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The new rolling speed harmonization program is working, Colorado Department of Transportation officials reported Friday, ahead of pacing operations today.
Even with heavy snow falling throughout the afternoon on Martin Luther King Day, there were no accidents as local and state police vehicles led holiday traffic 39 miles through the Interstate 70 mountain corridor toward Denver.
“On Monday, we didn't have any crashes and we were at a point where there were some white-out conditions,” said Silverthorne police chief Mark Hanschmidt, whose officers lead the first leg of the pacing operation from Silverthorne to the Eisenhower Tunnel.
The rolling speed harmonization program will continue today, beginning between 11 a.m. and noon.
A single police car will pull in front of other vehicles with its emergency lights activated at the Silverthorne exit on I-70 and will lead eastbound traffic up toward the tunnel, traveling between 45 and 55 mph depending on weather conditions. State patrol and other law enforcement agencies will take over pacing traffic at later points, controlling speeds all the way to the bottom of Floyd Hill where the highway widens to three lanes.
Pace groups are expected to leave Silverthorne every five to 10 minutes throughout the afternoon today.
The program is intended to keep vehicles moving at a slower, smoother pace to help prevent rear-end accidents and traffic jams. In its first few weekends in operation, pacing has been effective in keeping traffic moving, even reducing back-ups at the Twin Tunnels near Idaho Springs, which has always been a key choke point on the corridor, CDOT officials said.
“At this point, we've been happy with it,” CDOT spokesman Bob Wilson said. “We continue to evaluate it week to week … looking at ways to make it more effective. … We'll take a look and see if anything needs to be improved after we complete operations (today).”
CDOT picks up the $4,500-$5,000 tab to run the rolling speed harmonization program for a single afternoon, which covers the cost of using patrol vehicles and paying off-duty law enforcement officers.
The speed harmonization program was originally envisioned as a way of reducing metering on I-70. Metering causes cars to be stopped for up to 20 minutes on the west side of the Eisenhower Tunnel while traffic filters through. It is used to prevent gridlock inside the tunnel, which could block first responders' access in the event of an emergency.
“The traveling public is not real fond of metering and stops,” Wilson said. “So if we can reduce that somewhat, then I think that's a win for everybody.”
Pacing is expected to reduce, but not eliminate, metering this season.
The rolling speed harmonization program is set to continue on Sunday and holiday afternoons through March or April.
CDOT officials asked drivers to comply with directions from the lead police vehicle today, including not passing the patrol car pacing traffic.
Even with heavy snow falling throughout the afternoon on Martin Luther King Day, there were no accidents as local and state police vehicles led holiday traffic 39 miles through the Interstate 70 mountain corridor toward Denver.
“On Monday, we didn't have any crashes and we were at a point where there were some white-out conditions,” said Silverthorne police chief Mark Hanschmidt, whose officers lead the first leg of the pacing operation from Silverthorne to the Eisenhower Tunnel.
The rolling speed harmonization program will continue today, beginning between 11 a.m. and noon.
A single police car will pull in front of other vehicles with its emergency lights activated at the Silverthorne exit on I-70 and will lead eastbound traffic up toward the tunnel, traveling between 45 and 55 mph depending on weather conditions. State patrol and other law enforcement agencies will take over pacing traffic at later points, controlling speeds all the way to the bottom of Floyd Hill where the highway widens to three lanes.
Pace groups are expected to leave Silverthorne every five to 10 minutes throughout the afternoon today.
The program is intended to keep vehicles moving at a slower, smoother pace to help prevent rear-end accidents and traffic jams. In its first few weekends in operation, pacing has been effective in keeping traffic moving, even reducing back-ups at the Twin Tunnels near Idaho Springs, which has always been a key choke point on the corridor, CDOT officials said.
“At this point, we've been happy with it,” CDOT spokesman Bob Wilson said. “We continue to evaluate it week to week … looking at ways to make it more effective. … We'll take a look and see if anything needs to be improved after we complete operations (today).”
CDOT picks up the $4,500-$5,000 tab to run the rolling speed harmonization program for a single afternoon, which covers the cost of using patrol vehicles and paying off-duty law enforcement officers.
The speed harmonization program was originally envisioned as a way of reducing metering on I-70. Metering causes cars to be stopped for up to 20 minutes on the west side of the Eisenhower Tunnel while traffic filters through. It is used to prevent gridlock inside the tunnel, which could block first responders' access in the event of an emergency.
“The traveling public is not real fond of metering and stops,” Wilson said. “So if we can reduce that somewhat, then I think that's a win for everybody.”
Pacing is expected to reduce, but not eliminate, metering this season.
The rolling speed harmonization program is set to continue on Sunday and holiday afternoons through March or April.
CDOT officials asked drivers to comply with directions from the lead police vehicle today, including not passing the patrol car pacing traffic.
