Virginia

[froggie]

^ If that's the case, perhaps the General Assembly should have directed the state's cut of those ticket revenues to VSP.

Furthermore, if a municipality is relying THAT MUCH on ticket revenue for its annual budget, that's a problem.

[LM117]

^ If that's the case, perhaps the General Assembly should have directed the state's cut of those ticket revenues to VSP.

Furthermore, if a municipality is relying THAT MUCH on ticket revenue for its annual budget, that's a problem.

You hit the nail on the head.

[cpzilliacus]

^ If that's the case, perhaps the General Assembly should have directed the state's cut of those ticket revenues to VSP.

That's a good idea, though VSP has a strong anti-ticket revenue philosophy (to fund their own law enforcement operations), as they apparently feel it compromises their objectivity as a police agency.

Furthermore, if a municipality is relying THAT MUCH on ticket revenue for its annual budget, that's a problem.

I agree.

[hbelkins]

Yet another reason to avoid the People's Republic of Virginia.

[plain]

Yet another reason to avoid the People's Republic of Virginia.

[Beltway]

Yet another reason to avoid the People's Republic of Virginia.

http://www.rcnky.com/articles/2014/10/20/these-are-6-biggest-challenges-facing-kentucky

These Are the 6 Biggest Challenges Facing Kentucky

1. Failure to Dream Big
2. Underfunded Government
3. Our Health
4. Concentrated, Cyclical Poverty
5. The Louisville Divide
6. No Front-Ranked University

I got a good chuckle out of this --

"The fifth dilemma is the historic and persistent divide between the state's largest city and the rest of Kentucky. We Louisvillians are often subjected to invidious comparison with Indianapolis and Nashville, citing the progress in those other cities and our contrasting lack of similar economic success. To the extent that the criticism is accurate, it can be explained in many ways, but one real factor is the truth that the rest of Kentucky doesn't much like Louisville... certainly doesn't like Louisville in the way it loves Lexington.

Non-Louisvillians consider the river city a dismal if not downright dangerous place. I had a friend from Breathitt County who, when she was about to visit me, tried to insist that I meet her at the county line on I-64, since driving in Louisville was, in her view, so difficult and dangerous. She had no trouble and no fear in Lexington, which I believe has much worse traffic problems than Louisville."
...

They make a world-class baseball bat!!  The Louisville Slugger.

I've never been to Bat City so I really don't have an opinion either way.

Positives: In conjunction with Indiana they just built two new freeway bridges.

[oscar]

Yet another reason to avoid the People's Republic of Virginia.

It can be worse. Try speed camera-infested Maryland, for example. Thankfully, speed cameras are still illegal in Virginia.

At least for me, I can stick it to Hopewell by setting the cruise control at 71, and not pulling off the Interstate to leave any money behind in Hopewell such as on food or gas. Falls Church, next to my county, is much harder for me to avoid even though it's only about two square miles in size (all of which should be considered a speed trap). It doesn't help that most of my doctors practice there.

[hbelkins]

Yet another reason to avoid the People's Republic of Virginia.

http://www.rcnky.com/articles/2014/10/20/these-are-6-biggest-challenges-facing-kentucky

David Hawpe wrote that. Please don't get me started on the liberal retired editor of the liberal Courier-Journal. (And I don't have the affection for Lexington that he thinks I might.

I dislike Virginia's speed enforcement efforts -- the "anything 20 over, or above 80 no matter what the speed limit is, is automatically reckless driving, which is a criminal charge rather than a traffic violation" and the ban on radar detectors. I really dislike driving in Virginia, as pretty as much of the state is and the amount of unique signage that can be found there, because of it.

It can be worse. Try speed camera-infested Maryland, for example.

Which a good V-1 will tell you about well ahead of encountering them.

[Beltway]

David Hawpe wrote that. Please don't get me started on the liberal retired editor of the liberal Courier-Journal. (And I don't have the affection for Lexington that he thinks I might.

I dislike Virginia's speed enforcement efforts -- the "anything 20 over, or above 80 no matter what the speed limit is, is automatically reckless driving, which is a criminal charge rather than a traffic violation" and the ban on radar detectors. I really dislike driving in Virginia, as pretty as much of the state is and the amount of unique signage that can be found there, because of it.

FYI, lots of people don't need or want to drive 20+ over, or to drive 80+, so it is non-issue, and doesn't impact their driving satisfaction.

[LM117]

Yet another reason to avoid the People's Republic of Virginia.

I've also heard it referred to as the Communistwealth of Virginia.

