The Best/Worst Highway Innovations Of Each Decade...

[US81]

Best of the 1910s: the cloverleaf

[hbelkins]

I've never liked roundabouts because so many people don't know how to drive in them, and they can sometimes be difficult to enter if there is a lot of traffic in the circle. At least with a signal, you know that you're eventually going to get to go. Same goes for a four-way stop.

Most road diets I've seen involve converting a road with four lanes, divided only by striping, into a two-lane road with a center turn lane. This allows through traffic to proceed mostly unimpeded, and left-lane traffic doesn't have to stop for left-turning vehicles waiting for a break in traffic. Example: US 127 through Harrodsburg, Ky.

[DandyDan]

Just curious, why are so many people here against Clearview?  That seems like one of those things people don't like just because it's a recent development.  To me, it's just letters on a street sign.  I realize some fonts would be bad for street signs, but I honestly don't see the reason for the fuss over Clearview.

[SteveG1988]

Just curious, why are so many people here against Clearview?  That seems like one of those things people don't like just because it's a recent development.  To me, it's just letters on a street sign.  I realize some fonts would be bad for street signs, but I honestly don't see the reason for the fuss over Clearview.

Clearview is like new coke around here. Just like new coke it was tested, and came out tops in testing, but in real world use people perfer the flavor of Highway Gothic over ClearView, mostly due to the fact that clearview just looks off to the eye.

[wxfree]

Clearview is like new coke around here. Just like new coke it was tested, and came out tops in testing, but in real world use people perfer the flavor of Highway Gothic over ClearView, mostly due to the fact that clearview just looks off to the eye.

That's an interesting analogy, because Coca-Cola tastes awful, and everyone knows that; taste tests consistently show that result.  People prefer it as an intellectual response, because of all the advertising and mental conditioning.  When you know you're drinking Coke, you like it because you're conditioned to.  In blind taste tests, in which emotional responses prevail, Coke scores poorly.  MRI tests show the difference between intellectual and emotional responses.

I don't mean to go off topic, but I suspect it's the same for a font.  People like what's always been there, because they're accustomed to it, and view anything new with doubt.  I'd leave it to scientists to find which is more readable.  Which people prefer is really irrelevant since the goal is readability.

As for me, I never even noticed a difference, except for the tail on the Clearview lower-case L, until I read all the complaints on here (and I'm a real stickler for details).

[SteveG1988]

Clearview is like new coke around here. Just like new coke it was tested, and came out tops in testing, but in real world use people perfer the flavor of Highway Gothic over ClearView, mostly due to the fact that clearview just looks off to the eye.

That's an interesting analogy, because Coca-Cola tastes awful, and everyone knows that; taste tests consistently show that result.  People prefer it as an intellectual response, because of all the advertising and mental conditioning.  When you know you're drinking Coke, you like it because you're conditioned to.  In blind taste tests, in which emotional responses prevail, Coke scores poorly.  MRI tests show the difference between intellectual and emotional responses.

I don't mean to go off topic, but I suspect it's the same for a font.  People like what's always been there, because they're accustomed to it, and view anything new with doubt.  I'd leave it to scientists to find which is more readable.  Which people prefer is really irrelevant since the goal is readability.

As for me, I never even noticed a difference, except for the tail on the Clearview lower-case L, until I read all the complaints on here (and I'm a real stickler for details).

I don't mind it, it has kind of a "hey it's different" look to me, becuase A: the sign is newer and brighter than the one it replaced, at least around here. and B: the subtle changes to the font.

I wonder if clear view will age well?

Supposedly with new coke, people sip Coke Classic so the lower sweetness will not be a problem, but having an overly sweet pepsi like taste is bad if you want to sip, since some people get sick of the taste after maybe a can.

[thenetwork]

1980s
-Best: Actuated traffic signals

Actually, the actuated traffic signals/trip signals goes back to at least the 1960's -- and maybe earlier.

