Toll Roads vs. Free Roads Poll and Discussion

[vdeane]

Time/distance from my apartment to Portsmouth according to Google Maps:
-I-90: 3h 31m, 227 miles
-VT 9/MA 2: 4h 3m, 213 miles
-VT/NH 9: 3h 55m, 201 miles

If you're going to Portsmouth, you'd save time by taking the Pike from Albany because it's a straight shot. But if you're going to Manchester or somewhere else that isn't right along I-95 or I-495 south of Portland, you're talking 10-15 added minutes tops, with 9 possibly taking less time. And once your starting point in New York gets north of Malta, the Pike is slower for anything in New Hampshire or north. As your mileage would remain constant and speeds would be more efficient, you might actually spend less for gas by taking 2 or 9.

My starting point is south of the Twin Bridges, which therefore means that getting to VT 9 requires going through Troy and on the infamous NY 7.  Pretty much any trip to Maine or the Maritimes requires going by Portsmouth (unless you take US 2, which I found to go on and on and on the one time I was on it; it winds around so much that it's not a direct route to anywhere).  I find that I usually get stuck behind someone going 45 or 50 when taking two lane roads, and the speed limit difference from the interstates in huge.  Also, as I have prioritized the clinching of New England's interstates, that will bring me down to Pike territory as well.

[PHLBOS]

Also, as I have prioritized the clinching of New England's interstates, that will bring me down to Pike territory as well.

Since you mentioned that you were planning to do these trip this year; the implementation of those AET gantries are still at least a year or two down the road.

Also, if one's heading to Portsmouth or Maine from western MA (and not stopping into the greater Boston area for sightseeing or whatever); one does NOT take the Pike all the way into Boston or even I-95 for that matter.  Most usually exit off at Auburn (Exit 10) and take I-290 East to I-495 North.  Based on the AET graphic, that's 7 future AET crossings each way.

[vdeane]

I'm doing I-91 from Springfield to Brattleboro this year, and if the Portland, ME meet happens, the x90s, I-495, and some stuff around Boston.  I don't have definitive plans for the rest yet, though.

Also worth noting: most non-roadgeeks are probably using the Pike to get to/from Boston.

[cl94]

I'm doing I-91 from Springfield to Brattleboro this year, and if the Portland, ME meet happens, the x90s, I-495, and some stuff around Boston.  I don't have definitive plans for the rest yet, though.

Also worth noting: most non-roadgeeks are probably using the Pike to get to/from Boston.

Boston, yes. Not necessarily points north.

[vdeane]

I'm pretty sure most non-Boston tourist traffic from the west is going to Cape Cod anyways.  Don't most people stick to the interstates?

[cl94]

I'm pretty sure most non-Boston tourist traffic from the west is going to Cape Cod anyways.  Don't most people stick to the interstates?

Eh, not necessarily. I know quite a few shunpikers who avoid toll roads whenever practical. If you're traveling within Northern New England and the part of New York that is effectively part of it, cutting down to I-90 isn't practical because, while US 2, US 4, US 11, and VT/NH 9 are slow, they're faster than going 40+ miles out of your way to use the Mass Pike or Thruway. Going between the Albany area and downstate, many use the Taconic to avoid the toll and view the scenery. And you'd be surprised how many people from the west go to Vermont, New Hampshire, or Maine.

[froggie]

And you'd be surprised how many people from the west go to Vermont, New Hampshire, or Maine.

If I were to rank the number of non-Vermont license plates I see here, the top states would be NY, MA, and NH (naturally, since they're all Vermont's neighbors), followed by CT, PA, RI, ME, MD, and VA.  We also see a lot of Quebec and the occasional Ontario.  Only rarely will I see a plate from a state/province not mentioned above.