Is there any schedule with freeway ramp meters?
Sometimes when it seems they’re most needed – they’re off.
And other times I see them on unnecessarily filling the ramp with cars. How are they scheduled?
Phil
Typically, ramp meters are on between 6 and 9am, and again in the afternoons from 3 to 6pm.
They may be also be activated during periods of heavy traffic or special events, like a concert.
Drivers should stop whenever meters are on.
Ramp meters have built-in sensors to detect traffic flow and that technology is used for something called “freeway responsive” mode of operation.
Basically, if the freeway is slow, the meter is on, so there’s not an overflow of cars moving onto a packed freeway.
If the freeway is moving fast, the meter is off, allowing cars to roll right into open lanes of I-15 or US 95.
In high-traffic corridors, sometimes traffic folks will briefly turn off ramp meters when there is higher than usual traffic volumes on the ramp, to avoid cars backing up onto surface streets.
This is called “flushing out” the ramp.
So with ramp meters….there is actually a method to the traffic madness.
Brian
