Virginia

[dlsterner]

Wait...people don't know about increased enforcement on holiday weekends?

NYSDOT's new photo enforcement is going to nail a whole lot more people than they anticipated.

Lets be honest... Bluecountry doesn't seem to be aware of a lot of things, based on his posting history.

Yea I got fucked yesterday on US17 AND SR3!  I never see cops there, OMG.
So I gotta remember, Mem Day, 4th, Labor Day, Wipeout Wednesday, and New Years patrols are up; any other days?

"Wipeout Wednesday"?  Can't say I've ever heard of that - and neither Google nor UrbanDictionary provided any insight.  Can anybody enlighten me?  Sounds like I don't want to be traveling on that day!   

[Takumi]

Is it me or are there a LOT more state troopers out this weekend?

We saw multiple people pulled over just between US-29 near Falls Church (Jefferson District Golf Course) and Van Dorn Street. That's a small sample, of course, but we seldom see anyone stopped through there (one driver was stopped in the HO/T lanes; also, on the way over to the golf course, we saw a cop had stopped a tractor-trailer in the Outer Loop HO/T lanes).

Of course, the number of vehicles with Maryland plates being operated at 85+ mph was at least as high as usual...

Well, they're typically looking for NY and FL plates, not MD.

I didn't notice increased police presence (or any, for that matter) on the parts of I-95 and VA 150 I traveled on the weekend, and was surprised at that. I figured at least there'd be a few at either end of Richmond city limits on 150 looking out for the usual post-Cars & Coffee speed runners when that event wound down, but nope, not a one.

[hbelkins]

Wipeout Wednesday"?  Can't say I've ever heard of that - and neither Google nor UrbanDictionary provided any insight.  Can anybody enlighten me?  Sounds like I don't want to be traveling on that day!   

The day before Thanksgiving, perhaps?

[amroad17]

Wipeout Wednesday"?  Can't say I've ever heard of that - and neither Google nor UrbanDictionary provided any insight.  Can anybody enlighten me?  Sounds like I don't want to be traveling on that day!   

The day before Thanksgiving, perhaps?

Only crazy Wednesday I can think of right now.  I cannot see Ash Wednesday being a "traffic problem" day.

[famartin]

Is it me or are there a LOT more state troopers out this weekend?

We saw multiple people pulled over just between US-29 near Falls Church (Jefferson District Golf Course) and Van Dorn Street. That's a small sample, of course, but we seldom see anyone stopped through there (one driver was stopped in the HO/T lanes; also, on the way over to the golf course, we saw a cop had stopped a tractor-trailer in the Outer Loop HO/T lanes).

Of course, the number of vehicles with Maryland plates being operated at 85+ mph was at least as high as usual...

Well, they're typically looking for NY and FL plates, not MD.

I didn't notice increased police presence (or any, for that matter) on the parts of I-95 and VA 150 I traveled on the weekend, and was surprised at that. I figured at least there'd be a few at either end of Richmond city limits on 150 looking out for the usual post-Cars & Coffee speed runners when that event wound down, but nope, not a one.

I spent most of this past week in eastern PA, and there was substantial increase in police presence on the roads from Friday thru Monday.

From what I've observed, it seems like the fastest drivers are Pennsylvanians, New Yorkers, New Jerseyans, in that order.

[1995hoo]

Wipeout Wednesday"?  Can't say I've ever heard of that - and neither Google nor UrbanDictionary provided any insight.  Can anybody enlighten me?  Sounds like I don't want to be traveling on that day!   

The day before Thanksgiving, perhaps?

Only crazy Wednesday I can think of right now.  I cannot see Ash Wednesday being a "traffic problem" day.

Maybe in New Orleans or, to a much lesser degree, Mobile, but I've never heard that expression.

[D-Dey65]

So, does anyone think we're going to start seeing signs like this in Ashland, Virginia anytime soon?

[ahj2000]

So, does anyone think we're going to start seeing signs like this in Ashland, Virginia anytime soon?

I mean, the roadway is on the sides of the railroad. It would take a certain type of driver or a substance to get someone on the tracks. Has it been a problem?

[1995hoo]

I mean, the roadway is on the sides of the railroad. It would take a certain type of driver or a substance to get someone on the tracks. Has it been a problem?

Evidently.

[froggie]

It's a recurring problem.  I would argue it speaks more to the ignorance of drivers than it does to the design.  But short of closing the road or relocating the tracks elsewhere (both being very unpopular), nothing will change.

[1995hoo]

It's a recurring problem.  I would argue it speaks more to the ignorance of drivers than it does to the design.  But short of closing the road or relocating the tracks elsewhere (both being very unpopular), nothing will change.

I have no idea whether the following would be technically feasible, but I wonder whether they could use another set of railroad crossing gates to block the tracks except when a train goes through. That is, you have the standard set of gates for road traffic that goes down when a train approaches. These would be similar except they would block access to the tracks and would remain in the "down" position until triggered by a train, at which time they would rise to let the train go through.

