers-40-after-its-debut/)

Congestion is so bad in Washington D.C., tolls hit $40 last week

The idea behind demand-based toll pricing is simple: When a road is overcrowded by vehicles, increase the price of tolls to dissuade more drivers. When traffic eases up, ease the prices too.

The Virginia Department of Transportation adopted such a system on Dec. 4 for the new express lanes heading to downtown Washington, DC, on Virginia’s I-66. On that day, the congestion was so bad the fee topped out at $34; the following day, the price climbed to $40. The second day’s exorbitant toll price, which is programmed to change every six minutes, lasted for only that long and scathed no more than 28 drivers, Virginia transportation secretary Aubrey Layne told NPR. On average, the tolls were around $10.70 in the morning of the first day and $3.80 in the afternoon and night.
Title: Re: Scientists present concept for the elimination of traffic jams
Post by: Suppressed on August 08, 2018, 02:14:52 am
Not working in D.C.

It worked very well. 
Title: Re: Scientists present concept for the elimination of traffic jams
Post by: Elderberry on August 08, 2018, 02:52:27 am
It didn't work for the commuters.

But I guess it worked for the toll road employees.  Less wear and tear on their roads and all.  Increased traffic, I imagine on alternate roads. And trains and buses.
Title: Re: Scientists present concept for the elimination of traffic jams
Post by: DB on August 08, 2018, 03:09:29 am
These idiot "researchers" don't seem to realize these people already pay a heavy toll in money and time for being in reoccurring traffic jams in the first place. This just adds insult to injury.
Title: Re: Scientists present concept for the elimination of traffic jams
Post by: Cyber Liberty on August 08, 2018, 03:13:05 am
It didn't work for the commuters.

But I guess it worked for the toll road employees.  Less wear and tear on their roads and all.  Increased traffic, I imagine on alternate roads. And trains and buses.

Commuters are not customers to be served, they are problems to be overcome.  Once you realize that's what motivates some government workers, it starts to make sense.  Go get license plates or a drivers license at the DMV and you'll know what I mean.  Or pick up a package marked "PERISHABLE!" all over it in bright red and black letters from the parcel locker in your community mailbox when it's 115 degrees out.

This is why I can no longer order things from my hometown bakery anymore.  USPS ruined 2 of the five orders I did.

(Sorry, I wandered off topic.  The thought of dealing with the DMV did it.)
Title: Re: Scientists present concept for the elimination of traffic jams
Post by: Elderberry on August 08, 2018, 11:55:40 am
Commuters are not customers to be served, they are problems to be overcome.  Once you realize that's what motivates some government workers, it starts to make sense.  Go get license plates or a drivers license at the DMV and you'll know what I mean.  Or pick up a package marked "PERISHABLE!" all over it in bright red and black letters from the parcel locker in your community mailbox when it's 115 degrees out.

This is why I can no longer order things from my hometown bakery anymore.  USPS ruined 2 of the five orders I did.

(Sorry, I wandered off topic.  The thought of dealing with the DMV did it.)

(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ltft2GT6kNg/W2mIXlKtMeI/AAAAAAABOdo/_DNvqM3YEu8vonq-IOPqkxyMC3VYdGztgCLcBGAs/s1600/noticeto.JPG)
Title: Re: Scientists present concept for the elimination of traffic jams
Post by: Weird Tolkienish Figure on August 08, 2018, 04:24:22 pm
Working from home would eliminate a lot of traffic  issues.
Title: Re: Scientists present concept for the elimination of traffic jams
Post by: Cyber Liberty on August 08, 2018, 04:28:23 pm
Working from home would eliminate a lot of traffic  issues.

That worked great for me, until a few years ago I got a Manager who loved "Management by Walking Around." Didn't walk into my lab once in the five years he was the manager,  but death be upon me if he were ever to walk into the lab I I was not present.

Not gonna miss that crap, come September 21.