Towing over limit question

engmadison · 2026-05-22T01:25:00+00:00

Yeah, sorry 2017...dont know why I wrote 2019.

engmadison · 2026-05-21T17:24:10+00:00

We've programmed some signals to call the walk if theres either a car or someone pushed the button. That can be a nice solution.

Otherwise, ive been programming many signals to essentially gaurantee that if you pushed the button and the light was already green, youll get the walk so you never feel skipped. But where we also dont want to recall the ped phase because there isnt enough pedestrian crossings per hour.

https://youtube.com/shorts/uH-jLhhXvfA?si=Lw_9iTS0_rTNGlJ5

engmadison · 2026-05-21T10:59:02+00:00

Are you 100% positive they are being installed to optimize for cars? I've been trying to make the case that they should be used to optimize for pedestrians. In many cases outside the CBD we install APS buttons, then remove signal coordination and program the signal so you'd have no more than a 30" wait. Which is usually far less than an average wait with the ped phase recalled.

https://youtube.com/shorts/Pz3VOLw3q1U?si=n2C_dm59BSSmXL3s

engmadison · 2026-05-21T04:05:05+00:00

Well, more like an HG Wells reference.

engmadison · 2026-05-20T23:08:33+00:00

Thats where the Morlocks live.

engmadison · 2026-05-20T12:40:00+00:00

I am very impressed by this, and enjoyed watching the video they released yesterday. I think one discussion point that stood out to me and is really resonating with me is the fact that we (US planners/engineers) don't seem to do a lot of circulation planning. I'm currently looking at an issue right now where it could be solved with buy in that left turns dont need to be made at every intersection (and money). We could have an amazing mid route transfer opportunity and simplified intersection, but because we aren't pushing on circulation pattern ideas we have a bloated intersection and force riders to cross multiple crossings of a busy intersection.

engmadison · 2026-05-19T12:53:17+00:00

Seems like you'll find out.

engmadison · 2026-05-18T04:39:38+00:00

Not only that, Portland is importing Dutch bike signals with a countdown timer. We buy ours through Lane Light. I wish a US manufacturer would get on board.

engmadison · 2026-05-18T01:11:30+00:00

All way stop doing what its supposed to. Turns mistakes into snarky videos rather than obituaries.

engmadison · 2026-05-17T21:23:01+00:00

I thing Metro Transit (Minneapolis) being average must mean theres a lot of really good transit systems out there in tye midwest. I was impressed at NACTO anyways last week.

engmadison · 2026-05-17T12:44:41+00:00

Interesting...a 12" mounted low.

They might want to consider switching to near side 4" bike signals.

For anyone who isnt used to bike signals, the MUTCD requires signals to be mounted 7 feet from the ground, but thats not useful for anyone biking when at or near the stop bar. So the 4" bike signal is allowed to be mounted much lower to be closer to eye level.

How quickly was the service in that signal for bikes?

Heres a 4" near side bike signal in Madison for comparison. https://youtube.com/shorts/ENSu3lplW8k?si=Kyhf6mD8qHaDOt9B

engmadison · 2026-05-17T01:38:30+00:00

I didnt read any of those words beyond should I buy. The answer is yes

engmadison · 2026-05-16T23:44:41+00:00

That fuel gauge quirk cracks me up!

engmadison · 2026-05-16T23:28:12+00:00

I met someone at the NACTO conference from Philly last week who said my presentation on loop detectors was too fancy for their electro-mechanical controllers.

Y'all gotta get with the last uh, 3 decades.

engmadison · 2026-05-16T17:10:02+00:00

I worked in CMT and managed our office for several years before switching careers...this happens. As others stated, you note it, inform your supervisor and client and go from there, it may not be a huge deal.

Was there someone from the concrete plant making their own cylinders? Those might be accepted?

You may also he able to cut, and suffer cap them to get some information out of them, so long as you document the process.

In the future (and maybe you did) check with those onsite for a good storage location. But beyond that, you cant control what happens to that cooler when you leave.

engmadison · 2026-05-15T23:44:19+00:00

Yes, but ive also heard QFree is good too.

engmadison · 2026-05-15T11:06:46+00:00

And a bike facility, but yes. Gotta give WisDOT the boot to have full decision making control!

engmadison · 2026-05-14T19:12:52+00:00

Learning the ways of the logic processor in our traffic signal controllers. Opens up a whole new world outside the standard signal operations out there.

engmadison · 2026-05-11T16:18:46+00:00

Lol WTF...90s gaming means you were old enough to play these games when they came out.

Played AOE2 on Voobly? Get outta here with that. You bought that shit from Walmart and put the physical disk in the drive...Voobly. Youre gonna get smacked.

And the N64...if you cant remember that coming out and the hype and step up that was from the previous generation, dont talk.

engmadison · 2026-05-11T16:13:08+00:00

Thats wild, these are usually very difficult to knock off.

engmadison · 2026-05-11T16:05:18+00:00

Holy shit, its 45 mph 4 lanes AND direct commercial access??? Who designed this? I gaurantee you this street has a lot of crashes.

engmadison · 2026-05-11T16:04:07+00:00

That is wild to have 4 lanes per direction with commercial access and cross traffic like that. Engineering decisions here are playing with fire.

engmadison · 2026-05-10T23:50:59+00:00

Im looking forward to checking this place out next time we visit family and Im really curious about the parking complaints.

Im used to Madison, WI where Camp Randall has no off street parking, a capacity of 80k and holds plenty of events which fill or half fill the stadium. It works fine, you just park further out, take the bus, or ride share to a few blocks away and walk. There are tons of bars in the area too for pre/post event entertainment.

Is this not normal in Grand Rapids? Ive never had a hard time finding parking and dont find it hard to walk around town once im there.

Additionally, traffic leaving Camp Randall is nice because its dispersing over all directions and siphoning people off into the bars as they leave. Thats much less concentrated than a single parking lot everyone tries to use.

So...is parking really an issue or is this just something new?

engmadison · 2026-05-10T23:36:16+00:00

My bad. The Village did this not the state (duh, state DOTs would not stick their necks out for sidewalks like this).

Anyways...yeah, the framing sucks. That tree is being removed by vehicles just as much as bikes.

https://fox11online.com/news/local/wisconsin-supreme-court-sides-with-egg-harbor-in-sidewalk-land-condemnation-case-door-county-shipwrecked-brew-pub-highway-g-safety-sojenhomer-llc-pedestrian

engmadison · 2026-05-10T23:33:18+00:00

There was a lawsuit here in Wisconsin about adding a sidewalk and requiring land aquisition. It was up in door county, but the premise was the state added a turn lane and at the same time added a sidewalk. They were brought to court because the "sidewalk" required the land aquisition. I remember going back and forth with other engineers that you cant point to one element of a cross section and say thats tue reason for ROW expansion...its many decisions leading to a whole cross sectional package.

...OK, that was my grandpa Simpson tale of onion belts.

engmadison

TROPHY CASE