[Pink Jazz]

Yet another reason to avoid the People's Republic of Virginia.

http://www.rcnky.com/articles/2014/10/20/these-are-6-biggest-challenges-facing-kentucky

David Hawpe wrote that. Please don't get me started on the liberal retired editor of the liberal Courier-Journal. (And I don't have the affection for Lexington that he thinks I might.

I dislike Virginia's speed enforcement efforts -- the "anything 20 over, or above 80 no matter what the speed limit is, is automatically reckless driving, which is a criminal charge rather than a traffic violation" and the ban on radar detectors. I really dislike driving in Virginia, as pretty as much of the state is and the amount of unique signage that can be found there, because of it.

It can be worse. Try speed camera-infested Maryland, for example.

Which a good V-1 will tell you about well ahead of encountering them.

I actually support VA's ban on radar detectors, since the only reason they exist is to encourage speeding without being caught.  IMO it should even be a felony to oppose any such ban and anyone who opposes the ban should IMO get lifetime imprisonment without trial.

[oscar]

I actually support VA's ban on radar detectors, since the only reason they exist is to encourage speeding without being caught.

For starters, they can also alert you to slow-moving farm equipment, using low-power K-band transmitters to warn approaching detector-equipped drivers.

[Beltway]

I actually support VA's ban on radar detectors, since the only reason they exist is to encourage speeding without being caught.

For starters, they can also alert you to slow-moving farm equipment, using low-power K-band transmitters to warn approaching detector-equipped drivers.

If that is the only warning devices they have, they will get run over by a truck before long.

Hopefully the slow-moving farm equipment won't try the freeway! 

[hbelkins]

IMO it should even be a felony to oppose any such ban and anyone who opposes the ban should IMO get lifetime imprisonment without trial.

Hey, it's the thought police!

I actually support VA's ban on radar detectors, since the only reason they exist is to encourage speeding without being caught.

Well of course that's their purpose. Most people that I know think speed limits are too low and are set artificially and arbitrarily. I'd wager to guess that's the prevailing opinion on this board.

[cpzilliacus]

Yet another reason to avoid the People's Republic of Virginia.

It can be worse. Try speed camera-infested Maryland, for example. Thankfully, speed cameras are still illegal in Virginia.

Maryland does not have that many speed cameras  on the state-maintained arterial system, and where they are found, they are installed by county or sometimes municipal governments (note that Baltimore City has traditionally had many more, and those appear to be mostly about raising revenue, but the city may not put up cameras on any of its state-maintained toll routes (I-95, I-395, I-695 and I-895), but I-83 and the  freeway parts of U.S. 40 and MD-295 in the city are apparently fair game).

The only places where there are state-installed speed cameras in Maryland are approaching and in construction zones, but the presence of those devices is very well advertised leading up to the work area (recent places with aggressive camera enforcement included I-70 at the bridge replacement over Conococheague Creek and nearby  at MD-63 in Washington County (now complete) and U.S. 15 at the Monocacy Boulevard interchange project in Frederick County (that one may still be in operation).

[Pink Jazz]

Well of course that's their purpose. Most people that I know think speed limits are too low and are set artificially and arbitrarily. I'd wager to guess that's the prevailing opinion on this board.

Remember that Virginia has a significantly higher density than many Western states, and in many areas these lower speed limits are warranted based on engineering studies.  I oppose blanket speed limits; speed limits should be raised appropriately based on engineering judgment.

[Takumi]

IMO it should even be a felony to oppose any such ban and anyone who opposes the ban should IMO get lifetime imprisonment without trial.

I...this...I...I can't even.

[AlexandriaVA]

Annandale: "Traffic roundabout planned for Ravensworth Road"

http://annandaleva.blogspot.com/2017/05/traffic-roundabout-planned-for.html

The Federal Highway Administration and Virginia Department of Transportation are planning to install a traffic roundabout at Ravensworth Road and Jayhawk Street in Annandale.

[74/171FAN]

WDBJ7:  Construction moves forward to demolish and replace the VA 232 bridge over I-81 as part of the replacing of the I-81 bridges over the New River.

[1995hoo]

Annandale: "Traffic roundabout planned for Ravensworth Road"

http://annandaleva.blogspot.com/2017/05/traffic-roundabout-planned-for.html

The Federal Highway Administration and Virginia Department of Transportation are planning to install a traffic roundabout at Ravensworth Road and Jayhawk Street in Annandale.

As opposed to some other sort of roundabout.

