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Massachusetts

Started by hotdogPi, October 12, 2013, 04:50:12 PM

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Pete from Boston

Quote from: Rothman on September 22, 2021, 11:12:52 PM
What has stopped Massachusetts drivers from using the shoulder anyway? Been a proud tradition since I was a kid.

Little gives me as much pleasure as watching a cop stop people using the shoulder to get around stopped traffic.


Pete from Boston

In Salem, the city that brought you the Eurostile italic font on street signs...



How many sets of eyes do you suppose were complicit in letting this through?

Roadgeekteen

Breakdown lane travel is incredibly dangerous in my opinion. What happens if you break down?
God-emperor of Alanland, king of all the goats and goat-like creatures

Current Interstate map I am making:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?hl=en&mid=1PEDVyNb1skhnkPkgXi8JMaaudM2zI-Y&ll=29.05778059819179%2C-82.48856825&z=5

hotdogPi

Quote from: Roadgeekteen on September 23, 2021, 09:05:50 PM
Breakdown lane travel is incredibly dangerous in my opinion. What happens if you break down?

There are emergency pulloffs about every ½ mile in the locations with rush hour breakdown lane use.
Clinched, minus I-93 (I'm missing a few miles and my file is incorrect)

Traveled, plus US 13, 44, and 50, and several state routes

I will be in Burlington VT for the eclipse.

Roadgeekteen

Quote from: 1 on September 23, 2021, 09:08:45 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on September 23, 2021, 09:05:50 PM
Breakdown lane travel is incredibly dangerous in my opinion. What happens if you break down?

There are emergency pulloffs about every ½ mile in the locations with rush hour breakdown lane use.
What if you can't make it 1/2 miles?
God-emperor of Alanland, king of all the goats and goat-like creatures

Current Interstate map I am making:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?hl=en&mid=1PEDVyNb1skhnkPkgXi8JMaaudM2zI-Y&ll=29.05778059819179%2C-82.48856825&z=5

yakra

Quote from: 1 on September 23, 2021, 09:08:45 PM
There are emergency pulloffs about every ½ mile in the locations with rush hour breakdown lane use.
Let's start allowing travel in those too then.
"Officer, I'm always careful to drive the speed limit no matter where I am and that's what I was doin'." Said "No, you weren't," she said, "Yes, I was." He said, "Madam, I just clocked you at 22 MPH," and she said "That's the speed limit," he said "No ma'am, that's the route numbah!"  - Gary Crocker

deathtopumpkins

Quote from: Roadgeekteen on September 23, 2021, 09:10:31 PMWhat if you can't make it 1/2 miles?

If your car experiences that extreme of a sudden breakdown, it's pretty unlikely you'd even make it to the shoulder anyway.

I have seen a disabled vehicle on the shoulder on 93 during rush hour though. Traffic backs up a bit behind them, but you just merge back into the travel lanes and go around them. Pre-COVID it's not like traffic was moving quickly during those hours anyway.
Disclaimer: All posts represent my personal opinions and not those of my employer.

Clinched Highways | Counties Visited

SectorZ

Quote from: Pete from Boston on September 23, 2021, 05:25:50 PM
In Salem, the city that brought you the Eurostile italic font on street signs...



How many sets of eyes do you suppose were complicit in letting this through?

Imagine just having to look ahead and up 6-8' feet to get a guide on how to get it correct.

Rothman

Quote from: Pete from Boston on September 23, 2021, 05:22:43 PM
Quote from: Rothman on September 22, 2021, 11:12:52 PM
What has stopped Massachusetts drivers from using the shoulder anyway? Been a proud tradition since I was a kid.

Little gives me as much pleasure as watching a cop stop people using the shoulder to get around stopped traffic.
Heh.  True.
Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position(s) of NYSDOT.

5foot14

Quote from: Pete from Boston on September 23, 2021, 05:25:50 PM
In Salem, the city that brought you the Eurostile italic font on street signs...



How many sets of eyes do you suppose were complicit in letting this through?
Not to mention that 107 and 114 are state routes not US routes

SM-A515U


Pete from Boston

Quote from: 5foot14 on September 24, 2021, 09:59:39 AM
Quote from: Pete from Boston on September 23, 2021, 05:25:50 PM
In Salem, the city that brought you the Eurostile italic font on street signs...



How many sets of eyes do you suppose were complicit in letting this through?
Not to mention that 107 and 114 are state routes not US routes

SM-A515U

That was my point.

Does someone mis-order, then nobody wants to rock the boat and put in a change that delay the final payment to the contractor?

Pete from Boston

Quote from: Roadgeekteen on September 23, 2021, 09:10:31 PM
Quote from: 1 on September 23, 2021, 09:08:45 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on September 23, 2021, 09:05:50 PM
Breakdown lane travel is incredibly dangerous in my opinion. What happens if you break down?

