What are some routes where it's faster to take a surface street than a freeway? Assume that both routes are completely free-flowing and traffic would not be an issue. Driving out of Pontiac towards Detroit there is a sign that estimates the time to get to I-75/696 via Woodward Ave (14 mile route along a surface street) and I-75 (18 mile route along a freeway). The sign isn't illuminated in Streetview but yesterday driving past the sign it estimated that it would take 18 minutes along both routes. I took Woodward Ave and sure enough it took me exactly 18 minutes. Even though you are only averaging ~50 mph on Woodward, the route is 4 miles shorter than I-75 so you get there roughly the same time.
https://www.google.com/maps/@42.618764,-83.2787472,3a,75y,143.16h,91.57t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sw3KGZEA47ej7NxNlqmsLpg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
(https://i.imgur.com/uz3JC2S.png)
From Menomonee Falls WI, it's 2 minutes and 4 miles quicker to take Fond du Lac Ave (WI-145) to the Marquette Interchange than it is to take the Zoo Freeway to I-94. Granted, part of WI-145 is a freeway, until Hampton Ave.
Quote from: thspfc on July 18, 2019, 11:50:02 AM
From Menomonee Falls WI, it's 2 minutes and 4 miles quicker to take Fond du Lac Ave (WI-145) to the Marquette Interchange than it is to take the Zoo Freeway to I-94. Granted, part of WI-145 is a freeway, until Hampton Ave.
Nice example. It does look like you would be driving on the surface street section of Fond du Lac Ave that looks llittered with traffic signals for about 5 miles, but it's a much more direct route than the freeway.
(https://i.imgur.com/qFXdwxT.png)
We actually tested it in rural area. US 34 between Galesburg and 80 is about 12 minutes shorter but there is never more than a couple of minutes difference in say or the other.
Quote from: 3467 on July 18, 2019, 01:06:17 PM
We actually tested it in rural area. US 34 between Galesburg and 80 is about 12 minutes shorter but there is never more than a couple of minutes difference in say or the other.
Nice so if you are heading towards Chicago from Galesburg it's about as fast to go up US 34 to cut up to I-80 instead of taking I-74? I plugged that route into Google maps and it looks like it detours off US-34 to bypass Galva & Kewanee. According to Google Maps it's only a few minutes slower taking US-34 but several miles shorter (as you mentioned).
(https://i.imgur.com/Cq4UeoH.png)
Here's one that isn't necessarily identified anywhere, or even signed as such, but comes to mind immediately:
from SFO airport to the Golden Gate Bridge, taking I-380/I-280/Route 1 as opposed to staying on US 101.
Both routes (due to the 1950s/1960s San Francisco freeway revolts) involve surface street routings, Route 1 via Junipero Serra/19th Avenue/Park Presidio Boulevard through the Sunset and Richmond districts and US 101 via its longstanding Van Ness/Lombard path past Civic Center/Hayes Valley, Pacific Heights, and Cow Hollow/Marina.
While 101 is freeway for longer, Van Ness is currently filled with construction for the MUNI bus rapid transit lanes, and has way more of a grade than the 19th Avenue section of 101. And 101 between the Alemany Maze interchange with 280 and Hospital Curve is a choke point on a daily basis.
Another thought - though this is technically not entirely bypassing the freeway, so similar to the WI 145 example above - from Koreatown in LA to LAX Airport: taking La Cienega Boulevard (including the section of freeway that was supposed to be Route 170) instead of staying on I-10 to get to I-405 south.
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I thought of this one because of how often it gets mentioned in the Interstate 11 threads, but would using AZ 85/I-8 between Buckeye, AZ and Casa Grande, AZ be generally faster than I-10 et al. connecting those two cities?
Shea Boulevard from AZ 51 was definitely a way faster way to get to east Scottsdale and Fountain Hills than having to loop all the way up on AZ 101. Shea Boulevard aside the area near Scottsdale Road has a surprisingly low amount of traffic compared to nearby Cactus Road for some reason.
