New York State Thruway

[RobbieL2415]

Regarding exit 24, the safest option would be to remove the loops that carry I-87, and instead tie the Northway stubs directly into the Thruway south of US 20.
EDIT: yeah, what Steve said.

Maybe use ramp meters? The Cross-Westchester has them now.

Both ends of I-490 are also going to have potential for weaving issues, given the proximity of Exits 1 and 29, respectively. On the Victor end of it, I-490 EB to Thruway EB is going to have colossal backups. The toll booth is the only thing preventing it right now. Volumes have always been way, way too high to be sustained by a single lane ramp, and that will be accentuated with three lanes cramming into one at freeway speeds.

FTFY, although I'm not sure which part of my post you were responding to.

I'm responding to the bottom quote.

[empirestate]

At least in the Rochester area, a decade or so ago NYSTA wanted to add an interchange at Union Street, but local NIMBYs stopped it.

Longer ago than that...as I recall, it was local politicians who wanted it to create developable real estate (there's nothing whatsoever out there now), not NYSTA. Presumably it was stopped by the poor political optics of using infrastructure to create demand as opposed to anticipating and responding to it.

[kevinb1994]

Huge news here. Cuomo has announced that the entire Thruway system will go cashless by the end of next year: https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-announces-selection-design-build-team-install-cashless-tolling-nys-thruway-end

Not really new news, this was announced and perhaps rumored not long ago.

And now it's being announced for realsies. It is "new news" to go from rumor to concrete announcement.

It wasn't even a rumor. NYSTA released the first conversion contract a few months ago.

We even knew how the system would work! At least temporarily, they're installing equipment at most existing interchange toll booths. I wouldn't be surprised if that is the medium-term solution, as there is no reason to throw a gantry at every little interchange. Exit 22 has already been retrofitted. It will sort of be like how the Maine Turnpike works for Maine E-ZPass tagholders in that it's a virtual ticket system with gantries at every entrance/exit.

What IS officially a rumor is what will happen to the 23-25A (inclusive) section. Plans have NOT been released for conversions of those exits and it is thought that mainline gantries will be placed south of 23 and west of 25A, making this section free. This would certainly reduce congestion on Albany surface roads, as NY 5 and NY 7 in particular are routinely clogged with shunpikers.

Thought so, thanks.

[astralentity]

Regarding exit 24, the safest option would be to remove the loops that carry I-87, and instead tie the Northway stubs directly into the Thruway south of US 20.

I've always wondered why this was never the case....  Exit 24 is the most screwed up interchange in the state, with Exit 31 a close second.

[webny99]

Maybe use ramp meters? The Cross-Westchester has them now.

Both ends of I-490 are also going to have potential for weaving issues, given the proximity of Exits 1 and 29, respectively. On the Victor end of it, I-490 EB to Thruway EB is going to have colossal backups. The toll booth is the only thing preventing it right now. Volumes have always been way, way too high to be sustained by a single lane ramp, and that will be accentuated with three lanes cramming into one at freeway speeds.

FTFY, although I'm not sure which part of my post you were responding to.

I'm responding to the bottom quote.

Ramp meters on I-490?

Count me skeptical. The problem there isn't with the ramp traffic. The problem is with all the traffic from a busy two lane freeway (actually three lane, prior to Exit 29) cramming into a single lane ramp. The directional split is probably 90-10 in favor of the eastbound Thruway, which is why there is going to be backups regardless of the oncoming Exit 29 traffic.

The 88, 490, and 890 interchanges are easy because it's the end of the freeway and conflicting traffic is limited.

As mentioned, the issue with Exit 45 is the single lane ramp, not the weaving / conflicting traffic.
Those ramps carry as much, if not more traffic than the Thruway itself west of there. Exit 45 WB is typically about a 55 / 45 split in favor of I-490.

[astralentity]

Exit 25 (341) is in serious need of reconfigure.  Someone just needs to sneeze wrong and it's backed up there.

[vdeane]

Regarding exit 24, the safest option would be to remove the loops that carry I-87, and instead tie the Northway stubs directly into the Thruway south of US 20.

I've always wondered why this was never the case....  Exit 24 is the most screwed up interchange in the state, with Exit 30 a close second.

Herkimer?

[webny99]

^ Pretty sure he meant Exit 31 (Utica), which I would agree needs to be reconfigured along with Exit 24.

