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[IF]

#1

Off-Topic / Re: New Oklahoma City Skyscrap...

Last post by Bobby5280 - Today at 03:02:45 PM

Like others, I'm still skeptical the "Legends Tower" will be built out in its planned 1907 foot tall design height. The overall development seems kind of iffy. Developer Scot Matteson claims he has the financing in place to build the tower. The Oklahoma City Planning Commission gave approval to the project. It's almost like the city is calling Matteson's bluff just to see if he'll actually go through with it (and do so without going broke in the process). IIRC, I think even he has made statements on the order of the tower only getting built IF he lines up certain tenants before hand.

Regarding the comments about OKC's population density, traditional real estate market rules on that would apply if our real estate market was functioning normally. The situation now is completely absurd and unmoored from reality. So many residential properties are being used as investment objects rather than places to live. I think around a third of the tower is supposed to be residential apartments. It wouldn't be all that surprising if rich people in Oklahoma and outside the state (or outside the country) bought up all those living spaces. Having an apartment in the Legends Tower would just be another thing to add to the investment portfolio, not to mention bragging rights.

The office space situation might be the harder problem to solve. Plenty of businesses have soured on the remote work model. Still, vast improvements in Internet connection speeds and other changes in technology have made it far less necessary for an organization to rent office space at a premium in a high rise downtown tower. The office real estate vacancy situation in New York City is pretty bad. Office space in some buildings is being converted into apartments (high priced "luxury" apartments of course).

Even if all things in this project were given the go-ahead, I would be surprised if any construction started in the near future. High interest rates, stubborn inflation and the perception we're in one hell of a real estate price bubble would make it risky start construction on a project like this. The Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia halted construction in 2018 due to financial problems; construction resumed late in 2023.

#2

Southeast / Re: North Carolina

Last post by LM117 - Today at 02:59:21 PM

The Cape Fear Memorial Bridge preservation project in Wilmington has been completed ahead of schedule.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2024/2024-05-07-cape-fear-memorial-bridge-westbound-reopening.aspx

#3

Traffic Control / Re: Department of Redundancy D...

Last post by 74/171FAN - Today at 02:55:43 PM

Let's post US 30 EB twice, but ignore US 30 BUS EB (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10220284690547919&set=a.10220284736789075)



On US 30 EB at US 220 NB (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10220284697988105&set=a.10220284736789075)

#4

Mid-Atlantic / Re: Francis Scott Key Bridge (...

Last post by The Ghostbuster - Today at 02:48:38 PM

I think all remaining four-lane segments on the Baltimore Beltway should be expanded to six lanes. The four-lane segments may not be as heavily traveled as other segments of 695, but since the new bridge will be six lanes, the rest of the beltway should be at least six lanes as well.

#5

Traffic Control / Re: Erroneous road signs

Last post by 74/171FAN - Today at 02:23:28 PM

Klines Mill Rd at US 30 in Jennerstown, PA  (Yeah, Bedford is more than 7 miles east of here....) (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10220284706028306&set=a.10220284736789075)

#6

Off-Topic / Re: Random Thoughts

Last post by jgb191 - Today at 02:13:34 PM

I was connecting at Hobby Airport yesterday and at the gate next to where I was boarding for my onward flight back home, I overheard this:

Southwest Airlines gate agent (calmly): "Good Evening sir, what airport are you flying to tonight?"
Southwest Airlines Passenger (upset):  "I'm going to California ma'am."
Southwest Airlines gate agent (still calm):  "Okay, do you know which airport?"
Southwest Airlines passenger (irate):  "I just told you, California!"
Southwest Airlines gate agent (still calmly): "I understand sir, but which airport exactly?"
Southwest Airlines passenger (angrily):  "What part of 'California' do you not understand ma'am?!"
Southwest Airlines gate agent (still calm):  "There are a lot of airports in California, I just need to know which one."
Southwest Airlines passenger (blows fuse):  "I need to speak to your manager, NOW!!!"

I felt really terrible; it seems that airline agents are kicked in the head way more than any other customer service profession.  I wish airlines would provide trauma assistance every week for their employees.

Campbeltown Airport in Scotland it is then. (IATA code: CAL)

At least you'd be able to drink some Springbank.

So you're proposing the following:

Houston Hobby to Atlanta Hartsfield via Southwest Airlines
Atlanta Hartsfield to London Heathrow via Delta Airlines
London Heathrow to Glasgow via British Airways
Glasgow to Campbelltown (CAL) via Logan Air

Sounds good to me! 

Hope y'all have a good trip to Daggett!

The closest airport to Daggett, CA is Las Vegas McCarran Int'l Airport.  I don't know about sending him to Vegas at his raging state of mind.

#7

Off-Topic / Re: Minor things that bother y...

Last post by SectorZ - Today at 02:00:46 PM

I still hate adaptive cruise control.

I love it outside of the problem above. My wife's car will control it down to a complete stop and you can leave it on in stop-and-go traffic with no fatigue. Makes driving a lot less aggravating. Sure it's a little herky-jerky at times but I've gotten used to it. Only thing I need to remember jumping to my car is that it doesn't have it.

#8

Mid-Atlantic / Re: Francis Scott Key Bridge (...

Last post by plain - Today at 01:43:07 PM

Even though it's just a first pitch by some entity, I have to imagine the eventual replacement will basically look like this. 

Especially given the safety "lessons learned" will be to place the piers out of the shipping channel like this bridge would

Yes, and a wider horizontal clearance will also allow ships and other boats to pass in each direction simultaneously. Or is just a narrow lane dredged to 50ft there? I'm on my phone, do anyone have a nautical chart handy they can post?

#9

Traffic Control / Re: Why don't option lane BGSs...

Last post by wanderer2575 - Today at 01:33:02 PM

My only suggestion for this sign would be that the rightmost arrow should be located between EXIT and ONLY rather than to the right of it. Other than that, it looks great.

That may be what the official guidance says, but it would require a wider sign with more blank space.  Like APLs, one has to make a choice.

Why would it require a wider sign? The arrow takes up the same amount of space regardless of where it's located within the EXIT ONLY panel.

Can't simply flip ONLY and the right arrow; that would push the arrows closer together.  They have to remain as they are relative to each other so they are positioned correctly over the lanes.  No space to move them to the left.  No space to place ONLY to the right of the arrow without widening the sign.

#10

Off-Topic / Re: Minor things that bother y...

Last post by Rothman - Today at 01:27:02 PM

I still hate adaptive cruise control.