Some 4 lane undivided roads being converted to 3 lane with a center turn lane

[Bitmapped]

I can't think of any 4-lane to 2+TWTL conversions off-hand, but I've noticed a number of places in OH, PA, and WV where uphill climbing lanes have been restriped for a center turn lane. In places where there were 4 wider 11 or 12 foot lanes, I've also seen where the left lane in one direction was converted to a center turn lane while the other direction kept 2 lanes.

[hbelkins]

I can't think of any 4-lane to 2+TWTL conversions off-hand, but I've noticed a number of places in OH, PA, and WV where uphill climbing lanes have been restriped for a center turn lane. In places where there were 4 wider 11 or 12 foot lanes, I've also seen where the left lane in one direction was converted to a center turn lane while the other direction kept 2 lanes.

Both of these examples have also been done in Kentucky.

[jemacedo9]

In PA (particularly on PA 61 in Schuylkill County and PA 380 in Westmoreland County), in several places, the left/passing lane is striped off as ending, and then re-opens at a left turn lane at an intersection.  After the intersection, the left lane becomes a passing lane again.  So...not quite the same, where the road doesn't become 3 lanes...but one side loses a passing lane.

For a long time, US 30 east of Lancaster PA had 4 lanes, where the left lane on each side was a left turn lane only - which lasted for about a mile.  This was east of PA 896. The middle was a double-yellow line, but the instead of a white dotted line, it was striped as a white solid line, with left-turn arrows painted throughout.  ...almost like a two-lane wide TWTL.  I don't know if that's still there anymore. 

[cl94]

In PA (particularly on PA 61 in Schuylkill County and PA 380 in Westmoreland County), in several places, the left/passing lane is striped off as ending, and then re-opens at a left turn lane at an intersection.  After the intersection, the left lane becomes a passing lane again.  So...not quite the same, where the road doesn't become 3 lanes...but one side loses a passing lane.

I've seen that in a few places. US 15 between I-80 and Williamsport has some of that action. I know I've seen it elsewhere, but I can't recall where.

I completely forgot about these road diets- US 20 between Sloansville and Cazenovia. Much of the stretch was built as 4 lanes, sometimes divided, but always undivided in villages/hamlets. In a few locations, the small-town sections, when constructed as 4 lanes, were restriped for 2-3 and a center turn lane to slow traffic down and improve turning.

[mrsman]

I don't mind a 4-lane road converted to a 3-lane road with center turn lanes IF there are a lot of left turns made by vehicles for major traffic generators such as strip malls etc.  and, the amount of left-turns impede traffic flow.

Reason: If there is NO left turn lane then you have to people abruptly changing from the left to the right to avoid the left-turning person.  You also have more rear-end crashes of somebody bumping into a left-turning vehicle. Sometimes giving left-turning vehicles their own lane will help traffic flow.

With that said....

If they convert a 4-lane road to a 3-lane road for parking or bike lanes...THAT I have a problem with b/c you are doing it for reasons other than traffic flow. I have never seen an area where bikes outnumber other vehicles.

Sometimes the bicycle lanes do help traffic.  For streets that already have bicycle traffic, giving the cyclists their own lane will get them out of the traffic lane.  It can be an improvement.  It all depends on the corridor.

[cl94]

I don't mind a 4-lane road converted to a 3-lane road with center turn lanes IF there are a lot of left turns made by vehicles for major traffic generators such as strip malls etc.  and, the amount of left-turns impede traffic flow.

Reason: If there is NO left turn lane then you have to people abruptly changing from the left to the right to avoid the left-turning person.  You also have more rear-end crashes of somebody bumping into a left-turning vehicle. Sometimes giving left-turning vehicles their own lane will help traffic flow.

With that said....

If they convert a 4-lane road to a 3-lane road for parking or bike lanes...THAT I have a problem with b/c you are doing it for reasons other than traffic flow. I have never seen an area where bikes outnumber other vehicles.

Sometimes the bicycle lanes do help traffic.  For streets that already have bicycle traffic, giving the cyclists their own lane will get them out of the traffic lane.  It can be an improvement.  It all depends on the corridor.

Also helps to concentrate bicycle traffic onto one corridor. People are more likely to use a street with bike lanes than one without if things are relatively equal.