🛣 Headlines About California Highways – April 2022

[cahwyguy]

I'm lazy this month, so I'm just posting in the introduction from the headline post (which can be found at https://cahighways.org/wordpress/?p=16260 ). As always, ready, set, discuss.

The last headline post was on April 1st, so I must confess that there was one falsehood in the post:  "Maybe the right answer is just to put a fake headline somewhere in the headline list, and see if anyone falls for the rickroll."  That was just a tease to get you to go through all the headlines. Nothing was false.

However, there was one near truth:

• How about: I've heard a lot about the growth of podcasting. Maybe now is the time for me to do that podcast I've always dreamed about doing detailed Theatre Reviews. I could make 10s and 10s of dollars towards my retirement. Now that's worth quitting my job for. Plausible, but... would folks really fall for it.
  

The real truth is that I am starting a podcast, but it isn't on theatre reviews. Right, I'm doing it with Tom Fearer from Gribblenation, and we'll be going route by route through all the numbered highways in California. Right now, we've got a teaser episode up, and a sample and first episode written. We'll be getting more written in May, and recording the same and first few episodes. You can find the forever home of the podcast at California Highways: Route by Route (caroutebyroute.org); you can find the alternate route over on anchor.fm. Subscribe, and we hope to have the sample episode – exploring Route 105 – up sometime in May.  We are still looking for someone to donate a public domain theme for the podcast; contact daniel@caroutebyroute.org if this interests you. We will also (eventually) be looking for podcast donors and sponsors, but that isn't set up yet.

I'm also still working on the March/April updates to Cahighways.org. The ✔ below means that I've gone through the headline for the pages; I still have to go through the Gribblenation updates, the AAroads updates, the legislative actions, the CTC and Coastal Commission minutes. I also will need to go through the updated STIP and SHOPP, as they were approved at the March meeting. So the March/April updates should be posted sometime in late May.

The headline list is much smaller this month. Perhaps there are more paywalls blocking things. Perhaps there are less articles of interest for my pages (there are loads of articles on transit, but few new roads or major road changes right now). But you take what you get. Still, there are a few things of interest.

So, again, the headline link is https://cahighways.org/wordpress/?p=16260 .

Ready, set, discuss.

[gonealookin]

There's some opposition to the VMS installations along SR 88, 89 and 4.

https://www.tahoedailytribune.com/news/friends-of-hope-valley-oppose-digital-signs-on-highways/

A proposal to set up digital highway signs along Alpine County highways has sparked opposition from the Friends of Hope Valley.
...
"Hope Valley is one of the jewels of the Sierra,"  said Friend Debbi Waldear. "It is one of the few scenic meadows the public can easily access by car. Driving through this incredible alpine meadow has to be one of the most picturesque experiences in the state. Views of the surrounding mountains are breathtaking. The large electronic signs would change the entire character of the valley."

[Max Rockatansky]

There's some opposition to the VMS installations along SR 88, 89 and 4.

https://www.tahoedailytribune.com/news/friends-of-hope-valley-oppose-digital-signs-on-highways/

A proposal to set up digital highway signs along Alpine County highways has sparked opposition from the Friends of Hope Valley.
...
"Hope Valley is one of the jewels of the Sierra,"  said Friend Debbi Waldear. "It is one of the few scenic meadows the public can easily access by car. Driving through this incredible alpine meadow has to be one of the most picturesque experiences in the state. Views of the surrounding mountains are breathtaking. The large electronic signs would change the entire character of the valley."

But these sign assembles are okay on the more arguably more scenic CA 4 approaching Pacific Grade Summit near Bloods/Bear Valley?

https://flic.kr/p/2jD6rSx

https://flic.kr/p/2jD7dqg

https://flic.kr/p/2jD7d2v

https://flic.kr/p/2jD2Ua7

[Plutonic Panda]

I'm surprised they can't find a way to make the signs more low profile.

Oddly enough, I saw a recent study showed these VMS messages encouraging safer driving behaviors result in more crashes: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/04/220421141535.htm

[Max Rockatansky]

I'm surprised they can't find a way to make the signs more low profile.