Let me add these to the list of best innovations of the 70s: 

-- The implementation of the Right Turns On Red countrywide, (although that's more of a law than a physical creation).
-- Variable Message Boards (which I believe started in California in the 70s.)
-- Diagrammatical overhead BGSs -- IMHO still beats the hell out of the European-style OAPL signs.
-- Doghouse signals.

Other BESTs for the 80s (maybe as early as the 70s)
-- Lightweight, stack-able plastic construction barrels replacing the bulky 55 gallon metal drums.
-- Lightweight, stack-able skinny 4' tall construction skinny sticks (I liken them to the jumbo-sized whiffleball bats)

[Brian556]

Other BESTs for the 80s (maybe as early as the 70s)
-- Lightweight, stack-able plastic construction barrels replacing the bulky 55 gallon metal drums.
-- Lightweight, stack-able skinny 4' tall construction skinny sticks (I liken them to the jumbo-sized whiffleball bats)

I have a video made in TN in 1985 showing the plastic barrels. Texas still used the oil drums in the 80's. We didn't get the 4' channelizer cones until 2005.
It is a good thing that they stopped using wood vertical panels. Those were always getting broken and there would be boards with nails in them all over the road.

[1995hoo]

Just curious, why are so many people here against Clearview?  That seems like one of those things people don't like just because it's a recent development.  To me, it's just letters on a street sign.  I realize some fonts would be bad for street signs, but I honestly don't see the reason for the fuss over Clearview.

The following website has a great example of exactly that:

http://typographyforlawyers.com/what-is-typography.html

FWIW, I think Clearview is ugly but I find it a lot easier to read at a distance than the old typefaces, and I think the ease of reading is the most important thing.

[DaBigE]

1980s
-Best: Actuated traffic signals

Actually, the actuated traffic signals/trip signals goes back to at least the 1960's -- and maybe earlier.

I figured that might be the case, however my quick Google searches didn't yield any specific dates. I was just going by when their use seemed to be more wide-spread/standard (around here).

[NE2]

19th century: posted route numbers (France)

[webfil]

Just another Clearview font topic.

Well that escalated quickly.

(I assumed even before clicking on the thread link that this would be the case)

[SteveG1988]

Not sure when, Highway information service radios

[cpzilliacus]

Widespread use of cellular telephones (yes, I understand it's not a highway innovation per se) in the 1980's, which have greatly improved reporting of and responses to freeway incidents.

[cpzilliacus]

I've never liked roundabouts because so many people don't know how to drive in them, and they can sometimes be difficult to enter if there is a lot of traffic in the circle. At least with a signal, you know that you're eventually going to get to go. Same goes for a four-way stop.

I disagree. Roundabouts, where appropriate (and that means not where traffic will overwhelm them) reduce crashes and especially severity of same, lowers operating costs and can improve traffic flow.

There's one on U.S. 1 in the Town of Mount Rainier, Prince George's County, Maryland, just over the border from the District of Columbia (Google Maps here), which has had another (probably unplanned and unanticipated) benefit - stopping drunk drivers after a night of partying in D.C., who somewhat frequently crash into the massive planter in the middle of the roundabout (GSV here)

[SteveG1988]

2000s: Nixlie, and being used for drawbridge openings. Now you know via a text if the bridge is open or not

[Duke87]

Most road diets I've seen involve converting a road with four lanes, divided only by striping, into a two-lane road with a center turn lane. This allows through traffic to proceed mostly unimpeded, and left-lane traffic doesn't have to stop for left-turning vehicles waiting for a break in traffic.

And therein is the key benefit.

Still, there can be other reasons...

In an urban area, narrowing a road can be done simply in order to make it more pedestrian friendly. Yes, it makes driving more difficult. But it makes walking easier and they've prioritized accordingly. Also increases safety by slowing traffic down in a pedestrian heavy area.

And while it's tougher to identify, sometimes narrowing a road has a benefit due to Braess' Paradox.

[deathtopumpkins]

Most road diets I've seen aren't so much to add a shared left turn lane as to add bike lanes, and parking, and maybe a wider sidewalk. And often times as a traffic calming measure, which really shouldn't be the case.

