WI Lawmaker wants to ban DOT from installing traffic cameras, sign boards

[JREwing78]

Idiocracy apparently reigns over the Wisconsin legislature.

Rep. Jesse Kremer, R-Kewaskum, is proposing a bill that would ban the DOT from spending money on cameras, sign boards and highway on-ramp gates, calling them "non-essential."

"Personally they are nice, and yes they do provide somewhat of a safety function long term, but right now our real problem is just paving our roads," Kremer said in an interview Monday.

The technology has been installed across the state over the last few years. The ramps and some traffic cameras were put in after a huge interstate backup during a 2008 blizzard. Many of those digital sign boards were added to the Beltline over the last year.

...
Kremer said his bill would save the state more than $6.5 million by stopping about a dozen sign boards, 50 cameras and 180 entrance gates from being put up, but admits that $6 million wouldn't go far in highway projects.

Lawmaker wants to ban DOT from installing traffic cameras, sign boards
http://www.channel3000.com/news/Lawmaker-wants-to-ban-DOT-from-installing-traffic-cameras-sign-boards/34641350

[WarrenWallace]

Hell no!  Those traffic cameras and message boards help me.  The DOT should be spending on install/upkeep of these signs.  As well as road paving, infrastructure, rail project, bike trails, etc.  The DOT isn't just for road projects.

[Roadguy]

Idiocracy apparently reigns over the Wisconsin legislature.

Rep. Jesse Kremer, R-Kewaskum, is proposing a bill that would ban the DOT from spending money on cameras, sign boards and highway on-ramp gates, calling them "non-essential."

"Personally they are nice, and yes they do provide somewhat of a safety function long term, but right now our real problem is just paving our roads," Kremer said in an interview Monday.

The technology has been installed across the state over the last few years. The ramps and some traffic cameras were put in after a huge interstate backup during a 2008 blizzard. Many of those digital sign boards were added to the Beltline over the last year.

...
Kremer said his bill would save the state more than $6.5 million by stopping about a dozen sign boards, 50 cameras and 180 entrance gates from being put up, but admits that $6 million wouldn't go far in highway projects.

Lawmaker wants to ban DOT from installing traffic cameras, sign boards
http://www.channel3000.com/news/Lawmaker-wants-to-ban-DOT-from-installing-traffic-cameras-sign-boards/34641350

The ramp gates are excessive (placing them at every ramp does not make sense, placing them in areas where they would be frequently used does make sense) but clearly he does not realize the benefits of cameras and message boards.  They both work together, DOT and Emergency rely on cameras to observe the incident and the message boards inform the other drivers of those incidents.

That message board communication can be the difference between a pile up in a snow storm versus people knowing there is a crash ahead so they expect they have to slow down.  Obviously that is just one of many examples.

If anything there should be more cameras and message boards, not less.

[SSOWorld]

Idiocracy apparently reigns over the Wisconsin legislature.

Rep. Jesse Kremer, R-Kewaskum, is proposing a bill that would ban the DOT from spending money on cameras, sign boards and highway on-ramp gates, calling them "non-essential."

"Personally they are nice, and yes they do provide somewhat of a safety function long term, but right now our real problem is just paving our roads," Kremer said in an interview Monday.

The technology has been installed across the state over the last few years. The ramps and some traffic cameras were put in after a huge interstate backup during a 2008 blizzard. Many of those digital sign boards were added to the Beltline over the last year.

...
Kremer said his bill would save the state more than $6.5 million by stopping about a dozen sign boards, 50 cameras and 180 entrance gates from being put up, but admits that $6 million wouldn't go far in highway projects.

Lawmaker wants to ban DOT from installing traffic cameras, sign boards
http://www.channel3000.com/news/Lawmaker-wants-to-ban-DOT-from-installing-traffic-cameras-sign-boards/34641350

The ramp gates are excessive (placing them at every ramp does not make sense, placing them in areas where they would be frequently used does make sense) but clearly he does not realize the benefits of cameras and message boards.  They both work together, DOT and Emergency rely on cameras to observe the incident and the message boards inform the other drivers of those incidents.

That message board communication can be the difference between a pile up in a snow storm versus people knowing there is a crash ahead so they expect they have to slow down.  Obviously that is just one of many examples.

If anything there should be more cameras and message boards, not less.

The message boards often go unused and blank, but that does not warrent the ceasing of the installation.  They are useful for the important messages (blizzard ahead, flood ahead, traffic diversion ahead, traffic times, body count and law PSAs... oh wait the last one is not important

[froggie]

If a given roadway needs to be shut down due to adverse weather (most likely blowing snow), then yes, the gates are needed at every ramp.

