What states are these most common in?
Example: http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198272329052/screenshots/?appid=270880 (http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198272329052/screenshots/?appid=270880)
Quote from: ColossalBlocks on April 30, 2017, 03:55:36 PM
Example: http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198272329052/screenshots/?appid=270880 (http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198272329052/screenshots/?appid=270880)
I just see a lot of truck photos, no examples of call boxes. Next time, pick out the specific image you want to use, place its address inside image tags (like I've done below, as you can see in the preview box if you quote this post) so it displays in your post, and use the "preview" button to make sure you got it right.
Try this (in Hawaii, which tends to mimic Caltrans including its similar callboxes):
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hawaiihighways.com%2Fcallbox.jpg&hash=c7d5e8f450908905b1ad7fc3ee7e71a2287b097b)
They have fallen out of favor due to cell phones. I-91 had a whole string of them north of Springfield, MA, but I believe they have all been removed.
Quote from: Rothman on April 30, 2017, 04:30:07 PM
They have fallen out of favor due to cell phones. I-91 had a whole string of them north of Springfield, MA, but I believe they have all been removed.
So did I-93 and I-495. The ones on I-93 got removed because of a crash resulting in the death of someone I knew, and I was there at the time. The crash happened about two hours after pulling over for a flat tire. The person at the call box ignored it the first time, and since it wasn't cleared, it didn't go through the second time.
Quote from: Rothman on April 30, 2017, 04:30:07 PM
They have fallen out of favor due to cell phones. I-91 had a whole string of them north of Springfield, MA, but I believe they have all been removed.
Hawaii still uses them, especially in isolated areas (like HI 200 within the Army base in the middle of the Big Island) with no cellphone service. I'm not sure what Caltrans is doing with its callboxes (though I did see one in February 2016 on unsigned CA 259 in San Bernadino), or Hawaiii DOT or Maui County are doing with their boxes in more urban areas.
I don't think Quebec routinely uses them, but has some on the remote QC 389 between Baie Comeau and Labrador City. For the Trans-Labrador Highway which continues from the north end of QC 389, last I was there in 2011, the provincial transportation department was lending satellite phones to travelers (programmed so you could only call the Royal Canadian Mounted Police), with hotels at both ends designated as pickup and dropoff points.
Quote from: Rothman on April 30, 2017, 04:30:07 PM
They have fallen out of favor due to cell phones. I-91 had a whole string of them north of Springfield, MA, but I believe they have all been removed.
I believe I-87 Northway had them for a while since there was no cell coverage. Not sure what is the current status, but I had an impression they pressed for some cell towers after someone froze to death after their car broke down.
I'd have to give the award to California, too. I also just saw some still standing in and around the NYC area, IIRC on the New England Thruway and the Cross-Bronx.
Nevada DOT installed some at one-mile intervals on I-15 south of Las Vegas in the mid-2000s. Presumably, this was meant to provide the same type of motorist service Caltrans has had along I-15 for years, at a time where cell phone networks probably hadn't covered that stretch too well. I haven't been out that way in a long time, but Street View still shows the first I-15 northbound call box (https://www.google.com/maps/@35.622242,-115.3865074,3a,15y,37.76h,86.03t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1smawrHqEvAfBh3Mi16t6tUQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656) in place as of July 2016.
NDOT has a couple other isolated instances of call boxes. One example, which far predates the I-15 examples, is on US 50 just east of Golf Club Dr (between SR 28 & US 395), which is placed at a runaway truck ramp.
Quote from: oscar on April 30, 2017, 04:51:04 PM
Hawaii still uses them, especially in isolated areas (like HI 200 within the Army base in the middle of the Big Island) with no cellphone service. I'm not sure what Caltrans is doing with its callboxes (though I did see one in February 2016 on unsigned CA 259 in San Bernadino), or Hawaiii DOT or Maui County are doing with their boxes in more urban areas.
Caltrans appears to be phasing out Call Boxes, at least in some urban areas. On a recent trip to Sacramento and the Bay Area, I noticed several locations where a call box post no longer had the phone equipment. For these locations, the call box sign was replaced with a sign that says "Freeway Assist Call 511" (but still lists the call box/postmile location info on bottom). Street View example from SR 24 east of the Caledcott Tunnels (https://www.google.com/maps/@37.8716505,-122.1905887,3a,30.9y,67.72h,85.39t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sAl9UtozCd-hfQ9oTP1Qzcg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656).
I seem to recall discussion that Caltrans would begin phasing out Call Boxes on a larger scale. I can't imagine that keeping the call box network operational at this point is cost effective, based on what I assume would be massive decreases in usage due to the proliferation of cell phones.
