Late Merging vs. Early Merging - Which Side Are You On?

You're driving along the highway and see a sign ahead that reads "Merge Right - 1 Mile Ahead". What do you do? Do you immediately merge to the right? Or do you continue to drive, and merge to the right when your lane ends and have nowhere left to go?

As discussed in this recent post from Arstechnica, if you merge early, you are bound to sit in the slow lane. If you're a Late Merger, sure, you'll zoom up the less-crowded left lane, but you'll probably endure the shade being thrown your way by the Early Mergers. They might even try to box you out when the two lanes finally meet.

So which are you, a Late or an Early Merger?

There is actually ONE correct way, which is faster and safer than the other.

Let me introduce to you the Zipper Merge, shown in this video from MnDOT. It's basically what would happen if we all became Late Mergers, creating the ever-perfect Zipper Merge.

I have long been a proponent of the Zipper Merge, which is a marketer's spin on the more negative term Late Merge. It is often seen as rude by the EMers (Early Mergers), because they think LMers are cutting in line. But if both travel lanes are filled in evenly and everyone takes turns, then it creates a clean zipper effect and both lanes will move forward at an equal pace. 

EMers aren't doing anyone any favors. They are just creating a long line of slow traffic to sit in for themselves. If traffic is freely flowing, by all means EMers, merge as soon as your heart desires. But when it's stop-and-go traffic, the best practice is to all work together for a Zipper Merge. 

In Pennsylvania in the 1990s, the Late Merge was introduced by traffic engineers after incidents of aggression at merge points. At the time, the most surprising result of this concept was it improved traffic flow by 15 percent.¹ Now, according to MnDOT, it can potentially improve traffic flow up to 50%!

Merging late may seem aggressive and selfish, but in fact, it benefits the group as a whole. It's those who are trying to be noble and polite - the EMers - that are creating a slow and frustrating traffic conga line much earlier than necessary. And now, we have the data to prove it!

¹Vanderbilt, Tom. Traffic:Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What It Says About Us). Alfred A. Knopf, 2008. Print.

GeoTraffic Roadwork Roundup!

This week's Roadwork Roundup features a full list of closures for the 37th annual San Francisco marathon, with closures beginning this Saturday at 12midnight. 

• From 12midnight to 3:00pm, the northbound Embarcadero/King St. will be closed from 3^rd St. to Broadway.
• From 12 midnight to 3:00pm, the southbound Embarcadero will be closed from Broadway to Harrison.
• At Fisherman's Wharf, Jefferson St. between Northpoint and Hyde will be closed from 5:30-7:30am. 
• The Golden Gate Bridge Roadway lines will be affected from 1:00am-1:00pm. Two-way vehicle traffic will remain available at all times; but drivers can expect lane closures and heavy delays. 
• From 4:30am to 10:00am, Lincoln Blvd. and all intersections onto Lincoln Blvd. from the 25th Ave. gate to Lendrum Ct. will be closed.
• From 4:30am to 10:00am, Mason Street and all intersections onto Mason Street will be closed from the Marina Gate to Crissy Field Avenue.
• From 4:30am to 10:00am, Crissy Field Avenue will be closed.
• In the Richmond District from 6:00am-10:00am, eastbound and westbound traffic should expect delays at 26^th and 27^th Avenues.
• 26th and 27th Avenues from Fulton Street to Lake Street will be closed to through traffic. 
• In the Sunset and Richmond Districts, north and south access to Golden Gate Park should use Great Highway, Kezar, or the 19th Avenue/Park Presidio entrances and motorists can expect significant delays.
• In Golden Gate Park, southbound Crossover Dr., JFK Dr. from 47^th Ave to Kezar, MLK Jr. Dr from Lincoln to 25^th Ave, Transverse Dr., and Stow Lake Dr. will be closed from 5:00 am to approx 11:30 am.
• In Upper Haight (pronounced HATE), north and south access across Upper Haight Street should use Kezar Drive and expect significant delays.
• In Lower Haight, north and south access across Lower Haight Street should use Steiner or Fillmore and expect significant delays.
• From 6:30am to 12noon, there will be no access to Market St. between Duboce Ave. and Guerrero Street.
• In Mission and Potrero Districts, on 15th, 16th and 17th Sts. from 6:45am to 12:30pm, northbound and southbound traffic needing to cross over should use Highway 280 or Highway 101 whenever possible. Crossovers are also available at some city streets where significant delays should be expected – Valencia, South Van Ness, Folsom, Bryant, or Potrero Street.
• The Third Street Detour will be in place from 7:00am to 12:30pm. Southbound traffic should use the westbound 20th Street overpass to southbound Pennsylvania Street to eastbound 23rd Street back to Third Street. Northbound traffic should use westbound 23rd Street to northbound Pennsylvania Street to eastbound 20th Street to Third Street
• In the South Beach Area, Terry Francois Blvd will be closed from 7:00am to 12:30pm.

