Distracted Driving Games Illustrate the Dangers of Texting While Driving

Did you know that distracted drivers can cognitively miss up to 50% of their driving environment, including stop signs, pedestrians and red light? or that nearly 25% of all crashes involve drivers distracted by cell phones? Lastly, did you know that drivers who text increase their likelihood to crash by 8-23 times.

These statistics are just part of the reason that government agencies and even AT&T are getting involved in trying to combat distracted driving. Below are two games that our staff has found that parents of teens or even we as adults can use to encourage safer driving and putting our cell phones down while we travel. Here are the games:

• The Distraction Dodger is an online game designed to help teens and young adults understand the importance of concentrating on driving. It was designed by students at University of Minnesota. Players are put behind the wheel of a mobile pizza delivery vehicle in the pizza-loving city of Little Moots. Drivers deliver to the pizzas to the customer as they stand along side the street. But to be successful, players have to use a variety of tools —a smartphone, social media, GPS, and earned vehicle upgrades while keeping an eye on the roads hazardous situations. Players must also focus to avoid obstacles and obey traffic laws so they don't receive tickets, have a wreck or cause life-threatening crashes. Drivers also at the end of the game get feedback on their driving—and how it is affected by your level of distraction. To play go to: http://www.its.umn.edu/DistractionDodger/. Our staff tried it out and found this one to be a little challenging. But it definitely teaches how dangerous distracted driving can be.
• The New York Times also has a game on their site that measures a driver's reaction time as they are being distracted by a cell phone and their need to text. Our staff found this one very challenging and another solid example of the dangers of distracted driving. http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/07/19/technology/20090719-driving-game.html

To take a pledge to put your phone away while you drive, go to www.nsc.org/pledge.

U.S. Census releases or prepares to release lots of data

The U.S. Census Bureau is continuing to provide ways for you to get the information you are concerned with as they roll out more data from their collection.

One feature you can use is Easy Stats. It provides you quick and easy access to selected statistics collected by the Census through the American Community Survey. The American Community Survey works to get every community, every year detailed statistics about their people and their homes. Easy Stats provides current demographic and economic statistics about your home town. You simply search by geography down to the local level (including counties, incorporated places like cities and towns and Census designated places). You can also view detailed racial, age and gender breakdowns, and compare communities. To try it out, go to http://www.census.gov/easystats/.

In addition, the Census has released or is getting ready to release the following information this week:

Summary Population and Housing Characteristics Reports: The report series contains tables on age, sex, race, Hispanic or Latino origin, households, families, housing tenure and occupancy, population density and area measurements. The reports are being released on a state-by-state basis. To see your states report, go to at http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/index.html.

State Population Estimates: These internet tables will show July 1, 2012, population estimates. Changes in the previous year, as well as since the 2010 Census, are examined.

New Year's Day Population: The Census Bureau will ring in the year with its annual projection of the nation's population for Jan. 1, 2013. The release will include birth, death and net international migration rates. Information is expected to released today on the Bureau's website.

Estimates of State Voting-Age Population: Estimates of the number of people 18 and older in each state, Puerto Rico and the U.S. The downloadable file will also include total population and the percentage of people 18 and older. Scheduled for release in early January.

TARC Announces Holiday Schedule

As the holidays approach, TARC has announced its holiday schedule through Jan. 1, 2013. Visit TARC’s website, www.ridetarc.org  for scheduling information on individual routes.

Here is the schedule:

·         Christmas Eve, occurs on Monday, weekday schedule
·         Christmas Day, occurs on Tuesday, Sunday-Holiday schedule
·         New Years Eve- occurs on Monday, weekday schedule
·         New Years Day- occurs on Tuesday, Sunday-Holiday schedule

On Sunday/Holiday days, there will be no service on the following lines:

1 - Toonerville II
3 – Tarclift
22 - Twenty-Second Street
45 - Okolona Express
49 - Westport Express
50 - Dixie - Kosmodale Express
52 - Medical Center Circulator
53 - Breckenridge Express
54 - Manslick Express
55 – Westport Road
61 - Plainview Express
62 - Breckenridge Lane / Shepherdsville
64 – Fincastle Express 66- Mt.Washington/Shepherdsville-Express
67- Oldham County Express
68 - Prospect Express
77 - Main Street Circulator
78 - Bluegrass Express
82 - New Albany-Clarksville Crosstown

For more information and for route schedules, visit www.ridetarc.org .

