Breezewood

[hbelkins]

I actually like Breezewood. I think it's unique and gives you a break from the highway. I've shunpiked the PA Turnpike before and used US-30 never even realizing that I went right through Breezewood.

Bless your heart.

Ya know, it's popular to hate Breezewood, but there are many people, even among us, who use it. I'm not one, but I'm not gonna look down on someone who likes it. It's only there because it's used, after all.

I don't actively dislike it, other than for the traffic backups the setup causes during busy times. But I don't particularly have a fondness for it either. Twice, it's been a convenient place for me to stop and spend a couple of nights at reasonably-priced accommodations. It worked for me during the 2010 SEPA meet when I was on a lengthy road trip, and it worked year before last for the abandoned tunnel meet/tour.

[jeffandnicole]

I actually like Breezewood. I think it's unique and gives you a break from the highway. I've shunpiked the PA Turnpike before and used US-30 never even realizing that I went right through Breezewood.

Bless your heart.

Ya know, it's popular to hate Breezewood, but there are many people, even among us, who use it. I'm not one, but I'm not gonna look down on someone who likes it. It's only there because it's used, after all.

I don't actively dislike it, other than for the traffic backups the setup causes during busy times. But I don't particularly have a fondness for it either. Twice, it's been a convenient place for me to stop and spend a couple of nights at reasonably-priced accommodations. It worked for me during the 2010 SEPA meet when I was on a lengthy road trip, and it worked year before last for the abandoned tunnel meet/tour.

The only thing that drives me nuts are when some people want to talk a good game, but its realized they're not familiar with the area.  They appear to complain how the PA Turnpike has the Breezewood, even though that highway is never impacted.  Only if you need to use 70 will they encounter this issue.

[CanesFan27]

While researching on the recent feature on Breezewood, I came across information that led me to learning that my family  (maternal grandmother) has had long ties to Breezewood.  Though we aren't related to the Snyder/Bittner's that own the Gateway Plaza complex, I did learn that distant relatives once owned the now abandoned Penn Aire Motel.

A postscript on Breezewood, the Penn Aire, and how every road and even place does indeed tell a story.

https://www.gribblenation.org/2020/07/breezewood-postscript-family-ties.html

[Verlanka]

The only thing that drives me nuts are when some people want to talk a good game, but its realized they're not familiar with the area.  They appear to complain how the PA Turnpike has the Breezewood, even though that highway is never impacted.

They probably get off the Turnpike there, then immediately get back on again, forcing them to pay twice.

[Rothman]

I actually like Breezewood. I think it's unique and gives you a break from the highway. I've shunpiked the PA Turnpike before and used US-30 never even realizing that I went right through Breezewood.

Bless your heart.

Ya know, it's popular to hate Breezewood, but there are many people, even among us, who use it. I'm not one, but I'm not gonna look down on someone who likes it. It's only there because it's used, after all.

Bless your heart, too.

[jeffandnicole]

The only thing that drives me nuts are when some people want to talk a good game, but its realized they're not familiar with the area.  They appear to complain how the PA Turnpike has the Breezewood, even though that highway is never impacted.

They probably get off the Turnpike there, then immediately get back on again, forcing them to pay twice.

How would that be different from any other interchange?

[Ned Weasel]

I actually like Breezewood. I think it's unique and gives you a break from the highway. I've shunpiked the PA Turnpike before and used US-30 never even realizing that I went right through Breezewood.

Bless your heart.

Ya know, it's popular to hate Breezewood, but there are many people, even among us, who use it. I'm not one, but I'm not gonna look down on someone who likes it. It's only there because it's used, after all.

Bless your heart, too.

For some of us, it's fun to just enjoy the existence of an oddity in the system.  Yes, traffic would flow better with a direct freeway connection.  And it's also fun to theorize about concepts for how to improve it.  But in the grand scheme of things, it's the epitome of "first-world problems."

For the record, I loved stopping at the Taco Bell there on road trips, because Taco Bell is my favorite "anywhere" fast food, and because it was fun just to stop for a bit and see Breezewood.  I'm sure some people would frown on liking Taco Bell, too, so whatever.  But now that location's gone, from what I hear.  I would love, however, to someday have the chance to stay at the Days Inn (formerly Best Western) because it's a mid-century gem!

