Ohio Legislature Mandates Feasibility Study of Future I-73

[TempoNick]

(A little birdie told me.)

So you made it up.

Sonny, I'm in Columbus. It doesn't take too many degrees of separation to hear what's talked about at the statehouse if you know the right people. I also used to dabble in the political realm (but way out on the periphery). Pretty good friends with a local Republican judge, as a matter of fact.

[Scott5114]

(A little birdie told me.)

So you made it up.

Sonny, I'm in Columbus. It doesn't take too many degrees of separation to hear what's talked about at the statehouse if you know the right people. I also used to dabble in the political realm (but way out on the periphery). Pretty good friends with a local Republican judge, as a matter of fact.

Documents, or it's fictional.

[sprjus4]

If US-33 and US-35 discussion is "fictional" for an I-73 thread, then so is OH-15 connecting to I-75, and I-270 around Columbus.

As per the bill, I-73 study shall be focused solely on US-23. That includes through Columbus, up through Delaware (a section proposed to be bypassed using a new connector and I-75, but outside of the scope of the bill so no discussion here is allowed), and the two lane portion that is actively bypassed by OH-15 and I-75, but again outside the scope of the bill.

I will further add that discussion of the Portsmouth Bypass is also off topic, as the bill does not specify that route but instead going directly to Portsmouth via US-23.

[TempoNick]

(A little birdie told me.)

So you made it up.

Sonny, I'm in Columbus. It doesn't take too many degrees of separation to hear what's talked about at the statehouse if you know the right people. I also used to dabble in the political realm (but way out on the periphery). Pretty good friends with a local Republican judge, as a matter of fact.

Documents, or it's fictional.

One of my co-workers is now a Republican Central Committee member. He was the one that got me involved beginning with the second Bush campaign. An old girlfriend of my brother, her brother was the mayor of one of our local suburbs. I also knew him pretty well too.

So yeah, I know people. I won't say this rises to the level of anything official, but if you don't think people talk about things as things get hashed out, you're naive.

When pols on the transportation committee are out having dinner and drinks, do you think the senator from Findlay throws a hissy fit because their deviating from US-23 as a hash things out!

[vdeane]

If US-33 and US-35 discussion is "fictional" for an I-73 thread, then so is OH-15 connecting to I-75, and I-270 around Columbus.

As per the bill, I-73 study shall be focused solely on US-23. That includes through Columbus, up through Delaware (a section proposed to be bypassed using a new connector and I-75, but outside of the scope of the bill so no discussion here is allowed), and the two lane portion that is actively bypassed by OH-15 and I-75, but again outside the scope of the bill.

I will further add that discussion of the Portsmouth Bypass is also off topic, as the bill does not specify that route but instead going directly to Portsmouth via US-23.

What is the northern limit of the study, anyways?  I thought it was Columbus, which is why I was confused by FIC's initial post.  I thought US 23/I-73 north of Columbus was a separate effort on the part of the legislature.

[Scott5114]

So yeah, I know people.

don't care

Documents or it's fictional.

[The Ghostbuster]

I don't see any fictional or non-fictional Interstate along the US 23 corridor following 23 between Carey and Toledo. Any fictional or non-fictional Interstate would follow OH 15 to connect with Interstate 75, which would be the most logical alignment for a Columbus-to-Findlay (or beyond) Interstate Highway.

[sprjus4]

I don't see any fictional or non-fictional Interstate along the US 23 corridor following 23 between Carey and Toledo. Any fictional or non-fictional Interstate would follow OH 15 to connect with Interstate 75, which would be the most logical alignment for a Columbus-to-Findlay (or beyond) Interstate Highway.

It might be the most logical, but because it is not along US-23, it is outside the scope of this study and therefore you are off topic on this thread, which is strictly focused on the legislature's bill.

[TempoNick]

So yeah, I know people.

don't care

Documents or it's fictional.

So, you think they create documents when they're out to dinner or having informal discussions on issues? When it comes to development, and new highways ARE development, the public is the last to know when it comes to these things. It's like city council meetings for some new development project. By the time they get around to voting on something in a public meeting, it has already been decided behind closed doors. City council is just a show they put on for the public.

