Okay, this is part two of my traffic rant, and this will hopefully be shorter than the other part of my previous rant on driving around in Tampa. Alas, stupid drivers is not one of my complaints, because there is nothing traffic engineers can do about it. Ditto for drivers who break down or get into accidents in front of me while I'm in the fast lane trying to get to work/lunch/home. No, these complaints can only be something that something can actually be done about. The next two problems are somewhat related. They are traffic flow and connectivity, and it is time to turn to them.
Traffic Flow:
Traffic flow is somewhat related to connectivity, but since connectivity is a little easier to describe (at least how it's lacking in Tampa), we will begin with traffic flow. Traffic flow can be expressed as the ease of travel between one part of town and another--both in speed as well as the avoidance of stops, starts, detours, etc. Ideally, freeways should be better at promoting traffic flow than surface streets, though surface streets can be made to conform to good traffic flow as well. Since both of these are separate issues with separate problems, the traffic flow of both freeways (i.e. limited access highways) and surface streets should be discussed differently.
The traffic flow on the freeways in Tampa are pretty bad, especially considering that Tampa is not exactly the largest city in the world. In fact, it's the third largest city in the state. The Tampa-St. Pete metro area is the second largest in the state, after Miami-Ft. Lauderdale. That said, the metro area extends over three counties, some of which (Pinellas) have worse traffic problems than Tampa, and some of which (Pasco) don't have many people, but still have traffic problems due to the paucity of through roads. Construction, poor traffic planning, and poor connectivity (see below) as well as the lack of an east-west freeway north of I-4, have made travel less than pleasant. It's too late now to do more than cosmetic repairs, as the area has grown well beyond the transportation planning abilities of West Central Florida.
The surface streets are worse. The red-lights are poorly timed in many areas of Tampa Bay, leading to many delays trying to get anywhere. Some areas of town have reasonably well timed lights, but the system is dependent on timing, which means that the buisier the road, the worse the light system works, which means that the traffic flow is hampered where it is the most critical. For this reason, one needs to avoid the busier surface streets, as well as most of the backstreets (though they are useful to avoid lights if you know the right ones). I have a coworker who has a shift that starts at 7AM so he can avoid the worst of the traffic (though that's not always good enough). Traffic here isn't LA bad or even Atlanta bad, but it's still bad.
Connectivity:
Remember my rant about the river and 275 blocking off traffic? Where it hurts the most is when it comes to connectivity. Tampa has a really werid way of handling roads. There are often multiple iterations of a single road that are not continuous with each other, especially on east-west streets and numerical north-south streets. For example, North Blvd is an important street near downtown Tampa, then breaks off at the river, and another North Blvd starts north of the river and goes all the way to Bearass. Another example: Limbaugh Avenue breaks off after Dale Mabry (going eastbound) but there are a few other Limbaugh Avenues sprinkled throughout. The same is true for 50th Street, 46th Street, 30th Street, 22nd Street, 15th Street, Sligh Avenue, Hanna, and a host of smaller, less important roads. To make a long story short, you can't get there from here, and if you can, it's going to be a hassle. In addition, the lack of middle turning lanes for most streets makes the fast lane the "loser lane" many times, while the slow lane is still slow. This leads to frequent lane changes and increased danger while driving. The truth is, though, is that it doesn't have to be this way. If only there were some more through roads, and some better traffic management systems, the snarl that is Tampa traffic could be better managed. Is it ever going to be good? No, but that's the price of living where other people want to live too.
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Calling Traffic Planners in Tampa
Okay, normally I don't use this bully pulpit of mine to comment on mundane affairs such as the traffic of my city, but it is past due. Today's blog entry will be about the pitiful state of traffic design in Tampa. This is not meant as a personal insult to anyone (as I assume most of the people responsible for the problem are dead, or the actions are past the statute of limitations period). That said, there are some major traffic issues in Tampa that need addressing, and that do not appear to be a high priority in my city. For those who want to read an amusing rant, go right ahead. If you're fellow residents of Tampa or a city that behaves much like Tampa, all the better.