From Denver to Flagstaff, it's about an hour shorter to go I-70>US 191>US163>US160>US 89>I-40 than it is to take I-25 to I-40.
It's also a bit faster and shorter to take US 285 from Denver to Santa Fe than I-25 due to I-25's p-trap through Glorieta Pass
Back east somewhat, it's about a half-hour faster to get to I-75 and the upper peninsula of Michigan from the Chicago area to take I-94>I-196>US 131>M-55 (non-freeway)>US 127 than to take the all-freeway I-94>I-69>US 127.
Another one is in Wisconsin where it's faster to get from WI 29 to US 41 north by taking County Road E from Shawano to the US 141/US 41 interchange than to follow WI 29 to Green Bay to catch US 41 north.
One mentioned earlier in a different thread:
Between Los Alamos, CA and Santa Barbara, Route 154 is the hypotenuse of a triangle formed with the L-shaped segment of US 101 between those two points. Save for a roundabout added about 4-5 years ago at the 154/246 junction, 154 is mostly free of stops along a shorter routing, the only caveat being that it is only two lanes wide and has some curves.
Quote from: TheStranger on July 18, 2019, 02:18:31 PM
One mentioned earlier in a different thread:
Between Los Alamos, CA and Santa Barbara, Route 154 is the hypotenuse of a triangle formed with the L-shaped segment of US 101 between those two points. Save for a roundabout added about 4-5 years ago at the 154/246 junction, 154 is mostly free of stops along a shorter routing, the only caveat being that it is only two lanes wide and has some curves.
That looks like a fun but potentially deadly drive with all of those curves! Is Route 154 known for a lot of fatalities?
In the Thousand Oaks/Simi Valley, CA area, Olsen Rd/Madera Rd is a quicker and shorter alternative by about 4 miles to go from CA 23 to CA 118
Quote from: tradephoric on July 18, 2019, 11:21:58 AM
... Driving out of Pontiac towards Detroit there is a sign that estimates the time to get to I-75/696 via Woodward Ave (14 mile route along a surface street) and I-75 (18 mile route along a freeway). ...
Given the construction on I-75, that's hardly surprising, especially at "rush" hour.
Quote from: TheStranger on July 18, 2019, 01:38:09 PM
I thought of this one because of how often it gets mentioned in the Interstate 11 threads, but would using AZ 85/I-8 between Buckeye, AZ and Casa Grande, AZ be generally faster than I-10 et al. connecting those two cities?
Generally speaking, under full-speed (or close) traffic circumstances, staying on I-10 (or even the slight same-distance detour over I-17) through PHX usually takes less time than the combination of AZ 85 and I-8, primarily because of Gila Bend itself (if bypassed, it would probably be close to a wash!). However -- and this pertains to either direction on I-10 -- if travel plans had one hitting PHX between 5:30 and 9 in the morning or 3-7:30 or so in the evening, the 8/85 Gila Bend detour would save a lot of time -- at least according to my own experience; I've done both alternatives. Regardless of whether AZ 85 is brought out to full freeway status and that connects free-flow to I-8, it'll invariably be a better alternative during PHX commute hours.
Yes tradephoric. I have done that route too. I ground thruthed all of them. Basically the travel time depends more on traffic in Chicagoland than particular route. Taking the 110 is also about 11 miles longer but same time.
Here is a plan that will appeal to roadgeeks . It was from a late friend who worked road construction
If there are 2 viable routes take one there and the other back.
Also Galva is only one stop sign and Kewanee has one of those secret bypasses.
It's not all freeway being bypassed. But Wisconsin residents usually use WI 26 between Waupun and Oshkosh rather than US 151 and I-41. US 151 is a non-stop expressway between Fond du Lac and Madison, though it incongruously has a stoplight at the I-41 interchange. (At least it used to have a stoplight. I haven't been up that way in a few years now.) It's usually about ten minutes quicker to go through Rosendale - and its local-yokel speed trap - than the four-lane express route.