[hbelkins]

I actually like Breezewood. I think it's unique and gives you a break from the highway. I've shunpiked the PA Turnpike before and used US-30 never even realizing that I went right through Breezewood.

Bless your heart.

Ya know, it's popular to hate Breezewood, but there are many people, even among us, who use it. I'm not one, but I'm not gonna look down on someone who likes it. It's only there because it's used, after all.

Bless your heart, too.

For some of us, it's fun to just enjoy the existence of an oddity in the system.  Yes, traffic would flow better with a direct freeway connection.  And it's also fun to theorize about concepts for how to improve it.  But in the grand scheme of things, it's the epitome of "first-world problems."

For the record, I loved stopping at the Taco Bell there on road trips, because Taco Bell is my favorite "anywhere" fast food, and because it was fun just to stop for a bit and see Breezewood.  I'm sure some people would frown on liking Taco Bell, too, so whatever.  But now that location's gone, from what I hear.  I would love, however, to someday have the chance to stay at the Days Inn (formerly Best Western) because it's a mid-century gem!

That's where I stayed when I attended the abandoned turnpike meet year before last. The room was clean and comfortable. And the facility is right next door to Sheetz, which made walking over to get my evening sustenance both nights a -- wait for it -- breeze.

[jakeroot]

For some of us, it's fun to just enjoy the existence of an oddity in the system.  Yes, traffic would flow better with a direct freeway connection.  And it's also fun to theorize about concepts for how to improve it.  But in the grand scheme of things, it's the epitome of "first-world problems."

This is exactly why I like freeway stubs. They'd be better off either eliminated or finished, but they represent an unusual situation where goals did not align with reality, or where money ran out, or whatever.

They're cool. Breezewood sucks, but it's cool.

[Plutonic Panda]

Looks like this caught the attention of The Wall Street Journal:

[Max Rockatansky]

Is anyone actually asking for pedestrian accessibility in Breezewood?  It isn't even an incorporated place much less anything that resembles an actual plotted community. 

[MASTERNC]

He lost me with the road diet.  What is definitely needed is the direct interchange with the Turnpike (with an added ramp from I-76 WB to I-70 WB to avoid weaving before the existing interchange).  The video said there are negotiations with local officials again.

[The Ghostbuster]

Does anyone think any of the suggestions in the video will ever be implemented? I sure don't.

[Rothman]

He lost me with the road diet.  What is definitely needed is the direct interchange with the Turnpike (with an added ramp from I-76 WB to I-70 WB to avoid weaving before the existing interchange).  The video said there are negotiations with local officials again.

Pfft.  When have the "negotiations" ever ceased.

"Um, we reached out to them again and they said no.  Like last year.  And the year before that."

[Plutonic Panda]

I don't understand why the state can't come in and just say hey your town can exist without forcing people off of our interstate system inconveniencing thousands and thousands of motorist so we're building direct connections whether you like it or not.

If that's the kind of logic, we're gonna use then why don't we see other towns that are located near major interstate where there's direct connections and have these direct connections torn down and forcing people to drive on city street to get from one interstate to the other?

To me, I think it's just about Pennsylvania not giving a fuck. There's no way of the state really didn't want to take care of this issue that they would not be able to.

[Rothman]

I thought there was some legal framework in PA that gave local input an outsized influence on transportation decisions.

[MASTERNC]

I thought there was some legal framework in PA that gave local input an outsized influence on transportation decisions.

That might be true but, in this case, there have also been very influential politicians in that area.  Thinking of Bud Shuster.

There are regional planning commissions that budget out projects in that area, but the Turnpike Commission is not subject to them.  The PTC could create the interchange if it wanted to, but that's where the politics come in.

[Mr_Northside]

I thought there was some legal framework in PA that gave local input an outsized influence on transportation decisions.

