TERRIBLE TRAFFIC REPORTS

[jabba17]

And occasionally you get someone who talks about traffic on "Pon-say Day Lee-OHN Avenue in DeKaLLb County"...

But isn't that what the natives call it? Radio all across America usually uses the local pronunciation of their area.

Maybe the natives of DC. The county in Georgia has the “L’ is silent (DE CAB). The corn seed company uses the “LL”. I know I had to recut several commercials while working at KIUL Garden City KS. The “day” is silent on the avenue in GA. I just call it "ponce".

Yeah, most just say "Ponce" (and not "Pon-say"). The full name of the road is pronounced "Ponce Duh LEE-on", not "Pon-say Day Lee-OHN". I used to live on East Ponce in Stone Mountain and always had to spell it out when talking to out-of-town businesses on the phone.

Here is a classic commercial that pronounces Ponce correctly: http://downhometraces.com/2009/08/25/vintage-atlanta-tv-commercials-1-plaza-drugs/

 

[onetake]

Every station thinks they have to have an abundance of traffic reports on. WSB does it 7 days a week. I pulled way back on traffic after doing research and then confirming with APD police that most traffic reports don't really change patterns. People sitting on 75 N know if they jump over to Cobb Parkway it's going to be a mess as well, etc. People are glad to know what's up, but the purpose of traffic reports was to get one there on time and help find a better route. We're so jaded we just sit in it, figuring "it'll clear up just as fast here as racing someplace else."
But every station has "traffic envy" and feels it'll make them seem out of touch if they're not repeating themselves every hour every day.

 

[trusty]

They'll do the Big 4 (75/400/PIB/85) and nothern suburbs...

OK, what is "PIB"? Another name for top-end perimeter?

Also, the traffic reports here would be a lot SHORTER if we were told which streets were open, instead of clogged. I mean, you don't need to tell me about a tire or sofa in the road, and what color it is, just say, "Trust me; don't take I-85 south between (exit) and (exit)."

Now, a bona-fide question regarding all the traffic text signs on the freeways: are the signs quicker and more accurate than traffic reports on the radio, or not as good?

 

[jabba17]

They'll do the Big 4 (75/400/PIB/85) and nothern suburbs...

OK, what is "PIB"? Another name for top-end perimeter?

Also, the traffic reports here would be a lot SHORTER if we were told which streets were open, instead of clogged. I mean, you don't need to tell me about a tire or sofa in the road, and what color it is, just say, "Trust me; don't take I-85 south between (exit) and (exit)."

Now, a bona-fide question regarding all the traffic text signs on the freeways: are the signs quicker and more accurate than traffic reports on the radio, or not as good?

PIB=Peachtree Industrial Boulevard

Keith Kalland used to be really good at rattling off bad roads, e.g., "75-done. 41-done. South Cobb Drive-done." He would suggest alternates; the problem was, the usual alternates were often already in bad shape (like 41 in the case above), often because of his earlier reporting. He would also go so far as to say that if you knew of a secret alternate, use it.

I think the signs are about the same in terms of accuracy and timeliness. Problem is, people usually slow down to read them. What GDOT needs to do is develop a Georgia Navigator smartphone app. Then again, the safety freaks at GOHS probably told them not to.

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

OK, what is "PIB"? Another name for top-end perimeter?

Peachtree Industrial Boulevard?

 

[ShawtyBlack_ATL]

OK, what is "PIB"? Another name for top-end perimeter?

Peachtree Industrial Boulevard?

Gotta love the nicknames....


Cobb Clovereaf
Top End Perimeter
East Wall
West Wall
Spaghetti Junction
Grady Curve
East Expressway
West Expressway
Brookwood Split
The Connector

....im sure there is more

 

[bnaivar]

OK, what is "PIB"? Another name for top-end perimeter?

Peachtree Industrial Boulevard?

Gotta love the nicknames....




Cobb Clovereaf
Top End Perimeter
East Wall
West Wall
Spaghetti Junction
Grady Curve
East Expressway
West Expressway
Brookwood Split
The Connector

....im sure there is more

Yeah, but most of the ones I use you can't broadcast.

 

[jabba17]

Alpharetta Autobahn

Some oldies:
South Expressway, NE Expressway, NW Expressway--those and Downtown Connector, East Expressway, and West Expressway were names that pre-dated the Interstate numbering system. The South Expressway and Connector were originally Ga. Route 395.

The Airport Connector (I-85 S) was originally not slated to be part of the Interstate system; the originally planned southern terminus of I-85 was the Brookwood Split.

 

[DToTheJ]

I have to assume that some combination of GPS and phone-based texting by subscription will soon replace radio traffic reports...

Scary, but probably true. You can just picture the automated voice a la NOAA Weather Radio. Esther Caspino's is more soothing, by comparison.