New Jersey Turnpike

[Roadwarriors79]

So when is the NJTA going to sign I-95 along more of the Turnpike? Are they waiting until August?

[PHLBOS]

So when is the NJTA going to sign I-95 along more of the Turnpike? Are they waiting until August?

The newer sign replacements have I-95 shields as far south as Exit 9 (US 1/NJ 18).  South of there; it's still inconsistent, some of the ramp signs beyond the toll booths have them (Exits 8A & 8) while some of them don't (Exits 7A, 7 & 6).

I've said such before & I'll state it again; IMHO there's no reason/excuse for NJTA to wait until August to sign I-95 along the Turnpike north of Exit 7A (I-195).  Such could've been done as far back as the early 1990s when I-195 was extended to the then-just-northern piece of I-295.

[jeffandnicole]

So when is the NJTA going to sign I-95 along more of the Turnpike? Are they waiting until August?

The newer sign replacements have I-95 shields as far south as Exit 9 (US 1/NJ 18).  South of there; it's still inconsistent, some of the ramp signs beyond the toll booths have them (Exits 8A & 8) while some of them don't (Exits 7A, 7 & 6).

I've said such before & I'll state it again; IMHO there's no reason/excuse for NJTA to wait until August to sign I-95 along the Turnpike north of Exit 7A (I-195).  Such could've been done as far back as the early 1990s when I-195 was extended to the then-just-northern piece of I-295.

Glancing around the NJ Turnpike website, it seems silent on when they'll add or uncover 95 to existing signage or install new signage.  They weren't included on the overall timeframe that was part of the NJDOT, PennDOT & PTC Press Release earlier as well.

So...my guess will be summertime or later.

[SignBridge]

I think the NJTA has a natural resistance to thinking of themselves as part of a larger highway system. They kind of of exist in their own little NJ Turnpike World or they did for many years anyway. Ya' know, first there is the premier New Jersey Turnpike, and then there's all the other roads. LOL

[roadman65]

Well NJTA had some great ideas, but other road agencies never copied them.  Hence the longer and thicker lane striping (although Indiana for their toll road, I think, uses it), the large Exit Numbers within the sign, and even changeable speed limit signage.

[AMLNet49]

I think the NJTA has a natural resistance to thinking of themselves as part of a larger highway system. They kind of of exist in their own little NJ Turnpike World or they did for many years anyway. Ya' know, first there is the premier New Jersey Turnpike, and then there's all the other roads. LOL

I'm not sure what's so "LOL" about this. The NJTA invented many of the current singing and marking standards, along with CalTrans. Those organizations have always felt they had senior status because even the Feds are their junior.

Most of the other toll road agencies also had these grandfather rights to have the liberty of setting their some of own signage and marking standards. There were even state DOTs (besides caltrans) that were as old or older than the feds which would have some of their own unique standards. This group includes the sequential numbering states. However these two groups were usually closer to federal standards and less belligerent about it than the NJTA/Caltans

Two things happened in the 2000s to change that:
1) At some point in the 2000s leading up to the 2009 MUTCD, new blood came into the feds that decided they were tired of being bullied around by the state DOTs and toll road agencies. They embarked on a long-range program over the course of at least 10-15 years to try and bring all signage in the country into line with a federal design standard, with milage based exit numbers being universal. There is essentially a set of requirements that all state DOT's and toll road agencies must follow on their signage, which leaves the room to be different at an absolute minimum. Some states like Connecticut and many others have totally dropped their own designs and just adopted the federal standard.

This program has involved even Caltrans and the NJTA (both kicking and screaming all the way), but essentially the feds decided to assert their power for the first time. They basically gave a middle finger to the "holier than thou" attitude which generated the respect which had provided the NJTA and Caltrans with leverage for all those years.

and in the same time frame
2) Several of the toll road agencies began to be exposed as not being, in fact, as squeaky clean and self-sufficient as they had always claimed. The agencies were exposed as enormously corrupt and states began to realize they needed more state oversight and didnt need to be autonomous. As they began to be folded into state DOTs (who are largely more MUTCD compliant than toll roads), or at least be held more accountable to the state government, some of these unique standards have been dropped. The "holier than thou" bubble was burst and state and federal reps started asking themselves, "Why again are these guys allowed to just do whatever they want? Because theyre grandfathered in? At some point its just an excuse to avoid oversight"

[02 Park Ave]

Is Mothers' Day still the busiest day of the year on the Turnpike??