[astralentity]

^ Pretty sure he meant Exit 31 (Utica), which I would agree needs to be reconfigured along with Exit 24.

Yes, I did.   

[webny99]

^ Pretty sure he meant Exit 31 (Utica), which I would agree needs to be reconfigured along with Exit 24.

Yes, I did.   

Since you're new here, I might as well tell you that you can fix it if you wish by clicking the "modify" button.

[astralentity]

^ Pretty sure he meant Exit 31 (Utica), which I would agree needs to be reconfigured along with Exit 24.

Yes, I did.   

Since you're new here, I might as well tell you that you can fix it if you wish by clicking the "modify" button.

Fixed

[TonyTrafficLight]

^ Pretty sure he meant Exit 31 (Utica), which I would agree needs to be reconfigured along with Exit 24.

Yes, I did.   

What should be done with Exit 31? It is kind of cramped but getting to Genesee Street north or south is pretty easy.
Though when they built Interstate 790, it's not pretty straight forward to get to it from I-90.

[astralentity]

^ Pretty sure he meant Exit 31 (Utica), which I would agree needs to be reconfigured along with Exit 24.

Yes, I did.   

What should be done with Exit 31? It is kind of cramped but getting to Genesee Street north or south is pretty easy.
Though when they built Interstate 790, it's not pretty straight forward to get to it from I-90.

Direct access to the I-790 arterial instead of making a loop around to even get on 49.

Even then, the arrangement for I-790 makes absolutely no sense, and I can even see extending the designation up the new expressway to Rome.

[machias]

There's been talk over the past 10-15 years of building E-ZPass "slip ramps"  from I-90 to NY 49 where they run alongside each other, perhaps this will move along faster now. There's also been talk during that time of reconfiguring Exit 31 (again), as the lack of direct access to I-790 WEST from the Thruway has created traffic issues along Genesee Street and Coventry Ave.

[webny99]

Regarding Exit 31, I'm in favor of bulldozing the entire trumpet altogether. Add slip ramps to and from the east at Leland Ave, and to and from the west right where NY 49 splits off. The junction with Genesee St. is also bulldozed and replaced with a diamond interchange. Problem solved.

[astralentity]

Regarding Exit 31, I'm in favor of bulldozing the entire trumpet altogether. Add slip ramps to and from the east at Leland Ave, and to and from the west right where NY 49 splits off. The junction with Genesee St. is also bulldozed and replaced with a diamond interchange. Problem solved.

Access to 5, 8, and 12 from I-790

[webny99]

Regarding Exit 31, I'm in favor of bulldozing the entire trumpet altogether. Add slip ramps to and from the east at Leland Ave, and to and from the west right where NY 49 splits off. The junction with Genesee St. is also bulldozed and replaced with a diamond interchange. Problem solved.

Access to 5, 8, and 12 from I-790

What do you mean? That interchange would remain untouched.

[Rothman]

All I know is Exit 31 is stupidity incarnate.  "We'll take you south of the Thruway only to put you through an at-grade 'loop' to get back on the north side of it..."

[astralentity]

Regarding Exit 31, I'm in favor of bulldozing the entire trumpet altogether. Add slip ramps to and from the east at Leland Ave, and to and from the west right where NY 49 splits off. The junction with Genesee St. is also bulldozed and replaced with a diamond interchange. Problem solved.

Access to 5, 8, and 12 from I-790

What do you mean? That interchange would remain untouched.

The ramps direct to I-790 and use I-790 to access 5, 8, and 12.

[webny99]

Regarding Exit 31, I'm in favor of bulldozing the entire trumpet altogether. Add slip ramps to and from the east at Leland Ave, and to and from the west right where NY 49 splits off. The junction with Genesee St. is also bulldozed and replaced with a diamond interchange. Problem solved.

Access to 5, 8, and 12 from I-790

What do you mean? That interchange would remain untouched.

The ramps direct to I-790 and use I-790 to access 5, 8, and 12.

I'm confused as to which ramps you are referring to? but take courage: what I proposed wouldn't touch anything involving I-790.

This would tie into the EB Thruway instead of ending at Leland Ave. And the new westbound Thruway exit would be approximately here. As mentioned, the existing trumpet and Genesee St. ramps would be bulldozed. A diamond interchange with Genesee St. can be built within existing ROW as needed.