ADOT still has some on a few rural highways, particularly along I-19 and US 93. Interestingly, the signage for those on I-19 and US 93 are different - I-19 uses a phone symbol, while US 93 uses the words "CALL BOX". I wonder if the call boxes on I-19 have voice capability, while those on US 93 only have the buttons to notify of a specific emergency service.
Florida used to have them on I-75, every half mile for at least the northernmost 70 miles in the state. They were located on the mile; in fact I think sometimes the mile marker was mounted on the call-box post. For myself, it was one of those signs that a Florida vacation was coming to an end when you passed the blue sign reading "End Motorist Aid Call Boxes", just before the Georgia border.
These were taken down circa 2014.
The Maryland portion of the Capital Beltway (I-495) had them from the 1960's to the 1980's or maybe early 1990's.
The Pennsylvania Turnpike system still has them, though I think they have considered getting rid of them as recently as in 2015.
I can't think of any in NJ...at least in South Jersey. The limited access routes used to have them every 1/2 mile. I think the AC Expressway was the last road to still use them, but I think they've been gone several years there too.
Quote from: 1 on April 30, 2017, 04:43:17 PM
Quote from: Rothman on April 30, 2017, 04:30:07 PM
They have fallen out of favor due to cell phones. I-91 had a whole string of them north of Springfield, MA, but I believe they have all been removed.
So did I-93 and I-495.
Not sure about today, but I-95 south of Canton had (or used to have) them as well.
I believe that much of the PA Turnpike, outside of construction zones, still has them.
Quote from: oscar on April 30, 2017, 04:07:52 PM
Quote from: ColossalBlocks on April 30, 2017, 03:55:36 PM
Example: http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198272329052/screenshots/?appid=270880 (http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198272329052/screenshots/?appid=270880)
I just see a lot of truck photos, no examples of call boxes. Next time, pick out the specific image you want to use, place its address inside image tags (like I've done below, as you can see in the preview box if you quote this post) so it displays in your post, and use the "preview" button to make sure you got it right.
Try this (in Hawaii, which tends to mimic Caltrans including its similar callboxes):
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hawaiihighways.com%2Fcallbox.jpg&hash=c7d5e8f450908905b1ad7fc3ee7e71a2287b097b)
The link didn't go to the right page, did it?
Just click the top left photo.
Quote from: Rothman on April 30, 2017, 04:30:07 PM
They have fallen out of favor due to cell phones. I-91 had a whole string of them north of Springfield, MA, but I believe they have all been removed.
yeah, great idea...and then everyone has a phone a few years later. another waste of money.
Quote from: texaskdog on May 01, 2017, 08:55:57 AM
Quote from: Rothman on April 30, 2017, 04:30:07 PM
They have fallen out of favor due to cell phones. I-91 had a whole string of them north of Springfield, MA, but I believe they have all been removed.
yeah, great idea...and then everyone has a phone a few years later. another waste of money.
Can you accurately predict what we will have a few years from now?
The only place they were ever used in Georgia, to my knowledge, was on I-185, placed roughly every mile from somewhere around MM 8 to the north end at I-85. I haven't driven I-185 in several years, so I'm not sure if they're still there or not.
I-295 in Rhode Island used to have them. They were removed in the early 90s.
When I was growing up I used to see call boxes in several places along US 395 in Inyo county and CA 14 north of Mojave.
As others have stated, with the popularity of cell phones caltrans has removed the majority of the call boxes. I believe there might be one left on CA 14 somewhere north of Mojave. Caltrans removed all of the call boxes on US 395 before or during the 4 lane projects during the past couple decades.
Quote from: lepidopteran on April 30, 2017, 11:32:58 PM
Florida used to have them on I-75, every half mile for at least the northernmost 70 miles in the state. They were located on the mile; in fact I think sometimes the mile marker was mounted on the call-box post. For myself, it was one of those signs that a Florida vacation was coming to an end when you passed the blue sign reading "End Motorist Aid Call Boxes", just before the Georgia border.
These were taken down circa 2014.
I think nearly all of the south florida had them as well when I was growing up there, I think they were removed around a similar time. I think they were pretty widespread throughout all urban areas throughout the state, along with many rural areas (I remember pondering when I was young how they determined where to put them, seemed like very populated areas and very unpopulated areas got them, and the mid-level would not get them)
It looks like what call boxes which remained in Glenwood Canyon on I-70 in Colorado have been removed en masse this spring. I'll have to take another look next time I am through there.
They are exceedingly rare in Washington. Most (all?) of the remaining examples are along I-90 between Rainier Ave and Mercer Island. There were some off the 405 between Bothell and Renton, and 90 east of Bellevue, as well as along the old Narrows Bridge (before twinning) but all have been removed. There were also some along the 395 bridge in Pasco -- also gone.