Travel advisories will be in effect beginning Saturday, as well as rider alerts on many San Francisco MUNI lines. Riders are encouraged to check with public transit ahead of time as there will be significantly increased capacity and delays. Be sure to check www.sfmata.com before you ride the MUNI. More information about marathon closures can be found on the official website.
PHILADELPHIA

I-95 Overnight Lane Restrictions Next Week in Delaware County for Resurfacing

On 422 Eastbound, there is ongoing construction between 724 and Sanatoga, with lane closures weekdays from 5PM til 5AM. 

In East Goshen township, Rt 352 is closed and detoured due to utility installation between Wickerton Drive and Green Lane, weekdays from 9AM til 3PM, through August 14th. 

In Northeast Philly, Woodhaven Rd has lane restrictions between Rt 13 and Knights Road for overhead bridge repair, weekdays from 9AM til 3PM, through August 14th. 

On Rt 611 in Abington, road widening has lane blockages southbound between Hilltop Road and Harte Avenue, weekdays from 9AM til 3PM through the 31st. 

In Upper Merion Twp, North Gulph Road has lane closures between Guthrie Road and Warner Road due to construction, weekdays from 9AM til 3PM and 7PM til 6AM, through August 29th.

And in Ridley township, MacDade Boulevard has lane restrictions between Edgewood avenue and Haverford Avenue, for utility installation, weekdays between 9AM and 3PM through the 31st.

BOSTON

93 SB 

Closure of the ramp from Purchase/Congress to I-93SB / I-90 WB on Thursday, July 24^th from the hours of 11 PM to 5 AM

Mass Pike 

Left lane closure on I-90 EB prior to exits 24 A/B/C, closing exits 24B (I-93 NB) and 24C (I-93 SB) on Thursday, July 24^th from the hours of 11 PM to 5 AM

Callahan Tunnel 

Right lane closure from the middle of the Callahan Tunnel through the exit on Monday, July 21^st and Wednesday, July 23^rd from the hours of 9 PM to 5 AM

Left lane closure from the middle of the Callahan Tunnel through the exit on Tuesday, July 22^nd and Friday, July 25^th from the hours of 9 PM to 5 AM

Rt 1

Left lane Closed on tobin Bridge SB between Chelsea Curves and Tobin Bridge Tolls (long term.)

RT 2

EB and WB between Bedford RD and Crosbys Corner. (long term)

WASHINGTON DC

 

Inside the District:

Long-term road construction on US-1 /Rhode Island Ave between Vermont Ave/13th St NW and North Capitol St

H Street EB is closed due to road construction at 18th St. Scheduled to be closed  until late 2016 

Long-term road construction on the SE Fwy East between I-295 & Martin Luther King Jr. Ave and Pennsylvania Ave (Sousa Bridge). After the 6th street Exit SE all traffic must exit onto the OB 11th ST bridge to acces NB or SB DC-295.

Long-term road construction on Benning Rd between I-295/Kenilworth Ave and Oklahoma Ave

Inside the Beltway:

Road construction 2 lanes closed MD-355 N between Bradley Blvd and MD-410/Montgomery Ave

Cedar Lane is closed in both direction between MD-355 and Elmhirst Parkway

Road construction has the right lane closed on MD-202 EB between US-50 and Martin Luther King Jr Hwy

left lanes are closed for milling and paving on I-395 SB between VA-27 /Washington Blvd and VA-7 /King St

Beltway:

Right lane closed on the Beltway Inner Loop between Georgia Ave and US 29

2 lanes get by in each direction on University Boulevard at The Beltway

The right lane approaching the Springfield interchange is closed for construction on the inner loop of the beltway

Outside the Beltway:

2 right lanes closed on the Intercounty Connector E at US-29/Columbia Pike

Road construction has the right lane closed on I-95 (MD) N between MD-198 and MD-216

I-95 (VA) Express Lanes are closed between  VA-234 and The Beltway and on I395 from teh beltway to the 14th street bridge until Jan 2015

ATLANTA: 

Road Closed Indefinitely: Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. between Northside Dr. and Centennial Olympic Park Dr. to begin new stadium construction. Mitchell and Tatnall Streets are alternates.