[Alps]

Is Mothers' Day still the busiest day of the year on the Turnpike??

Busiest day from April 2013 to April 2014 was April 17, 2014. Second highest was the next weekend, April 24. These are not Mothers' Day.
(Next two: June 20 and August 15. So no, no pattern other than relatively warm Thursdays.)

[Rothman]

Always thought it was the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.  At least, it was one year when the toll takers were telling my family years ago that it was a record-breaking day.

[jeffandnicole]

It always seemed the Sunday after Thanksgiving was one of the busiest days on the highway.

[Alps]

It always seemed the Sunday after Thanksgiving was one of the busiest days on the highway.

Well, what's busiest? Peak hour, or 24 hours? I only looked at the total of 24 hours. Peak hour would be similar on any day with congestion, since that means you've hit roadway capacity. Are you only looking on the southern Turnpike, or the entire roadway? North, south, or both? I considered the total of all trips in both directions.

[02 Park Ave]

Thank you, Alps, for your research.

I guess that  here in South Jersey we think of "busiest" as being around holidays because of all the NYC-DC through traffic at those weekends.  But north of Exit 9 every day is certainly busy.

[jeffandnicole]

It always seemed the Sunday after Thanksgiving was one of the busiest days on the highway.

Well, what's busiest? Peak hour, or 24 hours? I only looked at the total of 24 hours. Peak hour would be similar on any day with congestion, since that means you've hit roadway capacity. Are you only looking on the southern Turnpike, or the entire roadway? North, south, or both? I considered the total of all trips in both directions.

Whatever makes my answer right is the time period I was considering! Lol

Now, I know that what may 'seem' like a busy day may be not truly the busiest day. Motorists on the Sunday after Thanksgiving aren't regular travelers on the Turnpike. They may be driving slower. They may be hogging the left lane.  They may slow down because they're confused and looking for their next exit, even though they're on a stretch of highway that for 14 miles doesn't have a single exit (Between 2 and 3). When they get to the toll plaza, they have no clue what they're doing or what they're paying, further increasing traffic congestion.

[qguy]

Whatever makes my answer right is the time period I was considering! Lol

Now, I know that what may 'seem' like a busy day may be not truly the busiest day. Motorists on the Sunday after Thanksgiving aren't regular travelers on the Turnpike. They may be driving slower. They may be hogging the left lane.  They may slow down because they're confused and looking for their next exit, even though they're on a stretch of highway that for 14 miles doesn't have a single exit (Between 2 and 3). When they get to the toll plaza, they have no clue what they're doing or what they're paying, further increasing traffic congestion.

I once drove–and only because I had to–the PA Turnpike from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia on the Sunday after Thanksgiving.

Never. Again. Ever. 

[Beltway]

I once drove–and only because I had to–the PA Turnpike from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia on the Sunday after Thanksgiving.
Never. Again. Ever. 

How congested was it?  Any actual slowdowns below the speed limit?

[jeffandnicole]

I once drove–and only because I had to–the PA Turnpike from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia on the Sunday after Thanksgiving.
Never. Again. Ever. 

How congested was it?  Any actual slowdowns below the speed limit?

It's a horrible day to drive. I've never driven it that day specifically, but it is often congestion in numerous places on that particular Sunday. Heck, even normal driving days there will be the occasional slowdown below 70 just because of normal traffic variations.

[Beltway]

I once drove–and only because I had to–the PA Turnpike from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia on the Sunday after Thanksgiving.
Never. Again. Ever. 

How congested was it?  Any actual slowdowns below the speed limit?

It's a horrible day to drive. I've never driven it that day specifically, but it is often congestion in numerous places on that particular Sunday. Heck, even normal driving days there will be the occasional slowdown below 70 just because of normal traffic variations.

How horrible?  What would be the average speed for someone who drove the speed limit when possible?

[jeffandnicole]

I once drove–and only because I had to–the PA Turnpike from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia on the Sunday after Thanksgiving.
Never. Again. Ever. 

How congested was it?  Any actual slowdowns below the speed limit?

It's a horrible day to drive. I've never driven it that day specifically, but it is often congestion in numerous places on that particular Sunday. Heck, even normal driving days there will be the occasional slowdown below 70 just because of normal traffic variations.

How horrible?  What would be the average speed for someone who drove the speed limit when possible?

