Respecting US Highways

[Revive 755]

I think it "disrespects" US highways when states leave them on substandard ROWs within eyeshot of an interstate or other improved freeway. US-signed routes shouldn't be treated as an obsolete highway network that was replaced by the interstate system.

If I was dictator of AASTO, I would eliminate all US routes that are not primary intercity highways. Highway users should know that when they get on a US route, it's the highest and best road between destinations.

I disagree.  I think when a US route parallels an interstate or other freeway the minimum speed limit on that interstate or freeway should be higher, so slower traffic is encouraged to take the US route.  Ideally, the minimum speed limit on the interstate or freeway would be equal to the maximum speed limit on the rural sections of the parallel US route.

Unless someone has a better idea for some sort of local/feeder type designation to replace the US route with . . .

[flowmotion]

^^ Except the US routes that parallel interstates usually putz through little towns or down narrow city streets. No through traffic is going to use them as an alternative route, unless they are sight-seeing (or roadgeeking  ).

AASTO needs to drop the idea that US routes need to be "continuous", because more and more states are even bothering to sign the multiplexes.

[brad2971]

Yes, AASHTO definitely needs to get rid of the continuous US highway idea. There is no doubt in my mind that Wyoming would not have US87 if it didn't need to have it (Colorado already only signs US87 in one place).

We could start a quick topic on which highways would be "non-continuous" if AASHTO were to make such a decision. I'll start with US14: No way MnDOT would sign US14 with anything other than a MN highway shield if US14 already meets I-90 in at least 3 places, and MnDOT would've gotten SDDOT to agree.

Another one would be US6.

[Greybear]

Arkansas is somewhat disrespectful in that the highway department doesn't co-sign the US Routes along the Interstates.

Arkansas used to, many years ago. Growing up, I can vividly remember seeing signs for US 67 and US 70 posted along I-30 from Exit 111 (US 70 West) and Exit 114 (US 67 South) to Exit 132 (University Ave). On the BGS for University, it read "US 67, Bus. Loop 30, US 70 - Business Route".

Further along I-30, I remember signage for US 65 and 167 through downtown.

I wish Arkansas would go back to that habit, but I don't see that happening anytime in the near future.

[ctsignguy]

Ohio has a mixed track record on US highways...

Gone are US 21 and US 25, replaced by I-85 and I-77 respectively...US 25 still exists in many places along I-75 as County Road 25A except for Ohio 25 between Cygnet and Toledo  (Dunno why ODOT simply doesnt recommission all the CR 25As as US 25, since in many places, it is a four-lane road...)

US 21 is more piecemeal....

When US 40 jumps on I-70 in eastern Ohio for about 20 miles, it is co-signed with I-70 on all assemblies...

In Connecticut, the only abolishments of US Highways have been primarily the A-routes (only one US 1A alignment left in Connecticut)....most US routes have been realigned a few times...and when US 6 jumps on I -84, they are both co-signed...

[flowmotion]

You could've found a better example.  I disagree with you on MnDOT and US 14, given that US 14 is a major east-west route and is mostly on the NHS.

Yes, US14 is the direct connection between Makato, Owatonna, and Rochester and quite aways away from I-90. There's no reason that MnDot would need to remove this route.

A nearby example of what I'm thinking of would be US 12 in Wisconsin between Hudson and Wisconsin Dells. For the most part this is a glorified access road for I-94 and should be signed as state or local routes instead.

Signing this road as a US route just makes US routes seem unimportant. Plus few would notice if US 12 disappeared at Wis Dells and reappeared in the western Minneapolis suburbs.

[cjk374]

You gotta give Arkansas credit, they have brought in quite a few US highways over the last several years:

US 278:  was AR 4
US 425:  was AR 81
US 371:  was AR 129
US 270, US 412:  I need your help with these, US 71.
US 63:    Yes, the dumbest one of all!! The majority of the southern extension was AR 15, but at least that terrible road was reworked because of it!

[SSOWorld]

Not sure if this was mentioned before, but the beltway in Indianapolis has up to five US routes (plus two state roads) concurrent with the 1 to 2 interstates following it - only the interstates are marked

[luokou]

As far as Oregon's US routes go, most of the routes that have been decommissioned in the past usually have retained their number as a state route (OR 99 and the E/W suffixed routes, OR 126 for examples). The only US routes that have been replaced entirely was US 28 (by US 26 and US 126) and US 630, now supplanted by SPUR US 95. Considering interstates that replaced a US route, the multiplexed US route still serves as the business route for the interstate when it leaves the mainline (US 30 for I-84, OR 99 for I-5). Dunno if it's considered too disrespectful, but US routes are still pretty well-used.

