AASHTO to get control over Interstate numbering (Lame attempt at April Fools)

[CNGL-Leudimin]

Before the damn coronavirus started to get bad I stumbled across an AASHTO announcement, which unfortunately I cannot find anymore. But it will definitely cause an earthquake among us roadgeeks, and maybe will put some order in numbering.

Basically, AASHTO has announced starting from next meeting, instead of letting states to propose changes, they will decree where Interstates, US Routes and US Bicycle Routes should go, and they will impose hefty penalties to states that refuse to comply with these orders. And as such, I see important changes coming in the next few years. Maybe all remaining split and intrastate US Routes will be deleted (with the exception of US 158, as its length is over 300 miles), and some of the Interstates approved in the last few years could get reverted (They appear to be looking to North Carolina). On the bright side, we could see new US Routes after 15 years without a new designation, maybe this time US 37 and US 143 will be signed for good. I hope no one would want to impose an alignment just because it serves his hometown (it will be hard), and most importantly, no FritzOwl ever forms part of the numbering committee.

Any thoughts? Also, don't forget to check the calendar...

[vdeane]

Even if this were not April 1, I doubt AASHTO would reverse previously approved decisions.

[hbelkins]

This attempt at an April Fools joke falls flat for several reasons. One is that it's a voluntary organization with no enforcement powers (unlike FHWA). They have no power to impose penalties. Of course, we all knew that, so even without your admonishment to check the calendar, it wasn't really believable.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

This attempt at an April Fools joke falls flat for several reasons. One is that it's a voluntary organization with no enforcement powers (unlike FHWA). They have no power to impose penalties. Of course, we all knew that, so even without your admonishment to check the calendar, it wasn't really believable.

We also know he's going to make an annual April Fool's thread, so there's not exactly an element of surprise at this point.

[chays]

I fell for it. I started looking up AASHTO's media releases.

[SeriesE]

Before the damn coronavirus started to get bad I stumbled across an AASHTO announcement, which unfortunately I cannot find anymore. But it will definitely cause an earthquake among us roadgeeks, and maybe will put some order in numbering.

Basically, AASHTO has announced starting from next meeting, instead of letting states to propose changes, they will decree where Interstates, US Routes and US Bicycle Routes should go, and they will impose hefty penalties to states that refuse to comply with these orders. And as such, I see important changes coming in the next few years. Maybe all remaining split and intrastate US Routes will be deleted (with the exception of US 158, as its length is over 300 miles), and some of the Interstates approved in the last few years could get reverted (They appear to be looking to North Carolina). On the bright side, we could see new US Routes after 15 years without a new designation, maybe this time US 37 and US 143 will be signed for good. I hope no one would want to impose an alignment just because it serves his hometown (it will be hard), and most importantly, no FritzOwl ever forms part of the numbering committee.

Any thoughts? Also, don't forget to check the calendar...

Anything to get rid of the I-69W/I-69C/I-69E mess 

[CNGL-Leudimin]

We also know he's going to make an annual April Fool's thread, so there's not exactly an element of surprise at this point.

Yep, and I do so taking advantage of my time zone. I'll post the prank in my morning, so it is already there when you wake up. This year, however, it didn't turn as expected, mainly because it was rushed (I realized on March 31 that I didn't had a joke yet!), unlike last year with US 412. I'll try to get better next year.

[Henry]

I did not believe any of this for a minute! AASHTO really does not give a rat's ass about route numbering, as long as it's a reasonable fit in the grid and follows the numbering convention to a T.

[US 89]

AASHTO really does not give a rat's ass about route numbering, as long as it's a reasonable fit in the grid and follows the numbering convention to a T.

FTFY. They’re the ones who came up with US 400, after all...

[vdeane]

AASHTO really does not give a rat's ass about route numbering, as long as it's a reasonable fit in the grid and follows the numbering convention to a T.

FTFY. They're the ones who came up with US 400, after all...

And I-87 in North Carolina

[Beltway]

AASHTO really does not give a rat's ass about route numbering, as long as it's a reasonable fit in the grid and follows the numbering convention to a T.

FTFY. They're the ones who came up with US 400, after all...

And I-87 in North Carolina

That's VI-87.

[hotdogPi]

AASHTO really does not give a rat's ass about route numbering, as long as it's a reasonable fit in the grid and follows the numbering convention to a T.

FTFY. They're the ones who came up with US 400, after all...

And I-87 in North Carolina

That's VI-87.

VI-87, if it existed, would be in the Virgin Islands.