Tampa suffers from many problems involving traffic flow and control, and these merit serious examination. Obviously, my rant on traffic cannot be considered as a complete list of even the serious transportation problems in the city. One could add public transportation to the list, but I'm referring to this mainly as a driver of a vehicle. Public transportation, itself a nightmare, can be left for others to tell, but it is even more bothersome than private transit, and perhaps more insoluble of a problem. The main issues this blog will address are: connectivity, traffic flow, continuity. In many ways, these problems may intersect (sadly, unlike many of the roads in Tampa). However, each of them is worthy of discussion in their own right.
1. Connectivity
Tampa is, unbeknownst to most people, a river city. Tampa's river is the modest, humble, and not particularly wide Hillsborough River. One would think that bridging the river would be a breeze. However, there are few roads in Tampa that cross the river. To make matters more annoying, the Hillsborough River is not particularly straight. Instead, the river goes north for a few miles, curves east, and then curves north again. North of Tampa, it curves east again and then goes northeast into some forbidding Green Swamp, from whence it proceeds. The stairstep trip of the Hillsborough River tends to greatly inhibit travel from one part of the city to another. In addition, even mundane factors such as railroad crossings inhibit travel in Tampa (which is really annoying), as do Interstates (particularly I-275) and other limited-access roads. This connectivity means only a few roads are particularly useful from east to west and from north to south. It will be the purpose of this part of the rant to detail the few roads that are useful over a long distance, and detail their weaknesses.
North-South:
I-275: Let's see, it's crowded, it's facing construction problems, and it's really slow in rush hour traffic. Also, it seems to be a magnet for stupid drivers, though all of the other streets in Tampa have that problem, and it appears nothing can be done about that. The frequent amount of merges and exit only lanes make this a hazardous, and bothersome, through-route. On the plus side, there are no stoplights.
Suncoast Freeway/Veteran's Expressway: This one is strictly of use if you live in the part of Tampa Bay from Cheval and northwards. It's pretty useful, but somewhat expensive, and if you go at the wrong time you have to pay and wait. That's a bad combination. Nonetheless, when no one is on it, this is the best way to get from Northwest Hillsborough County and points beyond to Tampa.
Dale Mabry: Ugg, this road is a pain. It's always slow, even on Sundays, and has way too many red lights. Nonetheless, it is a really long and continuous road, so sometimes you have to bite the bullet and use it. It's not a very pleasant drive, forever. Warning: This road also passes Raymond James Stadium, where the Tampa Bay Bucs play.
Armenia: Well, this road ends a little south for my tastes (it doesn't reach Fletcher), but it is a relatively solid route for much of Tampa. It becomes a 2-lane road north of Sligh, though, and this makes the going somewhat slow.
Florida & Nebraska: These two roads are different, but are parallel roads on either side of 275, and are nearly identical in going through really sketchy red-light districts, with slow traffic, and really shady characters. These roads eventually merge in the far north of Tampa, but before they do they pass some of the most unfriendly territory in Tampa, and that's saying a lot.
40th Street: This is a nice street, and relatively fast. It is a major street south of Hillsborough, but it goes north all the way to Fowler, where it enters USF. Overall, this is a pretty good route, even if it doesn't go all the way into far North Tampa.
56 Street: This is a beautiful street, going from Fletcher almost as far you can go down West Florida (it becomes US 41 all the way to Naples). It's a bit slow at parts and at times, but it's an enjoyable drive, for the most part, and passes my old high school. It morphs into 50th Street, and comes very close to where I live. Don't get any ideas, buddy.
East-West:
Crosstown Expressway: Ugg, this road is slow and expensive. Nothing more needs to be said.
SR 60: Slow, but only marginally slower than the interstate. Plus, it goes right thorugh downtown.
I-4/I-275: See above comment: It's slow, drivers are stupid, and construction. Grrr....
