Entry 33551 (Berkeley CSUA MOTD)

Berkeley CSUA MOTD:Entry 33551

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2025/05/24 [General] UID:1000 Activity:popular

5/24

2004/9/15-16 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/Hybrid] UID:33551 Activity:high

9/15    How do sites like http://sigalert.com work- do they have cameras along the
        freeway, or are there sensors in the road?  Also, how do they have access
        to that data- is it public or does the DoT provide it on some sort
        of contract?
        \_ I think CalTrans provides the data; they must have some sort of sensors
           and cameras scattered throughout the freeways. However it works, itsure
           is useful.
        \_ I think CalTrans provides the data; they must have some sort of
           sensors and cameras scattered throughout the freeways. However it
           works, it sure is useful.
        \_ see latest issue of EE times.
           \_ looked for it online, but didn't find anything - what was the
              title of the article?
              \_ i looked at the hard copy version.  anyways, basically
                 it's inductors at different locations.  each car running
                 over the inductors will induce a current.  by monitoring
                 the current (each car is unique), one can approximate
                 how fast a car travels from point a to b.
        \_ Fastrak transponders.  Read the paragraph "How is my FasTrak
           transponder used for traffic information purposes?" at
           http://www.511.org/fastrak/faq.asp

2025/05/24 [General] UID:1000 Activity:popular

5/24

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2012/7/29-9/24 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:54446 Activity:nil

7/29    Is it really true that we subsidize auto driving to the tune of
        $5k/yr? Shit I could probably hire a private driver for less...
        http://tinyurl.com/cars-suck-ass
        \_ You might have missed the point.  Hiring a chauffeur to drive your
           private vehicle won't change the amount of gasoline your private
           vehicle use or the amount of real estate it uses on freeways and
	...

2009/12/2-26 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs, Science/GlobalWarming] UID:53560 Activity:nil

12/2    Freeway of the future, a 1958 Disney-ish film. "Speed, safety, and
        comfort are the future". Yeah. Wow, people back then were stupid.
        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6pUMlPBMQA&feature=player_embedded
        \_ "640KB ought to be enough for anybody."
           \_ totally taken out of context. It's just an informal
              way of saying "it's enough for most casual PC users
	...

2009/11/4-17 [Transportation/Car] UID:53496 Activity:nil

11/4    I posted the probability question the other day. It was nothing as
        complicated as MTBF or the like. My situation is very similar to
        looking at auto accident rates, asking if the rate of caraccidents
        for any given driver is N%/year, what is the chance that for a
        given day that driver will have a crash? N% or N/365% or something
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	...

