I wouldn’t be conspiratorial enough to think County officials turned off the traffic light at one of the busiest intersection in McHenry County, but as I was taking about fifteen minutes to get from Miller Road through the intersection of Randall and Algonquin Roads, it did cross my mind.
The backup on Randall Road during rush hour on Tuesday, July 8, 2014.
There I was in line to turn left and the traffic was backed up to beyond Lake in the Hills’ infamous red light cameras.
A surveying crew was at work laying out how far the road should be widened and, maybe, where the Continuous Flow Intersection would cut off access points to the businesses along Randall and Algonquin Roads.
Traffic was barely moving.
The traffic light at Randall and Algonquin Roads was in blinking red mode.
As I got closer, I noticed that the light was not working.
From no light, the signal blinked red.
It would be off, then the red light would blink on.
Then the red light disappeared.
My son, learning to drive, did not know what that meant, so at least the wait served some purpose in our car.
Surveying crews were on both Randall and Algonquin Roads Tuesday morning.
Although I saw surveying taking place on Randall, I didn’t catch a photo until I finally turned the corner fifteen minutes or so later.
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Meanwhile Citizen Advocates for Public Accountability continue to make presentations on why a CFI is not needed, why adding left turn lanes would be good enough to relieve driver frustrations.
If you have not read the analysis, you can read it here.
Of course, on Tuesday, a policeman from Algonquin and/or Lake in the Hills would have served the same purpose.
I do hate traffic light issues in this state!
I used to live in another state and if the lights were out/blinking at a major intersection then the Police would serve the people (ya know the 1st part of that “Serve & Protect” thing) and direct traffic.
It was no doubt still an inconvenience, but much better than 1 – 2 miles of traffic buildup and frustration that can result in road rage and/or accidents.
Maybe THEY were taking pictures….to SHOW all the traffic…….next thing you know….
Headlines in NW Herald will be: ” This is why we need the Continuous Flow Intersection ”
Maybe they want to widen it for that MRAP….you know that takes up alot of room
Stay cynical, Cal.
Cal, You have been around long enough to know that solving a complex problem is not as easy as we would like.
It would be helpful that your, as a member of the press, meet with Transsystems and get an overview of the project as it is today and let that, not innuendo, help formulate your opinions.
Also I am sure the engineers and planners from Citizen Advocates for Public Accountability have come to their conclusions based on empirical research to support their conclusions.
Jim: The U.S. Supreme has ruled that the police ARE NOT HERE TO SERVE AND PROTECT.
According to the US Supreme Court decision in Warren v. District of Columbia in 1981, the police do not have the duty to provide protection and services to individuals except under specific assignments.
Jim: The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the police ARE NOT HERE TO SERVE AND PROTECT.
According to the US Supreme Court decision in Warren v. District of Columbia in 1981, the police do not have the duty to provide protection and services to individuals except under specific assignments.
Note that the term no longer appears on Police vehicles.