Streetcar Project: Expect closures along Auburn Ave. near Peachtree St. and on surrounding roads.

I-20 WB: inside the perimeter exit and entrance ramps between Flat Shoals Road and the Downtown Connector will be closed intermittently for re-paving 

I-20: In Douglas County, two westbound lanes of I-20 will be closed nightly between Ga. 5 and Liberty Road.

NYC
 

GWB:

3 upper-level lanes closed for deck rehab work M-Th 9p-5a and Fri 10p-10a.

Cross Bronx:
Construction on both directions between Undercliff Avenue &  Amsterdam Avenue (New York) , thru Friday July 25th, 2014, midnight-5am.  Up to 3 lanes closed.

Construction on I-95 both directions between 3rd Avenue; Exit 3 (New York) and Exit 2A - Jerome Avenue (New York) ,thru Saturday July 26th, 2014,  12:01 AM thru 05:00 AM, 2 lanes closed

Bronx River Parkway:
Construction on Bronx River Parkway northbound between East Fordham Road & East Gun Hill Road, thru Friday July 25thTuesday/ Wednesday/ Thursday/ Friday, 01:00 AM thru 06:30 AM, 2 lanes closed.

Construction on Bronx River Parkway southbound between East 233rd Street and Story Avenue, thru Saturday July 26th, 2014 Tuesday/ Wednesday/ Thursday/ Friday/ Saturday, midnight-6:00 AM, 2 lanes closed.

Bridge replacement closes the SB Bronx River Parkway exit 12 - Crane Road (Yonkers) , thru Saturday July 26th, 2014 11:59 PM.

Grand Central:

Construction on Grand Central Parkway eastbound between Francis Lewis Boulevard & the Cross Island Parkway (New York) , thru Friday July 25th, 2014, Monday thru Friday,  01:00 AM thru 05:00 AM, 2 lanes closed

Palisades:

Construction on the Palisades Interstate Parkway northbound between George Washington Bridge in Fort Lee and Exit 2 - US 9W in Alpine Overnight Repaving begins Monday July 21st, Weeknights, 8:30 p.m. until 5:30 a.m., 1 lane closed. Expect delays., Consider U.S. 9W as alternate.

Sip Avenue (Jersey City):

Watermain break on Sip Avenue in both directions between US 1/9 Truck Route and Freeman Avenue in Jersey City. All lanes remain closed and detoured until 11:59 P.M. on September 30. 2014.

 

 

DETROIT

I-96:

Construction continues eastbound and westbound I-96.  The service drives have only the right lane open between Telegraph and Newburgh roads until October.

I-94 and I-69 will need to be closed at times during the last two weeks of July and throughout August in order to put steel bridge beams into place. Motorists should expect overnight closures.

Portable message signs will be in place to alert you well in advance of these closures.
  The first closure will occur on westbound I-69 Business Loop (BL) to westbound I-94 from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. nightly from Tuesday, July 22, through Thursday, July 24.
  The second closure will occur on eastbound and westbound I-94/I-69 and on westbound I-69 BL to westbound I-94 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. nightly on Friday, July 25, and Saturday, July 26.

Westbound I-94 traffic will be detoured via westbound I-69, Wadhams Road, and eastbound I-69.
  Eastbound I-94 traffic will be diverted to I-94 BL (Gratiot Avenue), which leads through Marysville and into Port Huron and the Blue Water Bridge.

 

 

CHICAGO

On the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

Various lanes on the EB ramps from I-190 to NB IL-53 will be closed including IPO lanes for the ongoing widening and rebuilding project.

Closures will occur between the hours of 12 am and 11:59 pm of each day. This segment of the project will reach completion August 8th this year.

On the Eisenhower

All WB shoulders and lanes to Morgan Street will be closed between the hours of 7 am and 11:59 pm until July 31st for long term construction. Detour signs are posted in the work area to help motorists around the work zone.

