Unpopular Anything Road-Related Opinions

[J N Winkler]

Sparker (who has not been active on the forum in some years) actually engaged in correspondence with the I-69 advocacy groups about the numbering.  The gist of the responses he received was that it simplified lobbying (Congressmembers' attention spans being short, their understanding of highway matters being shallow, etc.) to push for multiple corridors under a single number.  I can see that logic, given that even my own eyes glaze over when the conversation shifts to a two-digit route with . . . what number . . . that has three-digit "child routes" whose numbers are what, again?

In any event, I see new suffixed Interstates as being largely a Texas problem, resulting from an advocacy model predicated on pushing for parallel corridors that are extensions of existing Interstates.  I think it's easier to preserve at least the intent of the numbering scheme if new corridors are sold as point-to-point connections or as upgrades of existing routes, as both approaches make it easy to talk about the proposal while an Interstate number is still TBD.  I-42 in North Carolina--originally presented as a series of upgrades to US 70 meant to address unfinished business from Governor Hunt's four-laning program in the 1990's--is a classic example.

[Max Rockatansky]

Speaking of Sparker, while I don't know 100% that he died a lot of us believe that he did.  We spoke on the subject as a group on Pacific Southwest about a month ago (I forget which thread) for those wanting further context.

[Rothman]

Speaking of Sparker, while I don't know 100% that he died a lot of us believe that he did.  We spoke on the subject as a group on Pacific Southwest about a month ago (I forget which thread) for those wanting further context.

Any way to confirm with someone finding an obituary?

[Max Rockatansky]

Speaking of Sparker, while I don't know 100% that he died a lot of us believe that he did.  We spoke on the subject as a group on Pacific Southwest about a month ago (I forget which thread) for those wanting further context.

Any way to confirm with someone finding an obituary?

I've tried, trouble is he lived in a big city and his name is super common. 

[J N Winkler]

Speaking of Sparker, while I don't know 100% that he died a lot of us believe that he did.  We spoke on the subject as a group on Pacific Southwest about a month ago (I forget which thread) for those wanting further context.

I have seen speculation to that effect, yes.  I have Googled for an obituary and failed to find one, despite remembering some of the biographical details he has shared on here, such as being born in Broken Bow, Oklahoma, doing a PhD in transportation planning, and running an acoustics consulting business.  However, it is not exactly unknown for people to die without a death notice being published.

Besides roads, he knew a great deal about rail transportation, so he could speak in detail about how proposed highways would fit into an overall logistics picture.  That depth of knowledge is no longer accessible to us, except through his past posts.

[bugo]

US 66 is overrated.

[VTGoose]

Landscape designers hate drivers and plant trees and shrubs at intersections and parking lot islands to better block the view of oncoming traffic.

[Molandfreak]

Landscape designers hate drivers and plant trees and shrubs at intersections and parking lot islands to better block the view of oncoming traffic.

Honestly, as someone working in horticulture and preparing for arborist certification, the awful designs and disregard for safety usually come from the decisions of private contractors who care more about immediate beautification than how their landscaping work will look five years down the line.

[vdeane]

I like the new Pennsylvania welcome sign.

[formulanone]

I like the new Pennsylvania welcome sign.

Many people have melodramatic knee-jerk reactions to state welcome sign changes which borders on unhealthy.