[Hodar]

I remember living in Austin ... loved Austin, love Texas ... but the Austin city commission's thoughts on traffic flow is to stop cars at every light. They believe that when traffic stops at each and every light, cars drive slower. Slower equals safer.... Then they wonder why Austin leads the country in red-light runners.

[brianl703]

The real fun will start when the area is considered a non-attainment area by the EPA because NOx emmissions are too high and highway funding is threatened to be cut off. Hint: Vehicle NOx emissions are highest during acceleration. Carbon deposits in the combustion chamber from continued stop-and-go operation also contribute to increased NOx production (increases compression ratio, increasing NOx production) It's happening in the DC area.