70 mph.   

[Beltway]

I once drove–and only because I had to–the PA Turnpike from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia on the Sunday after Thanksgiving.
Never. Again. Ever. 

How congested was it?  Any actual slowdowns below the speed limit?

It's a horrible day to drive. I've never driven it that day specifically, but it is often congestion in numerous places on that particular Sunday. Heck, even normal driving days there will be the occasional slowdown below 70 just because of normal traffic variations.

How horrible?  What would be the average speed for someone who drove the speed limit when possible?

70 mph.   

I meant from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia, for the whole trip.

[Alps]

I once drove–and only because I had to–the PA Turnpike from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia on the Sunday after Thanksgiving.
Never. Again. Ever. 

How congested was it?  Any actual slowdowns below the speed limit?

It's a horrible day to drive. I've never driven it that day specifically, but it is often congestion in numerous places on that particular Sunday. Heck, even normal driving days there will be the occasional slowdown below 70 just because of normal traffic variations.

How horrible?  What would be the average speed for someone who drove the speed limit when possible?

No one keeps a statistic like that.

[02 Park Ave]

When I am on a long haul trip, e.g. Cherry Hill NJ to LaGrange IL, I do calculate my avarage speed.  I definitely try to maintain a 60 mph average, including stops.  It isn't easy although I may average over 70 mph for each individual driving stint.

Even during a one stint trip to the Hudson Valley I calculate my average speed frequently.

But then I am an engineer.

[Alps]

When I am on a long haul trip, e.g. Cherry Hill NJ to LaGrange IL, I do calculate my avarage speed.  I definitely try to maintain a 60 mph average, including stops.  It isn't easy although I may average over 70 mph for each individual driving stint.

Even during a one stint trip to the Hudson Valley I calculate my average speed frequently.

But then I am an engineer.

I more meant in terms of highway agencies and recoverable data. If you traveled it yourself, there's a nonzero chance.

[Beltway]

I once drove–and only because I had to–the PA Turnpike from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia on the Sunday after Thanksgiving.
Never. Again. Ever. 

How congested was it?  Any actual slowdowns below the speed limit?

It's a horrible day to drive. I've never driven it that day specifically, but it is often congestion in numerous places on that particular Sunday. Heck, even normal driving days there will be the occasional slowdown below 70 just because of normal traffic variations.

How horrible?  What would be the average speed for someone who drove the speed limit when possible?

No one keeps a statistic like that.

I wasn't asking for a statistic, just something like, "On my trip that day it took about xxx minutes to go the 305 miles between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, so that would be an average speed of about xx mph."

Not scientific but still a worthwhile data point.  I was just curious because I had thought that while busy that the rural parts of the PA Turnpike didn't have any significant congestion issues to speak of even on holidays.  That may no longer be the case.

[jeffandnicole]

That's a statistic.

Well, I know there was one trip from home here in NJ to Pittsburgh that took 5 hours on the nose, but it was an uneventful Sunday afternoon. Driving at night, an accident, construction, getting gas, getting food, etc will all factor in to the overall speed. And very few people even keep the figures you're looking for, especially 6 months after the fact.

Stuff happens. Even two people driving on the same day can have drastically different times if an accident occurs between them.

Qguy already gave you a description about his travels. But you seem deadset that traffic isn't that bad in rural PA on one of the busiest travel weekends of the year because people don't write down their travel history and calculations.

[Beltway]

That's a statistic.
Well, I know there was one trip from home here in NJ to Pittsburgh that took 5 hours on the nose, but it was an uneventful Sunday afternoon. Driving at night, an accident, construction, getting gas, getting food, etc will all factor in to the overall speed. And very few people even keep the figures you're looking for, especially 6 months after the fact.
Stuff happens. Even two people driving on the same day can have drastically different times if an accident occurs between them.
Qguy already gave you a description about his travels. But you seem deadset that traffic isn't that bad in rural PA on one of the busiest travel weekends of the year because people don't write down their travel history and calculations.

I am not "deadset" against anything regarding the PA turnpike traffic, I was just trying to get some kind of more specific idea of what the holiday traffic is like.  He said he had a bad experience, but not with more specifics --

"I once drove–and only because I had to–the PA Turnpike from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia on the Sunday after Thanksgiving.  Never. Again. Ever."

I didn't ask just him, anyone on the forum can provide feedback as well.