On the Kennedy

Motorists can expect partial lane closures on the eastbound exit to SB Cumberland Ave from 7 am to 11:59 pm each day as part of an ongoing widening project that is scheduled to finish August 29th of this year. 

SAN FRANCISCO

85 NB Connector to 101 (Mountain view) Full closure on every night from 9:01PM on 7/22 to 4AM on 7/26 for Highway construction

280 SB  Full closure of the Connector  to 87 SB  on every night  from 11PM 7/22 to 6AM on 7/28 for K Rail Installation

101 SB will have lane 3 closed between Grove St and Van Ness Ave from 9PM till 6AM from 7/23 till 7/25 for Sewer Work

101 NB Lane 1 will be closed for Paving from 11PM till 5AM from 07/22 till 7/25 and from 11PM till 8AM from 7/25 till 7/26

80 EB on SFOBB from  Tower 6 to SAS  lanes 1 and 2 will be closed (Alternating) from 10PM till 5AM  between 7/22 and 7/24 for electrical work

 

 

LOS ANGELES

In Long Beach, the Ocean Blvd off ramp is closed on the 710 SB for repair on the Desmond Bridge.

In Burbank, the Burbank Blvd on ramp is closed to the 5 on the NB side for on going Caltrans work.

In Arleta, the Branford St. on ramp is closed to the 5 on the SB side due to construction.

In Pasadena, Pasadena Ave is closed in both directions between Columbia St and California Ave for the repaving project.

GeoTraffic debates Google's #driverless cars!

All of the recent news about the development of Google's driverless cars has stirred up quite a bit of buzz in the transportation world, particularly at GeoTraffic. As a company dedicated to making an individual's commute as painless as possible, we are collectively on board for anything that will continue to move our goals forward. However, we found ourselves in an argument over the pros and cons of autonomous cars. Will they be the future of commuting, or, will they cause more harm than good? Kristin and Erin, two of our reporters and the GeoTraffic marketing team, go nose to nose.

Erin: I understand the hesitation and fear that comes from the idea of a car controlled completely by a computer. It leaves little room for error and computers crash all the time. However, this is all in beta testing; it's an idea at its utmost infancy. Certainly by the time the cars hit the consumer market, endless amounts of testing will be performed to ensure absolute safety and accuracy.

Sensor systems and vehicle-to-vehicle communication would mean less accidents, less injuries and even death in vehicle crashes. Additionally, members of society who are limited in their ability to travel would now have access to transportation, such as the elderly and disabled. Also, driverless cars would take the worry out of being pulled over for speeding. (As someone with a lead foot, this would be great news for me. I wanna go fast!) In fact, most traffic violations would be a thing of the past, as would DUI's.

Humans could increase productivity in driverless cars as it allows us the benefit to check e-mails, work on school projects, or even just relax on our commutes. This is a benefit that many who take public transit enjoy currently; with driverless cars, we would all be able to multitask at a maximum amount. It also takes the stress out of vehicle travel, with driverless cars finding parking for you as well.

Driverless cars will also decrease the negative environmental consequences caused by vehicle emissions as there would be fewer cars on the road. Families would only need one car to suit the needs of every family member, and carpooling would be a much easier and more desirable option.

Kristin: Haven't we learned anything from Hollywood? Botox, tanning and robots are all bad, bad ideas. If driverless cars are made publicly available and widely used in the near future (in 7 years one article said), our generation will surely see some creepy dystopia before we are sporting Depends. There is no way an autonomous car is not leading us all down a slippery slope to being slaves to robots.

Not only that, we will have ironically foreshadowed our fate as a species with movies like iRobot and Smarthouse. Technology is supposed to help us, not do everything for us. The more control we hand over to all this smart technology, the weaker our minds and bodies become. Then suddenly we are floating along in hover chairs drinking all our meals out of straws (Wall-E.)

It would also be another blow to middle-class jobs, if drivers are no longer needed for the less-abled. Traffic divisions of law enforcement would be severely crippled. Taxi drivers would be on unemployment too. See ya later, school bus drivers and truckers!

Do we really need another "convenience" that robs us of living in the moment and taking in the world around us?

My commute is when I wind down for the day, listening to the buzz of AM radio or some music, tune out and just drive. I don't need another opportunity to check my email, do more work, schedule another doctor appointment or scroll through social media.

