California

[TheStranger]

Also spotted this on the wall at my hotel in Napa:

It's amusing how I can recognize the age of the map by...seeing the lack of the Route 4 freeway east of Antioch (which opened up in portions almost two decades ago now).

[epzik8]

That's an odd thing to frame and hang on a hotel room wall. Doubly odd that it was reduced to black-and-white. I'd have preferred an old pre-Interstate map showing all the US routes.

Yeah it's bizarre that they just clipped out part of a Rand McNally page. Seems kinda lazy.

[kphoger]

they just clipped out part of a Rand McNally page.

Then why does it say Mapquest at the bottom?

[NE2]

they just clipped out part of a Rand McNally page.

Then why does it say Mapquest at the bottom?

Yeah, that's not Rand. It's the former National Geographic/MapQuest/whatever atlas.

[epzik8]

they just clipped out part of a Rand McNally page.

Then why does it say Mapquest at the bottom?

Yeah, that's not Rand. It's the former National Geographic/MapQuest/whatever atlas.

Oof, my bad.

[epzik8]

On the wall of a gas station in Sacramento

[TheStranger]

New diverging diamond interchange coming to Vallejo

https://www.ktvu.com/news/highway-37-interchange-vallejo-traffic?link_source=ta_first_comment&taid=69fd6dd2b4e941000166886c&fbclid=IwdGRjcARrGtNjbGNrBGsa0WV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHnMG_KkHdngYF48RAb9hOZqzPT6dhP-4LwBCBR4OL8r190Qwyxx85Z7LrtqK_aem_gL7lBcY7rfCOnlCxkexSHg

[ClassicHasClass]

Of course, none of the useful links on https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-4/d4-news/2026-05-05-sr37-fairgrounds-drive work. Thanks, Caltrans!

Related to that, though, the DDI at University Pkwy/I-215 in north San Bernardino was looking good. It's making a persistently congested standard interchange into a much smoother flowing one, even in its not-quite-complete form. https://www.gosbcta.com/project/i-215-university-parkway/

[Voyager]

New diverging diamond interchange coming to Vallejo

https://www.ktvu.com/news/highway-37-interchange-vallejo-traffic?link_source=ta_first_comment&taid=69fd6dd2b4e941000166886c&fbclid=IwdGRjcARrGtNjbGNrBGsa0WV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHnMG_KkHdngYF48RAb9hOZqzPT6dhP-4LwBCBR4OL8r190Qwyxx85Z7LrtqK_aem_gL7lBcY7rfCOnlCxkexSHg

This exit is a mess all the time - especially coming from 80 west to 37 and having to merge into the Columbus Parkway traffic while everyone is trying to exit on Marine World Parkway (no I will never acknowledge the new name!).

[Plutonic Panda]

Will that really reduce traffic congestion by 90%?

[SeriesE]

Which reminds me, kind of a missed opportunity when they opted not to rebuild some diamond interchanges as DDIs or SPUIs, like the I-405/Fairview Road interchange.

[splashflash]

High speed buses

https://www.thedrive.com/news/californias-plan-for-140-mph-buses-explained

"According to KQED, Interstates 80 and 5, along with U.S. Route 101, could be utilized to create high-speed connections between San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Even at just 100 mph, the ride between L.A. and San Francisco would be less than four hours by bus, Caltrans feasibility studies manager Ryan Snyder told the NPR affiliate.

[Max Rockatansky]

The current state of the other high speed project doesn't exactly inspire confidence.

[pderocco]

High speed buses

https://www.thedrive.com/news/californias-plan-for-140-mph-buses-explained

"According to KQED, Interstates 80 and 5, along with U.S. Route 101, could be utilized to create high-speed connections between San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Even at just 100 mph, the ride between L.A. and San Francisco would be less than four hours by bus, Caltrans feasibility studies manager Ryan Snyder told the NPR affiliate.

... except in a high wind. I don't want to see a bus sliding down the road on its side at 100mph.

[The Ghostbuster]

I think the high-speed buses proposal can be implemented in less time, and less money than high-speed rail. The buses don't need to go 140 MPH, but they could use carpool and toll lanes (free of charge) along freeways.

