Reversible Lanes Puzzle Drivers

The 10-lane Kennedy Expressway in Chicago is forced to manage significantly more traffic than it was designed to handle. Traffic planners have installed a flexible lane that can increase the flow in one direction, but Chicagoans are baffled by them.

1 minute read

August 22, 2011, 9:00 AM PDT

By Tim Halbur

Columnist Jon Hilkevitch talks to locals who see no rhyme or reason for when the switching happens:

"To many drivers, it's a mystery why the two express lanes are open in one direction much of the time while traffic in the same direction on the four local lanes is running smoothly, yet traffic in the opposite direction is like a parking lot."

Hilkevitch sought out the answer:

"The decision to switch the reversibles to favor inbound or outbound traffic is based on traffic volumes and travel times, but about 80 percent of the time higher traffic volumes are the deciding factor, officials said."

FULL STORY: Drivers frustrated by Kennedy express lanes

Monday, August 22, 2011 in The Chicago Tribune

Transportation Illinois Freeways Traffic Engineering Traffic Planning Reversible Lanes View More

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Learn More

Advertise with us

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.