Feb 4, 2009 10:57 pm US/Eastern
I-95 Traffic Light System Went 'Live' Wednesday
Enforcement Of Traffic Lights Begins At 3 PM
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
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New traffic lights at northbound on ramps to I-95 in northern Miami Dade go into effect on Wednesday.
CBS
The days of flooring it onto I-95 are about to disappeared; Wednesday, a series of traffic lights at on-ramps in Miami Dade were turned on. The process is expected to be rather simple, according to Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Pat Santangelo.
"When you see red, you stop. When you see green, you go," said Santangelo.
The lights will hold up each car for 2 to 13 seconds in an effort to limit the number of cars merging onto the interstate during rush hour.
"The theory being the merging process will be a lot more orderly and it will prevent drivers on the main line from slowing down to let people in," said Santangelo.
When the traffic light is green, one or two cars will be allowed to enter onto the highway. Roy Santana, who overseas traffic operations (ITS) for the state said the instructions will be posted on the light for drivers to read.
"There is a sign saying two cars per green. I'm sure South Florida will have no trouble following those instructions," said Santana.
Some driver expressed their frustrations.
"Ridiculous, non-sense, it's backed up from 7th avenue to come over here to get on the expressway, said Jackie, a driver waiting to get on I-95,"because no one can move because they are blocking up the inner city traffic."
Others were upset that the light appeared to flash on green and red almost constantly, confusing some drivers.
"You see how the light flashes on and off," said Derrick Bland, another frustrated driver. "That's dangerous, you backing up traffic into the street. How dangerous could that be? It's good on the one case but its quite dangerous if the light is flashing on and off."
If you are skeptical of that, you're not alone. The last big project the Department of Transportation rolled out was the I-95 Express which used plastic poles to separate drivers who opted to pay a toll to use special express lanes. Instead of alleviating traffic in the first week it caused confusion. Drivers trapped in the express lanes for miles ran over the poles like slalom sticks as they tried to exit the highway.
"One morning we woke up to plastic poles on I-95 and nobody really knew what it was. I think DOT did a pretty good job of trying to warn everybody of what's going on with the ramp signaling. And I think that education is going to help out a lot," said Santangelo.
A little reinforcement will help as well. FHP troopers will be stationed at each light to see that drivers obey the rules. Drivers caught running the red light will be fined up to $160 and could have 3 points placed on their license. Santana urges all drivers to give the system a chance since it has worked around the nation and around the world.
"Give it a chance. It's going to work. You just got to be patient," said Santangelo.
The ramp lights only affect the northbound lanes of I-95 in Miami Dade County from NW 62nd Street to NW 167th Street. Eventually they will be phased in on all ramps leading to the highway.
CBS4 reporter Marybel Rodriguez contributed to this report.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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