[jwolfer]

How about US 130 in NJ... I would like to see 301 extened across the Delaware Memorial Bridge and change 130 to 301.. It would be nice to have the north end of 301 at 1... and it would eliminate a less that 300 mile US route entireley within one state

[jwolfer]

Florida has been pretty decent as far as its US highways go.  There have only been a few notable decommissions (namely US 94 and US 541 and probably ALT 129) and very few truncations (US 41 in Miami comes to mind).  The one decommission that nearly happened was US 92.  There were plans to decommission the route entirely because it only stretched across the state and was less than 150 miles in length.  It was decided, however, that retiring the number would have caused major disruption for businesses and residences along the route, so US 92 remains intact.

The "replacement" for 92 is I-4.  92 is good because it does link major cities St Pete/Tampa/Lakeland/Orlando/Daytona.  I4 is only 132 miles so no reason not to keep 92 in the US saystem

I have seen it posted elsewhere ( dont remember where) but US 23 Should be truncated at Alama, GA no need to multiplex w US1 into Jax... unless SR 23 is extended and sign it as US 23 to St Augustine... but then you have the problem w the toll road

[kurumi]

New York seemed to grudgingly accept the US highway system in 1926; see its portion of the nationwide map: http://wchsutah.org/maps/1926us.jpg

[US71]

My question is which states are the most disrespectful to US Routes and which states are the most respectful?

Arkansas hates co-signing US Routes along the Interstates.

[Bickendan]

Oregon seems to be hit and miss. OR 99 and OR 99E are well signed along I-5; US 26's signage along the I-405 duplex and through Ross Island Interchange leaves much to be desired; US 30 is not signed along I-405 or I-5, but is prematurely signed on the I-5 N to I-84 E ramps (technically I-84), decently signed along I-84 except through the Gorge from Troutdale to exit 35, and ODOT's justified this with Hist. US 30 markers along OR 100.

[florida]

Florida has been pretty decent as far as its US highways go.  There have only been a few notable decommissions (namely US 94 and US 541 and probably ALT 129) and very few truncations (US 41 in Miami comes to mind).  The one decommission that nearly happened was US 92.  There were plans to decommission the route entirely because it only stretched across the state and was less than 150 miles in length.  It was decided, however, that retiring the number would have caused major disruption for businesses and residences along the route, so US 92 remains intact.

The "replacement" for 92 is I-4.  92 is good because it does link major cities St Pete/Tampa/Lakeland/Orlando/Daytona.  I4 is only 132 miles so no reason not to keep 92 in the US saystem

I have seen it posted elsewhere ( dont remember where) but US 23 Should be truncated at Alama, GA no need to multiplex w US1 into Jax... unless SR 23 is extended and sign it as US 23 to St Augustine... but then you have the problem w the toll road

If US 17 and FL 17 can coexist, then so can US 23 and FL 23 (if and when it makes it up that way) If US 23 is truncated, then Jax would probably cry foul. Jacksonville, Miami and Kissimmee are the only cities down here to have four US Routes running through them.

[agentsteel53]

If US 17 and FL 17 can coexist, then so can US 23 and FL 23 (if and when it makes it up that way) If US 23 is truncated, then Jax would probably cry foul. Jacksonville, Miami and Kissimmee are the only cities down here to have four US Routes running through them.

I don't think "coexist" is the right word in this situation.  FL-17 branches off US-17 in Haines City and then remains confusingly close as the two head generally southward.

one really needs to be renumbered.  Calling it FL-171 or something similar would not tragically upend the grid. 

[jdb1234]

If US 17 and FL 17 can coexist, then so can US 23 and FL 23 (if and when it makes it up that way) If US 23 is truncated, then Jax would probably cry foul. Jacksonville, Miami and Kissimmee are the only cities down here to have four US Routes running through them.

I don't think "coexist" is the right word in this situation.  FL-17 branches off US-17 in Haines City and then remains confusingly close as the two head generally southward.

one really needs to be renumbered.  Calling it FL-171 or something similar would not tragically upend the grid. 

Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought FL 17 roughly follows US 27 after branching off of US 17.

[jwolfer]

Florida has been pretty decent as far as its US highways go.  There have only been a few notable decommissions (namely US 94 and US 541 and probably ALT 129) and very few truncations (US 41 in Miami comes to mind).  The one decommission that nearly happened was US 92.  There were plans to decommission the route entirely because it only stretched across the state and was less than 150 miles in length.  It was decided, however, that retiring the number would have caused major disruption for businesses and residences along the route, so US 92 remains intact.

The "replacement" for 92 is I-4.  92 is good because it does link major cities St Pete/Tampa/Lakeland/Orlando/Daytona.  I4 is only 132 miles so no reason not to keep 92 in the US saystem

I have seen it posted elsewhere ( dont remember where) but US 23 Should be truncated at Alama, GA no need to multiplex w US1 into Jax... unless SR 23 is extended and sign it as US 23 to St Augustine... but then you have the problem w the toll road

If US 17 and FL 17 can coexist, then so can US 23 and FL 23 (if and when it makes it up that way) If US 23 is truncated, then Jax would probably cry foul. Jacksonville, Miami and Kissimmee are the only cities down here to have four US Routes running through them.

If you count 301 running thru the far western part of Jacksonville there are 5 US highways