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I-35 Question

Started by dariusb, February 17, 2012, 03:38:37 AM

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dariusb

A friend of mine in Oklahoma  recently took a trip to San Antonio and he said the Dallas to San Antonio section was hell with all the congestion. My question is it really that bad on I-35?
It's a new day for a new beginning.


J N Winkler

Short answer:  yes.  Much of this length is only four lanes and has been receiving long overdue upgrades (in Bell and McLennan counties) to six lanes.  SH 130 is available to bypass Austin (which has a double-deck segment which is severely congested and cannot be widened) but entails high tolls and a substantial amount of out-of-the-way travel, so it is severely underused.
"It is necessary to spend a hundred lire now to save a thousand lire later."--Piero Puricelli, explaining the need for a first-class road system to Benito Mussolini

dariusb

Quote from: J N Winkler on February 17, 2012, 05:14:54 AM
Short answer:  yes.  Much of this length is only four lanes and has been receiving long overdue upgrades (in Bell and McLennan counties) to six lanes.  SH 130 is available to bypass Austin (which has a double-deck segment which is severely congested and cannot be widened) but entails high tolls and a substantial amount of out-of-the-way travel, so it is severely underused.
Thanks for your reply. Besides widening in Bell and McLennan counties are there plans to widen the freeway the whole way from Dallas to San Antonio?
It's a new day for a new beginning.

Grzrd

Quote from: dariusb on February 17, 2012, 02:07:27 PM
Besides widening in Bell and McLennan counties are there plans to widen the freeway the whole way from Dallas to San Antonio?

I have not looked at the I-35 Corridor Advisory Committee Plan (August, 2011), but it may give you an answer.  You also might enjoy just going through it in general.  In addition, I think serious consideration is being given (similar to Texarkana I-69 corridor) to possible leasing of air rights for the Freight Shuttle to help pay for some of the I-35 improvements.

texaskdog

I-35 costs about $18 and is 12 extra miles of driving.  Traffic around DT Austin is awful in rush hours, & midday on the weekends for no reason.    Passing through here on the weekend take 45 to Loop 1, briefly on 360, then 290 back to 35.  Free & much quicker.

InterstateNG

45 and 1 are not at all free,  unless you are suggesting using the frontage roads.

45&130 costs around 10 bucks, doesn't take you that far out of your way and is signed at 75 mph with light traffic.
I demand an apology.

dariusb

Quote from: Grzrd on February 17, 2012, 02:31:57 PM
Quote from: dariusb on February 17, 2012, 02:07:27 PM
Besides widening in Bell and McLennan counties are there plans to widen the freeway the whole way from Dallas to San Antonio?

Thanks for the link Grzrd.
I have not looked at the I-35 Corridor Advisory Committee Plan (August, 2011), but it may give you an answer.  You also might enjoy just going through it in general.  In addition, I think serious consideration is being given (similar to Texarkana I-69 corridor) to possible leasing of air rights for the Freight Shuttle to help pay for some of the I-35 improvements.
It's a new day for a new beginning.

texaskdog

Quote from: InterstateNG on February 17, 2012, 04:23:41 PM
45 and 1 are not at all free,  unless you are suggesting using the frontage roads.

45&130 costs around 10 bucks, doesn't take you that far out of your way and is signed at 75 mph with light traffic.

45 from 35 to Mopac and down to Scofield is not too spendy, or you can take 35 down to scofield and cut over to mopac, that is free and is a good option.    $10 is a lot now that 35 has just been increased in speed.  It is 70 MPH instead of 60 near Capital Plaza, and is now 65 MPH downtown.

InterstateNG

Quote from: texaskdog on February 18, 2012, 03:26:56 PM
$10 is a lot now

No it isn't.  Especially for the traveler who isn't passing through regularly.

Quotethat 35 has just been increased in speed.  It is 70 MPH instead of 60 near Capital Plaza, and is now 65 MPH downtown.

Yeah those higher speed limits are nice, except in the times of congestion that you yourself mentioned earlier.

Also depending on the time of day, MoPac isn't a treat either.
I demand an apology.

texaskdog

Quote from: InterstateNG on February 18, 2012, 05:39:48 PM
Quote from: texaskdog on February 18, 2012, 03:26:56 PM
$10 is a lot now

No it isn't.  Especially for the traveler who isn't passing through regularly.

Quotethat 35 has just been increased in speed.  It is 70 MPH instead of 60 near Capital Plaza, and is now 65 MPH downtown.

Yeah those higher speed limits are nice, except in the times of congestion that you yourself mentioned earlier.

Also depending on the time of day, MoPac isn't a treat either.

