New Jersey

[jeffandnicole]

Curious: what's with the new signal bridges (being installed) at Fire & Roosevelt Avenue near Atlantic City? It seems to be loosely related to the road work ongoing just west with the GSP: https://goo.gl/maps/7tEonsBiwDk

It's related to road widening for a new Walmart on 40/322 and Fire Rd.  The Walmart opened last year.  Based on the story below, the new signals were being installed around October, 2016.

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/breaking/railroad-lights-moved-back-in-advance-of-eht-wal-mart/article_78442078-f26f-5f63-83c4-50e4bd27db04.html

[seicer]

Gotcha. It's an overhead gantry for signals for Fire Road. I thought at first that it was an overhead gantry for the modern vertical Safetran signals for the railroad - which would be a waste since the line ends just west of Fire Road.

[jeffandnicole]

New Jersey has a nifty new Weigh-in-Motion website that details down to the hour what their road sensors have picked up for traffic activity on the roads and highways at the stations around the state.

https://www.njtms.org/njwimsite/

What I found most useful is clicking on the 'Maps' link at the top of the page, then choosing an active WIM site.  You can view traffic volumes on a daily basis, and by clicking on a day, you can view the traffic on an hourly basis.  For many routes, you'll find interesting patterns for weekdays, when there's 2 clearly defined rush hours, and on the weekends, when traffic builds up towards the afternoon only.  There's even a symbol to click on to see the weather for that particular day.  The only thing missing that I would like to see is travel speeds during those periods.

Speaking of, their Speed Data tables are also updated for 2017.  Of note is the continuing rising of average and 85th percentile speeds, with 85th percentile speeds at or well over 80 mph on some 65 mph highways.  On many other roadways, the average/85th percentile speed is in excess of 15 mph over the limit.  On US 1T, the average speed is often 20 mph over the noted 30 mph limit, and the 85th percentile limit is nearly DOUBLE the 30 mph limit.  Yet, other road data matches up close to the stated speed limit.  On US 9 in Bass River, the average, median and 85th percentile speeds are nearly all under the 55 mph limit there.

That all said, I did find at least one stated speed limit that may not be correct for US 40...unless it did rise to 55 from a life-long 50 mph zone.  So, there can be some errors within the report.

http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/roadway/speed.shtm

[jeffandnicole]

The former Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City will become the Hard Rock Casino and Hotel this summer.  The below link is for their outdoor signage plans.  On Page 5 it details their directional signage to the various roadways leaving the casino...which is where you can see if the designer knows what he's talking about.  You'll see the signage uses proper symbol and generally accepted local lingo, stating "Atlantic City Expy", Route (US)30 and Route (US)40.

https://www.njcrda.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/file-g-2018-02-15-HRAC-Exterior-Sign-Bid-Set-x.pdf

[bzakharin]

The former Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City will become the Hard Rock Casino and Hotel this summer.  The below link is for their outdoor signage plans.  On Page 5 it details their directional signage to the various roadways leaving the casino...which is where you can see if the designer knows what he's talking about.  You'll see the signage uses proper symbol and generally accepted local lingo, stating "Atlantic City Expy", Route (US)30 and Route (US)40.

https://www.njcrda.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/file-g-2018-02-15-HRAC-Exterior-Sign-Bid-Set-x.pdf

I'm not sure how widely routes 40 and 30 are known by those numbers (and what happened to 322?). Through most of the state it would be Black Horse Pike and White Horse Pike. Though in ACY it's Albany Ave and Absecon Blvd.

[Alps]

The former Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City will become the Hard Rock Casino and Hotel this summer.  The below link is for their outdoor signage plans.  On Page 5 it details their directional signage to the various roadways leaving the casino...which is where you can see if the designer knows what he's talking about.  You'll see the signage uses proper symbol and generally accepted local lingo, stating "Atlantic City Expy", Route (US)30 and Route (US)40.

https://www.njcrda.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/file-g-2018-02-15-HRAC-Exterior-Sign-Bid-Set-x.pdf

I'm not sure how widely routes 40 and 30 are known by those numbers (and what happened to 322?). Through most of the state it would be Black Horse Pike and White Horse Pike. Though in ACY it's Albany Ave and Absecon Blvd.

They're well known by those numbers and fully signed. I agree about 322.