Another big freeway bypass in the Phoenix Area is using AZ 87, AZ 260, AZ 277, AZ 377 and AZ 77 over I-17/I-40 to reach the New Mexico State Line. The route I described above almost takes a direct diagonal towards New Mexico whereas the freeway will have you heading in straight lines.
Quote from: GaryV on July 18, 2019, 04:07:50 PM
Quote from: tradephoric on July 18, 2019, 11:21:58 AM
... Driving out of Pontiac towards Detroit there is a sign that estimates the time to get to I-75/696 via Woodward Ave (14 mile route along a surface street) and I-75 (18 mile route along a freeway). ...
Given the construction on I-75, that's hardly surprising, especially at "rush" hour.
That and traffic on Woodward moves pretty good even at rush hour.
Quote from: Flint1979 on July 18, 2019, 10:21:11 PM
Quote from: GaryV on July 18, 2019, 04:07:50 PM
Quote from: tradephoric on July 18, 2019, 11:21:58 AM
... Driving out of Pontiac towards Detroit there is a sign that estimates the time to get to I-75/696 via Woodward Ave (14 mile route along a surface street) and I-75 (18 mile route along a freeway). ...
Given the construction on I-75, that's hardly surprising, especially at "rush" hour.
That and traffic on Woodward moves pretty good even at rush hour.
That's pretty much true of almost all the surface routes. I used to take Grand River to M-39 all the time and US 24 on Telegraph. Sometimes you can hit all greens on Telegraph if you're lucky.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on July 18, 2019, 10:23:37 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on July 18, 2019, 10:21:11 PM
Quote from: GaryV on July 18, 2019, 04:07:50 PM
Quote from: tradephoric on July 18, 2019, 11:21:58 AM
... Driving out of Pontiac towards Detroit there is a sign that estimates the time to get to I-75/696 via Woodward Ave (14 mile route along a surface street) and I-75 (18 mile route along a freeway). ...
Given the construction on I-75, that's hardly surprising, especially at "rush" hour.
That and traffic on Woodward moves pretty good even at rush hour.
That's pretty much true of almost all the surface routes. I used to take Grand River to M-39 all the time and US 24 on Telegraph. Sometimes you can hit all greens on Telegraph if you're lucky.
Probably because even in a street like Woodward's case most of the traffic is on the freeways.
Quote from: Flint1979 on July 18, 2019, 10:26:50 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on July 18, 2019, 10:23:37 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on July 18, 2019, 10:21:11 PM
Quote from: GaryV on July 18, 2019, 04:07:50 PM
Quote from: tradephoric on July 18, 2019, 11:21:58 AM
... Driving out of Pontiac towards Detroit there is a sign that estimates the time to get to I-75/696 via Woodward Ave (14 mile route along a surface street) and I-75 (18 mile route along a freeway). ...
Given the construction on I-75, that's hardly surprising, especially at "rush" hour.
That and traffic on Woodward moves pretty good even at rush hour.
That's pretty much true of almost all the surface routes. I used to take Grand River to M-39 all the time and US 24 on Telegraph. Sometimes you can hit all greens on Telegraph if you're lucky.
Probably because even in a street like Woodward's case most of the traffic is on the freeways.
A lot of it has to do with the design of the traffic flow. Compared to most states the control of surface traffic is pretty top notch, especially on MDOT roadways in Metro Detroit. I really wish other states would adopt the Michigan Left since it can make a huge difference at major junctions.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on July 18, 2019, 08:18:08 PM
Another big freeway bypass in the Phoenix Area is using AZ 87, AZ 260, AZ 277, AZ 377 and AZ 77 over I-17/I-40 to reach the New Mexico State Line. The route I described above almost takes a direct diagonal towards New Mexico whereas the freeway will have you heading in straight lines.