If autonomous cars become the norm in my lifetime, you can find me in my obedient stick-shift doing donuts and blasting Melissa Etheridge (go to the :48 mark.)

What do YOU think about driverless cars? Let's hear your opinion!!

Highway Crisis Government Deadline Looms

Highway Crisis Government Deadline Looms

Written By Erin Thorum,  Marketing Manager and Traffic Reporter

Are you sitting down, America? In your car, maybe, reading this while you wait to pick up your kids at summer camp or while you kill some time waiting to meet your friends? Well, brace yourselves for some unsettling news. By August 1st, the American Federal Highway Trust Fund will hit a financial wall and unless Congress extends more funding, our account balance will bottom out. Unfortunately, we don't have overdraft protection for this kind of thing.

Once we drop below our available funds, the agency will have to start pulling back on money allotted to states for transportation infrastructure. This includes highway construction and improvement, bridge maintenance and repair, and about a million other issues that will impact how comfortably we will commute in the fall of 2014.

Not sure exactly what this might mean for you? Here's a few concerns: 

Construction and road maintenance freeze: Any freeze in funds could potentially halt construction projects already underway. In places like Chicago, where an entire bridge replacement on the Kennedy Expressway has snarled traffic for commuters each weekend since early summer, that could actually be good news - temporarily. In the long run, very necessary roadway maintenance will go unfinished, or projects will be even further delayed, making emergency repairs like the I-495 closure in Delaware (that made national news!) a more common occurrence. Even local municipalities could be affected, with minimal funds to repair potholes and damaged roadways. As much of the East Coast is still in recovery mode from the brutal winter of 2014, this is terrible news. Flat tires for everyone!

Car Maintenance Cost Increase: Speaking of flat tires and car maintenance, the trickle-down end result of unrepaired roadways means even more potential damage to commuter vehicles traveling on roads in poor condition. As the owner of a Mazda 3 with low-profile tires, I fully understand the need to drive on well-maintained roadways. In fact, I'm pretty sure I've been keeping our local Philly auto body shop in business with all of my necessary tire replacements. In New York, another city still reeling from a difficult winter, the average driver spends almost $700 on car maintenance a year. Bad roads are sure to increase that spending thanks to popped tires, broken bumpers, and accidents caused by roads that may have buckled or become unsafe because of weather damage. 

Gas price hike:  How much are you currently spending to fill your tank? Well, prepare to drop even more dollars when you refill if we drive over the transportation fiscal cliff. While national taxes on fuel won't see an increase and haven't for 20 years, many states are starting to view gas taxes as a way to bring in additional state funding. Eight states raised their gas taxes last year, and more are heavily considering the option.

Unemployment issues: I'm assuming you don't live under an overpass without access to the Internet (or maybe you do - can I come live with you? It sounds idyllic!) so you probably already know that we are all in a bit of an economic crisis. With unemployment numbers always teetering on the edge of chaos, suspended highway maintenance projects and additional construction could put thousands of folks out of work.

The good news is that we may have found our way out of this jam. The House has approved additional funding upwards of $11 billion, and we are waiting on word from the Senate who will vote early this week. Reports from coming from Washington are positive that this will likely end in a bipartisan decision that favors moving forward with the House-approved budget. But don't get too comfortable, folks - we face another cliff next May. Just in time for summer vacation! 

Geotraffic Roadwork Roundup!

Welcome to the GeoTraffic Road Work Roundup!

Each week, GeoTraffic will be highlighting major construction projects happening in our markets over the weekend and if applicable, the coming week. Check it out to make sure you stay ahead of the traffic, and be sure to download our app for hands-free, on demand highway reports for only the routes that matter to you!

Philly:

I-476 will be closed Sunday while crews replace concrete beams in Salford Township, Montgomery County. The northbound lanes of the turnpike will be closed between the Lansdale and Quakertown exits from midnight to 6 a.m. Sunday. Southbound lanes will remain open. On Saturday, traffic in both directions will be reduced to one lane and speed limits reduced to 40 mph. 

Nighttime lane closures are scheduled next week (July 21-25) on Interstate 95 between Girard Avenue and Allegheny Avenue in Philadelphia for road construction. I-95’s NB left lane will be closed Monday through Friday (July 21-25) from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. The SB left lane on I-95 will be closed between Allegheny Avenue and Girard Avenue from 10 p.m. Monday (July 21) to 5 a.m. Tuesday (July 22) for the same operation taking place on the northbound side of the highway.

