Austin, TX
What are the black tubes that run across Texas roads?
TEXAS (KXAN) — Those traveling across Texas have probably seen — and driven over — a slew of black cords running across roadways. But what exactly are they, and how are they used?
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) calls them “pneumatic road tubes,” an in-roadway sensor that can help detect and track vehicles traveling on roads. They’re typically used as short-term traffic counts, with some models having the ability to gather data related to the following:
- Gaps between vehicles
- Intersection stop delays
- Stop Sign delays
- Saturation flow rate
- Spot speed
- Traveling time
Alongside their uses in short-term traffic counts, they can be used to detect vehicle classification (via axle count and spacing) as well as assist with planning and research studies. But how, exactly, do they work?
How does it work?
The tubes are portable and are placed perpendicular to the direction of the traffic flow. When a vehicle’s tires drive over the tube, the tube’s sensors “send a burst of air pressure along a rubber tube,” per the FHWA.
That air pressure pulses close to an air switch, which is able to create an electrical signal that’s then sent back to a counter or analysis software synced with the tube.
Here in the Lone Star State, the Texas Department of Transportation collects roughly 82,000 short-term traffic volume counts each year along with approximately 1,000 vehicle classification counts, per its traffic count maps database. Among those counts collected, nearly half of them — 46.9% — are used to track traffic volume, according to the database.
The state department has more than 300 permanent count locations across Texas that collect data around the clock. KXAN reached out to TxDOT to confirm how many pneumatic road tubes are used as part of those traffic data collections. We will update this story once we’ve received a response.
Austin had a particularly itchy and drippy cedar fever season to start the year. Many winter days, from late December into February, had high or very high ashe juniper (aka cedar) pollen counts.
Central Texas has a year-round allergy season with mold popping up at any time. For the more traditional spring and fall allergy seasons, forecasters at AccuWeather are predicting some of the allergens across the country will be worse this year than average.
Texas, though, is a different story.
For grass allergies, which happen now through September, AccuWeather estimates Austin will have an average season. However, just west of the Interstate 35 corridor in the Hill Country to almost El Paso, that season is expected to be worse than normal.
“Texas may experience above-average grass pollen for a few weeks,” AccuWeather’s allergy report said, “though the season could be shorter-lived compared to northern areas.”
It all depends on the weather
How much rain we get in the next six months and the perennial Texas heat will all affect the growing season for grasses and weeds, as well as the amount of pollen trees produce. The Farmers’ Almanac and the Old Farmers Almanac are both predicting a wetter and warmer spring.
Rain helps plants grow, which can increase pollen production over time. However, rainfall during allergy season can also bring temporary relief by washing pollen out of the air. That’s what we’re expecting this weekend, with our first meaningful rain chance in nearly three weeks. Tree and weed pollen levels might briefly drop, but mold could spike because it thrives in damp, humid weather.
If spring continues with excessive heat like we saw in February, it could limit the growth of some plants and trees. Extreme heat can reduce how much they grow, and how much pollen they produce. On the other hand, if we get a healthy balance of rain and only slightly above-normal temperatures — not extreme heat — pollen counts could climb. That’s especially true as we head into April, typically our windiest month of the year, which helps spread pollen more easily.
How can you treat allergies in Austin?
If you are feeling the effects of allergies, here are some things you can do to lessen them:
- Start taking allergy medication at least two weeks before your allergen’s season is supposed to start. Keep taking your allergy medication throughout your allergen’s season, even on low-pollen days.
- Vary your allergy medication. You can take a nasal spray, an eye drop and an oral antihistamine at the same time to treat the different symptoms. If one kind of allergy medication isn’t working, consult your doctor about whether you should add a second one or switch out the medication.
- Take a shower before going to bed.
- Take off outside clothes or shoes when you get into the house.
- Do a daily nasal wash such as a neti pot or saline spray.
- Consider seeing an allergist to get drops or shots to lessen your reaction to the allergen.
Consider these household tips to improve your chances of keeping allergens away:
- Change the filters in your house regularly during cedar fever season.
- Vacuum and sweep regularly.
- Change your sheets, especially your pillow regularly.
- Keep doors and windows closed.
- Clean out the vents in your home.
- Have your home tested for indoor allergens such as mold.
- Wash and brush the animals in your house to lessen the amount of allergens in the air.
- Wear a mask outside or inside while you are trying to lessen the pollen or mold indoors.
Democrats tried to stop a mid-decade redistricting effort, but were unsuccessful. Now, we are starting to see some of the candidates emerging in those newly drawn districts. FOX 7 Austin’s Rudy Koski gives a full breakdown.
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