[CrystalWalrein]

The former Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City will become the Hard Rock Casino and Hotel this summer.  The below link is for their outdoor signage plans.  On Page 5 it details their directional signage to the various roadways leaving the casino...which is where you can see if the designer knows what he's talking about.  You'll see the signage uses proper symbol and generally accepted local lingo, stating "Atlantic City Expy", Route (US)30 and Route (US)40.

https://www.njcrda.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/file-g-2018-02-15-HRAC-Exterior-Sign-Bid-Set-x.pdf

I'm surprised they're not using Thesis TheSans as the typeface, which Hard Rock uses in all of their promotional materials.

[bzakharin]

It looks like NJDOT has been busy installing new mile markers on state and US routes in my area of South Jersey as of late. NJ 41 and NJ 38 have been replaced this week. NJ 73 still has the old markers as of yesterday. US 9 and US 40 in the Atlantic City area have had the new ones for months now.

[storm2k]

It looks like NJDOT has been busy installing new mile markers on state and US routes in my area of South Jersey as of late. NJ 41 and NJ 38 have been replaced this week. NJ 73 still has the old markers as of yesterday. US 9 and US 40 in the Atlantic City area have had the new ones for months now.

They've been doing it in waves across the state. In some places, there are signs for a certain length and then not in other places yet.

[NJRoadfan]

More amusing is that they aren't always removing the old mile markers, which are sometimes quite a distance from the equivalent new ones.

[_Simon]

I really wish I knew who was the most influential person responsible for approving design choices in New Jersey so I could invest significant time and money swaying their opinion and exerting much more effort and energy then they have in order to project my will onto them and the DOT.  I will call people and yell at then daily just for fun. 

Here are things I disagree with NJDOT on and would have no problem punching someone in the face over:

1.  disappearing black backgrounds on bgs shields
2. destroying the turnpike arrows I grew up with
3. you still haven't bulilt 95
4. why are there still toll booths
5. why does it take you longer than a president's term to build *anything* with the technology we have today?  Look at any other state .. Tx is a great example.
6. why do we pay so much for so little?
7. why do you keep outsourcing construction with dirty bidding when most states have state employees on the clock doing road building?

Bonus anger for the PANYNJ:

6. why do 2 toll gates (from local roads no less) being closed cause such congestion at the gwb that it was able to become a sociopolitical scandal?  what if they were closed simply because of an accident or malfunction? People died in ambulances.





SM-G955U

[ixnay]

I miss the little green square or rectangular markers with just the milepost number (no "Mile") on NJDOT roads.

ixnay

[jeffandnicole]

I really wish I knew who was the most influential person responsible for approving design choices in New Jersey so I could invest significant time and money swaying their opinion and exerting much more effort and energy then they have in order to project my will onto them and the DOT.  I will call people and yell at then daily just for fun. 

Here are things I disagree with NJDOT on and would have no problem punching someone in the face over:

1.  disappearing black backgrounds on bgs shields
2. destroying the turnpike arrows I grew up with
3. you still haven't bulilt 95
4. why are there still toll booths
5. why does it take you longer than a president's term to build *anything* with the technology we have today?  Look at any other state .. Tx is a great example.
6. why do we pay so much for so little?
7. why do you keep outsourcing construction with dirty bidding when most states have state employees on the clock doing road building?

Bonus anger for the PANYNJ:

6. why do 2 toll gates (from local roads no less) being closed cause such congestion at the gwb that it was able to become a sociopolitical scandal?  what if they were closed simply because of an accident or malfunction? People died in ambulances.





SM-G955U

1 & 2: Talk to the feds. NJ is simply following MUTCD standards.

3. You know that decision was approved by the feds 35 years ago. Again, by the feds.

4. Slightly irritating. It's basically due to unions and a public that doesn't like change.

5. Technology doesn't have much to do with it. Modern work rules do. Comparing Texas to NJ is laughable, because of their population densities. Compare NJ to NYC.

6. Unions. Politicians. And don't be fooled by the internet. Yeah, we pay a lot, but not as much as some badly written stories would lead you to believe.

7. Most states don't have employees building roads. Most states contract out work to the lowest bidder.

6 again: No toll gates were closed. 3 lanes from a local area narrowed down to one lane, going thru 1 toll lane. The 2 toll lanes were still open for motorists coming via I-95. And a person died, not people. Still not acceptable.

[Alps]

I really wish I knew who was the most influential person responsible for approving design choices in New Jersey so I could invest significant time and money swaying their opinion and exerting much more effort and energy then they have in order to project my will onto them and the DOT.  I will call people and yell at then daily just for fun. 

Here are things I disagree with NJDOT on and would have no problem punching someone in the face over:

1.  disappearing black backgrounds on bgs shields
2. destroying the turnpike arrows I grew up with
3. you still haven't bulilt 95
4. why are there still toll booths
5. why does it take you longer than a president's term to build *anything* with the technology we have today?  Look at any other state .. Tx is a great example.
6. why do we pay so much for so little?
7. why do you keep outsourcing construction with dirty bidding when most states have state employees on the clock doing road building?