Detroit: 

In Wayne County, southbound I-75 from Goddard Road to Sibley Road will have two lanes closed from 8 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday. Prepare for major delays. Additional road closure info can be found on MDOT's website.

Washington DC: 

There will be a single-lane closure on northbound DC 295 (Anacostia Freeway), between East Capitol Street NE and Pennsylvania Avenue SE from 11 pm on Friday, July 18 to 6 pm on Saturday, July 19, 2014; weather permitting. Traffic controls will be in place to warn motorists as they approach the areas. Motorists are advised to use caution when traveling through construction zones and expect delays. Additional closure information can be found through the DC DOT site. 

Boston: 

Lane closures in both directions on the Tobin Bridge. Boston drivers should also prepare for the all-electronic tolling on the bridge beginning Monday, July 21st. Information about the changeover can be read here. 

Atlanta: 

Road work on upper Perimeter will block the left lanes in each direction between Powers Ferry Road and I-75 from 9 p.m. Friday through 5 a.m. Monday. Overnight road maintenance is planned on I-20 exit ramps to Flat Shoals Road, Glenwood Avenue, Capitol Avenue and Windsor Street. 

Chicago: 

The I90/I94 Kennedy Expressway bridge demolition and replacement project continues with lane closures and alternating traffic patterns over the weekend through the Fall of 2014. Expect delays on I-90/94 on the Morgan Street Bridge at I-290 Congress Parkway (Circle Interchange). More information about this project can be found here. 

San Francisco: 

Weekend bridge demolition work will continue closing portions of I-880 in San Leandro in both directions in the overnight. More information about the work on the Davis St. Bridge can be found here.

San Diego: 

Bridge work will take place on I-5 NB closing the connector to the Coast Hwy through 5:00AM on Monday, July 21st. No other major construction projects to report. 

Los Angeles: 

Closures in both directions in the overnight on I-405 at RT-22, Sail Bridge Rd. and Garden Grove Freeway. More lane closures and construction information for Los Angeles can be found here. 

Happy travels, friends!

Bridge Suicide Prevention Measures Taken

The Golden Gate Bridge stands proudly over the San Francisco Bay, a great feat of architecture, design and engineering that is visited annually by thousands of travelers from all over the world. Frommer's Travel Guide describes the bridge, which opened to the public in 1937, as "possibly the most beautiful, and certainly the most photographed, bridge in the world." But the breathtaking, 4,200 foot span of steel harbors a very dark secret: it is the second most popular place to commit suicide. In the world.

The Golden Gate Bridge, as seen from the side view connecting San Francisco and Marin County. 

Despite installing phones that connect directly to suicide prevention hotlines, bridge workers spending volunteer hours patrolling the bridge to watch for jumpers and closing the bridge to pedestrians at night, a record number of at least 1600 suicides have successfully taken place since the bridge opened. All of that is hopefully about to change: after years of battling with the transportation department, a group of concerned citizens has finally gotten the approval for the installation of suicide nets, which will be added to the bridge within the next three years.

The purpose of the nets is two-fold; first, engineers designed them as a deterrent for anyone climbing and jumping from the Bay side of the bridge, which is accessible to pedestrians. Secondly, anyone who does choose to jump will likely sustain injury but survive. The common belief from psychologists and mental health professionals is that once someone has a suicide plan derailed, they are less likely to attempt again, or in another manner. A precedent has been set nationwide, with similar nets being installed on the Memorial Bridge in Augusta, Maine and the Duke Ellington Bridge in Washington, DC.

Suicide nets installed on the Thurston Bridge in Ithaca, NY, prompted by
an alarmingly high number of suicides by students at Cornell University. 

The Golden Gate bridge is not the only bridge that will soon be getting the suicide prevention treatment. The under-construction Goethals Bridge in New York City will be adding the nets as well, thanks to approval and funding from the Port Authority. It is believed by both California and New York transportation departments that these new additions will help rebuild the reputations of the bridges, casting them in a positive light after years of tragedy.

The new Goethals Bridge design in NYC will allow for suicide nets along the midspan.

For those of you more interested in the psychological research behind the development of suicide netting, Psych Central does a great job of explaining their benefits in this article. You can also read more about the Golden Gate and Goethals bridge projects here and here.