TARC Accessibilty Council Seeks New Members

The TARC Accessibility Advisory Council, formerly known as the TARC Elderly and Disabled Advisory Council, is seeking new members. The deadline to apply is is Jan. 17, 2013.

The council’s mission is to review and advise TARC on all issues, plans and programs for public transportation services in regards to the accessibility needs of our community and in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

The council is made up of 18 individuals representing citizens in the Metro Louisville area who have accessibility needs due to life-function impairments.  The council members are selected to convey the needs of individuals with functional limitations and also include representatives from local and government agencies who represent them.

For more details on qualifications and how to apply, go to http://www.ridetarc.org/uploadedFiles/Accessibility/Notice%202012%20Council%20%20App%20_2_.pdf.

For an application, to go http://www.ridetarc.org/uploadedFiles/Accessibility/TAAC%20MEMBERSHIP%20APPLICATION%202012.pdf.

-Information provided by TARC

Closures begin today on Sherman Minton, I-65 North and I-264

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 5 Office and the Indiana Department of Transportation has announced some closures on area interestates and the Sherman Minton Bridge. See the information below for details:
 

Northbound Interstate 65 in Bullitt County: left and center lanes will be closed beginning at 7:00 tonight between mile points 107 and 108 (north of Lebanon Junction).  The center lane is scheduled to reopen around midnight.  The left lane will remain closed while work continues through 3:00 p.m. on Friday afternoon, December 14.

Exit ramp from westbound Interstate 264 (Watterson Expressway) to US 42 (Exit 22): Contract crews will be paving the asphalt surface for this ramp and striping the roadway beginning today This work is expected to be completed Saturday afternoon. During the paving operations, intermittent lane closures are also expected for the right lane of westbound US 42.

Westbound I-264 between I-71 and US 42: Today and tomorrow from 8:00 p.m. each evening until 6:00 a.m. the following morning.  These lane closures will allow for roadway striping and installation of raised pavement markers.

The actual starting date and duration of this work may be adjusted if inclement weather or other unforeseen delays occur.  Dial 511 or log on to 511.ky.gov for the latest in traffic and travel information in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.  You can also get traffic information for the District 5 counties at www.facebook.com/KYTCDistrict5.

In addition, INDOT has announced lane restrictions on the Sherman Minton Bridge over the Ohio River for lighting maintenance. The lane closure is not expected to impact rush hour traffic.
Beginning today, crews will close a lane each day to perform lighting maintenance on the bridge.  The restrictions will be daily, 5 days a week, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  Work will begin on the upper deck of the bridge that carries I-64 westbound traffic over the Ohio River.  This work will have a four week completion period, weather dependant.

INDOT encourages motorists to slow down and pay special attention while traveling in work zones throughout Indiana.  For the latest news and information about INDOT, please visit www.in.gov/indot and www.trafficwise.in.gov .

KYTC Holding Public Meeting Tomorrow About Southside Drive Improvements

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) will hold a public meeting from 5-7 p.m. tomorrow at Epiphany United Methodist Church, 7032 Southside Drive in Louisville, to discuss improvements to Southside Drive (KY 907/KY 1020).

 

Jefferson County residents can view alternatives and provide input for widening the roadway to five lanes between New Cut Road and Strawberry Lane.  The meeting is an open house format.

 

There will be handouts containing information about the project, comment sheets and displays. Representatives from KYTC and their consultant will be available to answer questions.

TARC Announces Winter Storm Weather Plan

We aren't really wishing any winter weather upon us but to make sure you are prepared here is some information provide by TARC about bus service during snowy/icy weather.

Even during severe winter weather, TARC buses are equipped to safely and efficiently carry passengers to their destination but due to this weather some side streets are totally impassable and TARC buses may have to detour.

Detours are subject to change depending on weather and road conditions and snow removal efficiency. In general, residential streets and steep hills are the first to close and remain closed the longest. When detours are in effect, riders can monitor TARC's web site at www.ridetarc.org and click on the snowflake icon on the home page to see the updated list of detours, and frequent updates can also be found on TARC's Facebook and Twitter pages.

