Through My Dirty Windshield

The Cheapest Cars To Operate

By

Robb Westaby, Fox 17 Traffic

on May 15, 2012 9:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

How much does it cost to operate your vehicle?

Start a list: Original cost, financing payments, gas, insurance, repairs, upkeep, and *gulp* depreciation.

These are the factors the Kelly Blue Book people took into account to create their list of subcompact cars with the lowest five-year operating cost.

Here's the list from FOX 17 Morning News:

Be Alert For Trash Pickup On Highways

By

Robb Westaby, Fox 17 Traffic

on April 13, 2012 6:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Three times a year, volunteers walk Michigan's highways and pick up tons of trash. The first cleanup starts this weekend.

From April 14 through April 22, people involved in the state's Adopt-A-Highway program will don safety vests and walk expressways and state highways to clean up. The Michigan Department of Transportation says volunteers picked up 75,000 bags of trash in 2011.

The means us drivers need to be alert for people walking along the side of the road.

FOX 17 Home

Station Owners Hate Higher Gas Prices?

By

Robb Westaby, Fox 17 Traffic

on March 29, 2012 5:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I have hard reactions to the higher gas prices range from resignation to outrage. On the outrage side, some people seem to believe that greedy oil companies are in total control and have decided to screw us all or that greedy local station owners are in total control and out to get us all.

I can't address the oil company question, though what reading I've done of comments by industry observers tells me the prices we see at the pump are the result of a complex series of influences. But I have a little insight into the local market.

I once did some research into the business on a local level, and one station owner told me something interesting: he makes more money when gas is $2 a gallon than at $4 a gallon.

The reason? There are three.

Higher prices mean people buy less gas. Simple.

Higher prices don't mean bigger profits per gallon. His margins are about the same. That means when people buy less gas because of higher prices, he makes less money.

Higher prices mean people make different choices on how they spend their money, and they tend to decide at the pump to pay for gas but not to go inside the convenience for a treat.

I was surprised when the gas station owner told me he hates higher gas prices. But his reasons make sense.

FOX 17 Home

MDOT Will Show Hastings Residents Planned Construction

By

Robb Westaby, Fox 17 Traffic

on March 28, 2012 8:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A public meeting is scheduled for tonight (Wed. 3/28) in Hastings that will give you a chance to get advance word on how construction on M-43 and M-37 will affect you.

The project is scheduled from mid-April through November, so this is no small repaving project:

Replace M-43 bridge over the Thornapple River

Reconstruct M-43 from M-37/State Street downtown to the northern Hastings city limits

Rebuild M-37 south from State Street, west on Green Street to Hanover Street

Cost: $5 million

The meeting is today at Hastings City Hall 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Representatives from MDOT will be on hand.

FOX 17 Home

Is The Gas Price Ceiling $3.99?

By

Robb Westaby, Fox 17 Traffic

on March 25, 2012 5:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

There were a number of news stories last week about rising gas prices. The stories made it look like gas had risen to $3.99 all of a sudden, even though we have seen the price top out at $3.99 several times in the past month.

This is not to deny that prices in places like Chicago and the urban areas of the West Coast are not above four dollars, but these were local stories. It seemed to be like a lot of the kind of hype we in the media are accused of on a regular basis.

On Saturday, I saw gas at $3.93. Right.

Today (Sunday), the lowest price is $3.92.

(The picture here was taken January 15, 2011.)

Where will prices go this week? In the Gas Game blog, Ed Aboufadel predicts it will drop to $3.89. Or it will rise to $4.09. Right.

Aboufadel wonders, however, whether $3.99 is a psychological price barrier, and I think he's onto something. Back in 2008, when summer gas prices sailed well above four dollars around West Michigan, sales of high gas mileage rides like SUVs tanked. But, strangely enough, by Election Day, the price was $1.79. I don't believe anything like that will happen this year.

But one has to wonder what it will take for the $3.99 barrier to fall.

FOX 17 Home

A New Grand River Bridge Taking Shape

By

Robb Westaby, Fox 17 Traffic

on March 5, 2012 11:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

How many years have we heard discussions about the US-31 Bypass?

Concrete and steel (and jobs) are replacing all the talk.

(Right: Concept image from MDOT of the M-231 bridge over the Grand River.)

The highway will be called M-231, and the first steps in the project are taking place on the Grand River in Robinson Township between 120th Avenue and 128th Avenue.

This week, beams will be placed on the south bank of the river as part of the bridge construction. Cedar Drive will be closed between 120th Avenue and 128th Avenue from Wednesday (3/7) 7 a.m. until Thursday (3/8) 5 p.m., then again next Monday (3/12) 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to MDOT and the Ottawa County Road Commission.

Depending on the weather, of course.

A number of presentations have been made to the public on how this project will change the shape of a number of roads. This year, expect construction on I-96 in the Nunica area and on M-104 at I-96. (See presentation maps from 2010.)

Ah, Memories ....

By

Robb Westaby, Fox 17 Traffic

on March 2, 2012 10:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

January 11, 2011.

Detours For Fulton Street Closure

By

Robb Westaby, Fox 17 Traffic

on February 24, 2012 1:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Only one block of Fulton Street is closed in the first phase of the so-called Fulton Street Fix, the five-phase project in downtown Grand Rapids that will disrupt traffic around Van Andel Arena and surrounding restaurants and night spots.

But there are four detours recommended, depending on your direction of travel.

Below are four maps displaying those detours. Note that the "northbound" detour map is incorrect. (I hope to get it corrected next week, but I'm heading into my weekend; let me rest). On that map, the detour line follows Wealthy Street. It should follow Oakes Street, but, you know what? It doesn't matter. Taking Wealthy Street east to Division Avenue will do the same thing.

The city says pedestrians will have complete access through the closure area, important for people who drink and dine at the B.O.B. and head for the Arena, or vice versa.

Eastbound Detour

Westbound Detour

Northbound Detour

Southbound Detour

FOX 17 Home

Fulton Street Closure: It's Thursday

By

Robb Westaby, Fox 17 Traffic

on February 22, 2012 5:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

On Wednesday, I talked to the company that will be doing the work on the first phase of the Fulton Street project in downtown Grand Rapids.

This project ause lane closures and complete closures between now and June.

The man I talked to said the closure will not happen until Thursday (Feb. 23).

This is different from all the information you have heard, read, and seen until now. The city's own web site says the closure happens Wednesday (Feb. 22). The programmable sign parked on Fulton Street says "Wed 2/22."

My contact said the 23rd has been the start date all along. In addition, the closure time is posted as 9 a.m., but he told me barriers probably will not go up until the middle of the day.

I'm just sayin'.