[Rothman]

So yeah, I know people.

don't care

Documents or it's fictional.

So, you think they create documents when they're out to dinner or having informal discussions on issues? When it comes to development, and new highways ARE development, the public is the last to know when it comes to these things. It's like city council meetings for some new development project. By the time they get around to voting on something in a public meeting, it has already been decided behind closed doors. City council is just a show they put on for the public.

Even if this is all true about who you know, your sources are still degrees away from transportation decisionmakers.

This thread should be locked.

[hbelkins]

I've said this over and over again, but I don't think people in these pages appreciate things from the standpoint of the out of area traveler. Anything with a US or state route number is a mixed bag. It could be an easy trip, or could be a harrowing experience. You don't know what you're getting into unless you have local knowledge and experience driving that road.

When something has an Interstate designation, you know generally that you are on a pretty good road. You might encounter some localized congestion, but for the most part it's an easy drive.

That's why a paper map is so valuable, along with the ability to read it.

Paper maps are generally going to designate where a US or state route is a two-lane road, or a four-lane road, and whether that said four-lane road is a surface arterial with crossroads or a full freeway with grade-separated interchanges. You don't need a red-and-blue Interstate marker to see that US 68 and KY 80 is a four-lane route all the way from I-69 at Mayfield to I-165 near Bowling Green. A map will tell you that.

Now, I've long been an advocate of numbering any full freeway that connects to an interstate as an interstate, but I also recognize that not every four-lane route needs to be a full freeway. This means US 23 between Columbus and Kingsport, and US 31 between Indy and South Bend.

[hbelkins]

As they say in football, statistics are for losers. Are you from this area? No, it is not adequate, anybody local can tell you that. It needs to be upgraded to freeway from Findlay to Circleville.

The segment from Columbus north to Delaware has been long debated, but south of I-270 to Circleville needs to be a freeway? What are you smoking? An occasional traffic light isn't going to stop the world.

[Scott5114]

So yeah, I know people.

don't care

Documents or it's fictional.

So, you think they create documents when they're out to dinner or having informal discussions on issues? When it comes to development, and new highways ARE development, the public is the last to know when it comes to these things. It's like city council meetings for some new development project. By the time they get around to voting on something in a public meeting, it has already been decided behind closed doors. City council is just a show they put on for the public.

If it's an "informal discussion" where no documents are being created, we have no proof that it's actually being discussed. If we have no proof that it's being discussed, we have no way to know that these discussions aren't actually happening in your head. Thus, they are fictional until you bring proof that someone actually talked about this at some point.

[Molandfreak]

So yeah, I know people.

don't care

Documents or it's fictional.

So, you think they create documents when they're out to dinner or having informal discussions on issues? When it comes to development, and new highways ARE development, the public is the last to know when it comes to these things. It's like city council meetings for some new development project. By the time they get around to voting on something in a public meeting, it has already been decided behind closed doors. City council is just a show they put on for the public.

If it's an "informal discussion" where no documents are being created, we have no proof that it's actually being discussed. If we have no proof that it's being discussed, we have no way to know that these discussions aren't actually happening in your head. Thus, they are fictional until you bring proof that someone actually talked about this at some point.

I mean, TempoNick could also wear a wire the next time he sees some of these officials he supposedly knows, and just upload that audio to YouTube/Soundcloud. Ohio is a one-party consent state.

[TempoNick]

Now, I've long been an advocate of numbering any full freeway that connects to an interstate as an interstate, but I also recognize that not every four-lane route needs to be a full freeway. This means US 23 between Columbus and Kingsport, and US 31 between Indy and South Bend.

What do you guys have against safety, efficiency and free-flowing traffic?

I mean, TempoNick could also wear a wire the next time he sees some of these officials he supposedly knows, and just upload that audio to YouTube/Soundcloud. Ohio is a one-party consent state.

I'll get right on that.

[Scott5114]

We look forward to it, Ohio Legislature Man.

[TempoNick]

We look forward to it, Ohio Legislature Man.

I have nothing to prove to a bunch of autistic people who have a melt down because an internet topic doesn't stay as focused as they like. Now run to your safe space, snowflake. 