Columbus: The bridge over the river is closed right now, and it's right underneath the I-275-I-4 junction. This route could be in serious trouble for a long time due to the constr
MLK: This road passes right by the stadium, and through lots of ghetto territory. It's somewhat slow, and has way too many buses and trucks. Plus, it doesn't go far enough west to take it beyond Dale Mabry.
Hillsborough: This road is to be avoided like the plague. It's super-slow, and way too crowded (the two are related).
Sligh: This road doesn't go all the way through to 40th, but it's a good route through most of the city.
Busch/Waters: Neither of these two is good enough on their own, but together they are forminable across Tampa, even if they are somewhat slow.
Fowler/Fletcher: Both of these are pretty good routes, I must admit. They're really far north, though.
Sadly, due to time constraints, the other two issues will have to wait until a further rant, hopefully tomorrow...
Tampa suffers from many problems involving traffic flow and control, and these merit serious examination. Obviously, my rant on traffic cannot be considered as a complete list of even the serious transportation problems in the city. One could add public transportation to the list, but I'm referring to this mainly as a driver of a vehicle. Public transportation, itself a nightmare, can be left for others to tell, but it is even more bothersome than private transit, and perhaps more insoluble of a problem. The main issues this blog will address are: connectivity, traffic flow, continuity. In many ways, these problems may intersect (sadly, unlike many of the roads in Tampa). However, each of them is worthy of discussion in their own right.
1. Connectivity
Tampa is, unbeknownst to most people, a river city. Tampa's river is the modest, humble, and not particularly wide Hillsborough River. One would think that bridging the river would be a breeze. However, there are few roads in Tampa that cross the river. To make matters more annoying, the Hillsborough River is not particularly straight. Instead, the river goes north for a few miles, curves east, and then curves north again. North of Tampa, it curves east again and then goes northeast into some forbidding Green Swamp, from whence it proceeds. The stairstep trip of the Hillsborough River tends to greatly inhibit travel from one part of the city to another. In addition, even mundane factors such as railroad crossings inhibit travel in Tampa (which is really annoying), as do Interstates (particularly I-275) and other limited-access roads. This connectivity means only a few roads are particularly useful from east to west and from north to south. It will be the purpose of this part of the rant to detail the few roads that are useful over a long distance, and detail their weaknesses.
North-South:
I-275: Let's see, it's crowded, it's facing construction problems, and it's really slow in rush hour traffic. Also, it seems to be a magnet for stupid drivers, though all of the other streets in Tampa have that problem, and it appears nothing can be done about that. The frequent amount of merges and exit only lanes make this a hazardous, and bothersome, through-route. On the plus side, there are no stoplights.
Suncoast Freeway/Veteran's Expressway: This one is strictly of use if you live in the part of Tampa Bay from Cheval and northwards. It's pretty useful, but somewhat expensive, and if you go at the wrong time you have to pay and wait. That's a bad combination. Nonetheless, when no one is on it, this is the best way to get from Northwest Hillsborough County and points beyond to Tampa.
Dale Mabry: Ugg, this road is a pain. It's always slow, even on Sundays, and has way too many red lights. Nonetheless, it is a really long and continuous road, so sometimes you have to bite the bullet and use it. It's not a very pleasant drive, forever. Warning: This road also passes Raymond James Stadium, where the Tampa Bay Bucs play.
Armenia: Well, this road ends a little south for my tastes (it doesn't reach Fletcher), but it is a relatively solid route for much of Tampa. It becomes a 2-lane road north of Sligh, though, and this makes the going somewhat slow.
Florida & Nebraska: These two roads are different, but are parallel roads on either side of 275, and are nearly identical in going through really sketchy red-light districts, with slow traffic, and really shady characters. These roads eventually merge in the far north of Tampa, but before they do they pass some of the most unfriendly territory in Tampa, and that's saying a lot.
40th Street: This is a nice street, and relatively fast. It is a major street south of Hillsborough, but it goes north all the way to Fowler, where it enters USF. Overall, this is a pretty good route, even if it doesn't go all the way into far North Tampa.
