PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: Proposal to merge the Ohio Valley board

[Scott5114]

It was brought up recently that Ohio Valley is, unlike any of the other boards, primarily made up of split states. Some users have said that splitting states between different boards makes things more difficult. If they have a statewide interest, they have to check two different forums. When posting a new topic it can be difficult to decide which board it should go in. Closing the Ohio Valley board would thus greatly reduce the number of split states.

Thus, the following is hereby proposed:

• Kentucky, in its entirety, will be moved to one of the surrounding regions, as determined by a poll on the subject.
• Central/Southern/Western West Virginia will be moved to one of the surrounding regions, as determined by a poll on the subject.
• The remaining states (Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Pennsylvania) will be moved to the regions the remainder of the state is in. (PA will go to Northeast, all other states to Midwest.)

Edited to add: The intent would be for the border to be "fuzzed" around the metro areas. Metro Cincinnati topics would go to Midwest and metro Louisville topics would go to whichever board Kentucky ends up in.

This poll will be open for seven days. Feel free to leave your feedback in this thread–we want to make sure this change makes the forum easier to use for you!

[hbelkins]

Things are fine the way they are. Leave them be. My vote is "no."

[SkyPesos]

Since it's a real possibly that this change could happen now, sticking with my yes vote like in the other thread. The Ohio River is a better border between regions than some imaginary line just south of I-70 that we can't decide on where it is. And it's better for statewide discussions, like the "[State] Notes" threads.

As for which board to move KY and WV to, IMO Kentucky is much more southern than midwestern, and the rest of WV could be moved to Mid-Atlantic so it can be with Eastern WV.

And then the two major bridge projects threads (I-69 Evansville, and Brent Spence Bridge in Cincinnati), it could go either way. Evansville and Cincinnati are the largest cities concerned, so it could be moved to Midwest. But KTC is the one maintaining the bridges, so it could go in whatever board KY gets moved to, assuming it's not Midwest.

[vdeane]

Since PA would be moving Northeast, would this be just the part in Ohio Valley, or all of it, including the part in Midwest/Great Lakes?  And if the latter, what would that mean for the part of NY in Midwest/Great Lakes (which would become an exclave if not also moved)?

[ran4sh]

I would just move Kentucky to Midwest due to the projects that cross the Ohio River into Midwest states. Whereas the Kentucky-Tennessee border isn't really splitting up anything major.

[Scott5114]

Since PA would be moving Northeast, would this be just the part in Ohio Valley, or all of it, including the part in Midwest/Great Lakes?  And if the latter, what would that mean for the part of NY in Midwest/Great Lakes (which would become an exclave if not also moved)?

Yes, the idea would be to have all of NY and PA in Northeast.

[US 89]

Wait, after years of people bitching about all the ways they don't like the forum regions, something is actually going to change?

[tylert120]

Makes sense. I check the Northeast board for the PA thread and PA Turnpike thread, but then check the Ohio Valley board for Pittsburgh-related posts. I say put PA in the northeast where it belongs, and reassign the other states.

[CtrlAltDel]

I have no strong feelings on way or the other.

[MATraveler128]

I'd say the board should be merged. Maybe merge the SW Pennsylvania thread in with the rest of the state.

[74/171FAN]

I'd say the board should be merged. Maybe merge the SW Pennsylvania thread in with the rest of the state.

I would not support making any changes to the SW PA thread.  The general PA thread (like other general state threads) is huge enough as it is.

[Henry]

I like the ambiguity that this board has created, so I'm against the proposal.

[mrsman]

I'm glad this is being considered, so I am a YES vote.

[mrsman]

I'd say the board should be merged. Maybe merge the SW Pennsylvania thread in with the rest of the state.

I would not support making any changes to the SW PA thread.  The general PA thread (like other general state threads) is huge enough as it is.

I don't think the individual "SW PA" thread is to be merged into other threads, but that the SW PA thread (and any other threads dealing with Western PA) would move to the Northeastern states board.  All southwest PA topics could still be kept together, without being included in a Midwestern board.

[skluth]

I've always found the Ohio Valley section here weird as it's not typically a region when discussing the United States (as many states better fit other regions as mentioned above). I like SkyPesos's idea of moving Kentucky to the South and West Virginia to the Mid-Atlantic as that's (IMO) each state's best fit though both are difficult to place. It could also be argued adding Kentucky to the Great Lakes region as there are fewer joint projects between Kentucky and Tennessee despite sharing a long border. But I'm good with whatever the consensus is.

[mrsman]

Should a notice about this poll be put in place in Great Lakes (and possibly other affected forums) since they will be largely affected by new threads?  It may also lead to a larger sample of the forum population finding out about the poll.  Even though I have my opinion, I do want to do want to follow what the majority want to do.

Great Lakes, of course, is most affected since most of the split-states in OV are states that are split with Great Lakes, and it would be good to inform IL, IN, and OH folks.

[Mr_Northside]

After about 13-14 years, I'm pretty used to things the way they are... and have a pretty decent idea what I'm gonna get here.  Re-arranging may put some things out-of-sight / out-of mind.   So, my vote is "no".

[jeffandnicole]

Wait, after years of people bitching about all the ways they don't like the forum regions, something is actually going to change?

No, not necessarily. It's a vote, and while majority will probably rule, ultimately it's a non-binding vote and the admins will ultimately decide to make the changes or leave as is.

[ilpt4u]

Living in Southern IL, I'll vote "Yes"  to dissolve the Ohio Valley

I'd almost like to IL moved into Central States over Midwest, but I dont think that will happen

[3467]

In had started a Southern Illinois notes. That could be switched to a Downstate Illinois notes. I lean yes. It's easier to divide Illinois this way instead of which interstate..80 74 72 70?

[Great Lakes Roads]

I voted yes for this idea.

[Hot Rod Hootenanny]

Those who are crying the loudest don't like in "this region" and outside of playing on Google Earth & Maps, have not even visited this region.

[ilpt4u]

In had started a Southern Illinois notes. That could be switched to a Downstate Illinois notes. I lean yes. It's easier to divide Illinois this way instead of which interstate..80 74 72 70?

Growing up in Chicagoland, I would have said anything south of I-80 is Southern IL

Having lived in Carbondale for 6 years now, I'd say south of either US 50 or I-70 is Southern IL

[SkyPesos]

Growing up in Chicagoland, I would have said anything south of I-80 is Southern IL

Reminds me of NYCers thinking anything north of Westchester County is upstate, and Bostonians thinking Worcester is Central MA and anything west of that is Western MA.

[webny99]

I'd say the board should be merged. Maybe merge the SW Pennsylvania thread in with the rest of the state.

I would not support making any changes to the SW PA thread.  The general PA thread (like other general state threads) is huge enough as it is.

I agree with you there, but it could remain intact and just be moved to Northeast board if this ends up happening.