Suicide is a subject taken very seriously in the United States as it claims over 38,000 lives a year, and it is the 10th leading cause of death. Any measures taken, especially at such prominent locations as the Golden Gate Bridge, is another step in the right direction to help those who need help the most.

If you or a loved one is in need of mental health treatment, you can call the national suicide prevention hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or visit them on the web at http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/.

I-95 Construction Revealed 5,000 Years Worth of Artifacts in Philadelphia

The I-95 revival project, which recently has been concentrated on the Girard Avenue interchange, has unearthed a treasure trove of archaeological finds, some dating back to Native Americans who lived along the Delaware River from 3560 B.C. to 1500 A.D.

PennDOT and URS Corporation will provide a public, museum-quality exhibit of these Philadelphia artifacts on Thursday, July 17. Staff from both PennDOT and the URS Corporation, which was the archaeological team on the project, will be present at the event to provide additional information and answer questions.

Some of the artifacts found include tools, arrowheads, cooking pots and smoking pipes. Also on display will be historical artifacts dating from the early 1700s through the early 1900s  associated with fishermen, shipbuilders and tradesmen who lived on the waterfront during this time.

The exhibit also will focus on the glass industry that developed on the Delaware River waterfront during the 18th through early 20th centuries. Artifacts on display will include examples of the wide range of glass objects manufactured in Philadelphia.

If you cannot make it to the fascinating event at the First Presbyterian Church in Kensington (418 E. Girard Ave.) from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday July 17, 2014, you can visit the interactive digital report online.

The online reports features interactive maps showing the archaeological sites, some are complete and some are ongoing. There is also a plethora of videos to watch as well. Philadelphia is a city with such a rich history, and it's an honor to have this massive construction project unearth such fascinating artifacts. It's also wonderful of PennDOT to properly excavate and preserve these findings.

For constant updates on conditions traveling through construction sites, and up-to-the-minute reports on all traffic incidents on Philadelphia, follow us on twitter @GeoTrafficPHL and download our app for Droid and iPhone.

New Platforms to Access GeoTraffic Reports

Comprehensive and full traffic reports  provided by GeoTraffic are now readily accessible on demand with the advent of  internet radio on TuneIn and Stitcher.

GeoTraffic offers traffic content solutions cross platform, including internet radio stations.  TuneIn boasts over 100,000 real radio stations and more than four million podcasts streaming from every continent. With a  recently launched revision to their platform  which includes a social aspect to listening, TuneIn is changing radio  from passive experience  to engaging with  followers.  Content providers like GeoTraffic can create "Echoes" with fans already following content, providing their base with the most up to date information on the market.

With traffic content provided by GeoTraffic, Stitcher is a real competitor for terrestrial radio. Last year, Stitcher was named the "app to destroy FM radio" by FastCompany, which also means challenging the traditional  go-to sources for traffic information. Unlike music-centric competitors, Stitcher utilizes podcasts and pre-recorded segments from existing radio stations; then offers them with in-dash connectivity, already available in BMW vehicles.

Why wait for traffic on their time, only to hear information that is not relevant to you. Listen to our reports on a Road basis that YOU choose, when, where and how you want it, directly from GeoTraffic with the app available for Droid and iPhone.

GeoTraffic Network combines technological innovation and classic traffic reporting to provide traffic solutions cross platform, in dash, via terrestrial and internet radio, on digital news sites or on our App or as  an added feature to other Apps on the market. Our team of Traffic Experts delivers the most up to date reports on the market through a patent-pending technology, covering 10 cities nationwide, GeoTraffic is leading the industry with instant, on-demand and personalized traffic information for the daily commuter.

Be a social traffic scavenger and GeoTraffic Philadelphia will help pay for your gas! 

Need some fuel to get to the shore or off to the Poconos for a weekend getaway this summer? Make all your driving pay off - we’re looking to reward you for your traffic information!

Email us your best incident photos and best incident information via Facebook and Twitter and over the next month, we’ll keep track of your reports on our Facebook wall and Twitter page, awarding a $25 gas card to winners in the following categories:

*The best photo

*Best incident data

*Most quality incident posts/tweets

Information must be legitimate usable content (road, direction, problem) valid per GeoTraffic’s discretion (major highways and primary roads), using voice to text. 

