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PORTLAND'S MORNING NEWS
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Rebecca Marshall
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Steve Leader
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HOV Lane--Good or Bad?


An Oregonian editorial indicated that the HOV lane from Portland to Vancouver is being abused by solo drivers and that most people are not carpooling anyway, especially in this economy when many people are without work.  That leaves a lane that is not used in the way it was intended.  It also leaves the remaining lanes virtual parking lots during afternoon rush hour.  We can't help but think that all those idling cars and trucks are damaging the environment.  Are we missing something here?  Do statistics show these HOV lanes ARE working even if we can't see it?

According to Oregonian transportation reporter Joseph Rose (heard Monday's on KXL), the compliance rate fell from 92 percent in 2001 to 80 percent in 2007, the latest year made available by state officials.

So if that's the case, will it ever go back up again? If not, isn't it time to open the lane to all drivers until the CRC can come up with a new bridge?

Let us know what you think.

~Rebecca, Steve and the morning crew.


Shortly after this was posted, Dave Thompson with Oregon's Department of Transportation issued the following response to The Oregonian editorial article to KXL reporter Chris Brown:

HOV lanes are typically measured in four ways:
  • Is the volume of people being moved increased? In the case of the Portland-area HOV lane, the HOV lane moves 66% more people/hour than either of the two general purpose lanes; and the configuration moves somewhere around 20% more people per hour than a three-general-purpose lane configuration would.
  • Do drivers in the HOV lane save time? The national expectation is 1 minute/mile; In this case, the HOV lane saves 8-13 minutes overall, or almost 2 minutes/mile.
  • Are crashes reduced overall? When counting incident callouts (police and ODOT incident management vehicles), the latest stats I can find (for 2002) show about half as many callouts--indicating the roadway is safer.
  • Is the compliance rate 90% or better? This is the only one of the four measurements where the HOV lane falls down--it was 92% in 2001, 88% in 2005, and 80% in 2007 (the latest stats I have). That's a measure of enforcement, which ODOT has no control over.

So in three of the four usual measures, this HOV lane fares very well.

 

But that doesn't satisfy the good people sitting in those two other lanes. I feel their frustration! When they look over to the right, they see (a) an empty lane; and/or (b) people using it who shouldn't be. That's VERY frustrating. And it's natural to think: Hmmm...if two lanes of traffic could use THREE lanes, everyone would move faster!

 

That's not true in this case, as counter-intuitive as that may seem. While you may get more CARS through, you'll get fewer PEOPLE through. The HOV lane moves many more people than each of the two general-purpose lanes; if you make the HOV lane a general purpose lane, you lose that. You're making it slightly better for the two lanes, but so much worse for the third lane, that the overall effect on the entire system--measured in terms of moving PEOPLE--is worse.

 

There are three popular reasons for opposing HOV lanes:

 

  • "The lane is not efficient; commutes are slower." But in this case, using the data table I attached, this configuration of one HOV lane and two general-purpose lanes carries 22% more people each hour than would a configuration of three general purpose lanes. We haven't updated the numbers in 5 years, so I wouldn't hold on to "22%." But I *would* say that the HOV configuration carries more people.
  • "HOV lanes are under-utilized." There are probably many other ways of measuring this, but just using people/hour, the HOV lane carries more people than either general-purpose lane. It *appears* empty to those sitting next to it, not moving, because the cars in the HOV lane ARE moving!
  • "Drivers lose a lane." This is wrong for two reasons. First, there wasn't a third lane before the HOV lane was added in Portland. And second, it makes a common-sense-but-faulty assumption that a third lane open to everyone would speed things up for everyone. But since the HOV lane carries so many more people, the data actually writes a counterintuitive story: More people get to Vancouver faster because there's an HOV lane.

Back to School Time!