Essentially my route of choice heading NE out of PHX; been doing it since mid-'90's. The scenery along the Mogollon Ridge, largely followed by AZ 260, is nothing short of breathtaking (especially in spring & fall). But Payson, Star Valley, Forest Lakes and the like have always eerily reminded me of CA mountain towns -- such as the tragic Paradise! And that area seems to be "wildfire central" in that region; the blend of houses & cabins intermixed with trees is likely to eventually suffer a similar fate. One of my old UCR college buddies and his wife split up (after 33 years together!); she ended up moving to Show Low (which barely dodged a fire bullet several years back) against my recommendations to the contrary for just that reason (I'd suggested the St. George area, since she seemed to prefer milder weather). That entire region -- from the US 93/I-11 corridor eastward into NM, and encompassing Prescott and the resort towns along AZ 89A, is a tinderbox -- a fire waiting to happen! But in the meantime, it's a nice shortcut between PHX and ABQ or, if one is ambitious and doesn't mind a jaunt up us 491 and into CO, Denver (491>64>516>550>160>112>285 is one of my all-time favorite "personal corridors"). Far more satisfying than sticking to the Interstates through Flagstaff and Albuquerque. :nod:
Quote from: sparker on July 19, 2019, 02:50:56 AM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on July 18, 2019, 08:18:08 PM
Another big freeway bypass in the Phoenix Area is using AZ 87, AZ 260, AZ 277, AZ 377 and AZ 77 over I-17/I-40 to reach the New Mexico State Line. The route I described above almost takes a direct diagonal towards New Mexico whereas the freeway will have you heading in straight lines.
Essentially my route of choice heading NE out of PHX; been doing it since mid-'90's. The scenery along the Mogollon Ridge, largely followed by AZ 260, is nothing short of breathtaking (especially in spring & fall). But Payson, Star Valley, Forest Lakes and the like have always eerily reminded me of CA mountain towns -- such as the tragic Paradise! And that area seems to be "wildfire central" in that region; the blend of houses & cabins intermixed with trees is likely to eventually suffer a similar fate. One of my old UCR college buddies and his wife split up (after 33 years together!); she ended up moving to Show Low (which barely dodged a fire bullet several years back) against my recommendations to the contrary for just that reason (I'd suggested the St. George area, since she seemed to prefer milder weather). That entire region -- from the US 93/I-11 corridor eastward into NM, and encompassing Prescott and the resort towns along AZ 89A, is a tinderbox -- a fire waiting to happen! But in the meantime, it's a nice shortcut between PHX and ABQ or, if one is ambitious and doesn't mind a jaunt up us 491 and into CO, Denver (491>64>516>550>160>112>285 is one of my all-time favorite "personal corridors"). Far more satisfying than sticking to the Interstates through Flagstaff and Albuquerque. :nod:
You're referring to Wallow Fire with Show Low I believe. I had to spend a week up there when the fire was at it's peak deciding whether or not to close to a job site. If I recall the fire never got closer than 20 miles from Show Low at any point. That said I've never seen a mushroom cloud that large and when the wind turned all that smoke blew into town making it seem like the atom bomb went off. Greer was the little town that almost got wiped off the map during that fire on the south end of AZ 373.
For a couple years Arizona was having a huge plague of wild fires but always seemed to dodge what happened in Paradise. The worst one was ironically was one of the smallest with the Yarnell Hill Fire which killed a bunch of fire fighters.
A lot of North Carolinians know that between Charlotte and Raleigh, it's generally a safer bet to take NC 49 and US 64 instead of I-85 and I-40.
US 212 instead of I-90 in Montana/Wyoming/South Dakota
In after US 212/I-90.
In North Dallas I take Preston Road instead of the Tollway to get to LBJ. One, it's free, but the better thing is it's not usually bumper to bumper and moves a little faster than the posted speed (45). You might get a little hung up on the lights in Plano but once you get south of the Bush the lights are synced green almost all the way to LBJ.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on July 18, 2019, 10:29:06 PM
A lot of it has to do with the design of the traffic flow. Compared to most states the control of surface traffic is pretty top notch, especially on MDOT roadways in Metro Detroit. I really wish other states would adopt the Michigan Left since it can make a huge difference at major junctions.