I don't know if there is an actual specific "legal" framework, but I've read that for some years now, generally PennDOT policy is to be guided by the desires of the local area involved (if feasible and financially possible).
For instance, in the west part of the state, the Cranberry area actively pushed for the direct connection to be built @ I-79 & the Turnpike to get that connecting traffic off of US-19 & PA-228 - and it did get built.
So, in that sense, perhaps the goalposts have moved.  If hypothetically the current businesses in Breezewood were more apathetic toward direct connection ramps and wouldn't oppose it to any meaningful degree in 2024 and beyond, the standard now is to not just NOT oppose it, but that area/region has to actively push for it to be built now.

In the realm of the hypothetical, I have wondered how it would play out if the feds came in and said "You know what, this is needed, and we got this" - That USDOT would cover 100% the construction costs.... Neither PennDOT nor PA-TPK would have to adjust their long-term budgeting plans at all.  (Obviously, after the initial construction, ongoing maintenance would have to be paid for / taken care of by either PennDOT or the PTC) - I genuinely wonder how it would all play out if they tried that.

[Rothman]

Fed won't cover 100%.  There'd always be a match in this kind of project.

I see the locals digging even more as their town declines rather than becoming apathetic.

[MASTERNC]

Fed won't cover 100%.  There'd always be a match in this kind of project.

I see the locals digging even more as their town declines rather than becoming apathetic.

You can't make people patronize businesses. They noted 80% of trucks don't stop. The traffic probably makes them want to keep moving not to lose any more time.

[jeffandnicole]

I don't understand why the state can't come in and just say hey your town can exist without forcing people off of our interstate system inconveniencing thousands and thousands of motorist so we're building direct connections whether you like it or not.

If that's the kind of logic, we're gonna use then why don't we see other towns that are located near major interstate where there's direct connections and have these direct connections torn down and forcing people to drive on city street to get from one interstate to the other?

To me, I think it's just about Pennsylvania not giving a fuck. There's no way of the state really didn't want to take care of this issue that they would not be able to.

There's a difference in attitude in the Northeast US vs much of the rest of the country. The Northeast tends to work more closely with municipalities and counties to discuss plans.  They allow a bit of local input. They may not allow the locals to dictate every aspect of the project, but if there's room for negotiation they'll work together.

But then we also go back to something I've posted in the past:  Does the State even care about Breezewood?  It's not like the Feds are fighting them on this.  They're mostly hearing from some travelers that they don't like the conditions there...and mostly out-of-state travelers.

And then...is it really the state's problem?  It's the PTC's interchange; so they can punt the issue to them.  And would the PTC be concerned?  They're in year 42 or whatever of that project.  So that answer is - nah, they're not really all that concerned.

[Rothman]

For what it's worth, public outreach is required for federally-funded projects through NEPA, including coordinating with stakeholders, so no state can ignore either local citizens or elected officials, etc.

[jeffandnicole]

For what it's worth, public outreach is required for federally-funded projects through NEPA, including coordinating with stakeholders, so no state can ignore either local citizens or elected officials, etc.

They have to meet with them. They don't have to listen to them.

[roadman65]

Breezewood is a dead horse. I think we have a better chance of our government developing redeeming qualities before the I-70/ PTC connection gets resolved.

It will never happen as much as I-69 being completed from Canada to Mexico.

[Rothman]

For what it's worth, public outreach is required for federally-funded projects through NEPA, including coordinating with stakeholders, so no state can ignore either local citizens or elected officials, etc.

They have to meet with them. They don't have to listen to them.

Not true.  For major projects like this proposed one, public outreach would trigger the need for the transportation agency to respond to every public comment.

For instance, on the I-81 Viaduct Project, NYSDOT responded to every comment, including entirely moving the BL-81 roundabout from MLK, Jr. to Van Buren and including installing sound walls along current I-81.

Of course, not every hare-brained idea is going to influence a project.  This is true when the transportation agency has data or information to the contrary, such as choosing a different alternative to rebuilding the viaduct or tunneling through Syracuse.  But, those ideas, which started in the public, were considered and responded to.

In short, yes, they have to listen to them, but they don't have to alter their project to accommodate every comment due to some of them inevitably being injustified.