[DaBigE]

There at least used to be a triage system based on AADTs to determine which ramps got permanent gates and which got barricades.

[midwesternroadguy]

If a given roadway needs to be shut down due to adverse weather (most likely blowing snow), then yes, the gates are needed at every ramp.

I totally agree.  Law enforcement should be available to deal with other issues during a weather/accident emergency or other disaster, instead of focusing on just closing ramps.  I use the traffic cameras all the time to assess winter road conditions or traffic levels, which clearly provides a safety benefit. 

Jesse Kremer refers to the 2008 blizzard.  Much of the 511 system has been added to since then, so it's somewhat of an apples and oranges comparison with regard to the effectiveness of the system at that time.  However, there was a SNAFU with communications with ISTHA to get the message posted in Illinois that I-90 was closed in southern Wisconsin.  I hope that that communication link has been addressed. 

Unfortunately, this lawmaker may not take advantage of the information that this system provides, and doesn't realize how many others are dependent on it to make smart travel decisions, which saves money for everyone.

....Short-sided knee-jerk response without a big picture consideration. 

[roadman]

An old saying used to describe British Government seems appropriate here:  August is the silly season in politics

[SSOWorld]

If you guys are paranoid about blizzard gates, travel through the great plains.  Kansas and the Dakotas have gates on the freeways directing drivers off it when closed. (I-29 south of Fargo and I-70 in western KS are the two instances I have seen.

[The Ghostbuster]

I think traffic cameras and sign boards are a great tool in the managing of highway traffic. I think Rep. Kremer is nuts to propose this.

[triplemultiplex]

I can tell you exactly what is going on here.  Kremer is looking for some token thing he can cut out of the state's budget so he can turn around to his supporters and say, "Look at all the money I saved you!  Re-elect me!"

As a member of the State Assembly, Jesse Kremer eliminated over $6 million in wasteful government spending...

Damn where the savings came from or what the consequences were.

If he really wants to look out for John Q. Taxpayer, Kremer should be lobbying WisDOT to cancel the WI 23 expansion.  That's in his neck of the woods.  It's expensive and not really needed and you could pave a lot of shitty roads with that money.

[hobsini2]

The message boards are needed. Not just for travel times but they are vital to Amber Alerts and if there is a major accident that shuts down the highway.

Remember this a couple winters ago on 41/45? Starts at the 1:45 mark.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmUue_krVDY

[Henry]

That is quite possibly the stupidest idea I've ever heard! But then again, it's WI, so I am not the least bit surprised.

[jeffandnicole]

I can tell you exactly what is going on here.  Kremer is looking for some token thing he can cut out of the state's budget so he can turn around to his supporters and say, "Look at all the money I saved you!  Re-elect me!"

As a member of the State Assembly, Jesse Kremer eliminated over $6 million in wasteful government spending...

Damn where the savings came from or what the consequences were.

If he really wants to look out for John Q. Taxpayer, Kremer should be lobbying WisDOT to cancel the WI 23 expansion.  That's in his neck of the woods.  It's expensive and not really needed and you could pave a lot of shitty roads with that money.

If you want to read in between the lines, he probably wants to free up money and instead of spending it on signs and cameras, use it to build the expansion.

[SSOWorld]

I can tell you exactly what is going on here.  Kremer is looking for some token thing he can cut out of the state's budget so he can turn around to his supporters and say, "Look at all the money I saved you!  Re-elect me!"

As a member of the State Assembly, Jesse Kremer eliminated over $6 million in wasteful government spending...

Damn where the savings came from or what the consequences were.

If he really wants to look out for John Q. Taxpayer, Kremer should be lobbying WisDOT to cancel the WI 23 expansion.  That's in his neck of the woods.  It's expensive and not really needed and you could pave a lot of shitty roads with that money.

If you want to read in between the lines, he probably wants to free up money and instead of spending it on signs and cameras, use it to build the expansion.

About him.   It's all about him.

[midwesternroadguy]

The message boards are needed. Not just for travel times but they are vital to Amber Alerts and if there is a major accident that shuts down the highway.

Remember this a couple winters ago on 41/45? Starts at the 1:45 mark.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmUue_krVDY

Every drivers' ed class should have its students watch that video.  For that matter, everyone should watch it to get their license renewed.   There's way too many take-home lessons in that one. 

[silverback1065]

anyone who says "our only problem is just paving roads" is naive. He clearly isn't an engineer or has any idea of what the issues in transportation are in his state.