I recently learned, however, that VDOT is not to blame. As it turns out, they are legally required to broadcast the Ozone Alert messages. (They do, however, choose to broadcast Amber Alerts, which I fully appreciate.)  I was also pleased to know that VDOT is aware of the traffic issues caused by messages displayed on the traffic signs (“everyone … slows down substantially to read it”).

I’m assuming it’s a state law, but I haven’t yet been able to track it down. (Ir)regardless, I owe VDOT an apology. My frustrations were misplaced, and I will no longer curse VDOT for their sign usage as I’m stuck in traffic on Ozone Alert days.

Occasionally traffic will ease up a bit after that merge, but on Friday the congestion remained and we plodded along.  I wasn’t too surprised, as anything can cause traffic to slow down around here (e.g., a parked car on the side of the road, a new sign, rain, sun, clouds).  This day, however, the additional slowdown was caused by our beloved VDOT.  On one of the electronic overhead signs, usually reserved for useless and out-dated traffic information, they had a flashing message alerting us that we were under an Ozone warning, and encouraging us to reduce traffic by carpooling.  As soon as I passed under the sign, traffic sped up and cleared out all the way to my exit.

VDOT claims to have “numerous initiatives to preserve the environment while keeping Virginia moving.”  And yet they caused tens-of-thousands of cars to idle on the highway for 30 minutes longer than usual because of a pointless sign.  How is that helping the environment or keeping traffic moving?  It seems to me it’s doing quite the opposite.  Nice work, VDOT.

(1) … the local news radio station has a tag line that ends, “where the traffic only gets worse.”

(2) … your 22 month old son recognizes anytime the car is approaching the highway and instinctively yells, “Other way! I want other way!” while pointing in every direction but straight ahead. Seriously, he does it every time.

The next day at work I received a phone call explaining the reason for the traffic backup. A good friend of ours that I met at work was in a car accident on I-95, and it was his accident causing the backup we experienced. He and his family were on the way to church when a car swerved into their lane, causing them to loose control. Their car rolled numerous times while crossing all lanes of traffic. His wife and boys only suffered minor bruises, but he scraped his forehead on the pavement as they were rolling and broke his neck in three places. Had his neck bent in a different direction, he could have been paralyzed or killed instantly.

This week he returned to work full time, barely 8 weeks later, not even wearing a neck brace or having had any surgery. His neck is almost fully healed, and his hair is even growing back where his head kissed the pavement. I’ve heard him describe himself as a walking miracle, and to hear the stories of God’s protection during the accident and His provision afterward, it’s plain to see why.

It’s great to have you back in the saddle, Curtis. Keep preaching it, brother!

So what is their grand plan? “[T]he current plan is to encourage displaced people to continue evacuation until they get to Ohio.” Thank you, West Virginia. That’s very big of you.

“I’m from out of town. Why can’t we drive in those lanes?” he asked, pointing at the traffic flying by in the HOV lanes.

I simplified things and replied, “Those are for car pooling.”

“Oh,” he acknowledged. “So we have to stay in this all the way to Fredericksburg?” (Fredericksburg was still a good 20 miles south. We were easily averaging 15 miles an hour at this point– stop and go.)

“Yes, though the car pool lanes don’t go nearly that far.” I was trying to console him, as if to say it wouldn’t be all that great in the HOV lanes since they ended soon.

“Oh,” he acknowledged again. “So this should clear out as soon as those lanes merge, right?”

Who was I to squelch that glimmer of hope I heard in his question? “Sure, it should clear up a bit.” What else would you expect when 5 lanes of traffic consolidate into 3?! This didn’t seem like the type of discussion where I should lay out all the possible reasons traffic could easily get worse. And truthfully, traffic does generally pick up a bit after that merge due to limited on ramps for a while.

“Probably in 10 miles or so?” he wondered.

“Not nearly that long. Only a couple more miles.”

And with that, the conversation was over. I was glad the traffic did increase in speed a bit after the merge, so I didn’t appear to be a complete liar.  Only on I-95 do you have a chance to verbally welcome visitors to your state while commuting home.

* A guy in the cube next to me parked his car over a mile away yesterday because there’s a hill on the street leading to our building. Apparently it froze during a storm several years ago and caused a traffic backup. Hearing the weather forecast, he wasn’t going to risk it this time around.

* The schools closed all day yesterday in anticipation of the storms, before it even started snowing or raining. The rain didn’t start until early evening.

* The traffic reports on the radio today are spending more time telling you how to drive than they are giving updates on the accidents. (E.g., “Speed is your enemy.” “Because the roads are covered in ice, you need to allow more time to brake.”)

Well, the status of the Federal Government is apparently the thing to watch around here. They let out early yesterday, and have a 2 hour delay today, except for “essential” employees, I believe. It’s still unclear as to how that impacts my work schedule, so I braved the elements and drove in to work this morning. Knowing the commute would be a bit longer than usual, I figured I’d stop off at Starbuck’s and get something dark, bold, and black to drink to make the trip more enjoyable. I pulled into the parking lot, and the store was completely dark. They were closed. They can close because of weather?! Surely, if anyone is considered “essential,” it should be Starbuck’s employees.

Today’s trip home: 1 hour and 50 minutes … for 35 miles. Not at all that bad. (A little Hot Tracks lingo there. Any MI people still watch the show?)

So who are all these people, and shouldn’t they be on vacation some where?

As an interesting aside, they bused in a ton of people from the Pentagon for the dedication ceremony. Not knowing what to do with all the buses, they decided to close the HOV lanes for the day and park the buses there, figuring since it was a federal holiday the traffic wouldn’t be that bad. It took my brother almost 3 hours to get home from work that day. He had a few things to say about their parking plan. I’m glad this was one commute I was able to miss.