Episode Transcript
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Announcer (00:01):
Welcome to Elk Grove
Citycast, the podcast about Elk
John Hull (00:16):
Hi, everyone, I'm
John Hull. Welcome to the Elk
Kristyn Laurence (00:32):
Hello, John.
John Hull (00:34):
Well, you know, we've
had a lot of activities around
Kristyn Laurence (00:55):
Yeah, Elk
Grove has a ton of holiday
see Santa rescued off of top ofthe old town building and
(01:35):
We had nearly 40 entries in thatand a ton of people experienced
(01:58):
there's still an opportunity, Iknow things are celebrations are
cheer. And you can still go outto District56 or to Old Town to
(02:38):
to check that out and get aphoto with their family members.
John Hull (02:42):
Well, you know, there
is a lot of holiday cheer and
(03:03):
going going to be our main topicof discussion here on the Elk
(03:30):
Well as we come to the end of2023 we want to talk about the
(03:52):
the road. There are a lot moreautomobiles now than there were
(04:13):
Ashby the traffic engineeringmanager in the city of Elk Grove
James Ashby (04:24):
Well, hello,
everyone. It's a pleasure to be
such as needing new stop signsor new roadway striping. My
(04:57):
traffic engineering manager forthe city of Elk Grove. The
plans, timing all the signalswithin the city along with many
John Hull (05:19):
Well you know, we
actually have James just a
Franklin Boulevard are the mainones that come to mind for me.
(05:56):
not stopping and going on aconstant basis?
James Ashby (06:00):
This is an
excellent question. And one of
all the time. Drivers alwayswant the green light, they say
(06:32):
must consider when balancing oursignal timing. There are also
Laguna Springs, it may take 20to 45 seconds for a pedestrian
(07:10):
maybe a child pushed the buttonand walk the other way. As I
than anticipated or the falsealarm, that timing has to be
John Hull (07:38):
Just real quick, let
me let me let me intervene
of what I'm hearing you say?
James Ashby (07:56):
No, not
necessarily. It just let the
to activate a signal in theirdirection is emergency vehicle.
John Hull (08:27):
Those are those
little devices that are up on
James Ashby (08:38):
Yes, sir.
John Hull (08:38):
Okay. Yeah. Yeah, go
ahead.
James Ashby (08:42):
It's an infrared
signal that sends to the top of
(09:06):
the infrared, it's basically aline of sight. So as long as
(09:27):
around several curves and getthose flushed out of their way
John Hull (09:33):
That's that's
intriguing to me that yeah, all
gone right through theintersection but now the lights
(10:13):
a couple of points. How then doyou time out the drive from the
James Ashby (10:26):
The city recently
did a project called the green
(10:47):
experiences right in the greenwave yourself. But signal
(11:07):
Grove Boulevard and LagunaBoulevard are going to have much
(11:29):
movements. After we identify thecritical movements, we consider
beginning of the nextintersection. Once we have all
(12:06):
green light. The...once again,it's not a perfect science
(12:26):
opposite of Laguna Boulevard.
Well, now we're going to stopyou've hit a couple greens and
(12:48):
hit a red light, you think you
John Hull (12:59):
But it what's
interesting about what you're
theory get a green light thewhole way across town as long as
James Ashby (13:23):
Right.
Theoretically, you should get
John Hull (13:30):
Okay.
James Ashby (13:31):
You'd almost never
make it from 99 to five, all
John Hull (13:36):
That's true.
James Ashby (13:38):
Either of those
corridors, right. So we timed
(13:58):
the east/west direction. In thefuture. I'm hoping to start
John Hull (14:08):
Yeah, I'm glad you're
doing it. Not us. You get paid
James Ashby (14:14):
Yeah. I would like
to if I could add one more
John Hull (14:16):
Yeah, go ahead.
Please.