         Example: @GeoTrafficPHL: Accident WB on #I76              blocks right lane at Girard Ave. #phillytraffic

Please note that when taking a photograph, the social traffic scavenger must pull over on the roadway to a safe location as to not endanger themselves or others. If the photo does not meet that criteria, a point is not valid. The photo must come from the social traffic scavenger and not be copied from another source. Sending us the information is also consenting to our publishing it as well as giving you photo credit. 

Available time frame of day for your reports: 5:30am-11:30pm Monday through Friday, and 7:30am through 7:30pm Saturday and Sunday 

The contest will run through 8/8/14 and we’ll announce the winner on 8/11/14 via Facebook and Twitter. 

Feel free to message us with any questions, and good luck from GeoTraffic Philadelphia!

Fourth of July Fireworks Information and Closures

Happy 4th of July! GeoTraffic wants to make sure you stay on top of all traffic closures in your area for holiday festivities and fireworks displays. See below for a list of important closures and information regarding the celebrations in Philadelphia, Atlanta, Washington DC, Boston, New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco:

 

Philadelphia:

Party on the Parkway: Noon Largest Free Concert in America: 7 p.m. (first performance starts at approximately 8 p.m.) Fireworks:Estimated to begin around 10:30 p.m. (immediately following concert)

The Parkway from 18th Street to Eakins Oval will be closed starting at 6 a.m. on the morning of July 4th through midnight. Other closures for most of the day include: Cherry Street from 18th to 20th Streets; 19th Street from Callowhill Street to the Parkway; 20th, 21st and 22nd Streets from Callowhill to Arch Streets; the eastbound and westbound exits of I-676 to 22nd and 23rd Streets; and the Martin Luther King Drive from the Art Museum to the Falls Bridge.

The closures and detours expand starting at 4 p.m. Closures include: Kelly Drive from South Ferry Road to Eakins Oval; Spring Garden and Callowhill Streets westbound at Broad Street and Hamilton Street westbound at 17th Street. Fairmount Avenue westbound will be diverted northbound onto Corinthian Avenue; 15th, 17th, 19th and 21st Streets south will be diverted eastbound onto Spring Garden Street; and 29th Street southbound will be diverted onto Poplar Street.

More information here.

Nightmare Traffic Jam Affects U.S. Team at World Cup

The U.S. Men's soccer team faces Belgium in Brazil today at 4:00PM, and you might not know it, but traffic may have played a major part in the potential outcome of the game.

On June 11th, 2014, the U.S. scrimmage against Belgium was cancelled because of a traffic jam on the way into Sao Paulo. Belgium coach Marc Wilmots and U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann came to an agreement that the cancelling the match was in the best interest of both teams, with Wilmot quoted as saying that he "will not take the risk to go into Sao Paulo, looking at the possibility of a strike and traffic jams."

In fact, the entire World Cup has been affected by traffic, including a 214 mile backup that occurred just days before the start of the tournament and set most of the city's residents and incoming spectators on high alert, partially due to the recent strike of some of Sao Paulo's public transportation workers.

What causes that kind of nightmare backup? It can largely be attributed to a city's infrastructure, population and ease with which residents can use the public transportation system. Adding in hundreds of thousands of spectators, media personnel, teams, coaches and families, the games were an easy target for gridlock that ultimately may have had a profound affect on the outcome of the Cup. Cancelled scrimmages and inability for teams to access practice fields does not bode well for anyone, but especially our beloved U.S. Men's team.

Still, there is hope. Reports coming from Brazil indicate that our national team will face Belgium with players at full-strength, while there are still questions about whether or not some of Belgium's strongest players will be able to take the field due to injury or ineligibility. Regardless, the GeoTraffic national traffic team remains optimistic that a problem such as traffic will not have international consequences for us.

How can we avoid traffic like this in our home country? GeoTraffic, our pride and joy, allows users the option to receive reporting for single highways on demand and in real time. Thus, you can plan accordingly for your commute, targeting each highway and receiving alternate routes if necessary, to make sure you get to your destination on time whether it be a little league championship or Major League Baseball game.

Sports are important in the U.S., driving billions in revenue each year in the 13 major markets we currently cover (with more on the way!) Help us help you keep out of trouble on the roads for all your most important #sports moments and download the GeoTraffic app, available today in iTunes and Droid stores.

And, if you are headed out of work early to catch the game, make sure you get to where your going on time and don't miss a moment of the action. Most importantly, GO USA!!!