This blog is maintained for the sole purpose of allowing the people of Peru and those interested in the cities of the Illinois Valley to express their views.
“It doesn’t take a majority to win, just a tireless minority that will keep starting brush fires in the mind and hearts of their fellow men.” Samuel Adams
Friday, August 17, 2012
My Virtual Collection of Signs
It's All About Signage!
17 comments:
Anonymous
said...
Does anyone know why the change in this intersection took place now? Was it political or they wanted to get it done before winter? I would just like to know what brought it on, it seems the decision came out of nowhere.
I felt exactly the same way and did a foia for any information prior to the change, like correspondence, meetings, emails etc. The only thing I was sent was the minutes from the last several Public Works committee meetings (which ae already online) and a letter that was sent to IDOT from Chamlin asking about possible changes to the traffic patterns on 251 dated August 15.. So it appears that was very little going on that is accessible by the public. Does that mean it was conducted in private?
It would be better to try and get the information from IDOT directly asking for all correspondence and requests for approvals/assistance over the last few years regarding this intersection. Many claim that this was thoroughly researched by experts before it was done, but it seems hard to find any formal analysis of the actual problem.
Signage is not the answer! A 10 minute observation of this intersection and all its' signs, lines, and pylons proves only l thing - unless people obey them you could have hundreds of signs and they prove nothing! People want to get where they want to go and in the easiest way possible. If it means running a stop sign - so be it. If it means turning left where there is no left turn lane - so be it. Were there really that many problems at this intersection that such a complex plan had to materialize? I would have thought that a big portion of the traffic jamming would have been alleviated when Wal Marts relocated. Obviously something isn't working because new signs keep appearing almost on a daily basis. Me thinks the city needs to rethink!
Drove past that intersection this morning. Came from the west on the road behind the mall. P.S. too many stops sign behind the mall. Wanted to go to Mi Margarita and forgot about no left turn. Ended up at taco bell. Cars were backed up to the Good Will store drop off point. Never saw them lined up that far back. Intersection looked like a bomb went off. Tacky signage and cones everywhere. Felt bad for the bank with big wood signs stating no u turns in their lot. Watched 2 cars do a turn around in the lot anyway. Went to hyvee after to pick up groceries. Pulled out of the parking lot to go west. Got up to the stop sign and pulled out. Oncoming car did not stop for stop sign.
6:00 PM - you are full of BS. I've been making it a point to drive through that intersection at all times of the day and night. The only problems I have seen are caused by people from Peru that don't know how to drive. If you follow directions, the intersection is a breeze. If you want to gun for Harl, this is not the topic to do it with becasue this is probably the only thing he has done right.
9:01 I don't see the logic in your statement. Why is someone else's observation bs, while yours is true? In your comment you concur that there are some problems, but you attribute them to drivers being unable to drive, while others attribute it to a poorly designed and implemented intersection.
It is sort of like blaming smart rats for being able to circumvent a scientists poorly designed maze. People can easily circumvent many of the traffic patterns this design is trying to enforce by doing uturns , and that is what is happening. Also, there is a persistent small percentage drop in sales for business located north of the intersection. Any honest impartial traffic engineer would look at this intersection and area and deem it visually "busy", and it has been proven that people do not read as a rule to follow traffic, they follow, are marginally guided by color and standard signage shapes like arrows and octagons. Signage is only the key to being able to write tickets. The intersection is trying to do too much with too little, not using widened roads, smart lights , islands , and even sealing off the south entrance exit. It is a poor design because it is failing to achieve its objectives without causing undue economic hardship, all while fostering illegal maneuvers. It is not failing because Harl did it. If they would step back and be logical, not defensive about it and not try to ignore the design flaws, they could address the real problem of the north south road 251. It feeds too many cars into this entrance street a few times a day and on weekends. It needs to be modified to hold those cars waiting to turn. That is only a matter of time. There is no magic bullet.
I think I observed one other emotion after a car drove south to 38 th on Venuture and then turned right and right again into the parking lot and turned around in the lot and headed east with no attempt to stop at the stop sign by the bank. IMO they were angry that they had to go through all that to leave the area and it seems that now they were angry either for the inconvenience or for any other reason and this just added to it. That makes a dangerous driver.
This intersection is absolutely a joke! My seat belt locked up on me while I was using my brakes many times while trying to read all the signage. Peru, stand up in the batters box and admit you screwed up again. Also, watch the great video of the intersection labeled "venture.". It it is what it is. I don't think it was edited.
9:01 Why do you consider my statements, not opinions, BS? I only stated facts and my husband was in the car with me and saw the same thing. Also, may I ask where I mentioned Harl in that post? You must be super sensitive to the issue. Something personal at stake here? The bank had 2 wooden signs/posts that I consider tacky and unappealing. I'm sure the bank wasn't planning on this type of signage when they were remodeling. You say the intersection is a breeze? Then why are so many people doing U turns, trespassing, and breaking the law to get where they want to go? It's not just me. Friends from out of town are also commenting on how screwed up this intersection is now. Never have I heard from friends or family that they waited too long in a turn lane under the old setup, but obviously, this change has created an uproar to the public as a whole!Look at how many posts have been made to the City of Peru Facebook page. Heck, the newspaper even picked up the article. It's not just me or the bloggers that have an issue with this change.
17 comments:
Does anyone know why the change in this intersection took place now? Was it political or they wanted to get it done before winter? I would just like to know what brought it on, it seems the decision came out of nowhere.