[plain]

I used to live near the town and went there almost daily. Most of the time the visitors not very familiar with the town, many of whom are from out of state altogether, are the ones messing up there. It's not just the VA 54 crossing either.

[Alps]

It's a recurring problem.  I would argue it speaks more to the ignorance of drivers than it does to the design.  But short of closing the road or relocating the tracks elsewhere (both being very unpopular), nothing will change.

I have no idea whether the following would be technically feasible, but I wonder whether they could use another set of railroad crossing gates to block the tracks except when a train goes through. That is, you have the standard set of gates for road traffic that goes down when a train approaches. These would be similar except they would block access to the tracks and would remain in the "down" position until triggered by a train, at which time they would rise to let the train go through.

Difference: Road gates malfunction, they can be fixed without hurting the train. Train gates malfunction, train can't move until fixed. Not good. Train would likely hit those gates as soon as they don't work right.

[plain]

Even though many of us know this stuff, here's an interesting video about I-81 posted today.

https://youtu.be/4Oa1diD9C_s

[Ted$8roadFan]

Even though many of us know this stuff, here's an interesting video about I-81 posted today.

https://youtu.be/4Oa1diD9C_s

Good stuff indeed. I had been aware of many of the issues, but it was good to hear about them in greater detail.

[bluecountry]

Wipeout Wednesday"?  Can't say I've ever heard of that - and neither Google nor UrbanDictionary provided any insight.  Can anybody enlighten me?  Sounds like I don't want to be traveling on that day!   

The day before Thanksgiving, perhaps?

OMG can't believe people don't know that term, yeh, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.  Its commonly referenced on the news.  Probably has the most DD's behind NYD.

[famartin]

Wipeout Wednesday"?  Can't say I've ever heard of that - and neither Google nor UrbanDictionary provided any insight.  Can anybody enlighten me?  Sounds like I don't want to be traveling on that day!   

The day before Thanksgiving, perhaps?

OMG can't believe people don't know that term, yeh, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.  Its commonly referenced on the news.  Probably has the most DD's behind NYD.

Odd that a google search didn't reveal it...
https://www.google.com/search?q=%22Wipeout+Wednesday%22&source=hp&ei=C0AZY56-DOOnptQP8eSCmAQ&iflsig=AJiK0e8AAAAAYxlOGywoM8RF3hHEFvYi4rERiRJMSEes&ved=0ahUKEwje7-vLgIT6AhXjk4kEHXGyAEMQ4dUDCAg&uact=5&oq=%22Wipeout+Wednesday%22&gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAMyBggAEB4QFjIFCAAQhgMyBQgAEIYDUABYiwZg3QdoAHAAeACAAV6IAd4BkgEBM5gBAKABAaABAg&sclient=gws-wiz

[hbelkins]

Even though many of us know this stuff, here's an interesting video about I-81 posted today.

https://youtu.be/4Oa1diD9C_s

Good stuff indeed. I had been aware of many of the issues, but it was good to hear about them in greater detail.

"But I-95 still needs fixed first..."

[MillTheRoadgeek]

Even though many of us know this stuff, here's an interesting video about I-81 posted today.

It is nice to see some of those video essays in the community. Hope this kind of format becomes a mainstay.

[davewiecking]

Latest video from VDoT discussing how they're spending money on I-81 that should be spent on I-95 instead. [/sarc] (adjacent I-581 interchange)

https://youtu.be/hQJ7yx8oxgc

[MillTheRoadgeek]

Latest video from VDoT discussing how they're spending money on I-81 that should be spent on I-95 instead. [/sarc] (adjacent I-581 interchange)

https://youtu.be/hQJ7yx8oxgc

Why would improving 95 make more sense?

[D-Dey65]

It's a recurring problem.  I would argue it speaks more to the ignorance of drivers than it does to the design.  But short of closing the road or relocating the tracks elsewhere (both being very unpopular), nothing will change.

I have no idea whether the following would be technically feasible, but I wonder whether they could use another set of railroad crossing gates to block the tracks except when a train goes through. That is, you have the standard set of gates for road traffic that goes down when a train approaches. These would be similar except they would block access to the tracks and would remain in the "down" position until triggered by a train, at which time they would rise to let the train go through.

Difference: Road gates malfunction, they can be fixed without hurting the train. Train gates malfunction, train can't move until fixed. Not good. Train would likely hit those gates as soon as they don't work right.

This has also added to the problem. Focus less on the building and more on the barricades.

[Takumi]

Latest video from VDoT discussing how they're spending money on I-81 that should be spent on I-95 instead. [/sarc] (adjacent I-581 interchange)

https://youtu.be/hQJ7yx8oxgc

Why would improving 95 make more sense?

It's making fun of someone who doesn't live in Virginia. Scroll back a few pages in this thread.

[MillTheRoadgeek]

It's making fun of someone who doesn't live in Virginia. Scroll back a few pages in this thread.

Didn't catch that tag, whoops. I still wonder how that'd go, though... I think some truck traffic could be diverted off 95, which could use the 66 Express Lanes well en route to the Front Royal inland port.

[bluecountry]

95 needs to be like the NJTP, should be the first priority in VA.  Period.