[The Ghostbuster]

Ouch! That's harsh.

[sprjus4]

We look forward to it, Ohio Legislature Man.

I have nothing to prove to a bunch of autistic people who have a melt down because an internet topic doesn't stay as focused as they like. Now run to your safe space, snowflake. 

Yeah, I'm not really understanding the strictness with the US-23 corridor here, virtually every topic on this forum deviates from its original topic to some extent.

If it upsets people so much, just break it off into another thread. A mod can easily do that. The strict focus of this thread doesn't really have much discussion merit, it's an unrealistic proposal and anything realistic deviates into fictional by the strict nature of the thread.

Discussion of the Portsmouth Bypass, I-270 / I-75, nor OH-15 is not allowed per the admin's rules here either. Because the study strictly indicated US-23.

[hbelkins]

Now, I've long been an advocate of numbering any full freeway that connects to an interstate as an interstate, but I also recognize that not every four-lane route needs to be a full freeway. This means US 23 between Columbus and Kingsport, and US 31 between Indy and South Bend.

What do you guys have against safety, efficiency and free-flowing traffic?

But at what cost? Are the benefits you perceive worth the millions of dollars the project would cost?

As if such crashes don't happen on "free-flowing" interstates every day?

We look forward to it, Ohio Legislature Man.

I have nothing to prove to a bunch of autistic people who have a melt down because an internet topic doesn't stay as focused as they like. Now run to your safe space, snowflake. 

Might not be a good idea to poke the bear a mod who has the power to ban you.

Yeah, I'm not really understanding the strictness with the US-23 corridor here, virtually every topic on this forum deviates from its original topic to some extent.

If it upsets people so much, just break it off into another thread. A mod can easily do that. The strict focus of this thread doesn't really have much discussion merit, it's an unrealistic proposal and anything realistic deviates into fictional by the strict nature of the thread.

Discussion of the Portsmouth Bypass, I-270 / I-75, nor OH-15 is not allowed per the admin's rules here either. Because the study strictly indicated US-23.

I can only hope that you're being sarcastic.

[sprjus4]

As if such crashes don't happen on "free-flowing" interstates every day?

Cross traffic and turning traffic are eliminated on interstate highways and freeways. Some of the nastiest crashes when mixed with high speeds of motorists who perceive they're on a freeway like facility moving 70+ mph.

High volumes of traffic on free flowing facilities with intersections, mixed with local traffic turning and crossing is a very dangerous recipe for disaster. It's a reason you see interchange projects be built all over the country to replace at-grade intersections, it's not a foreign concept.

I can only hope that you're being sarcastic.

I would hope so, but an admin said so:

BTW, who made you people hall monitors?

In my case, Alex did. He also gave me the ability to delete or move off-topic posts and ban users that make too many of them.

Consider not making me use those abilities.

Let's stay on the topic of only upgrades that are being officially considered by the government of Ohio.

According to the language of the bill, the study is focused on US-23 between Toledo and Chesapeake.

Ohio 823, which provides a limited access bypass of Portsmouth, is not apart of US-23 and is in fact several miles away.

I-275 and I-75 through Columbus, and potential connecting routes to Delaware, are not apart of US-23.

Ohio 15, a limited access highway that connects traffic to I-75, is not apart of US-23 and is in fact several miles away.

Because the bill states US-23 upgrades, and discussion here must relate to what the Ohio legislature is studying, those would seem off topic. As would any discussion about other alternative routes, such as US-33 or US-35, that any worthwhile high level study would logically evaluate for the purposes of moving traffic between Columbus and Toledo towards I-64 in WV ultimately going southeast - which is the purpose of I-73.

Alternative routes to US-23, such as Ohio 15, I-75/I-275 and a potential connector through and north of Columbus, Ohio 823, and US-33/35 all provide higher quality, access controlled options, but none are designated at US-23.

Requires the ODOT Director to conduct a feasibility study for an Interstate Route 73 corridor, primarily along current U.S. Route 23, stretching from Toledo to Chesapeake, Ohio.

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/download?key=24699