New York

[vdeane]

I think it's funny that the state doesn't have enough money to reopen the "temporarily" closed rest areas (or at least close them permanently) but is somehow able to pay for a new one.

[Rothman]

I think it's funny that the state doesn't have enough money to reopen the "temporarily" closed rest areas (or at least close them permanently) but is somehow able to pay for a new one.

For some reason, it seems the Taste of NY initiative is some huge priority for the Governor's Office.  That's the only reason why things went as fast as they did to having trees being cut down for the LIE rest area.  A little political gumption and the bulldozers get moving as quickly as they can to meet it.

(emphasized personal opinion)

[Jim]

I think it's funny that the state doesn't have enough money to reopen the "temporarily" closed rest areas (or at least close them permanently) but is somehow able to pay for a new one.

The state has amazingly had money for all kinds of things that are much more expensive than and that I'd consider less essential than reopening the rest areas.

[machias]

Just squeezing this in, I understand bridge pouring is underway on the Utica arterial, no?

I believe the WB bridges are already poured. Pretty sure the timeline to move the WB traffic to the new roadway is September. EB will stay on the old roadway/diverted section.

[machias]

I think it's funny that the state doesn't have enough money to reopen the "temporarily" closed rest areas (or at least close them permanently) but is somehow able to pay for a new one.

For some reason, it seems the Taste of NY initiative is some huge priority for the Governor's Office.  That's the only reason why things went as fast as they did to having trees being cut down for the LIE rest area.  A little political gumption and the bulldozers get moving as quickly as they can to meet it.

(emphasized personal opinion)

Downstate gets priority over upstate on many things.

[Buffaboy]

Just squeezing this in, I understand bridge pouring is underway on the Utica arterial, no?

I believe the WB bridges are already poured. Pretty sure the timeline to move the WB traffic to the new roadway is September. EB will stay on the old roadway/diverted section.

Great, I can't wait to drive on it soon.

[Rothman]

I think it's funny that the state doesn't have enough money to reopen the "temporarily" closed rest areas (or at least close them permanently) but is somehow able to pay for a new one.

For some reason, it seems the Taste of NY initiative is some huge priority for the Governor's Office.  That's the only reason why things went as fast as they did to having trees being cut down for the LIE rest area.  A little political gumption and the bulldozers get moving as quickly as they can to meet it.

(emphasized personal opinion)

Downstate gets priority over upstate on many things.

I think it's funny that the state doesn't have enough money to reopen the "temporarily" closed rest areas (or at least close them permanently) but is somehow able to pay for a new one.

For some reason, it seems the Taste of NY initiative is some huge priority for the Governor's Office.  That's the only reason why things went as fast as they did to having trees being cut down for the LIE rest area.  A little political gumption and the bulldozers get moving as quickly as they can to meet it.

(emphasized personal opinion)

Downstate gets priority over upstate on many things.

This situation is just not that simple, as the local opposition shows.

[Alps]

NYC's interstate numbering is a total disaster. It's like someone drunkenly assigned numbers to the 3dis down there.

They all made sense if the network was completed. Other than not connecting to the parent, I-278 and I-678 have compliant numbering. 695 and 895 are compliant. 495 was supposed to cross the Sound. 295 and 878 were added later. There is really no reason to change numbers other than to make a very insignificant portion of the population happy. And, given how NYC really only allows trucks on Interstates, they all have to remain Interstates or risk making truck travel even worse than it already is.

495 was proposed to cross the sound once or twice, but the original intent was only from the NJ Turnpike to I-278 (I think - you may correct me if it's 678 or 295). Everything east of there started out as NY 495, and only later was the Interstate number extended. So while 495 now is a very long spur, it started out as an urban link deserving of an even number.

[cl94]

I think it's funny that the state doesn't have enough money to reopen the "temporarily" closed rest areas (or at least close them permanently) but is somehow able to pay for a new one.

For some reason, it seems the Taste of NY initiative is some huge priority for the Governor's Office.  That's the only reason why things went as fast as they did to having trees being cut down for the LIE rest area.  A little political gumption and the bulldozers get moving as quickly as they can to meet it.

(emphasized personal opinion)

Downstate gets priority over upstate on many things.

I think it's funny that the state doesn't have enough money to reopen the "temporarily" closed rest areas (or at least close them permanently) but is somehow able to pay for a new one.