Oddly enough, I saw a recent study showed these VMS messages encouraging safer driving behaviors result in more crashes: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/04/220421141535.htm

I just don't get what they expect on CA 88 out of Hope Valley on a highway that is kept open all winter.  Yes, CA 88 is a pretty highway but it also has a working purpose.  It's not like the CTC is planning on a four lane expressway through Hope Valley or really anything of substance.

[Plutonic Panda]

I'm surprised they can't find a way to make the signs more low profile.

Oddly enough, I saw a recent study showed these VMS messages encouraging safer driving behaviors result in more crashes: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/04/220421141535.htm

I just don't get what they expect on CA 88 out of Hope Valley on a highway that is kept open all winter.  Yes, CA 88 is a pretty highway but it also has a working purpose.  It's not like the CTC is planning on a four lane expressway through Hope Valley or really anything of substance.

I respect nature, I love nature, I spend several months out of the year camping. With that being said I think these California environmentalist are nuts. The Sierra types take it to a whole new level. When I dare suggested to one lady who is part of the Sierra Club that we expand nuclear energy I was called a traitor to Mother Nature and a danger to the Sierras. She then promised me if she saw me over there she had a paintball gun and would use it.

These people are insane.

[Max Rockatansky]

I'm surprised they can't find a way to make the signs more low profile.

Oddly enough, I saw a recent study showed these VMS messages encouraging safer driving behaviors result in more crashes: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/04/220421141535.htm

I just don't get what they expect on CA 88 out of Hope Valley on a highway that is kept open all winter.  Yes, CA 88 is a pretty highway but it also has a working purpose.  It's not like the CTC is planning on a four lane expressway through Hope Valley or really anything of substance.

I respect nature, I love nature, I spend several months out of the year camping. With that being said I think these California environmentalist are nuts. The Sierra types take it to a whole new level. When I dare suggested to one lady who is part of the Sierra Club that we expand nuclear energy I was called a traitor to Mother Nature and a danger to the Sierras. She then promised me if she saw me over there she had a paintball gun and would use it.

These people are insane.

Usually I just outright dismiss anything someone says from the Sierra Club.  They are too far gone from being a reasonable advocacy organization (emphasis personal opinion) and have long since become another PETA-like group.  It's more about fighting every piece of development even if reasonable and venerating Juir Muir as some sort of savior than prudent environmental advocacy. 

Fighting a VMS sign for the sake of it strikes me as Sierra Club-like absurdity. 

[Plutonic Panda]

Regarding the 110 flyover project, the preferable alternative is to extend the 110 lanes to connect with the I-10 express lanes. Elevated them over the current 110 freeway downtown and over the 101.

Obviously given the current political climate that isn't likely. I support alternative 2 which is the flyover and seems to be Metros preferable choice given they entice a closure of a current small stretch of road and conversion into a pedestrian plaza.

[skluth]

I'm surprised they can't find a way to make the signs more low profile.

Oddly enough, I saw a recent study showed these VMS messages encouraging safer driving behaviors result in more crashes: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/04/220421141535.htm

I just don't get what they expect on CA 88 out of Hope Valley on a highway that is kept open all winter.  Yes, CA 88 is a pretty highway but it also has a working purpose.  It's not like the CTC is planning on a four lane expressway through Hope Valley or really anything of substance.

I respect nature, I love nature, I spend several months out of the year camping. With that being said I think these California environmentalist are nuts. The Sierra types take it to a whole new level. When I dare suggested to one lady who is part of the Sierra Club that we expand nuclear energy I was called a traitor to Mother Nature and a danger to the Sierras. She then promised me if she saw me over there she had a paintball gun and would use it.

These people are insane.

Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima have all but killed any rational discussion about nuclear energy. Yet, there aren't other near-future energy options if the goal is to drastically reduce fossil fuel consumption. It's a dilemma the environmental movements haven't resolved. Fusion has been 30 years away since I was a teenager and that was 50 years ago. It's the left's hot-button equivalent of abortion; it's impossible to have a rational discussion when the extremists drown out any intelligent conversation.