Bonus anger for the PANYNJ:

6. why do 2 toll gates (from local roads no less) being closed cause such congestion at the gwb that it was able to become a sociopolitical scandal?  what if they were closed simply because of an accident or malfunction? People died in ambulances.

Reasons I will disagree and you will lose:
1) not MUTCD standard, as green is already a dark background.
2) not MUTCD standard, already decided
((not responding to trolling))

[seicer]

I'm still waiting for Simon to punch people over Breezewood from several months ago

[jeffandnicole]

Does anyone have a subscription to this publication: https://www.enr.com/articles/44173-njdot-its-transition-time-in-transportation?v=preview ?  The preview only allows you to read the first paragraph or two.

[jeffandnicole]

And Bellmawr, NJ has transferred 'ownership' of a portion of Benigno Blvd to NJDOT, which was necessary for the 295/42 Missing Moves project: https://southjerseyobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Benigno-Boulevard-Missing-Moves-South-Jersey-Observer.pdf . Specifically, they're talking about the area where, if you exit Rt. 42 North at Exit 14, it's the street to the right that would eventually take you to Rt. 168 by the NJ Turnpike entrance to Interchange 3.

They referred to the 'round bed' and 'bed'.  Gotta say I never heard these terms used before about roads in this context.  I've heard road bed, but these terms used in this manner seem odd!

[Alps]

Does anyone have a subscription to this publication: https://www.enr.com/articles/44173-njdot-its-transition-time-in-transportation?v=preview ?  The preview only allows you to read the first paragraph or two.

https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:90zFgGnVe6QJ:https://www.enr.com/articles/44173-njdot-its-transition-time-in-transportation+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us


And if it holds - congrats to Ms. Gutierrez-Scacetti. I remember her from years ago and it's nice to see her return.

[jeffandnicole]

Does anyone have a subscription to this publication: https://www.enr.com/articles/44173-njdot-its-transition-time-in-transportation?v=preview ?  The preview only allows you to read the first paragraph or two.

https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:90zFgGnVe6QJ:https://www.enr.com/articles/44173-njdot-its-transition-time-in-transportation+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us


And if it holds - congrats to Ms. Gutierrez-Scacetti. I remember her from years ago and it's nice to see her return.

Thanks for that! And yes, it'll be nice to have a Transportation Commissioner that has plenty of experience!

[dgolub]

And Bellmawr, NJ has transferred 'ownership' of a portion of Benigno Blvd to NJDOT, which was necessary for the 295/42 Missing Moves project: https://southjerseyobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Benigno-Boulevard-Missing-Moves-South-Jersey-Observer.pdf . Specifically, they're talking about the area where, if you exit Rt. 42 North at Exit 14, it's the street to the right that would eventually take you to Rt. 168 by the NJ Turnpike entrance to Interchange 3.

They referred to the 'round bed' and 'bed'.  Gotta say I never heard these terms used before about roads in this context.  I've heard road bed, but these terms used in this manner seem odd!

Does this mean it's going to get some state route designation for one block or whatever that's only signed on the traffic light poles?

[02 Park Ave]

Does this mean that work on the Missing Moves project is imminent? 

[jeffandnicole]

Does this mean that work on the Missing Moves project is imminent? 

Not really.  It's currently programmed to start in FY 2019, which means anytime after July or October, 2018.  It's been pushed back on a yearly basis for over a decade now.  But it's as close as it's ever been, IMO.  See page 4 of: http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/capital/stip1827/sec3/pdf/routes/rt295.pdf .  For projects that are imminent (within 6 months or so), they will appear here: http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/business/procurement/ConstrServ/PlannedAdv/ .

That said, the developer of the Bellmawr Landfill, which is really the main reason why these ramps haven't been built yet, has published yet another version of his plans.  NJDOT wants to put a roundabout in just off the Southbound entrance/exit of Rt. 42 at Exit 14.  The developer has his own idea, which pushes access from Creek Rd to Rt. 42 much further away than it is now, in an obvious attempt to try to get traffic to drive past his development.  It remains to be seen what NJDOT has to say about it.

(Note: Page 3 in the above TIP link details funding plans for the 295/38 missing moves project.  This project was on the books last decade, and after estimates went over $100 million - for 2 ramps - it came off the books.  It suddenly re-appeared this year.)

