ONE THING ABOUT politicians that is particularly annoying is that they talk a lot and accomplish very little.
Take traffic, for instance. Our city and state politicians have been talking about that mess for years now. They've talked about it. And then they talked about it some more. As a matter of fact they're still talking about it this very minute.
Yet, as is readily apparent, they have done very little about it.
They all agree that traffic is a major problem. Our streets are too crowded. Our freeways are clogged. It will be even worse in the future.
So they're talking about new roads and new freeways. How much will they cost? Where will they get the money?
And while they talk almost nothing is being done right now to make things better.
Consider just two examples:
A stream of orange cones and other objects blocked off lanes for more than a mile on both Rampart and Buffalo on either side of Cheyenne. The indications were that some paving would be done there. Some time. Meanwhile most days there was not a single worker or piece of equipment in sight. The lanes were still very usable. But they were blocked off. And created, of course, needless traffic jams day and night.
Our tax dollars at work.
Yet all that time, effort and money could actually be put to good use to help solve some of our traffic problems.
So, let the politicians continue talking. Meanwhile let's do something constructive.
First, let's overhaul the traffic lights on all major streets. They should be better synchronized, or staggered. So that traffic moving at 35 to 45 mph will flow steadily and not get tied up at every other cross street. It means calling in some experts. Do it. That's worth spending money on.
Second, street signs need repainting and better lighting. How often have you missed your turn because you couldn't read the sign? How many times have you followed the wrong sign entering or leaving McCarran airport? Here, too, an expert is needed. For Pete's sake, the planes on the overhead signs are pointing in the wrong direction on half of them!
Third, on all major arteries, signs indicating the next major cross street should be put up well in advance of that cross street.
Fourth, to alleviate constant traffic jams in and around our greatest tourist attraction ban all delivery trucks for five miles on either side of The Strip during heavy tourist hours. Pass an ordinance that deliveries can only be made in that area from, say, one AM to six AM. Get those delivery trucks off the road and watch how the traffic flows.
Fifth, get the drunks and hop heads off our roads. At the very least, they cause accidents that tie up traffic. Simply enforce the laws already on the books. If it requires more police, get them. It's a small price to pay for the benefits to all of us. Let's get really strict. Drive impaired one time and your license is suspended for three months, plus a stiff fine. Twice, your license is suspended for a year, with a stiffer fine. Third time, that's it. License permanently revoked and jail time. Wouldn't it be nice to get known as the city leading the way in making our streets safe to drive on?
Sixth, let's get traffic flowing better at major intersections by allowing left turns in both directions at the same time. The sane way to do it.
Those are just some of the things we can do right now to help us all.
While the politicians keep on fiddling.