The hard truth is there are currently no other non-fossil fuels that can supply power 24/7 in most locations; geothermal and tidal power aren't available over much of the planet and neither has been scaled up to a large scale. That's not to say it shouldn't be done cautiously because nuclear fuel is extremely dangerous. But I grew up near the Kewaunee and Point Beach plants in Wisconsin and never worried about them. Though we do need to figure out the nuclear waste disposal problem.

[gonealookin]

I'm surprised they can't find a way to make the signs more low profile.

I can think of at least one very low-mounted, off to the side Caltrans VMS, on US 395 near Crowley Lake.  Presumably they would do something like this rather than the usual overhead ones in Hope Valley.

https://goo.gl/maps/iMaKav4gczJtTGJo9

[Plutonic Panda]

I'm surprised they can't find a way to make the signs more low profile.

I can think of at least one very low-mounted, off to the side Caltrans VMS, on US 395 near Crowley Lake.  Presumably they would do something like this rather than the usual overhead ones in Hope Valley.

https://goo.gl/maps/iMaKav4gczJtTGJo9

Yeah that was what I was thinking of. Thanks I hadn't noticed that before.

[brad2971]

I'm surprised they can't find a way to make the signs more low profile.

Oddly enough, I saw a recent study showed these VMS messages encouraging safer driving behaviors result in more crashes: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/04/220421141535.htm

I just don't get what they expect on CA 88 out of Hope Valley on a highway that is kept open all winter.  Yes, CA 88 is a pretty highway but it also has a working purpose.  It's not like the CTC is planning on a four lane expressway through Hope Valley or really anything of substance.

I respect nature, I love nature, I spend several months out of the year camping. With that being said I think these California environmentalist are nuts. The Sierra types take it to a whole new level. When I dare suggested to one lady who is part of the Sierra Club that we expand nuclear energy I was called a traitor to Mother Nature and a danger to the Sierras. She then promised me if she saw me over there she had a paintball gun and would use it.

These people are insane.

Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima have all but killed any rational discussion about nuclear energy. Yet, there aren't other near-future energy options if the goal is to drastically reduce fossil fuel consumption. It's a dilemma the environmental movements haven't resolved. Fusion has been 30 years away since I was a teenager and that was 50 years ago. It's the left's hot-button equivalent of abortion; it's impossible to have a rational discussion when the extremists drown out any intelligent conversation.

The hard truth is there are currently no other non-fossil fuels that can supply power 24/7 in most locations; geothermal and tidal power aren't available over much of the planet and neither has been scaled up to a large scale. That's not to say it shouldn't be done cautiously because nuclear fuel is extremely dangerous. But I grew up near the Kewaunee and Point Beach plants in Wisconsin and never worried about them. Though we do need to figure out the nuclear waste disposal problem.

The UK, France, Russia, and Japan each have a solution. Spent nuclear fuel rods are recyclable.

https://www.pnnl.gov/news-media/recycling-gives-new-purpose-spent-nuclear-fuel

[Max Rockatansky]

^^^

I wouldn't really look to likes of Russia for sound safety standards in anything...  Fair enough on the UK and France.

I'm surprised they can't find a way to make the signs more low profile.

Oddly enough, I saw a recent study showed these VMS messages encouraging safer driving behaviors result in more crashes: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/04/220421141535.htm

I just don't get what they expect on CA 88 out of Hope Valley on a highway that is kept open all winter.  Yes, CA 88 is a pretty highway but it also has a working purpose.  It's not like the CTC is planning on a four lane expressway through Hope Valley or really anything of substance.

I respect nature, I love nature, I spend several months out of the year camping. With that being said I think these California environmentalist are nuts. The Sierra types take it to a whole new level. When I dare suggested to one lady who is part of the Sierra Club that we expand nuclear energy I was called a traitor to Mother Nature and a danger to the Sierras. She then promised me if she saw me over there she had a paintball gun and would use it.

These people are insane.

Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima have all but killed any rational discussion about nuclear energy. Yet, there aren't other near-future energy options if the goal is to drastically reduce fossil fuel consumption. It's a dilemma the environmental movements haven't resolved. Fusion has been 30 years away since I was a teenager and that was 50 years ago. It's the left's hot-button equivalent of abortion; it's impossible to have a rational discussion when the extremists drown out any intelligent conversation.

