28 could be backed up from 7 to Manassas, with flaming wreckage covering 2 lanes, and WTOP still wouldn't say a word about it, but instead blather on about Father Hurley Blvd.

Thank goodness finally someone had the thoughtfulness, bravery, and wisdom to finally post a thread here on this.

Wow, good post. I am shocked nobody ever brought that up before on this forum.

The problem continues even after Lisa Baden left. At least there isn't any singing.

.... Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The problem continues even after Lisa Baden left.
> At least there isn't any singing.


It's improved vastly since Baden left. However, they still under-report major tie-ups and the reasons for them.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://bible.cc/1_corinthians/13-11.htm

I agree that the DC-area traffic coverage on the radio is grossly inadequate given the conditions daily commuters face--and yet WTOP is the only station that at least gives a report every 10 minutes.


The Virginia portions of all 3 of the interstates I take to and from work in Maryland often have such high volume during rush hour that the average rate of speed is 5 MPH, stop and go, stop and go.

WTOP will sometimes announce when the American Legion Bridge or the 270 spur "are slow due to volume," but these notices are not consistent and usually understate the problem.

Yep, slow due to volume. This is like saying "it's about the same backup as it was yesterday, and the day before that".

It's because WTOP is an all-news formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Washington, D.C. So they spew out traffic crap for the Washington area and often neglect the suburbs, ie Manassas, etc.

I can't stand the sound of Lisa Baden on the radio. She is so annoying. Also, those guys that give the news always acting like pussys when there is an inch of snow on the ground and blaming the weather man.

Do people still listen to traffic on the radio? I was never that happy with WTOP's traffic.

I finally got an Android phone last year and Google Navigation is batting at least .750 on traffic, which beats the .125 that I got out of WTOP and the lack of coverage I saw with the competition. It covers all of the secondary roads, which beats other phone and standalone GPS units that only cover interstates.

iPhone can't get Google Navigation, but you'll still get green/yellow/red lines on Google Maps.

Any other solutions out there that will give traffic on 7100, 123, etc? I'm only loyal to them as long as they are the best.

Rick

.... Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> 28 could be backed up from 7 to Manassas, with
> flaming wreckage covering 2 lanes, and WTOP still
> wouldn't say a word about it, but instead blather
> on about Father Hurley Blvd.

oh yeah--Father Hurley must have a serious fanbase over in the glass enclosed nerve center.
As for me, my skin starts crawling as soon as I hear Bob Marburg's nails-on-chalkboard voice. But overall, the reporting sucks. If they have to say it so fast as to be almost unintelligable and have to leave out important details to fit it all in before the latest hot news on dog shampoo investments and how to burn calories in Libya while picking your nose, then they obviously need more than 45 seconds or should be reporting it much more often and can kick out their worthless "Money News" and "Sports Report" to make room.
Rant over.

Today was incredibly bad. Heading home from Pentagon City on the Beltway, there was what could be best described as a small river in a section of the Beltway. Three cars were disabled and blocking two lanes. Traffic was at a complete stop for a while. I turn on TOP, and Marbourg says "there are some puddles in the work zone". Puddles? The water was up to the bottom of my car. Then after that, there was another section of somewhat deep water with debris in the road.

On a side note, today was just another reason to hate the HOT lanes.

If they're not saying what you're seeing, you can always call #1035 and let them know. Marbourg almost always answers the phone himself.

Wow... they failed today. They've been doing pretty damn good lately, too.
50 (by Prosperity) and 495 (by the 66 E/W exits) were trashed. Took them forever to finally mention it was a problem.

Ut videam Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If they're not saying what you're seeing, you can
> always call #1035 and let them know. Marbourg
> almost always answers the phone himself.

Hmm.. interesting. I must have called at a really busy time. I got some other guy and he started debating with me about the point in which the road was backed up. Way further down the road, I finally heard it being repeated on air... guess it takes many people to call it in.

Ut videam Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If they're not saying what you're seeing...

I always assumed the traffic reports were largely boilerplate with little tidbits of realtime-reality every now and then.

I've never paid attention to them; just go with the flow, literally.

callingtraffic Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Ut videam Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > If they're not saying what you're seeing, you
> can
> > always call #1035 and let them know. Marbourg
> > almost always answers the phone himself.
>
> Hmm.. interesting. I must have called at a really
> busy time. I got some other guy and he started
> debating with me about the point in which the road
> was backed up. Way further down the road, I
> finally heard it being repeated on air... guess it
> takes many people to call it in.

When Lisa Baden used to be on WTOP for morning drive, it was almost always some staffer who answered—I think I talked to her once, toward the end of morning rush. But I think every time I've called during Marbourg's shift (or rather, gotten through), I've talked to him.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/13/2011 06:46PM by Ut videam.

I've called twice during evening rush and talked to Bob Immler and Bob Marbourgh each once. Both times, what I called in about was reported in the next traffic update.

That said, WTOP completely missed the boat this afternoon. It took me almost an hour and a half to get from Seven Corners to Prosperity on Westbound 50 and during that time, the jam was not mentioned one time on air. They finally got to it in the 6:00 hour, but the back up was solid at least as early as the 4:00 hour.