Traffic Reporter : ‘Delta Duke’ Gets a Handle on Congestion

Gov. George Deukmejian, crusading today for a $1-billion road bond to unclog the nation’s most congested freeways, was dubbed “Delta Duke” as he broadcast live radio traffic reports from a motor home crawling along at times at 5 m.p.h.

“Today the governor is a Los Angeles commuter and a traffic tipster,” said anchorman Bill Zorn of KNX-AM, one of three local radio stations to broadcast Deukmejian’s reports.

KNX-AM traffic reporter Bill Keene dubbed the governor “Delta Duke” during his stint, which was also heard on KABC-AM and KGIL-AM.

“Well, I’ve been called a lot worse,” Deukmejian laughed.

During his hourlong, 32-mile commute from a hotel near his Long Beach home to Beverly Hills, the governor crept through the West Los Angeles junction of the San Diego and Santa Monica freeways, which traffic officials have labeled the nation’s busiest interchange, used by 513,000 vehicles daily.

Heavy Traffic Stressed

The Republican governor wanted to demonstrate how California’s freeways, once the idyllic image of wide-open roadways ideal for cruising in fancy cars, are now the nation’s busiest.

Transportation officials confirmed this week that eight of the nation’s 10 busiest freeway interchanges are in Southern California, making it the uncontested congestion capital of the world.

“Just traveling along now on the San Diego Freeway, I’m taking note of the fact there’s only one person in each car. If we can just increase that to 1.4 persons, we can relieve congestion during the peak traffic hours,” Deukmejian said.

Deukmejian traveled in a telephone-equipped van, provided by the state Office of Emergency Services, to a transportation hearing to dramatize his support for a $1-billion bond issue on the June 7 ballot.

Hundreds of Projects

“With those additional funds we can help to speed up the construction and completions of literally hundreds of highway-freeway projects throughout the Greater Los Angeles area,” the governor told reporters after alighting from the 37-foot van.

He averaged 35 m.p.h. during the commute but slowed to 5 m.p.h. at one point where the Century Freeway is being constructed near Los Angeles International Airport.

“We are approaching the El Segundo Boulevard exit. We’re almost at a standstill, moving 5 m.p.h.,” he reported.