The hard truth is there are currently no other non-fossil fuels that can supply power 24/7 in most locations; geothermal and tidal power aren't available over much of the planet and neither has been scaled up to a large scale. That's not to say it shouldn't be done cautiously because nuclear fuel is extremely dangerous. But I grew up near the Kewaunee and Point Beach plants in Wisconsin and never worried about them. Though we do need to figure out the nuclear waste disposal problem.

Some of the recent news about Diablo Canyon has been pretty interesting.  There doesn't really seem to be a good way to replace the loss of about 2,250Mw of generating capacity the facility provide.  Supposedly this might lead to the Nuclear Generation station being given a second lease on life, or at least another decade before being decommissioned.

As an aside I don't know where the state thinks it is going to get substantial additional grid capacity any time soon using exclusively renewable energy sources.  Almost all major rivers and water sources are already diverted and replacing older generating stations might be mute due to ongoing drought conditions.  Solar requires a lot of land for large scale generation and there doesn't seem to be a ton of movement towards building large generating stations.  Summer of course as of late has come with all sorts of rolling blackouts nearing grid capacity in certain areas and things like generating stations being turned off due to fire risk.  All of this makes me question if the 2035 EV mandate for passenger vehicles is really feasible or needs to be pushed back.  That's not even touching on the the pace of construction of charging stations and whether or not that can keep pace with anticipated 2035 demand.  But that's probably a topic for another thread?

[roadfro]

I'm surprised they can't find a way to make the signs more low profile.

I can think of at least one very low-mounted, off to the side Caltrans VMS, on US 395 near Crowley Lake.  Presumably they would do something like this rather than the usual overhead ones in Hope Valley.

https://goo.gl/maps/iMaKav4gczJtTGJo9

Yeah that was what I was thinking of. Thanks I hadn't noticed that before.

That is still a really large VMS sign, even with a low profile... Does CalTrans have smaller VMSs with multi-line functionality?

I'm thinking something like what NDOT uses in district 2 (northwestern Nevada), particularly on rural two-lane roads. Such as this two-sided VMS along US 95 on the south side of Luning. Much smaller than the standard, and could be mounted lower of need be.

[pderocco]

An alternative to VMSs, they could just install cell sites along the road, and let people use their phones to see road conditions. The number of people without smart phones is dwindling with each passing year. And phone/internet access has many other obvious benefits.

[Max Rockatansky]

An alternative to VMSs, they could just install cell sites along the road, and let people use their phones to see road conditions. The number of people without smart phones is dwindling with each passing year. And phone/internet access has many other obvious benefits.

Is there is even reliable cellular service on CA 88 in Hope Valley?  There usually isn't in most places in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

[cahwyguy]

An alternative to VMSs, they could just install cell sites along the road, and let people use their phones to see road conditions. The number of people without smart phones is dwindling with each passing year. And phone/internet access has many other obvious benefits.

That would be a safety issue. One typically needs to take the attention away from the road to bring up the right app and then read the small screen. VMS signs are in line with other highway signs and do not divert a driver's attention.

[ClassicHasClass]

I guess there's the old flashers-are-on-tune-radio-to-AM-1600-or-something alternative.

[heynow415]

I guess there's the old flashers-are-on-tune-radio-to-AM-1600-or-something alternative.

That's asking an awful lot in this day and age: 1) does the driver know what a radio is, let alone distinguishing between AM and FM; and 2) do they know how to access and tune it through their touch screen panel?     For those of us Luddites who still drive vehicles old enough to have a radio with knobs(!) it makes a lot more sense.

[RZF]

What's the radio? Is that like where they do podcasts and I put my Spotify playlist?

[Max Rockatansky]

If one can't negotiate how to operate a basic FM/AM radio there isn't likely any measure that would save them from the kinds of road borne misfortune possible in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

[jdbx]

What's the radio? Is that like where they do podcasts and I put my Spotify playlist?

You may jest, but many new cars today do not even ship with an AM radio tuner.  Electric cars in particular have serious reception problems with AM radio.

[ClassicHasClass]

Doesn't have to be AM, although many are. I've seen FM versions also.