They don’t really go hand in hand… but they are two topics I want to talk about today!

First… Ramp Meters.  So many of you are emailing me about your frustrations.  Frustrations with the long lines of cars on the ramps, and spilling into the road.  Many of you are saying you are not seeing a change on the highway either.  The Regional Transporation Commission tells me they are already making changes.

• The meters at southbound Charleston and Spring Mountain and the northbound Tropicana ramp are used in the morning, but not in the afternoons, due to higher traffic volumes in the afternoon than what the meters will accommodate without backing up traffic onto the streets.
• They continue to monitor the 95 (515) and Eastern ramp meter and will make modifications as needed.

Also, two more meters were activated today!  Northbound and southbound ramps from Russell Road at I-15. 

For now, you really need to add extra time to both your commute to and from work!  We will hopefully see some positive changes soon.  Oh, by the way, NHP informs me there is a $300 fine if you use the car pool (HOV) lane with only YOU inside.  So think twice before you use it to pass the ramp meter!

Okay, on to Nevada Reading Week.  I read to a 4th grade class from Ober Elementary on Monday morning.  They were so much fun.  I must say, the kids really seemed to take in the story.  I am so glad.  They were also much smarter than I remember being at that age.  But maybe that’s just an "adult" thing.   Maybe I just “think” that, because I can’t really remember being that young! ha ha!

Anyway, Reading Week is a great way to get kids excited about reading books.  It really is important.  Reading is not that easy.  It takes a special interest to really enjoy it.  And we all need to make sure we teach children to have fun with it. 

It’s always been difficult for me to really "enjoy" reading.  I envy people that say, "I bought the new Harry Potter book and read the whole thing last night."   I thought… "HOW?" 

I must say, the books I have read in entirety as an adult… I have been extremely interested in.  Sometimes they are fiction, other times they are autiobiographies.  It is relaxing to read and it takes you away to a different place.  I wish I read more books, I wish I had time.  I think I do have time… maybe I’m just not making enough of it!

Posted by Dayna Roselli

Sometimes I get a little bit overwhelmed with the letters, phone calls, and emails coming in for the "What’s Driving You Crazy."  Don’t take this the wrong way… please keep on sending! 

My point is, there are so many questions about the roads, the projects, and the laws… sometimes my brain starts to hurt! ha ha.  All of your questions are valid… and many times… there is an interesting answer behind it.   I do love how this semgent is going.  It’s been a wonderful learning experience for me, and hopefully for you too.  I thought I was "knowlegeable" about Las Vegas Valley traffic before…. now, I am considering myself a true expert!

One of my co-workers came up to me and asked about a "right turn only" sign on a traffic pole at the intersection of Las Vegas Blvd. & Windmill.  I knew exactly what she was talking about, and what the question was, before it came out of her mouth!  And, best of all, I had the answer!  So please, keep them coming.  I try to answer every single email I get.  And I have also been able to answer a few phone calls too!

It’s my "Friday" – I hope you have a great weekend.   Try to avoid the Darling Tennis Center area unless you are going to take part in the Tennis Open.  It will be busy around there traffic wise starting Saturday and through the week.  It’s located on Washington Near Durango.  Should be a good event for the Northwest part of the valley.  Hopefully the businesses in the area will benefit and the residents won’t see too much congestion in their neighborhoods. 

See you Monday Morning!

Posted by Dayna Roslli

Our I-Team’s Mark Sayre completed a special report on traffic lights last week.   It aired on Friday.  I wanted to provide you with a link… in case you missed it.

Click Here!

It’s a great story that helps you understand the process of getting a traffic signal or stop sign.  Many of you e-mail me wondering "why" your intersection doesn’t have a traffic signal or traffic control.  This story may help explain! 

Posted by Dayna Roselli

This weekend is going to be jam packed around the Las Vegas Strip.

It’s NBA All Star weekend folks…. and thousands are in town for a whole slew of activities related to the big game on Sunday.  The strip will be packed and the streets around it will be congested.  Word to the wise… don’t decide to go for a casual dinner somewhere on Paradise this weekend, without expecting delays.