I've taken 130, long way out of the way for a lot of money

InterstateNG

It's a 12 mile difference.
I demand an apology.

dariusb

Quote from: Grzrd on February 17, 2012, 02:31:57 PM
Quote from: dariusb on February 17, 2012, 02:07:27 PM
Besides widening in Bell and McLennan counties are there plans to widen the freeway the whole way from Dallas to San Antonio?

I have not looked at the I-35 Corridor Advisory Committee Plan (August, 2011), but it may give you an answer.  You also might enjoy just going through it in general.  In addition, I think serious consideration is being given (similar to Texarkana I-69 corridor) to possible leasing of air rights for the Freight Shuttle to help pay for some of the I-35 improvements.
I just had the opportunity to sit down and read the I-35 Corridor Plan and it was quite a lot of info. Thanks again Grzrd!
It's a new day for a new beginning.

texaskdog

Quote from: InterstateNG on February 19, 2012, 01:23:43 AM
It's a 12 mile difference.

It's actually 42 miles on I-35 & 61 miles on the tollroad.  So would you pay $12 extra to go a fast 61 miles when the 42 may or may not be backed up?  and if youre not going the whole route its useless.

NE2

Er? Google gives 277 miles from San Antonio to Dallas via I-35 and 288 miles via the toll roads. One would think there'd be changeable message signs approaching the exit on I-35; even if not, you can get traffic on the radio.
pre-1945 Florida route log

I accept and respect your identity as long as it's not dumb shit like "identifying as a vaccinated attack helicopter".

texaskdog

Quote from: NE2 on February 20, 2012, 08:59:55 AM
Er? Google gives 277 miles from San Antonio to Dallas via I-35 and 288 miles via the toll roads. One would think there'd be changeable message signs approaching the exit on I-35; even if not, you can get traffic on the radio.

I did it on Google Maps from one end to the other, 42 or 61.  when i did what you did it was 278 vs 284.  So either 6, 11, 12, or 19 more miles.

InterstateNG

Quote from: texaskdog on February 20, 2012, 08:31:56 AM
Quote from: InterstateNG on February 19, 2012, 01:23:43 AM
It's a 12 mile difference.

So would you pay $12 extra to go a fast 61 miles when the 42 may or may not be backed up?

Since the road is backed up more often than not, again, a point that you made earlier in this thread but seem to have forgotten, I easily would pay for the speedier option.  Especially when most of that 42 is stop and go, not just a small pocket downtown.

Quoteand if youre not going the whole route its useless.

The whole purpose of 45 Southeast and 130 is to use the whole route.  It hardly serves local needs but it isn't supposed to.

Quote from: NE2 on February 20, 2012, 08:59:55 AM
One would think there'd be changeable message signs approaching the exit on I-35

Which there are all the way from south of San Antonio past Austin.
I demand an apology.

Grzrd

#16
Quote from: dariusb on February 19, 2012, 06:50:06 PM
Quote from: Grzrd on February 17, 2012, 02:31:57 PM
Quote from: dariusb on February 17, 2012, 02:07:27 PM
Besides widening in Bell and McLennan counties are there plans to widen the freeway the whole way from Dallas to San Antonio?
I have not looked at the I-35 Corridor Advisory Committee Plan (August, 2011), but it may give you an answer.  You also might enjoy just going through it in general.  In addition, I think serious consideration is being given (similar to Texarkana I-69 corridor) to possible leasing of air rights for the Freight Shuttle to help pay for some of the I-35 improvements.
I just had the opportunity to sit down and read the I-35 Corridor Plan and it was quite a lot of info. Thanks again Grzrd!

You're welcome dariusb!  I just took a brief look at it myself and found the following right-of-way recommendation to be interesting (page 26 of document; page 30/122 of pdf):

Quote
Consider common rights of way for rail and highway/multi-modal alignments, where feasible.

That recommendation fits in well with the recent TxDOT RFP regarding modes of freight transportation like the Freight Shuttle.  Also, in regard to your initial question about Dallas to San Antonio plans, page 11/21 of this pdf indicates that the Dallas to San Antonio section of I-35 might be the first segment of a Freight Shuttle along the I-35 corridor and down to Mexico.

EDIT

I recently made the following post in the "TxDOT RFP For Leased ROW Freight Transportation" thread and decided to add it here, as well:

Quote from: Grzrd on February 21, 2012, 11:31:26 AM
TxDOT received a proposal for the I-35 corridor, I assume for Dallas to San Antonio, which is currently under review.  Here's part of an email reply I received from Roger Beall at TxDOT:
Quote
Thank you for your inquiry. We received one proposal on October 3, 2011 and their proposal was for leasing the right-of-way within a portion of the IH-35 corridor. The Texas Transportation Commission has not acted on moving forward with lease negotiations. We are in the process of clarifying some items from the proposer. No time frame has been set for Commission action to approve or disapprove moving forward with lease negotiations.
Please let me know if you have any other questions.