Detroit is near the bottom of the list for freeway lane miles per capita. I have always felt that its low on this list because of the expansive boulevards running throughout the metro region. They were originally known as "super-highways" and when constructed in the 1920s these massive 8-lane boulevards cut through corn fields 15 miles out from the city center. At the time they really did look like roads to nowhere.
(https://i.imgur.com/MJ3Wj11.png)
Quote from: Road Hog on July 22, 2019, 04:33:25 AM
In North Dallas I take Preston Road instead of the Tollway to get to LBJ. One, it's free, but the better thing is it's not usually bumper to bumper and moves a little faster than the posted speed (45). You might get a little hung up on the lights in Plano but once you get south of the Bush the lights are synced green almost all the way to LBJ.
I've never had any problems with the N Dallas Tollway, but maybe just because I hit it at the right time.
Quote from: tradephoric on July 23, 2019, 07:55:35 AM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on July 18, 2019, 10:29:06 PM
A lot of it has to do with the design of the traffic flow. Compared to most states the control of surface traffic is pretty top notch, especially on MDOT roadways in Metro Detroit. I really wish other states would adopt the Michigan Left since it can make a huge difference at major junctions.
Detroit is near the bottom of the list for freeway lane miles per capita. I have always felt that its low on this list because of the expansive boulevards running throughout the metro region. They were originally known as "super-highways" and when constructed in the 1920s these massive 8-lane boulevards cut through corn fields 15 miles out from the city center. At the time they really did look like roads to nowhere.
(https://i.imgur.com/MJ3Wj11.png)
That's a very interesting list. Do they have a more recent one?
It probably was mentioned before, but US 46 and NJ 3 both bring traffic to Midtown New York faster than using I-80 to either I-95 S Bound or I-95 N Bound to NY 9A S Bound.
In Wayne, NJ the signage at Exit 53 states that US 46 to NJ 3 is only for Clifton and the Lincoln Tunnel, but I-80 East to the GW Bridge is signed for NYC as if it is the suggested route to all of NYC.
One can argue NYC is way to ambiguous as its hard to pick a point where to send people, so being I-80 defaults into I-95 which does enter New York City after crossing the GWB, its probably that NJDOT said to keep all signs on the freeway. Yet again, US 46 and NJ 3 together for the trip to the tunnel is freeway like as it has no stoplights and major intersections at grade as well.
Still not full freeway and the trip to Midtown is still faster via the non interstate here.
In Northern Virginia US301 over I-95 if there's too much traffic on I-95.
What about US 19 north of Beckley, WV? It is faster than staying on the interstate to reach I-79? Just watch your speed in Summerville and you will be fine, but it is an expressway and WV usually builds them to near interstate grade so it is not only shorter but a good bypass to Charleston and the tolls.
Quote from: mrhappy1261 on July 27, 2019, 10:59:12 PM
In Northern Virginia US301 over I-95 if there's too much traffic on I-95.
It would take a catastrophic incident on I-95.
Quote from: tradephoric on July 23, 2019, 07:55:35 AM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on July 18, 2019, 10:29:06 PM
A lot of it has to do with the design of the traffic flow. Compared to most states the control of surface traffic is pretty top notch, especially on MDOT roadways in Metro Detroit. I really wish other states would adopt the Michigan Left since it can make a huge difference at major junctions.
Detroit is near the bottom of the list for freeway lane miles per capita. I have always felt that its low on this list because of the expansive boulevards running throughout the metro region. They were originally known as "super-highways" and when constructed in the 1920s these massive 8-lane boulevards cut through corn fields 15 miles out from the city center. At the time they really did look like roads to nowhere.
(https://i.imgur.com/MJ3Wj11.png)
That explains why it's so easy to get around San Antonio. Driving there is no problem at all. (As long as you don't go too far north on 281; that's a little bit of a choke point.)
Quote from: Beltway on July 31, 2019, 11:43:24 PM
Quote from: mrhappy1261 on July 27, 2019, 10:59:12 PM
In Northern Virginia US301 over I-95 if there's too much traffic on I-95.