For some reason, it seems the Taste of NY initiative is some huge priority for the Governor's Office.  That's the only reason why things went as fast as they did to having trees being cut down for the LIE rest area.  A little political gumption and the bulldozers get moving as quickly as they can to meet it.

(emphasized personal opinion)

Downstate gets priority over upstate on many things.

This situation is just not that simple, as the local opposition shows.

Correct. Both areas are facing cutbacks right now. NIMBYs down there are more powerful than the ones upstate as well. Makes me wonder where the money is going.

[iBallasticwolf2]

Makes me wonder where the money is going.

The Politician's big fat bank accounts.

[Rothman]

I think it's funny that the state doesn't have enough money to reopen the "temporarily" closed rest areas (or at least close them permanently) but is somehow able to pay for a new one.

For some reason, it seems the Taste of NY initiative is some huge priority for the Governor's Office.  That's the only reason why things went as fast as they did to having trees being cut down for the LIE rest area.  A little political gumption and the bulldozers get moving as quickly as they can to meet it.

(emphasized personal opinion)

Downstate gets priority over upstate on many things.

I think it's funny that the state doesn't have enough money to reopen the "temporarily" closed rest areas (or at least close them permanently) but is somehow able to pay for a new one.

For some reason, it seems the Taste of NY initiative is some huge priority for the Governor's Office.  That's the only reason why things went as fast as they did to having trees being cut down for the LIE rest area.  A little political gumption and the bulldozers get moving as quickly as they can to meet it.

(emphasized personal opinion)

Downstate gets priority over upstate on many things.

This situation is just not that simple, as the local opposition shows.

Correct. Both areas are facing cutbacks right now. NIMBYs down there are more powerful than the ones upstate as well. Makes me wonder where the money is going.

Well, if the bulldozers don't move, then the checks usually stop flowing as well.

That said, for projects of intense interest, any money linked to them typically stays with them until they're actually done, which may be years down the road.  It's a pretty rare thing for the money to actually be redistributed to other regions or whatnot in cases like this, in my opinion.

[kkt]

I'd work on rail freight mobility before trying to build a toll bridge across the Sound.  Are all the rail lines on Long Island passenger only?  Any of them have unused ROW wide enough to put in a freight line?

[Pete from Boston]

I'd work on rail freight mobility before trying to build a toll bridge across the Sound.  Are all the rail lines on Long Island passenger only?  Any of them have unused ROW wide enough to put in a freight line?

Interestingly, I have seen no discussion anywhere of Cuomo's slipping in of the Cross-Harbor freight tunnel in a speech about projects the state needs to push, along with LaGuardia and I think the Hudson rail tunnel.

No mention of the impossibly expensive Port Authority replacement.

[cl94]

I'd work on rail freight mobility before trying to build a toll bridge across the Sound.  Are all the rail lines on Long Island passenger only?  Any of them have unused ROW wide enough to put in a freight line?

Interestingly, I have seen no discussion anywhere of Cuomo's slipping in of the Cross-Harbor freight tunnel in a speech about projects the state needs to push, along with LaGuardia and I think the Hudson rail tunnel.

No mention of the impossibly expensive Port Authority replacement.

All of the commuter lines have freighr service, but facilities are limited.

[Rothman]

I'd work on rail freight mobility before trying to build a toll bridge across the Sound.  Are all the rail lines on Long Island passenger only?  Any of them have unused ROW wide enough to put in a freight line?

Interestingly, I have seen no discussion anywhere of Cuomo's slipping in of the Cross-Harbor freight tunnel in a speech about projects the state needs to push, along with LaGuardia and I think the Hudson rail tunnel.

No mention of the impossibly expensive Port Authority replacement.

He also gave a State of the State Address where he mentioned studying the Rooftop (again).  Just because it leaves the Gov's mouth in a speech doesn't mean that it will become a reality.

[Mergingtraffic]

Please, if the Town of Hempstead was a city, it would be the 16th largest in the nation. Insane amount of people on the island and there's no way to get stuff there. Few things complicating matters:

-53' trailers have to go in/out via the Clearview and Cross Bronx/Bruckner. No exceptions.
-48' trailers have to use Interstates. Could theoretically take I-278 to the LIE if going to/from the south/west. Things are a little fuzzy with these and it's unclear if such a truck could go from the Van Wyck to Sunrise Highway, for example.
-Combinations under 55' total length can use truck routes as well, which include Atlantic Avenue, Conduit Boulevard, and a few other major thoroughfares.