Some links to examples in and around the Lake Washington floating bridge area...these are just a few. You can click around and find a bunch more. Like in the image below, they are often twinned with one or two other boxes (one for each side of the carriageway). They are rather prolific in the tunnels. I assume due to the higher inherent danger that tunnels pose.
- https://goo.gl/0hsjAi
- https://goo.gl/GgIXF6
- https://goo.gl/HI24tC
- https://goo.gl/0mb2ru
- https://goo.gl/BTJrDP
- https://goo.gl/9vi0ii
- https://goo.gl/tTerYS
- https://goo.gl/0EcNDN
They started being installed in the 90s (around the time that the call boxes above were installed). The plan was to build them out to cover the state, but that obviously never happened: https://goo.gl/CduThX.
WSDOT is evidently not done with "emergency telephones". They are replacing the ones inside of the Mount Baker Tunnels with new ones that include noise cancellation and better volume: https://goo.gl/10tZ4D
WSDOT also replaced some of the emergency telephones along the Aurora Bridge (SR-99) with new, lower boxes. The old ones were mounted higher up (see here (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0c/Emergency_phone_GW_Memorial_Bridge_2.jpg)): https://goo.gl/EFYd9A
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FwwPHwqm.png&hash=d13b397a79c4f065b85717b995e97bed6bb5f4ce)
Quote from: jakeroot on May 02, 2017, 03:57:37 AM
WSDOT is evidently not done with "emergency telephones". They are replacing the ones inside of the Mount Baker Tunnels with new ones that include noise cancellation and better volume: https://goo.gl/10tZ4D
WSDOT also replaced some of the emergency telephones along the Aurora Bridge (SR-99) with new, lower boxes. The old ones were mounted higher up (see here (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0c/Emergency_phone_GW_Memorial_Bridge_2.jpg)): https://goo.gl/EFYd9A
I wonder why those locations. I can see a tunnel being a dead zone - but even then there are technologies to cover subway tunnels. Price issue? Cell companies cooperation?
Even less clear issue for the bridge...
Quote from: UCFKnights on May 01, 2017, 10:17:40 PM
Quote from: lepidopteran on April 30, 2017, 11:32:58 PM
Florida used to have them on I-75, every half mile for at least the northernmost 70 miles in the state. They were located on the mile; in fact I think sometimes the mile marker was mounted on the call-box post. For myself, it was one of those signs that a Florida vacation was coming to an end when you passed the blue sign reading "End Motorist Aid Call Boxes", just before the Georgia border.
These were taken down circa 2014.
I think nearly all of the south florida had them as well when I was growing up there, I think they were removed around a similar time. I think they were pretty widespread throughout all urban areas throughout the state, along with many rural areas (I remember pondering when I was young how they determined where to put them, seemed like very populated areas and very unpopulated areas got them, and the mid-level would not get them)
Around 2013, they started to disappear in Florida; I can't recall the last time I saw one. Someone told me once there was a steep fee for using it. I-95 north of Palm Beach, Florida's Turnpike, I-10, and much of I-75 had them. I think the rest areas had them too, but for demonstration purposes.
According to this article (http://miami.cbslocal.com/2013/10/18/dot-removing-roadside-telephone-call-boxes/), they left a few of them for the Sunshine Skyway Bridge (I-275), as crisis prevention.
Oregon never had them (despite what the movie Untraceable implies), so no worries about them being phased out.
Quote from: kalvado on May 02, 2017, 07:47:53 PM
Quote from: jakeroot on May 02, 2017, 03:57:37 AM
WSDOT is evidently not done with "emergency telephones". They are replacing the ones inside of the Mount Baker Tunnels with new ones that include noise cancellation and better volume: https://goo.gl/10tZ4D
WSDOT also replaced some of the emergency telephones along the Aurora Bridge (SR-99) with new, lower boxes. The old ones were mounted higher up (see here (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0c/Emergency_phone_GW_Memorial_Bridge_2.jpg)): https://goo.gl/EFYd9A
I wonder why those locations. I can see a tunnel being a dead zone - but even then there are technologies to cover subway tunnels. Price issue? Cell companies cooperation?
Even less clear issue for the bridge...
I suspect the bridge phones (the Aurora Bridge, not the 90 bridge(s)) are maintained because of the high suicide rate. The tunnels' phones are almost certainly maintained due to the lack of cell coverage. Maybe installing cell coverage in the tunnels was considered too expensive compared to maintaining the emergency phones.
It's possible that, in a worst case scenario, someone's phone could get launched out of their car in a collision, rendering it useless (and making the phone on the wall the next best option). That seems far fetched, but that could be their reasoning (or maybe just in case someone's phone is dead, etc -- I know these emergency phones are cheap to maintain).