[kalvado]

Regarding Exit 31, I'm in favor of bulldozing the entire trumpet altogether. Add slip ramps to and from the east at Leland Ave, and to and from the west right where NY 49 splits off. The junction with Genesee St. is also bulldozed and replaced with a diamond interchange. Problem solved.

Access to 5, 8, and 12 from I-790

What do you mean? That interchange would remain untouched.

The ramps direct to I-790 and use I-790 to access 5, 8, and 12.

I'm confused as to which ramps you are referring to? but take courage: what I proposed wouldn't touch anything involving I-790.

This would tie into the EB Thruway instead of ending at Leland Ave. And the new westbound Thruway exit would be approximately here. As mentioned, the existing trumpet and Genesee St. ramps would be bulldozed. A diamond interchange with Genesee St. can be built within existing ROW as needed.

If I get it right, you basically want 790 to become frontage road?

[TonyTrafficLight]

Regarding Exit 31, I'm in favor of bulldozing the entire trumpet altogether. Add slip ramps to and from the east at Leland Ave, and to and from the west right where NY 49 splits off. The junction with Genesee St. is also bulldozed and replaced with a diamond interchange. Problem solved.

Access to 5, 8, and 12 from I-790

What do you mean? That interchange would remain untouched.

The ramps direct to I-790 and use I-790 to access 5, 8, and 12.

I'm confused as to which ramps you are referring to? but take courage: what I proposed wouldn't touch anything involving I-790.

This would tie into the EB Thruway instead of ending at Leland Ave. And the new westbound Thruway exit would be approximately here. As mentioned, the existing trumpet and Genesee St. ramps would be bulldozed. A diamond interchange with Genesee St. can be built within existing ROW as needed.

When they built I-790 with the "MUD Project" as it was called which partly reconstructed that area and eventually new Rt 49/I-790,
wonder why they didnt consider any of this. Everything in that area take 4 right turns and 3 lefts to get where you want to go.
I've lived her all my life and still get confused as to which road leads to which.

Also, one plan talked about for a number of years was I-790/Rt. 49/Rt 365 west toward Oneida becoming an interstate.
My grandson may see that in his lifetime maybe.

[machias]

Regarding Exit 31, I'm in favor of bulldozing the entire trumpet altogether. Add slip ramps to and from the east at Leland Ave, and to and from the west right where NY 49 splits off. The junction with Genesee St. is also bulldozed and replaced with a diamond interchange. Problem solved.

Access to 5, 8, and 12 from I-790

What do you mean? That interchange would remain untouched.

The ramps direct to I-790 and use I-790 to access 5, 8, and 12.

I'm confused as to which ramps you are referring to? but take courage: what I proposed wouldn't touch anything involving I-790.

This would tie into the EB Thruway instead of ending at Leland Ave. And the new westbound Thruway exit would be approximately here. As mentioned, the existing trumpet and Genesee St. ramps would be bulldozed. A diamond interchange with Genesee St. can be built within existing ROW as needed.

When they built I-790 with the "MUD Project" as it was called which partly reconstructed that area and eventually new Rt 49/I-790,
wonder why they didnt consider any of this. Everything in that area take 4 right turns and 3 lefts to get where you want to go.
I've lived her all my life and still get confused as to which road leads to which.

Also, one plan talked about for a number of years was I-790/Rt. 49/Rt 365 west toward Oneida becoming an interstate.
My grandson may see that in his lifetime maybe.

I pushed for years for 49 and 365 to be tied to I-790 as NY 790 and at least they're still talking about it, though it probably won't see any action for a while.

There were plans for I-790 continuing east beyond Leland Ave to meet up with NY Route 5 near West Schuyler, perhaps that could still be done again with slip ramps to and from the Thruway. The Genesee St interchange might be a good place for a SPUI.

[webny99]

If I get it right, you basically want 790 to become frontage road?

Of sorts, yes.
I shouldn't have said I-790 wouldn't be touched - rather, just the interchange with 8, 12, and 49 (and everything west if there) would remain untouched.

[TonyTrafficLight]

I shouldn't have said I-790 wouldn't be touched - rather, just the interchange with 8, 12, and 49 (and everything west if there) would remain untouched.

That 8-12-49 Interchange was a $100 million dollar project back in the mid-late 1980s. It's much improved than it was,
but with the building of I-790, they should have integrated that a little better.

There's a Google Play Book about the MUD project also.