Highway-related things I would like to see for 2013

[vdeane]

On pedestrians: I'm willing to accept more stuff, but in return the ped advocates need to accept that peds share the road too and lose the holier-than-though "I own the road and you can suck it" attitude that is often displayed.  Peds and cars co-existing is fine; cars becoming second class citizens is not.

Drunk driving penalties are strong enough.  In fact, the enforcement is sort of shady.  You can technically be charged with a DUI if you're parked in a car intoxicated, even if you never drive and are just crashed in your vehicle. 

On the other hand, most of the time when there's a death due to drunk driving, it's discovered that the driver had multiple drunk driving convictions before.  That suggests the penalties are not strong enough.

I don't think that's the reason.  I think most of those repeat offenders just don't care; in their minds, there is nothing wrong with driving drunk (in fact, 40 years ago, not only was drunk driving viewed as OK, but it was something for drinkers to brag about!).  The only way you're going to be able to deal with that is to say "after X drunk driving convictions, you lose your licence permanently, with no possibility of getting it back, ever", with jail time (minimum 5 years) if one then proceeds to drive after this.  While the culture related to DUIs has largely changed, there are people who will never change with the culture.  These people are stuck in the past, still view driving drunk as something to brag about, and think cops who enforce DUI laws are just jerks out to ruin their lives.

What is also needed is more sensible enforcement.  It should not be possible to get a DUI without driving, and it shouldn't be an exemption to the 4th amendment either.

[kkt]

The only way you're going to be able to deal with that is to say "after X drunk driving convictions, you lose your licence permanently, with no possibility of getting it back, ever", with jail time (minimum 5 years) if one then proceeds to drive after this.

That's exactly what we should do.  Two drunk driving convictions = license revoked, driving (intoxicated or not) after that = prison.

What is also needed is more sensible enforcement.  It should not be possible to get a DUI without driving,

I'll agree with this.  Going to your car to pass out isn't driving.

and it shouldn't be an exemption to the 4th amendment either.

But not this.  If a drunk driver could simply refuse any intoxication tests, how would anybody ever be convicted?  There is no right to drive, and the implied consent law doesn't violate the 4th amendment.

[NE2]

cars becoming second class citizens is not.

Cars should no more be citizens than corporations.

[bugo]

Better enforcement of LLB laws.  And I-49 between Alma and Texarkana (like that's going to happen in the next 30 years.)

[Grzrd]

I-49 between Alma and Texarkana (like that's going to happen in the next 30 years.)

In Arkansas, I'll settle for an I-540 redesignation as I-49 from I-40 northward, and AR 549 as I-49 from I-30 southward (might as well go for north of I-30 to Texas state line, too).

[Brandon]

yawn

Yawn yourself, SPUI.  You seem to give that as your answer when it's something you don't like.

They are as much a danger to pedestrians as any other vehicle on the sidewalk and any other vehicle that ignores stop signs, signals, etc.  Obviously, you've never had the pleasure of being run off the sidewalk and darn near run over by them in downtown Chicago.  A vehicle is a vehicle whether it has 2 wheels and is human powered, or has four wheels and an internal combustion engine.

[bugo]

I-49 between Alma and Texarkana (like that's going to happen in the next 30 years.)

In Arkansas, I'll settle for an I-540 redesignation as I-49 from I-40 northward, and AR 549 as I-49 from I-30 southward (might as well go for north of I-30 to Texas state line, too).

That wouldn't help me.  I want a quicker, more relaxed trip between Tulsa and Mena.

[NE2]

yawn

[Brandon]

yawn

Well, as I saw I have the ability, Dan, you earned a *plonk*.

[J N Winkler]

"Yawn."  "Plonk."  What is this, the best of MTR?

[Alps]

"Yawn."  "Plonk."  What is this, the best of MTR?

We're dealing with it.

[Brandon]

"Yawn."  "Plonk."  What is this, the best of MTR?

No, just sick of a one-word non-answer when someone doesn't like something.  I decided to use an option the mods put in place to keep my comments sane and blood pressure lower.

[Revive 755]

Illinois
Possible
* IDOT and ISTHA begin using the butterfly distance signs found in several other states

* ISTHA adds exit numbers to all tollway interchanges

* IDOT and ISTHA agree to add a NB to WB flyover at the I-90/I-290/IL 53 cloverleaf when I-90 is reconstructed through the interchange

Very Unlikely
* IDOT and ISTHA agree to a full rebuild of the I-90/I-290/IL 53 cloverleaf into a four-level stack

* McHenry County starts its own toll authority to build the Richmond Bypass and the FAP 420 corridor down to IL 31 at McHenry instead of waiting for ISTHA to build the corridor some decade after the IL 53 extension is completed

* The lousy boulevard/parkway version of the IL 53 Extension is abandoned and either a regular tollway is constructed or IL 83 and US 12 are widened to six lanes with high type intersections (jughandles, Michigan lefts, CFI's) or interchanges at major intersections.

* A public/private partnership is announced to build part of the Crosstown Expressway

* Something goes wrong with the lease on the Chicago Skyway that results in the tolls being lowered to $3 or less


Missouri
Very Unlikely
* MoDOT does an about-face and makes plans to add ramps to and from the south to the Great Lemon Bridge before closing the I-55 ramps to/from the PSB as part of redoing the PSB interchange.

* A super-2 on 4-Lane ROW version of the US 61 Hannibal Bypass advances to the design phase with constructed funded a year or two down the road.

[jeffandnicole]

-Completion of the I-95/DE 1 interchange in Delaware

Well, this is pretty much guaranteed not to happen, but at least it's moving along...