Quote from: jakeroot on May 03, 2017, 01:13:31 AM
Quote from: kalvado on May 02, 2017, 07:47:53 PM
Quote from: jakeroot on May 02, 2017, 03:57:37 AM
WSDOT is evidently not done with "emergency telephones". They are replacing the ones inside of the Mount Baker Tunnels with new ones that include noise cancellation and better volume: https://goo.gl/10tZ4D
WSDOT also replaced some of the emergency telephones along the Aurora Bridge (SR-99) with new, lower boxes. The old ones were mounted higher up (see here (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0c/Emergency_phone_GW_Memorial_Bridge_2.jpg)): https://goo.gl/EFYd9A
I wonder why those locations. I can see a tunnel being a dead zone - but even then there are technologies to cover subway tunnels. Price issue? Cell companies cooperation?
Even less clear issue for the bridge...
I suspect the bridge phones (the Aurora Bridge, not the 90 bridge(s)) are maintained because of the high suicide rate. The tunnels' phones are almost certainly maintained due to the lack of cell coverage. Maybe installing cell coverage in the tunnels was considered too expensive compared to maintaining the emergency phones.
The tunnels in Baltimore (I-95 [1.5 miles, 2.4 km] and I-895 [1.45 miles, 2.3 km]) seem to have decent cell phone coverage (at least on Verizon). I presume there are cell phone repeaters at one or more points inside each of the tubes.
Quote from: cpzilliacus on May 05, 2017, 01:28:37 PM
Quote from: jakeroot on May 03, 2017, 01:13:31 AM
Quote from: kalvado on May 02, 2017, 07:47:53 PM
Quote from: jakeroot on May 02, 2017, 03:57:37 AM
WSDOT is evidently not done with "emergency telephones". They are replacing the ones inside of the Mount Baker Tunnels with new ones that include noise cancellation and better volume: https://goo.gl/10tZ4D
WSDOT also replaced some of the emergency telephones along the Aurora Bridge (SR-99) with new, lower boxes. The old ones were mounted higher up (see here (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0c/Emergency_phone_GW_Memorial_Bridge_2.jpg)): https://goo.gl/EFYd9A
I wonder why those locations. I can see a tunnel being a dead zone - but even then there are technologies to cover subway tunnels. Price issue? Cell companies cooperation?
Even less clear issue for the bridge...
I suspect the bridge phones (the Aurora Bridge, not the 90 bridge(s)) are maintained because of the high suicide rate. The tunnels' phones are almost certainly maintained due to the lack of cell coverage. Maybe installing cell coverage in the tunnels was considered too expensive compared to maintaining the emergency phones.
The tunnels in Baltimore (I-95 [1.5 miles, 2.4 km] and I-895 [1.45 miles, 2.3 km]) seem to have decent cell phone coverage (at least on Verizon). I presume there are cell phone repeaters at one or more points inside each of the tubes.
Actually it is even simplier. You need to run a specialized cable - coaxial with intentional RF leakage - from a cell "tower", and that is pretty much it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaky_feeder
COst of running cable must be noticeable, but not prohibitive...
Illinois has some (did have some?) in Metro East. I remember seeing them along I-55/70. We have never had them in any other part of the state, including Chicagoland.
Quote from: UCFKnights on May 01, 2017, 10:17:40 PM
Quote from: lepidopteran on April 30, 2017, 11:32:58 PM
Florida used to have them on I-75, every half mile for at least the northernmost 70 miles in the state. They were located on the mile; in fact I think sometimes the mile marker was mounted on the call-box post. For myself, it was one of those signs that a Florida vacation was coming to an end when you passed the blue sign reading "End Motorist Aid Call Boxes", just before the Georgia border.
These were taken down circa 2014.
I think nearly all of the south florida had them as well when I was growing up there, I think they were removed around a similar time. I think they were pretty widespread throughout all urban areas throughout the state, along with many rural areas (I remember pondering when I was young how they determined where to put them, seemed like very populated areas and very unpopulated areas got them, and the mid-level would not get them)
I believe I-75 north of the Tampa area had call boxes first. They were later installed along the entire Turnpike. Eventually there were call boxes on most rural or semi-rural stretches of interstates, but I don't remember them ever being anywhere on I-4.
Quote from: jeffandnicole on May 01, 2017, 09:21:12 AM
Quote from: texaskdog on May 01, 2017, 08:55:57 AM
Quote from: Rothman on April 30, 2017, 04:30:07 PM
They have fallen out of favor due to cell phones. I-91 had a whole string of them north of Springfield, MA, but I believe they have all been removed.
yeah, great idea...and then everyone has a phone a few years later. another waste of money.
Can you accurately predict what we will have a few years from now?
People were starting to have car phones when they put them in.