There are emergency pulloffs about every ½ mile in the locations with rush hour breakdown lane use.
What if you can't make it 1/2 miles?

From experience, if you lose all power while driving in free-flowing traffic at speed it's going to take you a while to coast over to a stop. 1/2 mile is not that much in that case.

If you break down in stopped or slow traffic you probably weren't going to make it to the shoulder anyway.

kramie13

Is there a reason why MA 129 is concurrent with US 1 in Saugus and Lynnfield?  It seems rather unnecessary.  Wouldn't it make more sense for that route to continue following Walnut St and Linwood Rd into Lynn, and rejoining its current alignment where it intersects MA 107?

Or another option, MA 129 doesn't turn right onto Main St in Wakefield, continuing to follow Lowell St and Salem St into Lynnfield, and rejoining its current alignment near where US-1 and I-95/MA 128 intersect in that area.

I'm sure this would clear up some confusion as far as route numbers go in that area.

5foot14



Quote from: kramie13 on September 27, 2021, 10:28:04 AM
Is there a reason why MA 129 is concurrent with US 1 in Saugus and Lynnfield?  It seems rather unnecessary.  Wouldn't it make more sense for that route to continue following Walnut St and Linwood Rd into Lynn, and rejoining its current alignment where it intersects MA 107?

Or another option, MA 129 doesn't turn right onto Main St in Wakefield, continuing to follow Lowell St and Salem St into Lynnfield, and rejoining its current alignment near where US-1 and I-95/MA 128 intersect in that area.

I'm sure this would clear up some confusion as far as route numbers go in that area.

Originally 129 did continue down Walnut St into Lynn, using Kirtland/Boston/Federal Streets to get to 107. From there its route varied through the years to get to Swampscott. By the 70s it was rerouted up route 1 to go around the north side of Lynn. I don't know for sure but if I had to guess this was to provide a more efficient route to Swampscott. Then in the 90s it was rerouted again to bring 129 closer to downtown Lynn,  with the old Route designated 129A. As for why they never rerouted it along Lowell/Salem St? Probably deemed unnecessary since 128 runs parallel. Or Wakefield wanted to keep 129 through the center of town.

SM-A515U


SectorZ

Quote from: kramie13 on September 27, 2021, 10:28:04 AM
Is there a reason why MA 129 is concurrent with US 1 in Saugus and Lynnfield?  It seems rather unnecessary.  Wouldn't it make more sense for that route to continue following Walnut St and Linwood Rd into Lynn, and rejoining its current alignment where it intersects MA 107?

Or another option, MA 129 doesn't turn right onto Main St in Wakefield, continuing to follow Lowell St and Salem St into Lynnfield, and rejoining its current alignment near where US-1 and I-95/MA 128 intersect in that area.

I'm sure this would clear up some confusion as far as route numbers go in that area.

It's funny that both of those options are more logical than the current routing.

Here would be my plan... Your first option is MA 129, your second option is a westward extension of MA 129A or a new state route outright (either replacing MA 129 from US 1 route the 129/129A junction). The state can then delete the portion of 129 thru Lynn that would be route-less after the change.

RobbieL2415

Quote from: Roadgeekteen on September 23, 2021, 09:05:50 PM
Breakdown lane travel is incredibly dangerous in my opinion. What happens if you break down?
How dangerous was it when it was allowed on I-95/MA 128, before the add-a-lane project was completed?

roadman

#1641
Quote from: RobbieL2415 on September 28, 2021, 12:04:50 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on September 23, 2021, 09:05:50 PM
Breakdown lane travel is incredibly dangerous in my opinion. What happens if you break down?
How dangerous was it when it was allowed on I-95/MA 128, before the add-a-lane project was completed?
I don't recall the exact statistics, but peak hour breakdown lane travel between Randolph and Wellesley travel actually had relatively few incidents over the years it was in operation.  There was only one fatality I recall in the late 1990s where a disabled car was struck by a speeding driver going over 100.  However, this happened during the middle of the day when the breakdown lane was closed to travel.
"And ninety-five is the route you were on.  It was not the speed limit sign."  - Jim Croce (from Speedball Tucker)

"My life has been a tapestry
Of years of roads and highway signs" (with apologies to Carole King and Tom Rush)

fwydriver405

Quote from: RobbieL2415 on September 28, 2021, 12:04:50 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on September 23, 2021, 09:05:50 PM
Breakdown lane travel is incredibly dangerous in my opinion. What happens if you break down?
How dangerous was it when it was allowed on I-95/MA 128, before the add-a-lane project was completed?
Let's also not forget the one on Route 3 between Exit 27 and Exit 38...