[roadman]

Some people (especailly property owners) may consider noise barriers to be a good innovation.  However, something that is totally funded from highway monies soley for the benefit of private abutters, yet gives no benefits to the highway users AND saddles the DOT with future maintenance and replacement costs can hardly be called a positive transportation improvement.

[NE2]

Some people (especailly property owners) may consider noise barriers to be a good innovation.  However, something that is totally funded from highway monies soley for the benefit of private abutters, yet gives no benefits to the highway users AND saddles the DOT with future maintenance and replacement costs can hardly be called a positive transportation improvement.

Quoted in its entirety. Just because what.

[roadman]

Not sure when, Highway information service radios

Several states started using Highway Advisory Radio on an experimental basis in the 1970s.  However, it didn't become more widely adopted until the early 1980s.  Some HAR transmitters have the capability to broadcast the message (once every two to five minutes) on CB Channel 19.  For certian messages (like hazmat restrictions), that to me is more effective than broadcasting on AM.

[Brandon]

Some people (especailly property owners) may consider noise barriers to be a good innovation.  However, something that is totally funded from highway monies soley for the benefit of private abutters, yet gives no benefits to the highway users AND saddles the DOT with future maintenance and replacement costs can hardly be called a positive transportation improvement.

Some highway authorities have started to make these private property owners pay for, build, and maintain their own sound barriers.  ISTHA has done this along the South I-355 Extension.  If the property owner wanted a sound barrier, they had to pay for and build it themselves.  Hence, there are about three or four styles of sound barrier along the road.

[roadman]

Some people (especailly property owners) may consider noise barriers to be a good innovation.  However, something that is totally funded from highway monies soley for the benefit of private abutters, yet gives no benefits to the highway users AND saddles the DOT with future maintenance and replacement costs can hardly be called a positive transportation improvement.

Some highway authorities have started to make these private property owners pay for, build, and maintain their own sound barriers.  ISTHA has done this along the South I-355 Extension.  If the property owner wanted a sound barrier, they had to pay for and build it themselves.  Hence, there are about three or four styles of sound barrier along the road.

A very good idea.  As these barriers can cost upwards of $1 million per half-mile (average cost in MA), all highway agencies should be required to follow suit.  However, I would require that the barriers be built according to the highway agency specs, and not just what a local condo developer decides is "good enough".

[hbelkins]

Some people (especailly property owners) may consider noise barriers to be a good innovation.  However, something that is totally funded from highway monies soley for the benefit of private abutters, yet gives no benefits to the highway users AND saddles the DOT with future maintenance and replacement costs can hardly be called a positive transportation improvement.

Some highway authorities have started to make these private property owners pay for, build, and maintain their own sound barriers.  ISTHA has done this along the South I-355 Extension.  If the property owner wanted a sound barrier, they had to pay for and build it themselves.  Hence, there are about three or four styles of sound barrier along the road.

If you build along an existing road, then by all means I can see either paying for the barrier yourself or living with the noise. But if a new highway comes through an area, it negatively impacts homeowners along the right-of-way and it's proper for the government to abate the nuisance. It's no different, really, than building drainage structures so that the homeowners along the new highway don't get flooded every time it rains.

There are other considerations, as well. The town of Sharpsburg, Ky. was bypassed by a new alignment of KY 11 a few years ago. Because of something having to do with historical significance, a noise barrier was built even though two-lane KY 11 carries nowhere close to the amount of traffic of an urban interstate, where noise barriers are more common.

[Henry]

For each decade that I've been alive, I will give Best and Worst of lists. Here we go!

Best of the...

1970s: Small, fuel-efficient cars
1980s: Cell phones for emergencies
1990s: EZPass
21st century: (tie) AARoads and other similar roadgeek sites, LED streetlights

Worst of the...

1970s: (tie) NMSL and sodium-vapor streetlights
1980s: Decommissioning of US Route 66
1990s: Congressional designations of new route numbers
21st century: Clearview font