Quote from: texaskdog on June 13, 2017, 07:20:04 PM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on May 01, 2017, 09:21:12 AM
Quote from: texaskdog on May 01, 2017, 08:55:57 AM
Quote from: Rothman on April 30, 2017, 04:30:07 PM
They have fallen out of favor due to cell phones. I-91 had a whole string of them north of Springfield, MA, but I believe they have all been removed.
yeah, great idea...and then everyone has a phone a few years later. another waste of money.
Can you accurately predict what we will have a few years from now?
People were starting to have car phones when they put them in.
Key..."starting to". They were mostly found in high-end luxury cars.
No one predicted how popular phones would become...and the fact that a car phone is seriously old technology by today's standards. Remember...we didn't even have the internet back then...and now that's what most phones are used for.
Quote from: jeffandnicole on June 13, 2017, 07:36:11 PM
Quote from: texaskdog on June 13, 2017, 07:20:04 PM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on May 01, 2017, 09:21:12 AM
Quote from: texaskdog on May 01, 2017, 08:55:57 AM
Quote from: Rothman on April 30, 2017, 04:30:07 PM
They have fallen out of favor due to cell phones. I-91 had a whole string of them north of Springfield, MA, but I believe they have all been removed.
yeah, great idea...and then everyone has a phone a few years later. another waste of money.
Can you accurately predict what we will have a few years from now?
People were starting to have car phones when they put them in.
Key..."starting to". They were mostly found in high-end luxury cars.
No one predicted how popular phones would become...and the fact that a car phone is seriously old technology by today's standards. Remember...we didn't even have the internet back then...and now that's what most phones are used for.
These days when you see someone on the side of the road they are always on the phone getting help. The days of pulling over to help our fellow man are gone.
Quote from: jeffandnicole on June 13, 2017, 07:36:11 PM
No one predicted how popular phones would become...
I didn't realise this until talking with my father the other day. He got his first cell phone in the late 90s, but he only got one because of mounting pressure from friends and family. His slow adoption was mostly because he enjoyed the freedom of being away from a phone. There was plenty of excuse if you missed a call: you weren't home! Nowadays, you can't miss a call without being belittled.
The Irondequoit Bay Bridge on NY 104 has four emergency call boxes, two at each end. I'm surprised NYSDOT hasn't removed them by now.
https://www.google.com/maps/@43.2106778,-77.538639,3a,15y,102.5h,88.45t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sf_EqqE25424tacYM6V7HyQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en
Quote from: jeffandnicole on June 13, 2017, 07:36:11 PM
Quote from: texaskdog on June 13, 2017, 07:20:04 PM
People were starting to have car phones when they put them in.
Key..."starting to". They were mostly found in high-end luxury cars.
No one predicted how popular phones would become...and the fact that a car phone is seriously old technology by today's standards. Remember...we didn't even have the internet back then...and now that's what most phones are used for.
Now, your car has to have a BlueTooth connection. :)
^ My wife and I hate that in our car.
These emergency call boxes are going to end up by the wayside like Montgomery Ward or Burger Chef. Of course, you could always tell the grandkids, "I remember when that if your car broke down, you could walk to this phone in a box along the freeway and call for assistance." This would be followed with blank stares or puzzled looks from the grandkids. :D
Quote from: amroad17 on June 17, 2017, 02:16:30 AM
Of course, you could always tell the grandkids, "I remember when that if your car broke down, you could walk to this phone in a box along the freeway and call for assistance." This would be followed with blank stares or puzzled looks from the grandkids. :D
Because they understand neither phone boxes nor walking? ;-)
Much like telling kids about LPs today. Or telling them the only phones were attached to the house. There was no leaving the house with a phone. You arranged to meet up beforehand, and there was no way to tell someone you were running late or a change of plans.
Quote from: cpzilliacus on April 30, 2017, 11:44:32 PM
The Pennsylvania Turnpike system still has them, though I think they have considered getting rid of them as recently as in 2015.
In October 2015, news outlets across the state reported that the PTC was considering removal of the call boxes, but I haven't seen any updates since then. Construction bulletins as of the current month still list "call boxes out of service" for some work zones, so that would suggest they're still mostly in operation systemwide.
I don't know how this compares with other states' call box systems, but the PTC call boxes aren't like roadside telephones. On each box are four push buttons for different emergency situations. A light and tone indicate that the call was received, but the call box doesn't allow you to speak to anyone.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ftimesleader.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F10%2Fweb1_callbox2.jpg&hash=49fd07171e288614af03556c8a790a731a2c65f0)
Quote from: Rothman on April 30, 2017, 04:30:07 PM
They have fallen out of favor due to cell phones. I-91 had a whole string of them north of Springfield, MA, but I believe they have all been removed.
So, if someone does not have cell service, how is a call box going to have any out in a remote area?
Quote from: TheArkansasRoadgeek on June 17, 2017, 10:51:25 AM
So, if someone does not have cell service, how is a call box going to have any out in a remote area?