roadman

Quote from: fwydriver405 on September 28, 2021, 10:00:01 PM
Quote from: RobbieL2415 on September 28, 2021, 12:04:50 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on September 23, 2021, 09:05:50 PM
Breakdown lane travel is incredibly dangerous in my opinion. What happens if you break down?
How dangerous was it when it was allowed on I-95/MA 128, before the add-a-lane project was completed?
Let's also not forget the one on Route 3 between Exit 27 and Exit 38...
And I-93 between north of Route 125 in Wilmington and south of Routes 110/113 in Methuen.
"And ninety-five is the route you were on.  It was not the speed limit sign."  - Jim Croce (from Speedball Tucker)

"My life has been a tapestry
Of years of roads and highway signs" (with apologies to Carole King and Tom Rush)

kefkafloyd

Quote from: SectorZ on September 22, 2021, 06:09:33 PM
Quote from: deathtopumpkins on September 22, 2021, 12:45:48 PM
There has (somewhat shockingly) not been any publicity around it, but the state is indeed about to start letting buses use the shoulders on I-93.

Such has been briefly mentioned in a couple news articles:
https://whav.net/2021/09/08/boston-commuter-bus-returns-to-merrimack-valley-service-after-covid-19-suspension/
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/02/15/metro/next-generation-bus-lanes-is-coming-greater-boston/

And a bit more information can be found here, see page 23: https://www.mass.gov/doc/congestion-study-updates-presented-to-board-on-11232020/download [pdf]

Interestingly that powerpoint also includes the idea of converting the HOV lanes on 93 to HOT lanes, and suggests allowing buses on the shoulder on virtually every freeway in greater Boston.

Awesome, I finally see why the state won't upgrade US 3 to eight lanes, because they feel it's more "feasible" to put rich people lanes in there instead. Same with 93 between 95 and 495. Fantastic.

US 3 needs a 65MPH speed limit before any widening, let alone HOT lanes.

Roadgeekteen

Quote from: kefkafloyd on September 29, 2021, 06:57:50 PM
Quote from: SectorZ on September 22, 2021, 06:09:33 PM
Quote from: deathtopumpkins on September 22, 2021, 12:45:48 PM
There has (somewhat shockingly) not been any publicity around it, but the state is indeed about to start letting buses use the shoulders on I-93.

Such has been briefly mentioned in a couple news articles:
https://whav.net/2021/09/08/boston-commuter-bus-returns-to-merrimack-valley-service-after-covid-19-suspension/
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/02/15/metro/next-generation-bus-lanes-is-coming-greater-boston/

And a bit more information can be found here, see page 23: https://www.mass.gov/doc/congestion-study-updates-presented-to-board-on-11232020/download [pdf]

Interestingly that powerpoint also includes the idea of converting the HOV lanes on 93 to HOT lanes, and suggests allowing buses on the shoulder on virtually every freeway in greater Boston.

Awesome, I finally see why the state won't upgrade US 3 to eight lanes, because they feel it's more "feasible" to put rich people lanes in there instead. Same with 93 between 95 and 495. Fantastic.

US 3 needs a 65MPH speed limit before any widening, let alone HOT lanes.
The speed limit is de facto 75 unless a cop is having a bad day.
God-emperor of Alanland, king of all the goats and goat-like creatures

Current Interstate map I am making:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?hl=en&mid=1PEDVyNb1skhnkPkgXi8JMaaudM2zI-Y&ll=29.05778059819179%2C-82.48856825&z=5

Pete from Boston


MinecraftNinja


roadman65

Is this the end of MA 1A?  Or does it loop back to end at I-95?
https://goo.gl/maps/i8ZSDZQhKJSu8uvA6
Every day is a winding road, you just got to get used to it.

Sheryl Crowe

bob7374

#1649
Quote from: roadman65 on October 06, 2021, 09:28:36 PM
Is this the end of MA 1A?  Or does it loop back to end at I-95?
https://goo.gl/maps/i8ZSDZQhKJSu8uvA6
Officially, or going by signage? Officially, 1A runs concurrent north with US 1 from Dedham until the I-90 exit on I-93 in Boston. The signage on Elm Street heading west and at the intersection of Washington and Elm Streets implies MA 1A simply begins and ends there:
https://goo.gl/maps/HhEBPypMavy9N68Q8]https://goo.gl/maps/1gX7LVmhG8TVrABb6[url]

[url]https://goo.gl/maps/HhEBPypMavy9N68Q8]

[url]https://goo.gl/maps/HhEBPypMavy9N68Q8]https://goo.gl/maps/1gX7LVmhG8TVrABb6[url]

[url]https://goo.gl/maps/HhEBPypMavy9N68Q8


Here's the signage heading north on Washington Street at Elm, no mention of 1A:
https://goo.gl/maps/WPhcnE89NVe7sgwbA



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