56 Street: This is a beautiful street, going from Fletcher almost as far you can go down West Florida (it becomes US 41 all the way to Naples). It's a bit slow at parts and at times, but it's an enjoyable drive, for the most part, and passes my old high school. It morphs into 50th Street, and comes very close to where I live. Don't get any ideas, buddy.
East-West:
Crosstown Expressway: Ugg, this road is slow and expensive. Nothing more needs to be said.
SR 60: Slow, but only marginally slower than the interstate. Plus, it goes right thorugh downtown.
I-4/I-275: See above comment: It's slow, drivers are stupid, and construction. Grrr....
Columbus: The bridge over the river is closed right now, and it's right underneath the I-275-I-4 junction. This route could be in serious trouble for a long time due to the constr
MLK: This road passes right by the stadium, and through lots of ghetto territory. It's somewhat slow, and has way too many buses and trucks. Plus, it doesn't go far enough west to take it beyond Dale Mabry.
Hillsborough: This road is to be avoided like the plague. It's super-slow, and way too crowded (the two are related).
Sligh: This road doesn't go all the way through to 40th, but it's a good route through most of the city.
Busch/Waters: Neither of these two is good enough on their own, but together they are forminable across Tampa, even if they are somewhat slow.
Fowler/Fletcher: Both of these are pretty good routes, I must admit. They're really far north, though.
Sadly, due to time constraints, the other two issues will have to wait until a further rant, hopefully tomorrow...
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Dating In The Church....
I have always been amused (when I haven't been annoyed) by the issue of dating within the church. It is a frequent subject in sermon messages, which are almost invariably given by people in their mid-40's (or older) who have been married for more than twenty years, and who almost without exception married an AC sweetheart when the church was a lot bigger than it is. At least I have somewhat of a sense of humor about it; probably it's because I'm still young and there are at least some decent young women my age. Many of my older single friends (and there are a surprisingly large number of these) tend to be a little more bitter about the issue, and with good reason. The pickings are really slim. As one friend of mine wisely said of the singles population, "If you're over 40 and you've been married before, there's a reason why you're single. If you're over 40 and you've never been married before, there's a reason why you're single." Actually, once you get over 30, things get really desparate.
Why is this the case? There are really several issues at play here. One is the insistence (which is biblically supported, though woefully impractical) that people within the faith should marry others who are within the faith. This makes sense, for example, if you're a Catholic, and there are a billion of you. If you are an Orthodox Christian, or even most relatively large Protestant sects, it makes no great burden on your dating life. However, the same is not the case for the Church of God. Especially if you try to date within your organization, the pickings are extremely slim. While I don't know the young ladies (if there are any of dateable age) in the Living Church of God congregation in the area, there are not half a dozen single (and by this I mean not dating or engaged) young ladies in the entire Tampa Bay area in the church of God. I have two teenage cousins (both in WCG still but who disagree with the changes) who could be considered among that group, and obviously neither qualifies as dateable.
Even where there are young ladies and young man in roughly balanced amounts (which would facilitate dating) there are still other issues to consider. For example--compatability. As an intellectual, it is somewhat difficult for me to find young women who appreciate my personality, and are interested in the sort of subjects I am ("Hey dear, read any great books on Hermeneutics recently?"). Of course, I am not the only person with this difficulty. Both from my own personal experience, and that of my friends, I see that long-distance relationships are rather common in the Church of God community, largely because there are few better options.
This does not mean that long-distance dating is without its problems. Indeed, it is a rather difficult type of relationship, and places a lot of stress on the (mostly) young people who date this way, for lack of better options. Couples see each other infrequently, and hence must keep in touch online or through telephone or (perish the thought) through letters (that's so 18th century). What this means is that young people in the church of God face severe difficulties trying to prepare for marriage. Sadly, these are difficulties that the ministry (for all of their exhortations) seem unable or unwilling to deal with. It's all fine and dandy for people to preach that young adults should date within the church, but it needs to be a realistic and practical option, and there need to be ways of doing it effectively. Without practical steps and achieveable goals, all the exhortation in the world isn't going to amount to much. And if it's that difficult for young people, it's vastly more difficult for older singles, for whom the options are even fewer and less desirable (on both sides, from what I can gather).