It would take a catastrophic incident on I-95.
For someone not using the HO/T lanes, it could easily be faster.
A better example could be US-50 / US-301 / DE-1 over I-95. Bypasses Baltimore, cheaper, and only slightly slower and if there's congestion on I-95, it ends up being faster without question. Only unreliable when congestion is existent near the Bay Bridge.
Quote from: sprjus4 on August 02, 2019, 09:52:37 PM
Quote from: Beltway on July 31, 2019, 11:43:24 PM
Quote from: mrhappy1261 on July 27, 2019, 10:59:12 PM
In Northern Virginia US301 over I-95 if there's too much traffic on I-95.
It would take a catastrophic incident on I-95.
For someone not using the HO/T lanes, it could easily be faster.
US-301 in Southern Maryland has its own serious traffic problems, and has at least 50 signals between the Potomac River and US-50, and has a $6.00 southbound toll at the Nice Bridge.
I tried it one Friday afternoon recently, in lieu of I-95 and the HOT lanes, and in lieu of dealing with the Capital Beltway, and it was horrendous, with at least eight 1/2 to 1 mile long or more "move an inch" backups mainly on the section between US-50 and La Plata, and based on the advancing ETA on my nav system, I experienced at least 60 minutes of delay, and there were no incidents or former incidents on the route, just peak period traffic. The bridge itself wasn't a problem, nor was VA US-301 and VA-207 any real problem.
From E-ZPass log to give time of travel --
4/12/2019 6:31:55 PM MdTA Potomac Bridge -6.00
I'm not going to do that again outside of a reported catastrophe on I-95.
Sometimes taking US 20 instead of the Pike in Western Mass is much faster. The Pike backs up relatively frequently, and 20 has speed limits of 50 mph (80 km/h) for large portions of its length.
When going from Lafayette, Indiana to Indianapolis, people often take US 52 down to Lebanon and pick up I-65 there rather than going out to I-65, the road built to bypass it. I haven't timed it but US 52 is much straighter, is 4-lane divided, and has less traffic.
Quote from: Finrod on October 19, 2019, 01:03:28 AM
When going from Lafayette, Indiana to Indianapolis, people often take US 52 down to Lebanon and pick up I-65 there rather than going out to I-65, the road built to bypass it. I haven't timed it but US 52 is much straighter, is 4-lane divided, and has less traffic.
Even if it's slower than I-65, US 52 is a much more pleasant drive until the Lafayette area. The Lafayette area, with its numerous poorly, if not anti-coordinated stoplights, wipes out any time savings.
From Waterbury, CT to Albany, NY, it is easier to either take CT/MA 8 to US 20 or CT 8/CT 254/CT 118/US 202/CT 63/US 7/MA 41/MA 102/NYSRR 980D/NY 22 to get to I-90 than it is to backtrack on I-84 to Hartford, and take I-91 to West Springfield to catch it.
From most (?) points within Hampton Roads, it's typically faster to take US-58 to Emporia than I-64/295 when heading for NC and points south on I-95. I-85 is a bit more even, but US-58 wins out by a lot for those on the Southside.
Quote from: Thing 342 on October 21, 2019, 06:00:12 PM
From most (?) points within Hampton Roads, it's typically faster to take US-58 to Emporia than I-64/295 when heading for NC and points south on I-95. I-85 is a bit more even, but US-58 wins out by a lot for those on the Southside.
I wouldn't even consider that an option. That's adding at least an hour on. I don't care for US-58, but I wouldn't drive all the way up there just to stay on interstate highways.
US-460 to I-85 is a more reasonable option, and is only 50 miles of arterial highway over 90 miles of US-58. It adds on about 15-20 minutes, but if you're trying to stick to interstate highways and a more reasonable option, it works. I've done it a few different times, and it's more tolerable IMO than US-58 all the way. You could also take I-85 to I-40 to I-87 / US-64 at Raleigh to I-95 to avoid the portion of US-58 west of Emporia. That's my preferred routing when heading southwest, I've taken that routing thru Raleigh numerous times where I've only done I-85 directly to I-85 a couple times.
