Plan for more cars; that's what we're going to have

Frontiersman Editorial board

The proposition of a new Fred Meyer store in Palmer has got people talking traffic again. So far the talk remains in the proposal stage, but the idea -- no matter which improvements are selected -- is to improve traffic flow, and that would be nice whether Fred Meyer opens a new store or not.

It is very difficult to stay ahead of traffic problems in a place where growth is so explosive over a long period of time. Roads are often built to move the cars that exist today. There is usually an assumption that growth will take place, and when growth is steady and slow, roadways are planned so they can be expanded and traffic patterns can be updated gradually. In our community, traffic has outpaced road improvements for some time.

Try to make a left turn across the Parks Hwy. or the Palmer Wasilla Hwy. during rush hour -- without the aid of a traffic light -- and you'll become painfully aware of just how overburdened our roads and intersections have become. Eventually, drivers attempting those left turns become impatient, and their idea of a safe break in traffic becomes a little less cautious. Make a left turn from any major roadway, and cars and trucks behind you will blast by on the shoulder. The problem is, if someone coming the other direction is also turning left across your lane, they may not be planning on someone rocketing down the shoulder.

Ultimately, it's safety, not convenience, that is the most important reason to have roads and intersections that are up to the task at hand. Frustrating traffic patterns lead to bad decisions, and inadequate roadways leave drivers even fewer options when things start to go wrong. City and Borough officials are working hard to try to respond to the traffic problems in the Valley. We hope they identify a few places where traffic lights can help regulate flow and keep people from taking dangerous chances. Additional lanes -- at least some more turning lanes and merge lanes -- on some of the more traveled roads would also be nice.

Most importantly, the plan should anticipate many more vehicles than what we have now. Even if we end up with too much pavement and too many regulated intersections in the short term, it would be nice to get out in front of the traffic instead of stuck behind it for a few years.