What can be done about this? I don't know. Both officially and unofficially, the church tries to do what it can to throw young people together. ABC is not-so-affectionately known as the Ambassador Bridal Center, which was not the case for my class, certainly, at least not yet. Camps perform a valuable function for teenagers (too bad I've never been much into camping). There is the singles cruise (which I'm booked to go on), the Family weekend, and so forth, and the feast (a classic way people get together--if anyone has heard of a feast fling, something which I have not had myself). These, though, are merely short-term fixes (of a few days or so) that do not solve the greater problem. As far as the greater problem of attracting and retaining more young people to the church of God, and building healthy congregations that can allow for greater fellowship among age cohorts, this problem didn't happen overnight, and it's not going to be solved overnight. Oh well, in life there are few easy answers. Until and unless they are, I guess the rest of us just have to deal.
Why is this the case? There are really several issues at play here. One is the insistence (which is biblically supported, though woefully impractical) that people within the faith should marry others who are within the faith. This makes sense, for example, if you're a Catholic, and there are a billion of you. If you are an Orthodox Christian, or even most relatively large Protestant sects, it makes no great burden on your dating life. However, the same is not the case for the Church of God. Especially if you try to date within your organization, the pickings are extremely slim. While I don't know the young ladies (if there are any of dateable age) in the Living Church of God congregation in the area, there are not half a dozen single (and by this I mean not dating or engaged) young ladies in the entire Tampa Bay area in the church of God. I have two teenage cousins (both in WCG still but who disagree with the changes) who could be considered among that group, and obviously neither qualifies as dateable.
Even where there are young ladies and young man in roughly balanced amounts (which would facilitate dating) there are still other issues to consider. For example--compatability. As an intellectual, it is somewhat difficult for me to find young women who appreciate my personality, and are interested in the sort of subjects I am ("Hey dear, read any great books on Hermeneutics recently?"). Of course, I am not the only person with this difficulty. Both from my own personal experience, and that of my friends, I see that long-distance relationships are rather common in the Church of God community, largely because there are few better options.
This does not mean that long-distance dating is without its problems. Indeed, it is a rather difficult type of relationship, and places a lot of stress on the (mostly) young people who date this way, for lack of better options. Couples see each other infrequently, and hence must keep in touch online or through telephone or (perish the thought) through letters (that's so 18th century). What this means is that young people in the church of God face severe difficulties trying to prepare for marriage. Sadly, these are difficulties that the ministry (for all of their exhortations) seem unable or unwilling to deal with. It's all fine and dandy for people to preach that young adults should date within the church, but it needs to be a realistic and practical option, and there need to be ways of doing it effectively. Without practical steps and achieveable goals, all the exhortation in the world isn't going to amount to much. And if it's that difficult for young people, it's vastly more difficult for older singles, for whom the options are even fewer and less desirable (on both sides, from what I can gather).
What can be done about this? I don't know. Both officially and unofficially, the church tries to do what it can to throw young people together. ABC is not-so-affectionately known as the Ambassador Bridal Center, which was not the case for my class, certainly, at least not yet. Camps perform a valuable function for teenagers (too bad I've never been much into camping). There is the singles cruise (which I'm booked to go on), the Family weekend, and so forth, and the feast (a classic way people get together--if anyone has heard of a feast fling, something which I have not had myself). These, though, are merely short-term fixes (of a few days or so) that do not solve the greater problem. As far as the greater problem of attracting and retaining more young people to the church of God, and building healthy congregations that can allow for greater fellowship among age cohorts, this problem didn't happen overnight, and it's not going to be solved overnight. Oh well, in life there are few easy answers. Until and unless they are, I guess the rest of us just have to deal.
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