NE2

#17
Quote from: Grzrd on February 20, 2012, 10:54:34 AM
Quote
Consider common rights of way for rail and highway/multi-modal alignments, where feasible.

That recommendation fits in well with the recent TxDOT RFP regarding modes of freight transportation like the Freight Shuttle.  Also, in regard to your initial question about Dallas to San Antonio plans, page 11/21 of this pdf indicates that the Dallas to San Antonio section of I-35 might be the first segment of a Freight Shuttle along the I-35 corridor and down to Mexico.
I don't know how much of an issue it is on I-35, but grades are generally lower on rail rights-of-way than on highways.
pre-1945 Florida route log

I accept and respect your identity as long as it's not dumb shit like "identifying as a vaccinated attack helicopter".

dariusb

#18
Quote from: texaskdog on February 20, 2012, 10:25:15 AM
Quote from: NE2 on February 20, 2012, 08:59:55 AM
Er? Google gives 277 miles from San Antonio to Dallas via I-35 and 288 miles via the toll roads. One would think there'd be changeable message signs approaching the exit on I-35; even if not, you can get traffic on the radio.
I did it on Google Maps from one end to the other, 42 or 61.  when i did what you did it was 278 vs 284.  So either 6, 11, 12, or 19 more miles.

That's quite a disparity in the mileage.
It's a new day for a new beginning.

dariusb

Quote from: Grzrd on February 20, 2012, 10:54:34 AM
Quote from: dariusb on February 19, 2012, 06:50:06 PM
Quote from: Grzrd on February 17, 2012, 02:31:57 PM
Quote from: dariusb on February 17, 2012, 02:07:27 PM
Besides widening in Bell and McLennan counties are there plans to widen the freeway the whole way from Dallas to San Antonio?
I have not looked at the I-35 Corridor Advisory Committee Plan (August, 2011), but it may give you an answer.  You also might enjoy just going through it in general.  In addition, I think serious consideration is being given (similar to Texarkana I-69 corridor) to possible leasing of air rights for the Freight Shuttle to help pay for some of the I-35 improvements.
I just had the opportunity to sit down and read the I-35 Corridor Plan and it was quite a lot of info. Thanks again Grzrd!

You're welcome dariusb!  I just took a brief look at it myself and found the following right-of-way recommendation to be interesting (page 26 of document; page 30/122 of pdf):

Quote
Consider common rights of way for rail and highway/multi-modal alignments, where feasible.

That recommendation fits in well with the recent TxDOT RFP regarding modes of freight transportation like the Freight Shuttle.  Also, in regard to your initial question about Dallas to San Antonio plans, page 11/21 of this pdf indicates that the Dallas to San Antonio section of I-35 might be the first segment of a Freight Shuttle along the I-35 corridor and down to Mexico.

They have quite a plan set up between now and 2035. Just hoping the funding will be in place for all those projects.
It's a new day for a new beginning.

texaskdog

True dat, if the out of towners actually USED it it would help congestion in Austin.  Then when those highways weren't congested, they'd come back  :P  They are actually considering buying it and making 130 into I-35 and making it free so A) there isn't the money penatly and B) the plebians who don't pay attention would just stay on 35. 

InterstateNG

Quote from: texaskdog on February 20, 2012, 01:18:27 PM
They are actually considering buying it and making 130 into I-35 and making it free so A) there isn't the money penatly and B) the plebians who don't pay attention would just stay on 35. 

A scenario which is impossible for a whole host of reasons.
I demand an apology.

texaskdog

Quote from: InterstateNG on February 20, 2012, 02:13:31 PM
Quote from: texaskdog on February 20, 2012, 01:18:27 PM
They are actually considering buying it and making 130 into I-35 and making it free so A) there isn't the money penatly and B) the plebians who don't pay attention would just stay on 35. 

A scenario which is impossible for a whole host of reasons.

Agreed...but we have morons like Perry hiring companies from Spain to build them.  Back in 1985 the liberals killed the good plan

dariusb

Quote from: texaskdog on February 20, 2012, 01:18:27 PM
True dat, if the out of towners actually USED it it would help congestion in Austin.  Then when those highways weren't congested, they'd come back  :P  They are actually considering buying it and making 130 into I-35 and making it free so A) there isn't the money penatly and B) the plebians who don't pay attention would just stay on 35. 

If 130 was made into I-35 then what would the old highway be called? 735, 835, 935?
It's a new day for a new beginning.

NE2

pre-1945 Florida route log

I accept and respect your identity as long as it's not dumb shit like "identifying as a vaccinated attack helicopter".



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