The Virginian-Pilot
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Metro Networks, which provides morning and afternoon rush-hour traffic reports to many local radio stations, will shutter its Hampton Roads office on Feb. 27.
Beginning in March, Hampton Roads traffic reports will be broadcast from Silver Spring, Md., a Washington suburb. Local radio station officials said the reports will be compiled using the same interstate video cameras employed by the Virginia Department of Transportation. Many of Metro Networks' reports are currently gathered from the sky.
"I have to admit, I'm somewhat concerned about someone in Washington, D.C., reporting on this .... Will they know the area?" said John Shomby, operations manager for Max Media, whose Hampton Roads stations include WGH-FM, 97.3 The Eagle; WVBW-FM, 92.9 The Wave; WGH-AM 1310, ESPN Radio; WXEZ-FM, 94.1; and WXMM-FM, 100.5.
But, Shomby said, two of the new announcers have local ties, so "I think our concerns were somewhat allayed."
"They won't miss a beat," said Max Media general manager Vonneva Carter. "I'm very, very confident the accuracy of the report will be as it always has been."
Metro Networks was acquired 10 years ago by Westwood One. It had as many as 60 local traffic offices at one time but has progressively consolidated its operations. The Hampton Roads office was one of its last field offices.
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Down with fatty!
Tony Mercurio NEEDS to be fired! He's a disgrace to sports talk radio! Wake up Shomby, fire this guy and you'll get ratings! You're in PPM now, no excuses, and nowhere to hide - the numbers don't lie!
Janet King, We Miss You!
I listened in vain last week to the Metro Traffic reports on various local stations, hoping to catch announcers in glitches or errors. Nothing terrible happened, just the loss of local jobs and competencies.
The Maryland pundits that deliver traffic updates to local radio stations decided to consolidate services, trim costs, and let local gems like Janet King and her colleagues go.
Thanks, Janet, for your many years of steering Hampton Roads traffic.
A little clarification...
Don DeIulio retired in October 2008; he hasn't been on the air since... also, to the person who was complaining about the reports being 30 minutes behind, you can likely blame that on the radio station to which you listen. If they aren't airing the reports live, they will typically record them for airing at another time. If the station holds the report for anything longer than 5 minutes, the information is no longer accurate.
Google Maps
doesn't work on the secondaries, but go to google maps, goto the local area, and then click on Traffic. (yes, on weekdays it does actually show green, yellow, and red for the HRBT and other areas even if it doesn't right now)
Jim Jones comments
You forgot to mention the ever timely bridge lift during rush hour.
just to add a note
Please note METRO is private and gets paid through advertising. Therefore, their product is bad then nobody will pay "right” Sorry I forgot this is "THE NEW AMERICA WHERE EVERYBODY WHO CANNOT GET IT RIGHT GETS A GOVERNMENT HANDOUT"
I have many emails sent to VDOT and cannot crack the nut on the sign and camera issues. I'm all for more funding but it seems the quality of the result is on the same level of the TARP funds. I have so much so that VDOT has blacklisted me from contacting them statewide. I have emails to confirm this. I have been persistent on asking questions like? Why have we spent over 100 million on signs-cameras that can only state “tunnel blocked” Instead of time the sign was last updated, estimate time to open. Whether the 5 mile back up is getting better or worst.
traffic cameras on steriods for you
Logged on to a web site called trafficland.com. They have all the cameras from every where and the world. For a small fee you can see what they can and it is way better then the vdot site with out advertisements. I use my laptop to see what is happening in my van to avoid the dreaded "Tunnel blocked" "The mystery bridge lift." "The back up to 4th view which is now Granby Street." NO music and bull crap interruptions real time live. I have even seen my vehicle go by the camera - sweet! About a 2-10 sec delay.
"smart traffic"
Wow what a concept. They will be using the "Same cameras” You mean the ones past Mercury to Williamsburg which do not work. The ones point at weird angles. May be they will be a reality contest between vdot and metro. Call it the "battle of congestion" and see who can provide the slowest most unreliable information which creates the biggest backup. Sorry that happens already every day. My most favorite sign of the day No not that one. "Tunnel blocked” Because if you just get on the highway you due not know if it has be up five minutes or 5 hours. But always remember the mmbt. There is no delay but takes an hour to get from the beach to there. By the time you get there the sign will say "MMBT Blocked” A vicious cycle of life.
610 AM
610 AM. Am I the only one who listens to this before going out? All traffic all the time. Website 511. Try it... you'll like it.
Such a joke
The reports are such a joke anyway and typically at least 30 minutes behind what is actually happening on the highways. A better judge is to look at the cameras on the computer before heading out. I'm surprised anyone actually uses their services anymore anyway.