For me, it's hard to believe that it's already September and kids are already back in school.  All the parents I know are happy, yet having a hard time watching their little ones grow up!  Even if you don't have children, and this milestone has gone unmarked, the signs that school is back in session are everywhere.  Today I saw a group of children waiting on the curb for the school bus.  A few blocks away I saw a group of older students walking with their teacher, some sort of impromptu field trip maybe.  The playgrounds are full and the sports fields packed with action.
Did you send off your kids to school?  Were they excited?  Nervous?  How about you?  And if you don't have kids, what is your favorite back to school memory?  Mine is definitely back to school shopping and having a brand new outfit for the first day. 
Good luck to all the students out there...and to all the parents!
~Lacey

Fantasy Football Season is Here!


Yes, I play fantasy football.  It took me awhile to get into it, and fully understand it, but "fantasy" sports are so popular I just couldn't resist.  One of my favorite TV shows is even based entirely on a fantasy football league and the shenanigans that ensue.  I do a league with friends but many offices, bars and workplaces put together leagues of their own.  And yep, you guessed it, fantasy football is a major time drain.  Just read this recent article in the Columbia Daily Tribune.  It states 32 million people in the U.S. and Canada play fantasy football, and each of those people will spend 10 minutes a day, AT WORK, managing their team.  Doesn't sound like much time, but it adds up.  $7.4 billion dollars worth of lost productivity. 
Do you play fantasy football?  How much time do you spend at work, or at home, comparing stats, making trades and checking the waiver wire?  Not to mention all the time on Sunday spent watching games. 
I guess now that I've written this I have to be careful about checking on my team at work! :-)  Wish me luck!
--Lacey

College Freshmen Make Me Feel Old


Every year, Beloit College puts out its Mind Set List.  It's a chance to see what incoming college freshmen know based on their life experiences. It's also a chance for us "older" folks to actually feel old.  I thought I'd pull some highlights from this year's list and some from a list in 2002.  Enjoy!

~Rebecca

2016 List----- The people starting college this fall were born in 1994

*They have always lived in cyberspace, addicted to electronics.
*They watch TV everywhere but on TV--They can get their news from YouTube.
*Michael Jackson’s family, not the Kennedys, are considered ‘‘American royalty.’’
*Star Wars has always been just a film, not a defense strategy.
*Robert De Niro is thought of as Greg Focker’s father-in-law, not as Vito Corleone in the God    Father.
*They have had to incessantly remind their parents not to refer to their CDs and DVDs as ‘‘tapes.’’
*Exposed bra straps have always been a fashion statement, not a wardrobe malfunction.

--------------------------
2002 List------The people starting college this fall across the nation were born in 1980.

*They have no meaningful recollection of the Reagan era, and did not know he had ever been    shot.
* They are too young to remember the Space Shuttle Challenger blowing up.
* Their lifetime has always included AIDS.
* They never had a polio shot, and likely, do not know what it is.
* Atari pre-dates them, as do vinyl albums.
* The expression "you sound like a broken record" means nothing to them.
* Star Wars looks very fake to them, and the special effects are pathetic.   
* There have always been VCRs, but they have no idea what Beta is.
* They cannot fathom what it was like not having a remote control.

Gun Turn In Event


Ceasefire Oregon is holding a gun turn in event tomorrow, the 18th.  It's from 10 to 2 at Memorial Coliseum.  The goal of the event is get unwanted, unused, or broken guns off the streets.  Ceasefire has collected more than 7,500 guns since 1994.  For each gun turned in, a person will get a $75 Fred Meyer gift certificate.  There is a limit of three certificates but there are no questions asked. 
What do you think about gun turn in events?  Some say they get guns off the streets but others say they're a waste of time.  Leave your comments below.
--Lacey

Do you accept a female referee in the NFL?


On Thursday night, during the Chargers-Packers preseason football game, a woman will be a part of the officiating team.  Shannon Eastin will be a line judge.  She has been officiating football games for 17 years, but never at this level.  I think this is an exciting opportunity for her and a way to break down gender barriers in our society.  I don't think this is a big deal at all.  What do you think?  Recently, our partners over at 750 The Game discussed this and all the calls were positive, except one.  Even the host said he was worried about Eastin and what could happen if there was a fight between players.  But she is clearly experienced and not afraid to stand up to guys twice her size, if necessary.  Otherwise, she wouldn't have been hired.  I say go Shannon!  What do you say?
--Lacey
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