[Beltway]

WDBJ7:  Construction moves forward to demolish and replace the VA 232 bridge over I-81 as part of the replacing of the I-81 bridges over the New River.

What 50+ years will do to modern Interstate highway bridges.  Those were opened in 1965 and photos thereof were on some of the VDH recruiting brochures back then, picturesque bridges on a sag vertical curve with interesting girder designs and hammerhead pier designs.
http://www.southwesttimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/I-81-bridge-New-River-web.jpg
The VA-232 overpass is in the background.

Now the bridges are nearing end of service life and at today's costs it will cost about $100 million to replace them.  Simply maintaining existing service on older Interstate highways is becoming very expensive.

[NJRoadfan]

At least those bridges have shoulders on them. Any indication the new bridges will be built for 3 lanes in each direction? It would make sense given how busy the corridor is and the various proposals for widening.

[Beltway]

At least those bridges have shoulders on them. Any indication the new bridges will be built for 3 lanes in each direction? It would make sense given how busy the corridor is and the various proposals for widening.

VDOT can be coy about announcing when they are building a bridge with an extra lane, perhaps to avoid opposition from RE/T groups and federal bureaucrats.

Reading between the lines, I would say yes the new bridge will have 3 lanes available for traffic --

"replace the northbound bridge and widen the shoulders and approach to the bridge on Interstate 81 at the New River"
"reconstruct the Route 232 overpass to accommodate widening of the interstate"
"improve northbound deceleration lane lengths by adding an extended deceleration lane that will provide an additional factor of safety for traffic entering or exiting from Interstate 81.

http://www.vdot.virginia.gov/projects/salem/i-81_new_river_bridge_replacement.asp

It only takes about 2,000 feet of "extended deceleration lane" to extend the length of the bridge.
$48 million sounds like enough to build the about 1,500-foot-long bridge with 3 lanes and 2 full shoulders.

[cpzilliacus]

VDOT can be coy about announcing when they are building a bridge with an extra lane, perhaps to avoid opposition from RE/T groups and federal bureaucrats.

Reading between the lines, I would say yes the new bridge will have 3 lanes available for traffic --

"replace the northbound bridge and widen the shoulders and approach to the bridge on Interstate 81 at the New River"
"reconstruct the Route 232 overpass to accommodate widening of the interstate"
"improve northbound deceleration lane lengths by adding an extended deceleration lane that will provide an additional factor of safety for traffic entering or exiting from Interstate 81.

http://www.vdot.virginia.gov/projects/salem/i-81_new_river_bridge_replacement.asp

It only takes about 2,000 feet of "extended deceleration lane" to extend the length of the bridge.
$48 million sounds like enough to build the about 1,500-foot-long bridge with 3 lanes and 2 full shoulders.

Maryland DOT/SHA just adds the extra lane on most redecked or replaced bridges.  It can legitimately be said that it is a left-side shoulder if the anti-auto/anti-highway industry gets upset.

[Beltway]

VDOT can be coy about announcing when they are building a bridge with an extra lane, perhaps to avoid opposition from RE/T groups and federal bureaucrats.

Reading between the lines, I would say yes the new bridge will have 3 lanes available for traffic --

"replace the northbound bridge and widen the shoulders and approach to the bridge on Interstate 81 at the New River"
"reconstruct the Route 232 overpass to accommodate widening of the interstate"
"improve northbound deceleration lane lengths by adding an extended deceleration lane that will provide an additional factor of safety for traffic entering or exiting from Interstate 81.

http://www.vdot.virginia.gov/projects/salem/i-81_new_river_bridge_replacement.asp

It only takes about 2,000 feet of "extended deceleration lane" to extend the length of the bridge.
$48 million sounds like enough to build the about 1,500-foot-long bridge with 3 lanes and 2 full shoulders.

Maryland DOT/SHA just adds the extra lane on most redecked or replaced bridges.  It can legitimately be said that it is a left-side shoulder if the anti-auto/anti-highway industry gets upset.

Most of the time VDOT adds the future lane on bridge rehabs or replacements if the highway is a likely candidate for widening in the near future.  I-81 certainly is.  I-95 Meherrin River bridges at MP 10?  Maybe, but will probably be at least 10 years before they do that.

The I-64 bridges over Nine Mile Road in Henrico County that were just replaced each have 3 lanes and full shoulders on each side, you can see the future lanes on the inside.  VDOT wants to widen this I-64 section to 6 lanes when they can fund it, between VA-156 and I-295.
http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/richmond/i-64_bridge_replacement_over_nine_mile_road.asp