This weekend also includes the tail end of the MAGIC Convention… and how can we forget… the Heiress herself.. Paris Hilton’s birthday party at the Hard Rock.  Oh yah, it’s a HOLIDAY weekend too!

Events are taking place all over town.  Many of the All Star events are at Mandalay Bay and the Thomas and Mack.  There are also events at several other hotels and establishments on the strip and downtown.

Hey, at least the construction at Harmon and Paradise is coming to an end.. they put it on hold this weekend which will help… but there’s more closures scheduled for next week.

By the way…. totally unrelated…. I- Team Reporter, Mark Sayre will do a special report on Eyewitness News at 5 tonight (Friday) about what it takes to get a traffic signals or stop sign at a valley intersection.  You should all watch.  This is a huge issue with many of you, I know.  I receive tons of questions and comments from valley drivers about Traffic Signals.  So many people think certain intersections NEED signals.  Now, you can see what engineers go through to determine if a certain intersection is worthy of one.  If you miss it… check out our home page.. the page should have a link to the story after it airs.

Have a great weekend everyone… it’s going to be nice and warm! I can’t wait! Plus, Sherry says we will probably get some rain on Monday (President’s Day.)  We need it! 

Posted by Dayna Roselli

Seven new ramp meters turned on today! The first ones to activate along Interstate 15.  They are mostly placed along the resort corridor… at Charleston, Sahara, Spring Mountain, Flamingo, & Tropicana.  Two more will activate on February 27th at Russell Road on ramps.

This morning, you can tell there was a bit of confusion, which is to be expected.  Nevada Highway Patrol pulled over drivers that didn’t stop at the red lights. 

Some people have already written e-mails to me, concerned about the back ups on the ramps.  Some say traffic was spilling into the roads.  I am sure this will get better with time… as people become more familiar with the meters.

Remember, the purpose of the ramp meters is to let traffic on the highway in a controlled way so that the freeway traffic moves smoother without everyone trying to cram in at once. 

For more details on where exactly the new ramp meters are located click here.

Posted by Dayna Roselli

The Super Bowl is over… the COLTS won.  I thought the Bears would win, so I guess I was wrong (for once in my life, ha ha.)

We had a great show Sunday night after the Super Bowl.  The big game was on CBS and our morning news team put on a show, about an hour after the game.  We highlighted what we do every morning… and took viewers "behind the scenes." 

Denise Valdez & Dave McCann showed viewers how they put together their "Cool at School" segments each day.  I told everyone about my "What’s Driving You Crazy" segment and showed people how they can get involved.  I get so many emails and letters with traffic questions, the segment has really been successful.  Sherry Swensk showed off the weather department’s High Definition graphics too!  It was a fun show… thanks to everyone who helped and of course, everyone that watched!

February is moving right along…. and during that Super Bowl Show I updated everyone on the U.S. 95 project.  After seven years of work, the project will finally be done in October of 2007.  The Rancho Interchange should be complete by April.  Click here for the full story, with video.

Enjoy the rest of your week, and drive safe.

Posted by Dayna Roselli

Finally, a widening project that didn’t "feel" like it took that long.

I-15 now has an extra lane… northbound and southbound… from the Southern 215 Interchange to Spring Mountain.  Basically through the resort corridor.

If you drive there… you know… I-15 northbound backs up where it merges with 215 every morning at about 7 a.m..  It stays that way for about an hour.  Same thing happens during the evening commute… and especially on Fridays when all our visitors come in from California. I-15 South around Flamingo is always slow too… it seems like all day.

Well, I have watched our traffic cameras the last two days and I don’t see that happening anymore.  I see a major improvement. 

The extra lanes were not supposed to open until March… so…. SURPRISE.

Enjoy it! 

U.S. 95 is still a work in progress…. hey, tune in Superbowl Sunday! An hour after the big game, the Channel 8 Eyewitness News This Morning team will have a special show!  Should be fun.  I will have a story on the U.S. 95 widening project… find out when the Rancho Interchange will be done… and what’s being done along that stretch of road.

Morning News Team… at night?!  Yes, you read it right!

Posted by

Dayna Roselli