Most if not all call box systems predate modern cell phones and don't use the same technology. In the case of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, the callboxes connect wirelessly to a microwave system that's used to transmit various types of road and toll data throughout the Turnpike system.
I noticed this 2015 editorial (http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/opinion/our-opinion/17129/our-opinion-pennsylvania-turnpike-should-leave-its-emergency-call-boxes-intact) in the
Abington Journal which advocated for the continuation of the PTC call boxes. One specific line caught my eye: The editorial mentioned "...a House bill that would allow the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to eliminate those emergency call boxes..."
So apparently, a previous piece of state legislation–drafted outside of PTC purview–
required the Commission to install and maintain call boxes, and another piece of legislation would be required to release it from that obligation.
I-87 has them between Exits 26 and 35 (also the stretch with no 24-hour gas, 64 miles of phones). I have Verizon and only have a couple of dead zones along that stretch, but some other carriers have very spotty service, if anything at all. Rumor is that the phones have never worked, but they may have replaced them with working ones in recent years. The feds basically pushed the APA to start allowing cell towers because there's a nasty accident on the downgrade north of Exit 30 almost every year where response is delayed by lack of cell service. That area is still pretty dead in terms of reception.
New York City also has/had them on all expressways/parkways within city limits.
Quote from: amroad17 on June 17, 2017, 02:16:30 AM
^ My wife and I hate that in our car.
Bluetooth? What's wrong with it?
Was just thinking about call boxes for some reason, found this recent thread, and thought I'd revive it a little...
First time I ever saw call boxes was in Alabama of all places, along I-65 north of Montgomery. They started just north of the bridge over the Alabama River, and I think they went up to basically the Autauga/Chilton County line.
Other than the ones in FL and CA that have already been mentioned, those are the only ones I've ever laid eyes on.
Nowadays call boxes in urban areas seem completely unnecessary since you can expect there will be mobile coverage, except maybe in tunnels. However, many rural stretches of highway still don't have cell phone coverage, which is why some highways probably still have them. Here in Arizona we have them mostly on rural stretches of I-19 and US 93, with some isolated installations in remote locations elsewhere in the state.
Florida's were unique because they were combo mile markers and call boxes.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gainesville.com%2Fstoryimage%2FLK%2F20131025%2FNews%2F604157026%2FAR%2F0%2FAR-604157026.jpg&hash=6219996bb1f443324cb03663b33afadb225599bc)
Like others said, they got rid of them because of cell phones. People just weren't using them anymore.
The PA turnpike has them, and the Ohio Turnpike has some spread out, but most have been taken out.
Quote from: briantroutman on June 17, 2017, 10:22:32 AM
I don't know how this compares with other states' call box systems, but the PTC call boxes aren't like roadside telephones. On each box are four push buttons for different emergency situations. A light and tone indicate that the call was received, but the call box doesn't allow you to speak to anyone.
Florida's call boxes were similar, or at least the one I used on I-75 north of Tampa many years ago. If I remember correctly, it only had three buttons. I think they were service, police and medical. I don't remember there being a light or a tone to indicate your call was sent or received. I guess you just pushed the button and hoped for the best. My car had stalled, so I pushed the service button, but I was able to get the car started before help arrived.
I think I have seen a photo of one of the call boxes on I-19, and it appeared to have a handset. Not sure if the same is true for the ones on US 93. Note that the signage for the call boxes on I-19 and US 93 are different; I-19 uses a phone symbol, while US 93 uses the words "CALL BOX".
Idaho Transportation Department has placed Emergency Phones along US 12 in Central Idaho. This road travel through the Clearwater National Forest, hugging the Lochsa River, and zero cell phone coverage. They are placed about 30 miles apart so you are never more than 15 miles from a phone. They even place a sign over the phone with coordinates to give to dispatch. It is a beautiful drive if you have never been, but it is very remote area.
15 miles? They should be a mile apart. At 30 miles apart, how the heck do you know which one is closest? If you pass one, then break down 3 miles later, would someone walk ahead thinking the next one is just up the road a bit, not realizing it's another 27 miles away!!
Quote from: jeffandnicole on August 16, 2017, 11:11:54 PM
15 miles? They should be a mile apart. At 30 miles apart, how the heck do you know which one is closest? If you pass one, then break down 3 miles later, would someone walk ahead thinking the next one is just up the road a bit, not realizing it's another 27 miles away!!
And then if one is out of order, you just gotta walk another 30 miles or another 10 hours to the next one!
15 miles doesn't seem like much when you're driving. But on foot? I work part time as a valet. I work 8-hour days. I'm not sure I've ever covered 15 miles walking/running in a shift.