James Ashby (14:18):
So since we are
prioritizing the East/West
(14:42):
safely and as quickly aspossible. And for that on Elk
John Hull (14:55):
James, there are many
people in a hurry to get some
James Ashby (15:09):
Another common
complaint among residents. speed
(15:30):
For example, if the 85thpercentile speed of the roadway
the speed limit another fivemiles per hour. In my example,
(16:08):
order for law enforcement to beable to enforce those limits
John Hull (16:14):
Okay, that's
excellent. Yeah. And it helps us
(16:35):
subject on you to the topic ofroundabouts. Roundabouts. Now, I
(16:59):
and why the city is nowespecially in our eastern part,
James Ashby (17:06):
Okay, the second
question every traffic engineer
(17:27):
drivers behavior. And there'stheir education about them. So,
your children. To help everyonebetter understand the roundabout
(18:05):
roadways and roundabouts.
throughout the United Statesthe enforcement comes in in to
desensitize poor driverintersections for two main
(18:46):
reasons. One, they have lessthey're most likely to have a
severe injury. So for thatlight for two and a half
(19:26):
minutes. Continuous flow helpsroadway has more than 3000
vehicles per hour they tend toelectricity and someone hitting
(20:08):
the cabinet or hitting a trafficintersections being further
apart. They seem to be the most
John Hull (20:33):
Any more being
planned? Any more roundabouts
James Ashby (20:38):
The short answer is
yes. We are looking to implement
that if an intersection meetsthe requirements for a signal,
(21:17):
the roadway safer for all usersincluding a multi use path for
John Hull (21:25):
That's excellent.
Next question. flashing yellow
James Ashby (21:39):
Flashing yellow
arrows have been around a while
permissive left turn, or a leftturn yield to oncoming traffic.
(22:17):
green signal indication. Theyalso need to pay attention to
illuminated is the opposing leftturn. This causes all other
(22:52):
signal won't have to give agreen arrow indication and waste
(23:13):
feasible there's certainparameters we must analyze
John Hull (23:26):
Okay, James, let me
point to a very busy portion of
(23:47):
a couple of lanes of traffictrying to make their left turn,
looked at that area of of ElkGrove Boulevard and perhaps
James Ashby (24:10):
This area of Elk
Grove is a business area has
possible with two opposingdrivers to enter at the same
(24:45):
distance that allows them tosafely slow down and make the
while synchronizing our signalsAnd the solution, if we find a
John Hull (25:20):
Okay, but I could
camp out on this question for a
(25:42):
that area? Yeah.
James Ashby (25:43):
Yeah. So that
again, that's one of the trade
everywhere and get to the signaland do a u turn. So now, I've
John Hull (26:16):
I get it. You
mentioned a few moments ago, the
James Ashby (26:31):
The city has
evaluated this area for vehicle
(26:52):
well. There is a great separatedbikeway crossing planned just
(27:13):
there. This will decrease theamount of rail crossings at Elk
John Hull (27:21):
Okay, great. Well,
you mentioned in an email
James Ashby (27:39):
The Harvest Water
Project is a recycled water
habitats, and offer near termbenefits to the Sacramento San
(28:19):
be installed under the east sideor the northbound lanes of
(28:40):
project will be done in threephases, Franklin Boulevard from
(29:01):
We've worked with Regional Santo implement the traffic
buffered bike lanes. If you guyshave any more questions, there's
John Hull (29:28):
Okay, you have
there's so many things that
James Ashby (29:47):
Yes, one project in
particular that I'm very excited
(30:07):
yellow back plating. You'veprobably seen them around town
it. The fiber opticcommunication isn't necessary as
(30:48):
traffic volumes in real time torelieve congestion.
(31:08):
the system should be able tonotice the influx in traffic and
John Hull (31:17):
Wow, technology.
James Ashby, our traffic
James Ashby (31:29):
Thank you. Thank
you for having me.
John Hull (31:36):
In today's Elk Grove
Citycast our primary topic is
Sergeant Jason Kearsing of theElk Grove Police Department
Jason Kearsing (32:10):
Thank you, John,
I appreciate you having me on
seen a significant increase inthe number of cars on the
(32:43):
for all those who are attending.
During my career. I have alwayspublic on our roadways. My
emphasis now in traffic is onthem quite a bit for the
(33:18):
information I'm gonna share with
John Hull (33:21):
You know as a young
man and you may have been in
Jason Kearsing (33:37):
Well,
ironically, I did have one or
focus is on all violations thatwill keep our roadways safer.
(34:12):
tried to help people recognizethat getting there a few minutes
John Hull (34:24):
Okay, but are there
any actual hotspots here in Elk
Jason Kearsing (34:32):
Well, the city
is so big and square miles. Most
focusing our efforts and tryingto slow drivers down on those
(35:05):
to enforce an area of Elk Grove,and then make the determination
usually the streets with themost traffic collisions as well.
