Awaiting $AFEclear's Katy Freeway statistics
Continuing with the $AFEclear program questions, here is what Councilman Michael Berry said recently:
Councilman Michael Berry, the chairman of the transportation committee, who helped White push the ordinance through in May, said motorists will notice an improvement in commute times.
"The public told us they did not want to be stranded on a freeway that became a parking lot because one car ran out of gas or blew a tire," Berry said. "What a difference this is going to make in the day-to-day lives of our residents."
Since the $AFEclear program has been underway in an experimental mode for nine months on the Katy Freeway, we are wondering if Berry has any statistical proof to back up the claim that this program will make a difference. Surely someone must have been keeping track of the Katy Freeway's improving numbers, so the public could see how $AFEclear will improve the lives of Houston-area residents.
Here is what Berry said in a Chronicle op-ed from November:
The pilot program for this quick-response, single-operator-on-the-scene concept debuted in March. By all accounts, the SafeClear Program on Katy Freeway has been a great success. I've ridden with tow drivers and police officers, interviewed them, and witnessed a positive response from drivers of disabled vehicles who appreciate the quick response to their vehicle becoming disabled. I've also seen the thumbs-up and thanks from drivers who proceed past the removed vehicles as mobility promptly resumes.
We would like to know by whose accounts the Katy program has been a great success? What is the backup for that claim? Is the backup just anecdotal evidence provided by $AFEclear cheerleaders/advocates? Why should we take Berry's word that Katy Freeway drivers think this program is a fabulous idea?
To the Chronicle's credit, it highlights an example of a tow that didn't go so smoothly yesterday, which required the intervention of the Traffic Czar, David Saperstein, to get straightened out. Is he going to be available every day? Is Berry going to be out touring the roadways looking to help? (Is Berry another elite country club conservative looking to make his commute easier?)
But most important of all, we eagerly await the hard statistical numbers that surely will be issued SOON, to show "what a difference this is going to make in the day-to-day lives of our residents." Because after nine months of Katy Freeway practice, those numbers should be available.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 01/04/05 09:33 AM | Print |
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