Quote from: jakeroot on August 18, 2017, 02:28:44 AM
15 miles doesn't seem like much when you're driving. But on foot? I work part time as a valet. I work 8-hour days. I'm not sure I've ever covered 15 miles walking/running in a shift.
Depending on situation, 15 miles may be OK, or 1 mile may be too much.
If driver is OK and vehicle is driveable (e.g. minor accident), it is better to get help down the road.
If vehicle is not movable, but driver is OK - and out of cell service area - it is about asking another car passing by to make a call (or getting a ride) - and 5 miles is as good as 15 (although 15 is on a high side)
If driver got a problem (e.g. health) preventing them from operation, even 1 mile walk may not be an option.
If weather is a problem (e.g. car stuck in snow), it is better to stay with you car to begin with....
Quote from: kalvado on August 18, 2017, 11:18:18 AM
Quote from: jakeroot on August 18, 2017, 02:28:44 AM
15 miles doesn't seem like much when you're driving. But on foot? I work part time as a valet. I work 8-hour days. I'm not sure I've ever covered 15 miles walking/running in a shift.
Depending on situation, 15 miles may be OK, or 1 mile may be too much.
If driver is OK and vehicle is driveable (e.g. minor accident), it is better to get help down the road.
If vehicle is not movable, but driver is OK - and out of cell service area - it is about asking another car passing by to make a call (or getting a ride) - and 5 miles is as good as 15 (although 15 is on a high side)
If driver got a problem (e.g. health) preventing them from operation, even 1 mile walk may not be an option.
If weather is a problem (e.g. car stuck in snow), it is better to stay with you car to begin with....
And since you shouldn't be backing up on a highway, if you're a mile past a call box, that means you have another 29 miles till the next one.
Quote from: kalvado on August 18, 2017, 11:18:18 AM
Quote from: jakeroot on August 18, 2017, 02:28:44 AM
15 miles doesn't seem like much when you're driving. But on foot? I work part time as a valet. I work 8-hour days. I'm not sure I've ever covered 15 miles walking/running in a shift.
Depending on situation, 15 miles may be OK, or 1 mile may be too much.
Definitely. But (obviously) we don't know what kind of state the driver might be in at the time, so as a precaution, call boxes are typically placed much closer together, to keep an injured driver from having to walk too far. The 90 Floating Bridges in Seattle have call boxes about every 500 feet. This would seem to be an ideal minimum, but I wouldn't place any more than a mile apart. A mile takes about 20 minutes to cover if in normal condition. That's a long time if you're injured. 15 Miles? What's even the point? You'd be more likely to flag a car down by the time you finished walking.
Quote from: jakeroot on August 18, 2017, 02:56:52 PM
Quote from: kalvado on August 18, 2017, 11:18:18 AM
Quote from: jakeroot on August 18, 2017, 02:28:44 AM
15 miles doesn't seem like much when you're driving. But on foot? I work part time as a valet. I work 8-hour days. I'm not sure I've ever covered 15 miles walking/running in a shift.
Depending on situation, 15 miles may be OK, or 1 mile may be too much.
Definitely. But (obviously) we don't know what kind of state the driver might be in at the time, so as a precaution, call boxes are typically placed much closer together, to keep an injured driver from having to walk too far. The 90 Floating Bridges in Seattle have call boxes about every 500 feet. This would seem to be an ideal minimum, but I wouldn't place any more than a mile apart. A mile takes about 20 minutes to cover if in normal condition. That's a long time if you're injured. 15 Miles? What's even the point? You'd be more likely to flag a car down by the time you finished walking.
If you cannot flag a car - most likely you're not on a highway or timing is really bad. But most non-highways don't have call boxes at all...
It boils down, from my perspective, to having quite narrow range of circumstances where call boxes are both useful and essential - i.e. you can use them, and using them helps sufficiently.
Call boxes on bridges, as we discussed, are more of a suicide prevention thing...
Quote from: jakeroot on August 18, 2017, 02:56:52 PM
Quote from: kalvado on August 18, 2017, 11:18:18 AM
Quote from: jakeroot on August 18, 2017, 02:28:44 AM
15 miles doesn't seem like much when you're driving. But on foot? I work part time as a valet. I work 8-hour days. I'm not sure I've ever covered 15 miles walking/running in a shift.
Depending on situation, 15 miles may be OK, or 1 mile may be too much.
Definitely. But (obviously) we don't know what kind of state the driver might be in at the time, so as a precaution, call boxes are typically placed much closer together, to keep an injured driver from having to walk too far. The 90 Floating Bridges in Seattle have call boxes about every 500 feet. This would seem to be an ideal minimum, but I wouldn't place any more than a mile apart. A mile takes about 20 minutes to cover if in normal condition. That's a long time if you're injured. 15 Miles? What's even the point? You'd be more likely to flag a car down by the time you finished walking.