If anything, the truck regulations are a major reason why a Long Island Sound crossing is needed. Everything would go in/out via there regardless of how much the toll is because it would be relatively unrestricted.

If I-78 was extended that would be another route as well.  Southern Brooklyn, Queens really have no expressway at all.

[Buffaboy]

cl94, can you fill me in on what's going on with Lake Ave in Orchard Park? It's been closed for a few months now.

[cl94]

cl94, can you fill me in on what's going on with Lake Ave in Orchard Park? It's been closed for a few months now.

Full-depth reconstruction. To save money, it was built on slag and fly ash. With the past few winters, the foundation failed quite spectacularly. They're rebuilding it properly.

[route17fan]

We'll be right back with our current discussion, right after this.

NYSDOT - project D262988 - sign face layouts have an NY 11 instead of a US 11 shield in the plans! Can this be averted in time or once the sign plans have been submitted is it too late?

https://www.dot.ny.gov/doing-business/opportunities/const-contract-docs?p_d_id=D262988

Sign plans are in supplemental information

Now, back to the show.

[route17fan]

Oops, this just in -

That same project also features a new New York state line sign with updated logo and graphics.

Now back to the show

[PHLBOS]

NYSDOT - project D262988 - sign face layouts have an NY 11 instead of a US 11 shield in the plans! Can this be averted in time or once the sign plans have been submitted is it too late?

https://www.dot.ny.gov/doing-business/opportunities/const-contract-docs?p_d_id=D262988

Sign plans are in supplemental information

The direction cardinals are shown in mixed-case lettering as well.  IIRC, such are still to be done in all-caps (with a taller first letter) per MUTCD.

At least there's no Clearview font on the signs.

[cl94]

NYSDOT - project D262988 - sign face layouts have an NY 11 instead of a US 11 shield in the plans! Can this be averted in time or once the sign plans have been submitted is it too late?

https://www.dot.ny.gov/doing-business/opportunities/const-contract-docs?p_d_id=D262988

Sign plans are in supplemental information

The direction cardinals are shown in mixed-case lettering as well.  IIRC, such are still to be done in all-caps (with a taller first letter) per MUTCD.

At least there's no Clearview font on the signs.

They're in the supplemental, which likely means they aren't finalized. Typically, finalized sign layouts will show up under "plans".

[J N Winkler]

They're in the supplemental, which likely means they aren't finalized. Typically, finalized sign layouts will show up under "plans".

I don't think a set of plans will be issued for bidding.  This appears to be a small-signs job, which NYSDOT tends to do with proposal books only.  NYSDOT also customarily does not include sign panel details in its plans.  The supplemental documentation uploaded for bidding purposes tends to be final, though it can be changed by amendment.

The notice to contractors should identify a point of contact for questions.  I would suggest one of us sends an email to point out the errors, such as NY 11 shield used for US 11, cardinal direction words in mixed-case, etc.  This might result in revised signface layouts being issued.

[machias]

They're in the supplemental, which likely means they aren't finalized. Typically, finalized sign layouts will show up under "plans".

I don't think a set of plans will be issued for bidding.  This appears to be a small-signs job, which NYSDOT tends to do with proposal books only.  NYSDOT also customarily does not include sign panel details in its plans.  The supplemental documentation uploaded for bidding purposes tends to be final, though it can be changed by amendment.

The notice to contractors should identify a point of contact for questions.  I would suggest one of us sends an email to point out the errors, such as NY 11 shield used for US 11, cardinal direction words in mixed-case, etc.  This might result in revised signface layouts being issued.

I've had several conversations with Region 9 about the mixed case cardinal directions over the past couple of years and they assured me that they understood the MUTCD and that it wouldn't happen again. Either these are old plans that haven't been updated or someone in R9 just doesn't get it (or doesn't care) when it comes to established signing practices.  I've sent an email to Region 9 advising them of the errors.  Plans can be changed and if necessary, overlays can be made.

[hbelkins]

Party poopers. Y'all should wait until the erroneous signs are posted, take a picture, and then complain.