Detour information is also reported to all major print and broadcast outlets. For additional information on detours for your route, call TARC at 585-1234.

Below are the most likely detours in the event of a winter storm:

Route #15-Market Street

Louisville VA Medical Center trips will not be able to operate over Brownsboro Road west of Ewing Avenue on Lindsay Avenue, Hite Avenue, Cleveland Avenue or Country Club Road south of the Medical Center. Instead, all trips scheduled to serve the Medical Center will travel Brownsboro Road east of Ewing Avenue, to Zorn Avenue to Country Club Road to the VA Medical Center, returning to Brownsboro Road via the same route.

Route #27-Hill Street

All buses to Audubon Medical Center will turn around on Audubon Plaza Drive at the hospital, and will not travel over Illinois Avenue or on Poplar Level Road south of Audubon Plaza Drive

Route 29-Eastern Parkway

Trips going to Oxmoor Center will not operate on Cherokee Parkway, Spring Drive, Village Drive, Eleanor Drive, Woodbourne Avenue, Valetta Road, Park Boundary Road or Alta Vista Road. All trips to and from St. Matthews and Oxmoor Center will instead operate over Willow Avenue, Cherokee Road and Grinstead Drive to Lexington Road both eastbound and westbound.

Route 31-Middletown

All trips will use US 60/Shelbyville Road in Middletown, and no service will operate on Old Harrods Creek Road, Roberts Avenue, Madison Avenue, Old Shelbyville Road, Main Street or Evergreen Road. Trips to the Eastpoint Business Center will not operate on Heafer Road but will instead use English Station Road directly between Old Henry Road and Lagrange Road.

Route 68x-Prospect Express

Trips will not operate east of Prospect Point at US 42 and River Road. No service will be provided into the Hunting Creek subdivison.

Route 82-New Albany-Clarksville-Jeffersonville Crosstown

Trips will not operate to Knobs View Apartments, but will instead turn around at New Albany Plaza.

TARC on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/ridetarc

TARC on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/#!/ridetarc

 

 

River Ridge Commerce Park to Soon Be Serviced by TARC

Beginning Jan. 21, employees of Amazon.com and other companies at the River Ridge Commerce Center will have weekday TARC service to the site on IN 62 in Jeffersonville.

TARC is extending an existing cross-river route to provide three morning and four afternoon trips to River Ridge. Route #71, will now travel from Indiana University Southeast in New Albany, through downtown New Albany, downtown Louisville and Jeffersonville en route to River Ridge.

All River Ridge trips will service the TARC stop in the parking lot at Meijer at Allison Lane and Indiana 62 in Jeffersonville with connections to Route #82, which operates only in Southern Indiana.

In addition, TARC is addressing workforce needs by adding two Saturday trips – one morning and one afternoon - on Route #82 to the Jeffersonville Towne Center off Veterans Parkway where Accent Marketing is located. Those trips will begin Sat., Jan. 26. On weekdays beginning Jan. 21, an early afternoon and evening trip serving Accent Marketing will also be added.

Plus TARC will make slight adjustments to schedules in January on these other routes: Rt. #18-Preston-18th Street, Rt. #31-Shelbyville Road; and Rt. #78x-Bluegrass express. In addition, on Rt. #18 TARC will add two morning trips to the Valley Village neighborhood in southwest Louisville off Dixie Highway. Those schedule adjustments also take effect on Mon. Jan. 21.

For a map on the Amazon/River Ridge extension, to go http://www.ridetarc.org/uploadedFiles/News/December_2012/RiverRidge%20extension_map.pdf.

Summary of TARC service changes

Route #18-Preston-18th Street: TARC will add two morning trips to the Valley Village neighborhood in southwest Louisville off Dixie Highway. On weekdays only, bus arrival times will be adjusted slightly on trips operating to and from Okolona and Outer Loop, and on early morning trips to Fern Valley Road. These changes occur primarily on westbound trips.  For details, go to http://www.ridetarc.org/uploadedFiles/Rt_18pocket%20large(2).pdf.