With them a mile apart, you would never have to walk a mile to a call box... If you're a few hundred feet past a call box, you should easily be able to look back and see that you passed it... If you can't see it, you're likely not more then 10 minutes walking to one if you have to guess which direction... its not gonna be a mile.
Quote from: kalvado on August 18, 2017, 03:08:09 PM
Quote from: jakeroot on August 18, 2017, 02:56:52 PM
Quote from: kalvado on August 18, 2017, 11:18:18 AM
Quote from: jakeroot on August 18, 2017, 02:28:44 AM
15 miles doesn't seem like much when you're driving. But on foot? I work part time as a valet. I work 8-hour days. I'm not sure I've ever covered 15 miles walking/running in a shift.
Depending on situation, 15 miles may be OK, or 1 mile may be too much.
Definitely. But (obviously) we don't know what kind of state the driver might be in at the time, so as a precaution, call boxes are typically placed much closer together, to keep an injured driver from having to walk too far. A mile takes about 20 minutes to cover if in normal condition. That's a long time if you're injured. 15 Miles? What's even the point? You'd be more likely to flag a car down by the time you finished walking.
If you cannot flag a car - most likely you're not on a highway or timing is really bad. But most non-highways don't have call boxes at all...
It boils down, from my perspective, to having quite narrow range of circumstances where call boxes are both useful and essential - i.e. you can use them, and using them helps sufficiently.
If the DOT is going to put in phones, the idea should not be for them to be a last resort. i.e. flag a car down ... if that doesn't work, seek out a phone. The phone's should be the first, and easiest resource a driver can seek if they have no phone or other means of contact. Here in Washington, hitchhiking is illegal, so most drivers don't stop for people on the side of the road to begin with.
Every 15 miles might be better than nothing, sure. But don't give the poor bastard hope that he might reach a phone if it's going to take him anywhere from twenty minutes to ten hours to reach a phone. If you're going to install them, do it properly.
Quote from: kalvado on August 18, 2017, 03:08:09 PM
Quote from: jakeroot on August 18, 2017, 02:56:52 PM
The 90 Floating Bridges in Seattle have call boxes about every 500 feet. This would seem to be an ideal minimum, but I wouldn't place any more than a mile apart.
Call boxes on bridges, as we discussed, are more of a suicide prevention thing...
I don't think that's WSDOT's idea here...
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fww1.hdnux.com%2Fphotos%2F11%2F44%2F53%2F2509564%2F10%2F1024x1024.jpg&hash=38b3e4a871edf70a54263e8ae32ee34e9936ab84)
(image via Seattle-pi/Joshua Trujillo (http://www.seattlepi.com/local/transportation/article/Floating-bridges-of-the-world-2971885.php))
Quote from: jakeroot on August 18, 2017, 11:34:10 PM
Here in Washington, hitchhiking is illegal, so most drivers don't stop for people on the side of the road to begin with.
Well, in most cases you can tell hitchhiker from driver in distress. Someone standing near non-moving car isn't likely to be hitchhiking..
Thing is, I have hard time understanding how actual things looked like in pre-cell phone days in unpopulated areas. We don't have to many exit being 30 miles apart (I can think of one spot, actually) over here, and I never lived in such location. Probably I drove such places... single digit number of times, though. And I vaguely remember pre-cell phone days..
But in general - walking along highway seems a bad idea for me. And I suspect that whoever placed those call boxes didn't have that in mind as their primary operating mode.
The other thing they probably had in mind can be cost efficiency. I wonder if there is any statistics on usage of those boxes, would be interesting to compare pre-1990 as reference, and post-2010 as modern. Maybe those 30 miles are based on usage estimate and typical usage scenarios?
Quote
I don't think that's WSDOT's idea here...
(cynical mode on)
if there is no proper jumping bridge in the area, even this one can be used. Would be pretty slow, but probably you can sink after a while.
Quote from: kalvado on August 19, 2017, 06:00:43 AM
Quote from: jakeroot on August 18, 2017, 11:34:10 PM
I don't think that's WSDOT's idea here...
(cynical mode on)
if there is no proper jumping bridge in the area, even this one can be used. Would be pretty slow, but probably you can sink after a while.
Well, sure. But I still don't think that WSDOT installed the phones to help talk people out of drowning themselves. There's plenty of other bridges in the Seattle area that would be more likely to experience "jumpers" that have either no phones, or very few: Ship Canal, Aurora, East Channel, West Seattle, Spokane Street, Magnolia, and so on. The phones on the 90 Floating Bridges are only there because they were a WSDOT standard when the bridge was built, and it was decided that, due to the remote nature of, not only the bridge, but bridges in general, and the tunnels flanking either end (that have poor mobile phone coverage for whatever reason), that they should stay in case of breakdown or collision.