MOVING TRAFFIC ON YESTERDAY'S STREETS
VEHICLE REGISTRATION FOR PHILADELPHIA IS NOW ABOUT 800,000. FOR THE METROPOLITAN AREA, IT IS ABOUT 2,000,000. THESE TOTALS ARE DOUBLE THOSE OF 20 YEARS AGO. THE DEVELOPMENT OF EXPRESSWAYS AND MAJOR ARTERIALS HAS LAGGED FAR BEHIND THIS INCREASE, SO THAT MORE AND MORE TRAFFIC MUST USE STREETS WHOSE PRIMARY FUNCTION WAS TO SERVE RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL FRONTAGE. ANOTHER CHALLENGE TO TRAFFIC ENGINEERING IS PRESENTED BY THE LACK OF SUFFICIENT TERMINAL FACILITIES, EITHER PARKING GARAGES OR OFF-STREET LOADING. ALMOST ALL DECISIONS REPRESENT A COMPROMISE BETWEEN PROPERTY OWNERS AND TRAFFIC DEMANDS. THE COMPROMISE USUALLY TAKES THE FORM OF EXTENSVE SIGNAL AND SIGN INSTALLATION. THE CITY HAS HAD RECOURSE TO FOUR-WAY STOP SIGNS AS A MEANS OF DEALING WITH HAZARDOUS INTERSECTIONS. A MAJOR COST IS REPLACEMENT OF SIGNS AND SIGNALS THAT HAVE BEEN STRUCK BY VEHICLES OR VANDALIZED. SIGNAL KNOCKDOWNS NOW EXCEED 1100 ANNUALLY AND ARE GROWING AT A RATE OF 10% A YEAR.
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Supplemental Notes:
- Vol 9, No 9, PP 62-64, 4 PHOT
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Authors:
- Scruggs, J M
- Publication Date: 1971-9
Media Info
- Serial:
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Streets; Traffic signals; Traffic signs
- Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00226109
- Record Type: Publication
- Files: TRIS
- Created Date: Dec 20 1971 12:00AM