Heading directly to I-95, I've done both US-58 and US-17 / US-64. US-17 / US-64 tacks on an additional 15-20 minutes, but is more enjoyable IMO, less traffic, and more 70 mph zones. The segment between Elizabeth City and Chesapeake is also limited-access, and just about everybody does 70-75 mph by default despite the 55 - 60 mph limits, so it's easier to get through that ~30 mile stretch without heavily standing out (not that there's any enforcement anyways). There's been at least once where I've been able to maintain 70 mph thruout the entire US-17 stretch, with the exception of the small urban segments, I'm not insane enough to do 70 mph in a 35 - 45 mph zone. On the contrary, pushing ~67-68 mph breaks a comfort barrier when I'm driving on US-58, especially with the amount of enforcement I've seen along that road, and previous experience with police on that road, also the fact most people don't exceed this speed. You also avoid the congested urban area outside of Suffolk which is a nice bonus, plus all of the High Rise Bridge corridor at least if you're heading to the eastern side of Southern HR.
Traffic originating in Hampton / Newport News / Williamsburg can reasonably take I-64 to I-295 to I-85 as a preferred routing, though if there was congestion on I-64 as there usually is during peak periods, I'd just opt for US-58. Sure, I-64 is 70 mph and US-58 is only 60 mph, but I'm more likely to be going 60 - 65 mph on US-58 and 20 - 40 mph on I-64.
Quote from: Road Hog on August 02, 2019, 08:41:59 PM
Quote from: tradephoric on July 23, 2019, 07:55:35 AM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on July 18, 2019, 10:29:06 PM
A lot of it has to do with the design of the traffic flow. Compared to most states the control of surface traffic is pretty top notch, especially on MDOT roadways in Metro Detroit. I really wish other states would adopt the Michigan Left since it can make a huge difference at major junctions.
Detroit is near the bottom of the list for freeway lane miles per capita. I have always felt that its low on this list because of the expansive boulevards running throughout the metro region. They were originally known as "super-highways" and when constructed in the 1920s these massive 8-lane boulevards cut through corn fields 15 miles out from the city center. At the time they really did look like roads to nowhere.
(https://i.imgur.com/MJ3Wj11.png)
That explains why it's so easy to get around San Antonio. Driving there is no problem at all. (As long as you don't go too far north on 281; that's a little bit of a choke point.)
And it also explains why traffic in Chicagoland was/is bad. Our surface street network is fairly poor.
^^^^^^^^^^^
Noticed that the "top ten" all have full or composite Interstate beltways surrounding them (DFW's consisting of interwoven facilities); OKC is the highest-ranking metro area without a full outer Interstate beltway (adding the Kilpatrick probably increases the overall lane-miles -- and this was tabulated in 1999, prior to the relocation of I-40 downtown. But heading down the list, only three additional cities feature I-belts, which undoubtedly skews their "ranking" in this list downward. I for one am hardly surprised by KC's #1 ranking (by a long shot!), considering they're served by (a) four trunk/2d Interstates, (b) one of the longest beltways by mileage, (c) a substantial number of connecting freeways, including I-470 & I-635 (plus the legally sporadic Watkins and the cross-regional connectors north of the Missouri River). The times I've been in the area I was astounded by how easy it was to get around the area by car (albeit not during commute periods). For better or worse, that area has certainly cast its lot (the US 71/Watkins controversy notwithstanding) with automotive transport.
My commute. It varies based on how much traffic there is, but as per Google Maps when I choose to depart at midnight (little to no traffic), it is a few minutes faster to take NJ 73 South to the Atlantic City Expressway (Exit 31) than I-295 South to NJ 42 South to Atlantic City Expressway East (Exit 44) and go the 13 miles to exit 31.
In practice during the day, the freeway route is faster when there is no significant congestion because of local traffic on NJ 73.