And Bellmawr, NJ has transferred 'ownership' of a portion of Benigno Blvd to NJDOT, which was necessary for the 295/42 Missing Moves project: https://southjerseyobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Benigno-Boulevard-Missing-Moves-South-Jersey-Observer.pdf . Specifically, they're talking about the area where, if you exit Rt. 42 North at Exit 14, it's the street to the right that would eventually take you to Rt. 168 by the NJ Turnpike entrance to Interchange 3.

They referred to the 'round bed' and 'bed'.  Gotta say I never heard these terms used before about roads in this context.  I've heard road bed, but these terms used in this manner seem odd!

Does this mean it's going to get some state route designation for one block or whatever that's only signed on the traffic light poles?

Maybe, maybe not.  Depends who ultimately has jurisdiction.  In this area alone, NJDOT has constructed, worked on and utilizes several municipal roads to get traffic to/from Creek Rd and Rt. 42, and none of them have state routes numbers.

[Alps]

And Bellmawr, NJ has transferred 'ownership' of a portion of Benigno Blvd to NJDOT, which was necessary for the 295/42 Missing Moves project: https://southjerseyobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Benigno-Boulevard-Missing-Moves-South-Jersey-Observer.pdf . Specifically, they're talking about the area where, if you exit Rt. 42 North at Exit 14, it's the street to the right that would eventually take you to Rt. 168 by the NJ Turnpike entrance to Interchange 3.

They referred to the 'round bed' and 'bed'.  Gotta say I never heard these terms used before about roads in this context.  I've heard road bed, but these terms used in this manner seem odd!

Does this mean it's going to get some state route designation for one block or whatever that's only signed on the traffic light poles?

Doesn't seem like it, but I didn't see the attachment with Areas 2 and 3 highlighted. If there is a continuous ROW from Route 42 to 168, there is a chance, but it would require legislation to add it as a highway. If this is just a block or two piece, then it would count as part of the 42 interchange.

[Mergingtraffic]

I really wish I knew who was the most influential person responsible for approving design choices in New Jersey so I could invest significant time and money swaying their opinion and exerting much more effort and energy then they have in order to project my will onto them and the DOT.  I will call people and yell at then daily just for fun. 

Here are things I disagree with NJDOT on and would have no problem punching someone in the face over:

1.  disappearing black backgrounds on bgs shields
2. destroying the turnpike arrows I grew up with
3. you still haven't bulilt 95
4. why are there still toll booths
5. why does it take you longer than a president's term to build *anything* with the technology we have today?  Look at any other state .. Tx is a great example.
6. why do we pay so much for so little?
7. why do you keep outsourcing construction with dirty bidding when most states have state employees on the clock doing road building?

Bonus anger for the PANYNJ:

6. why do 2 toll gates (from local roads no less) being closed cause such congestion at the gwb that it was able to become a sociopolitical scandal?  what if they were closed simply because of an accident or malfunction? People died in ambulances.





SM-G955U

6 again: No toll gates were closed. 3 lanes from a local area narrowed down to one lane, going thru 1 toll lane. The 2 toll lanes were still open for motorists coming via I-95. And a person died, not people. Still not acceptable.

I didn't know somebody died as a direct result of that.  What exact lanes were closed?

[ixnay]

I really wish I knew who was the most influential person responsible for approving design choices in New Jersey so I could invest significant time and money swaying their opinion and exerting much more effort and energy then they have in order to project my will onto them and the DOT.  I will call people and yell at then daily just for fun. 

Here are things I disagree with NJDOT on and would have no problem punching someone in the face over:

1.  disappearing black backgrounds on bgs shields
2. destroying the turnpike arrows I grew up with
3. you still haven't bulilt 95
4. why are there still toll booths
5. why does it take you longer than a president's term to build *anything* with the technology we have today?  Look at any other state .. Tx is a great example.
6. why do we pay so much for so little?
7. why do you keep outsourcing construction with dirty bidding when most states have state employees on the clock doing road building?

Bonus anger for the PANYNJ:

6. why do 2 toll gates (from local roads no less) being closed cause such congestion at the gwb that it was able to become a sociopolitical scandal?  what if they were closed simply because of an accident or malfunction? People died in ambulances.





SM-G955U

6 again: No toll gates were closed. 3 lanes from a local area narrowed down to one lane, going thru 1 toll lane. The 2 toll lanes were still open for motorists coming via I-95. And a person died, not people. Still not acceptable.

I didn't know somebody died as a direct result of that.  What exact lanes were closed?

Somebody died in an accident because of Christie closing down streets?  Yes, what *were* the details?

ixnay