[oscar]

Even high-speed buses would be too much like Greyhound, which might be too proletarian for many HSR fans. That was an issue with my county's ill-fated proposed streetcar line, which would've been in a corridor already served by lots of buses, but streetcar fans turned up their noses at suggestions of bus rapid transit or other bus service improvements.

[splashflash]

Even high-speed buses would be too much like Greyhound, which might be too proletarian for many HSR fans. That was an issue with my county's ill-fated proposed streetcar line, which would've been in a corridor already served by lots of buses, but streetcar fans turned up their noses at suggestions of bus rapid transit or other bus service improvements.

And they had to stomach the discontinuation and conversion to trolley buses, didn't they?  Finances (or lack thereof) won. 
https://www.dcnewsnow.com/news/local-news/washington-dc/dc-streetcar-to-make-final-stop-after-serving-community-for-decade/

[oscar]

And they had to stomach the discontinuation and conversion to trolley buses, didn't they?  Finances (or lack thereof) won. 
https://www.dcnewsnow.com/news/local-news/washington-dc/dc-streetcar-to-make-final-stop-after-serving-community-for-decade/

Different project -- unsuccessful District of Columbia project, vs. aborted Arlington County (VA) project which is what I commented on (though the failed D.C. project is kinda also relevant to this discussion).

[pderocco]

I think the high-speed buses proposal can be implemented in less time, and less money than high-speed rail. The buses don't need to go 140 MPH, but they could use carpool and toll lanes (free of charge) along freeways.

So what's the difference between a high-speed bus route and a regular bus route? The speed limit? Or are we talking about some super engineered buses that are not only fast but handle spectacularly well and are very aerodynamic and stable? I've never seen such a thing. I have trouble imagining sharing the express lanes with a bus that isn't going slower than me.

[ElishaGOtis]

High speed buses

https://www.thedrive.com/news/californias-plan-for-140-mph-buses-explained

"According to KQED, Interstates 80 and 5, along with U.S. Route 101, could be utilized to create high-speed connections between San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Even at just 100 mph, the ride between L.A. and San Francisco would be less than four hours by bus, Caltrans feasibility studies manager Ryan Snyder told the NPR affiliate.

Gosh dang at this rate just bring back that infinite speed zone express lane bill

[splashflash]

I think the high-speed buses proposal can be implemented in less time, and less money than high-speed rail. The buses don't need to go 140 MPH, but they could use carpool and toll lanes (free of charge) along freeways.

So what's the difference between a high-speed bus route and a regular bus route? The speed limit? Or are we talking about some super engineered buses that are not only fast but handle spectacularly well and are very aerodynamic and stable? I've never seen such a thing. I have trouble imagining sharing the express lanes with a bus that isn't going slower than me.

The article expressly says a dedicated lane would be needed. Regular cars could not travel together om those lanes at high speeds. Engineering and maintenance would obviously be needed to accommodate the buses at such speeds and the buses would likewise need special design.

Here is an interesting video of Dutch high speed buses in testing.  https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mAjLeSpj6PM

[ElishaGOtis]

I think the high-speed buses proposal can be implemented in less time, and less money than high-speed rail. The buses don't need to go 140 MPH, but they could use carpool and toll lanes (free of charge) along freeways.

So what's the difference between a high-speed bus route and a regular bus route? The speed limit? Or are we talking about some super engineered buses that are not only fast but handle spectacularly well and are very aerodynamic and stable? I've never seen such a thing. I have trouble imagining sharing the express lanes with a bus that isn't going slower than me.

The article expressly says a dedicated lane would be needed. Regular cars could not travel together om those lanes at high speeds. Engineering and maintenance would obviously be needed to accommodate the buses at such speeds and the buses would likewise need special design.

Here is an interesting video of Dutch high speed buses in testing.  https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mAjLeSpj6PM

Wow it's another gadgetbahn

[kphoger]

—  Man, guys, this high-speed rail project is going nowhere!
—  Hey, I've got an idea!  High-speed buses!
—  * everybody laughs hysterically *
—  Hooo, that's a good one, Tyler!  High-speed buses...
—  * lingering chuckles *
—  Hey...  Dude...  You know what...  Write that down.  That's awesome.