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www.511.org/fastrak/faq.aspToll Violation Information FASTRAK(TM) GENERAL INFORMATION What is FasTrak(TM)? FasTrak(TM) is an electronic toll collection (ETC) system that allows you to prepay your bridge tolls, eliminating the need to stop at the toll plaza. The system has three components: a transponder, which is placed inside your vehicle; an overhead antenna, which reads the transponder and collects the toll; There are several ways you can open a FasTrak(TM) account. Download an application form from this Web site and submit it by mail, fax or in person to the Customer Service Center * Contact the Customer Service Center directly by phone (888-725-TRAK/888-725-8725). If you apply for a FasTrak(TM) account online or by mail or fax, you will receive your transponder within 10 business days. If you apply for a FasTrak(TM) account in person, you will receive your transponder at the same time you apply. Is there a charge for the transponder or for opening a FasTrak(TM) account? There is no fee for the transponder and no service charge to open and maintain a FasTrak(TM) account, but you must keep a minimum balance in your prepaid account. Your account can be automatically kept above this minimum by authorizing regular payments from your credit card. A FasTrak(TM)-only lane can process almost three times as many vehicles per hour as a lane in which tolls are collected manually. As your vehicle enters the toll lane, sensors detect the vehicle. The two-antenna configuration reads a transponder mounted on the vehicle's windshield. As the vehicle passes through the exit light curtain , it is electronically classified by the treadle based on the number of axles, and the ETC account is charged the proper amount. Feedback is provided to the driver on an electronic sign . If the vehicle does not have a transponder, the system classifies it as a violator and cameras take photos of the vehicle and its license plate for processing. A transponder is a small battery-powered device, programmed with specific customer account information, which is read by an antenna mounted above the toll plaza. On which Bay Area bridges can FasTrak(TM) transponders be used? State legislation ensures that all toll facilities in California have compatible FasTrak(TM) technology. What is the amount of the FasTrak(TM) toll paid on the state-owned toll bridges? Can I use my FasTrak(TM) transponder on all lanes of every Bay Area bridge or only certain ones? All toll booths on all eight bridges in the Bay Area (the seven state-owned bridges and the Golden Gate) are equipped with FasTrak(TM) toll tag readers. All of the seven state-owned bridges have at least one FasTrak(TM)-only lane in operation. More FasTrak(TM)-only lanes will be added on the state-owned toll bridges over the next year. The Golden Gate Bridge has up to four FasTrak(TM)-only lanes in operation at a time. TEMPORARY TOLL DISCOUNT Is there a toll discount when using FasTrak(TM)? On April 28, 2004, the Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA) approved a $1 toll discount for all two-axle vehicles using FasTrak(TM) on the seven state-owned bridges in the Bay Area. The discount will go into effect July 1, 2004, for a four-month period ending Oct. Such a discount is expected to encourage more motorists to sign up for a FasTrak(TM) account, which would, in turn, allow for more FasTrak(TM)-only lanes on the bridges, and reduce backups at the toll plazas by speeding the flow of traffic past the tollbooths. Does the discount apply to both new FasTrak(TM) users and existing ones? Yes, the discount applies to both new and existing FasTrak(TM) users. Existing FasTrak(TM) users do not need to open a new account in order to get the toll discount -- the discount will automatically be applied to each state bridge toll paid between July 1, 2004 and October 31, 2004. Which bridges will the temporary four-month discount apply to? The temporary four-month discount will apply to all seven of the state-owned toll bridges, but not to the Golden Gate Bridge. The Golden Gate Bridge is operated by the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District, which sets that bridge's toll schedule. The state-owned bridges' toll schedule is set by the state Legislature and BATA. Do other toll bridges offer discounts, and if so, how much? The Golden Gate Bridge offers FasTrak(TM) users a $1 discount on a $5 toll. FASTRAK(TM) ACCOUNTHOLDERS - USING FASTRAK(TM) Why does my FasTrak(TM) account now reference the Bay Area Toll Authority as well as Caltrans? In April 2004, the Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA) began to oversee the FasTrak(TM) customer service center previously run by Caltrans. BATA was created by the California Legislature in 1997 to administer the toll revenues generated by the first dollar of the $2 toll on the Bay Area's seven state-owned toll bridges. If a FasTrak(TM) account is established using a credit card, there is no deposit for the first three transponders. For cash/check accounts and for the fourth or more transponders for a credit card account, there is a $30 deposit, which is refunded when the account is closed and the transponder is returned in good condition. If the display in the toll lane remains blank, or if the transponder does not beep as you drive through the lane, these are indications that may also mean there is a problem with your transponder or with your account. If you notice these problems, call the Customer Service Center at (888) 725-TRAK (8725). mount the transponder as described in the installation instructions; and keep current account name, address and vehicle information updated on your FasTrak(TM) account by calling the Customer Service Center immediately as changes occur. We request that the vehicle information including license plate numbers for each vehicle to be used be on file with the Customer Service Center. If I travel through a carpool lane with my transponder, will I be charged on my FasTrak(TM) account? No, you will not be charged on your FasTrak(TM) account; however, you will hear two beeps as the system recognizes the transponder. If the carpool lane you use is staffed by a toll collector, we recommend that you tell the toll collector that you are a carpool vehicle. Another option is to place your transponder in a Mylar bag that will prevent the transponder from being read. The Mylar bags can be requested from the Customer Service Center, if one was not provided when you opened your account. For the toll lanes dedicated to exclusive use by FasTrak(TM) on the state-owned toll bridges, the speed limit is 25 miles per hour and enforced by the California Highway Patrol. For toll lanes that share facilities for FasTrak(TM) and cash paying motorists, FasTrak(TM) users should proceed with extreme caution, being alert for stopped vehicles and toll collectors. FASTRAK(TM) ACCOUNTHOLDERS - MAINTAINING FASTRAK(TM) ACCOUNTS How do I keep track of my account? The FasTrak(TM) system tracks your usage and account balance. A quarterly statement itemizing your bridge use and account balance will be sent to you through the mail. You may also check your account balance using the automated response telephone system at the FasTrak(TM) Customer Service Center. In addition, a toll fare display at the bridge will display messages, such as "low balance," when your account reaches a pre-set threshold. If there is no message or the display is blank, contact the FasTrak(TM) Customer Service Center. How can I update the information for my FasTrak(TM) account? If you are adding a new vehicle to your account, be sure to include the license plate number, make, model, year, and color of the vehicle. Please include your FasTrak(TM) account number in communications. If you do not have your account number available, you can also include the series of numbers located on the upper left side of your transponder. Each time the prepaid toll balance drops below the low-balance threshold amount, cash/check accounts will receive a letter in the mail requesting payment. Credit card accounts will be automatically charged for the replenishment amount. Why does my replenishment amount change from time to time? After the account has been established for six months, rep...

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