Snow Removal FAIL

This morning on the way to work, same backup, same old bullshit. Driving down Binford in the morning is always a test of driving skills but the last two days have been nothing short of a cluster.

For those unfamiliar, please allow me to explain.

From the point where I-69 southbound becomes Binford Blvd, it is two lanes. Two fast-moving, congested lanes of traffic all bound for downtown.

At 46th St, a miracle happens. A third lane is added. Now it is three lanes of fast-moving congested traffic, but now a little less cluster-y.

Sounds great, right? A real traffic mover ... and an expected one.

Now we get to the FAIL. And when I say FAIL I mean EPIC FAIL.

Just south of 46th St., Binford becomes known as Fall Creek Parkway. As it crosses Allisonville Road, the third lane mysteriously disappears in a pile of snow. No rhyme, no reason, no warning. Hence, a real clusterfuck of a backup on Binford/FCP that stretches back to 56th St.

This morning in my irritation, I called the Mayor's (in)Action Center. I reported the problem. If this is true to past experiences with the (in)action center, nothing will happen, the traffic will still be congested until approximately March when the snow melts.

Nice job, Mayor. Or shall I say "Heckofajob, Ballard!" And we all remember how that phrase turned out the last time, don't we?

Snow Removal 101

How do I even compare snow removal in Indianapolis to anywhere else?

As I told my sister this morning, mayors would be recalled, city councils shamed and public works employees would be fired if snow removal were handled like this anywhere up north. Yes, I am biased. I'm a Region Rat, suffering from a severe case of Regionnaires' Disease.

Driving in this morning, after nearly a full day of no snow, was a challenge at best. Binford Blvd. as it turned into Fall Creek Parkway had three lanes ... then two. No rhyme, no reason, just mounds of unplowed snow blocking traffic and one full lane from 56th St. down to Keystone. Shameful.

Then the sidestreets, woe is me, the sidestreets. They have been 'plowed' by cars, trucks and buses traveling over them, leaving 18" to 24" deep ruts, making simple navigation a challenge.

The word 'passable' as used by this administration is laughable at best, ludicrous at worst. The only thing passable in Indianapolis today is laughter and outrage. Mr. Mayor, this was a FAIL.