Sometimes going slower allows you to reach your destination faster and, more importantly, safer. This is the case with the speed harmonization program for Interstate 70 that was used on several Sunday afternoons last winter to smooth out peak traffic.
The speed harmonization program was borne out of necessity, as the Colorado Department of Transportation sought to address traffic congestion during peak weekend times on I-70. With limited resources, CDOT has been charged to accommodate more traffic on a corridor that was never designed for these volumes.
In the case of the trucking industry, our drivers try to avoid these peak times on I-70 when they can. (Truck traffic during those periods is only 1 percent to 2 percent of overall traffic.) In some cases, though, it cannot be avoided.
Traffic cannot be permitted to stop within the Eisenhower Tunnel. Because of this, when traffic reaches high volumes on Sunday afternoons, CDOT begins to meter vehicles to ensure free-flow travel through the tunnel. This practice, while necessary, leads to traffic stoppages and significant delays.
To address this problem, CDOT implemented speed harmonization, which allows for free-flow traffic at a slower but consistent rate. This is a strategy that has been used successfully in several European countries.
As part of this program, a lead car is driven by a State Patrol officer at a set rate of speed. He escorts traffic down I-70 through the worst of the bottleneck. Additional State Patrol officers are part of the convoy to ensure a smooth and steady pace.
The primary purpose of the speed harmonization program is to move a very high volume of traffic in the most efficient and safest manner. CDOT found that speed harmonization offered a cost-effective manner to provide some relief until other solutions could be implemented.
Last season was the first test for speed harmonization. The program was only used on Sunday afternoons on eastbound I-70 during the winter, when many people were returning from the ski slopes.
The concept of traveling at a controlled speed below the posted limit can prove frustrating to some as they travel home from a day on the slopes. Unfortunately, this frustration translated into a number of complaints from motorists.
In stark contrast, the reports from professional truck drivers found the program to be very effective. In talking with those drivers, we heard that the slower, controlled pace enabled them to traverse the corridor in less time than when the program was not in use.
The key benefit of speed harmonization is that it enhances safety. Rather than having vehicles accelerating quickly, jockeying for position, and then coming to a dead stop — which increases the chances for rear-end collisions and other accidents — a controlled pace reduces those problems. CDOT’s data reflects that accident levels dropped when speed harmonization was in place.
The bottom line is that speed harmonization works, enhancing safety and mobility for all travelers on I-70.
Greg Fulton is president of the Colorado Motor Carriers Association.