Route #31-Shelbyville Road: In response to passenger requests, four morning weekday trips will arrive five minutes earlier at 4th Street and Broadway in downtown Louisville. Those trips now arrive at 7:20, 7:50, 8:20 and 8:50. All trips will continue to 5th and Market streets.  For details, http://www.ridetarc.org/uploadedFiles/Rt_31_61pocket(1).pdf.

Route #71-Jeffersonville-Louisville-New Albany: This route will be extended to provide three morning and four afternoon weekday trips serving River Ridge Commerce Center including the Amazon.com Inc. site, on IN 62 in Jeffersonville. All River Ridge/Amazon trips will service a TARC stop in the parking lot at Meijer at Allison Lane and IN 62 with transfer connections to Rt. #82. Stops will be added to Patrol Road, Centennial Boulevard and Middle Road on the Rt. #71 extension to River Ridge. Some bus arrival and departure times will change by 5-10 minutes on weekdays. The last westbound trip from the Meijer will depart seven minutes later to accommodate Meijer employees whose shifts end at 10 p.m. For details,  http://www.ridetarc.org/uploadedFiles/Rt_71pocket(1).pdf.

Route #78x-Bluegrass Express: The eastbound trip from 3rd and Chestnut at 6:18 a.m. will leave five minutes earlier. The 7:23 a.m. and 7:53 a.m. trips departing Southeast Christian Church will leave six minutes earlier to allow for heavy traffic on I-64. For details, http://www.ridetarc.org/uploadedFiles/Rt_78pocket.pdf.

Route #82-New Albany-Clarksville-Jeffersonville: Beginning Jan. 26 TARC will add two Saturday trips – one morning and one afternoon – to the Accent Marketing complex in the Jeffersonville Towne Center off Veterans Parkway. A weekday early afternoon and evening trip will also be added serving Accent Marketing on Jan. 21. Weekday trip times will change by 5-15 minutes to provide for transfer connections with Rt. #71 trips to River Ridge. For details, http://www.ridetarc.org/uploadedFiles/Rt_82pocket.pdf.

-Photo and information provided by TARC

KYTC Announced Closures in Jefferson and Bullitt counties

The Kentuck Transportation Cabinet's District 5 Office has announced the following closures:

• Exit ramp from northbound Interstate 265 (Gene Snyder Freeway) to westbound Interstate 64 (Exit 25B): Closed tonight from 7:00 p.m. until midnight for guardrail repairs. To access westbound I-64, motorists should continue north on I-265 and exit onto US 60, turn left at the bottom of the ramp, access southbound I-265 and follow to I-64.
• Exit ramp from westbound Interstate 264 (Watterson Expressway) to US 42 (Exit 22): Closed this evening from 9:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m. tomorrow. The closure is a part of the I-71/I-264 interchange construction.  To access US 42, motorists should continue west on I-264 to Westport Road.  At the bottom of the exit ramp, turn left to access eastbound I-264 then proceed to US 42. In addition, westbound I-264 will be reduced to one lane during the ramp closure.
• KY 480C (Old Cedar Grove Road) in Bullitt County between KY 480 and KY 2237 (Salt River Road): Closed December 6-31 to allow for sewer line installation. Local access will be allowed, but through traffic should follow the signed detour.

 The actual starting date and duration of this work may be adjusted if inclement weather or other unforeseen delays occur. Dial 511 or log on to 511.ky.gov for the latest in traffic and travel information in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. You can also get traffic information for the District 5 counties at www.facebook.com/KYTCDistrict5.

 

Ceremonies are Friday for Star Hill Road and St. John's Road in Borden

The Indiana Department of Transportation, Clark County Government and local elected officials will gather on Friday at 3:30 p.m. to celebrate the opening of one roadway and the groundbreaking of another.

A groundbreaking celebration will be held for Star Hill Road and a ribbon cutting will be held for St. John's Road. The ceremony will be held at Huber's Orchard, Winery and Vineyard, 19816 Huber Road.

The projects will help improve mobility for motorists. MAC Construction of New Albany was awarded the Star Hill project and Gohmann Asphalt and Construction of Clarksville was awarded the St. John's project.

For more information, go to www.in.gov/indot.