John Hull (35:27):
Let's talk about
cameras. Now a pretty common
Jason Kearsing (35:38):
The cameras are
very effective in a number of
extremely dangerous. There areonly five locations within Elk
(36:11):
of these intersections warningcitizens of their presence. The
John Hull (36:27):
So how effective are
these? I guess they're called
Jason Kearsing (36:31):
Yes, that's
correct. The red light cameras
that red light camera that'sthere and so ultimately, it
(37:09):
for us to keep it up andfunctioning in the city.
John Hull (37:12):
And people get their
tickets in the mail. Right?
Jason Kearsing (37:16):
They do. There's
a there's a very extensive
forward with the prosecution. Soonce that occurs, it comes to
John Hull (37:45):
Jason, there is one
spot you and your officers can
then south for a block and thenon to the on ramp to 99. These
Jason Kearsing (38:27):
Well, I'm very
aware of that location. It's
locations where we see repeatviolations that can be avoided.
(39:03):
year that complaints come indaily. But with only a unit of
beginning of the year. They'vementioned that the reason that
(39:34):
school. So we we understand thatand that's why we have an
John Hull (39:38):
So how do you work
basically with the schools and
Jason Kearsing (39:46):
So the motor
team, they focus their attention
work with school officials tohelp develop a better traffic
(40:19):
officers that make requests topublic works for curbs to be
enforcement actions. We alsospeak with principals who act as
(40:54):
the officers discretion on howthey handle the violations.
John Hull (40:57):
Okay, Sergeant Jason
Kearsing of Elk Grove Police
well do Elk Grove drivers followthose rules?
Jason Kearsing (41:22):
That's a great
question. And it's it's
violations within with only afew cars passing by. Now an
John Hull (41:49):
So what other
distractions does the traffic
Jason Kearsing (41:53):
Another
distraction is pet sitting on a
officer may stop them for thatviolation which includes
(42:24):
makeup while driving or readingmail or office memos while
John Hull (42:39):
Okay. You know, maybe
more than any other time of the
Jason Kearsing (42:56):
We take DUI
enforcement very seriously, you
(43:16):
federal government and which isdistributed to the agencies
surrounding drunk driving. Thesecome from NHTSA, which is the
(43:57):
one could encounter a drunkdriver on the road between
(44:25):
in 2021, approximately 386,000people suffered injuries due to
(44:53):
fatalities.
John Hull (44:55):
Jason, those are some
sobering statistics. So what are
Jason Kearsing (45:05):
That depends
upon whether it's a first
with the loss of your licensefor upwards of six months. It
John Hull (45:37):
But what should
community members do if they do
Jason Kearsing (45:44):
Well, obviously
the police department can't be
vehicle including a licenseplate and direction of travel
(46:15):
try to get this information forus. We never want to put you in
John Hull (46:30):
Okay, Jason, anything
else that we should know about
Jason Kearsing (46:35):
Most of its top
secret but I will share a little
included reducing crime,addressing homelessness,
John Hull (47:08):
Okay. Well, thank you
so much for joining us Sergeant
Jason Kearsing (47:20):
Thank you, John.
Have a great day.
John Hull (47:28):
Time now for our
rapid fire segment where I put
Kristyn, we had an email fromone of our listeners to the Elk
(48:09):
the Stone Lakes NationalWildlife Refuge. Now Kristyn,
the lesser known publicspaces/nature spots in and
Kristyn Laurence (48:37):
Sure, the city
and the nearby area is a great
pistachio orchards. And the 28acre park is located in the
(49:13):
and largest park at 127 acresand one lap around the park is
(49:33):
point on the trail to eitherhead East to Jack Hill Park and
your doctor's appointments ateither UC Davis, Sutter, or
(50:11):
newer trail with lots ofconnections and amenities,
still working very diligently totry and connect those. And
John Hull (50:48):
Excellent, great,
great. It's good. It's there are
or drift different that we couldlook for in 2020. Do you have
Kristyn Laurence (51:10):
Well, we've
lined up a really great guests
in Old Town is expected to startand that's currently the
(51:45):
construction at the end of 2024.
And that project will offerreleased in early 2024. And the
council will likely have aconstruction scheduled in 2024
(52:21):
to close one of those gaps onsignal synchronization and that
(52:42):
whole green wave concept and we
John Hull (52:59):
Right in I'm really
looking forward to our January
(53:19):
And to all of our listeners. Ithink it's a great opportunity
Announcer (53:41):
Thank you for
listening to the Elk Grove
latest news and events. Have anidea for a future episode? Send