7:46 AM
I felt exactly the same way and did a foia for any information prior to the change, like correspondence, meetings, emails etc. The only thing I was sent was the minutes from the last several Public Works committee meetings (which ae already online) and a letter that was sent to IDOT from Chamlin asking about possible changes to the traffic patterns on 251 dated August 15.. So it appears that was very little going on that is accessible by the public. Does that mean it was conducted in private?
"are"
It would be better to try and get the information from IDOT directly asking for all correspondence and requests for approvals/assistance over the last few years regarding this intersection. Many claim that this was thoroughly researched by experts before it was done, but it seems hard to find any formal analysis of the actual problem.
Signage is not the answer! A 10 minute observation of this intersection and all its' signs, lines, and pylons proves only l thing - unless people obey them you could have hundreds of signs and they prove nothing! People want to get where they want to go and in the easiest way possible. If it means running a stop sign - so be it. If it means turning left where there is no left turn lane - so be it. Were there really that many problems at this intersection that such a complex plan had to materialize? I would have thought that a big portion of the traffic jamming would have been alleviated when Wal Marts relocated. Obviously something isn't working because new signs keep appearing almost on a daily basis. Me thinks the city needs to rethink!
"signage is the key people" quote Harl . And us taxpayers pay for them all .
Drove past that intersection this morning. Came from the west on the road behind the mall. P.S. too many stops sign behind the mall. Wanted to go to Mi Margarita and forgot about no left turn. Ended up at taco bell. Cars were backed up to the Good Will store drop off point. Never saw them lined up that far back. Intersection looked like a bomb went off. Tacky signage and cones everywhere. Felt bad for the bank with big wood signs stating no u turns in their lot. Watched 2 cars do a turn around in the lot anyway. Went to hyvee after to pick up groceries. Pulled out of the parking lot to go west. Got up to the stop sign and pulled out. Oncoming car did not stop for stop sign.
6:00 PM - you are full of BS. I've been making it a point to drive through that intersection at all times of the day and night. The only problems I have seen are caused by people from Peru that don't know how to drive. If you follow directions, the intersection is a breeze. If you want to gun for Harl, this is not the topic to do it with becasue this is probably the only thing he has done right.
9:01
I don't see the logic in your statement. Why is someone else's observation bs, while yours is true?
In your comment you concur that there are some problems, but you attribute them to drivers being unable to drive, while others attribute it to a poorly designed and implemented intersection.
It is sort of like blaming smart rats for being able to circumvent a scientists poorly designed maze. People can easily circumvent many of the traffic patterns this design is trying to enforce by doing uturns , and that is what is happening. Also, there is a persistent small percentage drop in sales for business located north of the intersection. Any honest impartial traffic engineer would look at this intersection and area and deem it visually "busy", and it has been proven that people do not read as a rule to follow traffic, they follow, are marginally guided by color and standard signage shapes like arrows and octagons. Signage is only the key to being able to write tickets.
The intersection is trying to do too much with too little, not using widened roads, smart lights , islands , and even sealing off the south entrance exit. It is a poor design because it is failing to achieve its objectives without causing undue economic hardship, all while fostering illegal maneuvers. It is not failing because Harl did it. If they would step back and be logical, not defensive about it and not try to ignore the design flaws, they could address the real problem of the north south road 251. It feeds too many cars into this entrance street a few times a day and on weekends. It needs to be modified to hold those cars waiting to turn. That is only a matter of time. There is no magic bullet.
IF YOU THINK THIS IS DONE RIGHT YOU ARE AS DUMB AS THE IDIOT WHO DESIGNED THIS MESS!!!
I think I observed one other emotion after a car drove south to 38 th on Venuture and then turned right and right again into the parking lot and turned around in the lot and headed east with no attempt to stop at the stop sign by the bank. IMO they were angry that they had to go through all that to leave the area and it seems that now they were angry either for the inconvenience or for any other reason and this just added to it. That makes a dangerous driver.
@ 9:01
haha , funny Scott or Dave , now get back to work cutting hair or driving a crane .
http://newstrib.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=27&ArticleID=20157
Remember this article...TONIGHT PERU TOWNSHIP MEETING AT TOWNSHIP OFFICE 8/20
They will be discussing raises for all township officials and for trustees.
We need everyone to come down to meeting hall please post
My favorite sign is the one reminding all that by the grace of the Mayor we have asphalt in Peru!
This intersection is absolutely a joke! My seat belt locked up on me while I was using my brakes many times while trying to read all the signage. Peru, stand up in the batters box and admit you screwed up again. Also, watch the great video of the intersection labeled "venture.". It it is what it is. I don't think it was edited.
9:01 Why do you consider my statements, not opinions, BS? I only stated facts and my husband was in the car with me and saw the same thing. Also, may I ask where I mentioned Harl in that post? You must be super sensitive to the issue. Something personal at stake here? The bank had 2 wooden signs/posts that I consider tacky and unappealing. I'm sure the bank wasn't planning on this type of signage when they were remodeling. You say the intersection is a breeze? Then why are so many people doing U turns, trespassing, and breaking the law to get where they want to go? It's not just me. Friends from out of town are also commenting on how screwed up this intersection is now. Never have I heard from friends or family that they waited too long in a turn lane under the old setup, but obviously, this change has created an uproar to the public as a whole!Look at how many posts have been made to the City of Peru Facebook page. Heck, the newspaper even picked up the article. It's not just me or the bloggers that have an issue with this change.
Hey
9:01-evidently you didn't watch the video taken under the label "venture.". The blogger you are referring to as bs- isn't bs-ing in my opinion.
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