[Road Hog]

Short of a flying DeLorean where "we don't need roads," I'd like to see state legislatures wise up, hike the gas tax by a nickel and stop this pell-mell race to toll every new alleyway and side street.

[vdeane]

But not this.  If a drunk driver could simply refuse any intoxication tests, how would anybody ever be convicted?  There is no right to drive, and the implied consent law doesn't violate the 4th amendment.

I was thinking about the roadblocks there.  I would consider a breathalyzer test for someone driving erratically at night to be in the same league as asking for licence and registration in any traffic stop.

[Brandon]

But not this.  If a drunk driver could simply refuse any intoxication tests, how would anybody ever be convicted?  There is no right to drive, and the implied consent law doesn't violate the 4th amendment.

I was thinking about the roadblocks there.  I would consider a breathalyzer test for someone driving erratically at night to be in the same league as asking for licence and registration in any traffic stop.

Driving erratically would fall under probable cause for a breath test.

[jwolfer]

(1) Ways to prevent fatal crashes - my two favorites are how to prevent wrong-way incursions onto all sorts of divided highways (including freeways and expressways) and fatal crashes caused by smaller vehicles rear-ending larger vehicles (especially semi-trailers) at high speed.

(2) More emphasis on deterring drunk/drugged driving (including more and longer jail sentences for such crimes).

(3) More emphasis on preventing people from driving while suspended/revoked or without liability insurance.

(4) Straight talk from elected officials about how much it really costs to maintain transportation infrastructure (that which is funded out of highway user fees and taxes).

Your thoughts?

2 would take care of 1 very well.  I know in Florida wrong way drivers are usually SMASHED.  And here in Florida driving the wrong way at night would be met with red lane reflectors galore.  I think that puts a stop to more sober drivers going the wrong way.

[wxfree]

I'd like to see a change in attitudes.  We need to recognize that roads, even non-toll roads, are assets, not liabilities.  Money spent on maintaining and improving the road network is an investment in economic development and better quality of life.  Some people have a tendency to think of any spending by government as wasteful.

I'd like to see a dedicated revenue stream from a user fee, like a fuel or mileage tax, without diversions for other purposes.  And that tax needs to be kept at an adequate rate.  How is it that we can raise tolls so easily - in some places, every year, but just can't figure out how to raise the fuel tax?  What I don't want to see is more toll roads, where a few people pay more so that others elsewhere can pay less for the same thing.

[codyg1985]

is it that we can raise tolls so easily - in some places, every year, but just can't figure out how to raise the fuel tax?

Toll road rate increases are often set by local governments or, in a lot of cases, private companies while gasoline tax increases are often set at the local, state, or federal level.

[KEK Inc.]

I'd like to see a change in attitudes.  We need to recognize that roads, even non-toll roads, are assets, not liabilities.  Money spent on maintaining and improving the road network is an investment in economic development and better quality of life.  Some people have a tendency to think of any spending by government as wasteful.

I'd like to see a dedicated revenue stream from a user fee, like a fuel or mileage tax, without diversions for other purposes.  And that tax needs to be kept at an adequate rate.  How is it that we can raise tolls so easily - in some places, every year, but just can't figure out how to raise the fuel tax?  What I don't want to see is more toll roads, where a few people pay more so that others elsewhere can pay less for the same thing.

Well, government spending on unnecessary programs is wasteful.  I don't think many people consider infrastructure unnecessary.

[Zmapper]

I'd like to see a change in attitudes.  We need to recognize that roads, even non-toll roads, are assets, not liabilities.  Money spent on maintaining and improving the road network is an investment in economic development and better quality of life.  Some people have a tendency to think of any spending by government as wasteful.

I'd like to see a dedicated revenue stream from a user fee, like a fuel or mileage tax, without diversions for other purposes.  And that tax needs to be kept at an adequate rate.  How is it that we can raise tolls so easily - in some places, every year, but just can't figure out how to raise the fuel tax?  What I don't want to see is more toll roads, where a few people pay more so that others elsewhere can pay less for the same thing.

Well, government spending on unnecessary programs is wasteful.  I don't think many people consider infrastructure unnecessary.

As a whole, perhaps not. Though when you look at individual projects, there certainly are those that have shaky justification. Remember the "Bridge to Nowhere"? As a nation, are we really better off with I-15 as a full interstate through Northern Montana, with just a measly 2000 trips daily?

[KEK Inc.]

As a whole, perhaps not. Though when you look at individual projects, there certainly are those that have shaky justification. Remember the "Bridge to Nowhere"? As a nation, are we really better off with I-15 as a full interstate through Northern Montana, with just a measly 2000 trips daily?

It's supposed to be considered an important CANAMEX route, and it was built during a time when our economy was still growing.  Now, the Virgin River Gorge could have been rerouted...

[mgk920]

I-15 also points towards a couple of very sizable metro areas and, IMHO, would be carrying much more traffic if those obnoxious border checkpoints weren't in the way.



Mike

[mjb2002]

My list is pretty straightforward.

For SCDOT:

1. Lowering the Speed Limit on the Orangeburg County portions of SC 3, SC 4, and SC 70 from 55 mph to 50 mph.
2. Either keeping the word "County" in all uppercase or making the words "Town Limit" and "City Limit" on Destination signs in proper case. MUST pick ONE option.
3. Increased usage of Advance Street Name Warning BYS (big yellow sign) plaques.
4. Decreased usage of 48 × 48 STOP signs when there is no primary highway (US or SC highway) as part of the intersection.

For the 46 counties:

1. Proper Case Street Name signs over every square inch of the counties.
2. Better timing of the RYGs in urban areas.
3. Installation of overhead Street Name signs at RYGs if possible.
4. Increased use of stand alone rectangle signs for private roads: either NO OUTLET or PRIVATE ROAD.