Crossroads of your state

[NWI_Irish96]

I would say Metropolitan Louisville/Jefferson County would be the crossroads of Kentucky.

I would agree. I think having a third 2di gives it the edge over Lexington.

[webny99]

New York: Albany
...

Objections?

There was some debate about this earlier in the thread. Some say Syracuse, some say Albany. You could maybe even make a case for Binghamton.

I'm in the Syracuse camp on the basis that it's more central than Albany and it's a crossroads for a greater number of in-state trips. Albany isn't a ridiculous answer by any means, but most trips between Western/Central NY and Downstate/NYC don't go through Albany.

[Roadgeekteen]

New York: Albany
...

Objections?

There was some debate about this earlier in the thread. Some say Syracuse, some say Albany. You could maybe even make a case for Binghamton.

I'm in the Syracuse camp on the basis that it's more central than Albany and it's a crossroads for a greater number of in-state trips. Albany isn't a ridiculous answer by any means, but most trips between Western/Central NY and Downstate/NYC don't go through Albany.

Is the Thruway not the fastest route between much of Western New York and NYC?

[webny99]

I'm in the Syracuse camp on the basis that it's more central than Albany and it's a crossroads for a greater number of in-state trips. Albany isn't a ridiculous answer by any means, but most trips between Western/Central NY and Downstate/NYC don't go through Albany.

Is the Thruway not the fastest route between much of Western New York and NYC?

Not east of Syracuse, no.

It's either I-86 to Binghamton or I-90 to Syracuse, and then I-81 to I-380 to I-80.

[Roadgeekteen]

I'm in the Syracuse camp on the basis that it's more central than Albany and it's a crossroads for a greater number of in-state trips. Albany isn't a ridiculous answer by any means, but most trips between Western/Central NY and Downstate/NYC don't go through Albany.

Is the Thruway not the fastest route between much of Western New York and NYC?

Not east of Syracuse, no.

It's either I-86 to Binghamton or I-90 to Syracuse, and then I-81 to I-380 to I-80.

Oh ok. Interesting because that route goes through 2 other states.

[webny99]

Not east of Syracuse, no.

It's either I-86 to Binghamton or I-90 to Syracuse, and then I-81 to I-380 to I-80.

Oh ok. Interesting because that route goes through 2 other states.

Yes, it does indeed. This has been discussed quite a bit on this forum.

[thspfc]

I would say Metropolitan Louisville/Jefferson County would be the crossroads of Kentucky.

I would agree. I think having a third 2di gives it the edge over Lexington.

Yeah, KY is a toss up between those two.

[US 89]

Alabama: Montgomery

I feel like Birmingham would be a better choice, just from my own personal experiences of driving in Alabama.

[Roadgeekteen]

Alabama: Montgomery

I feel like Birmingham would be a better choice, just from my own personal experiences of driving in Alabama.

I agree. Montgomery doesn't have an interstate from the west.

[JayhawkCO]

No one has attempted a full list yet, so based on my opinions and the opinions of others in this thread, here's mine:

Alaska: Fairbanks

Objections?

I would say Alaska has to be Anchorage.  Most of the population is in the southern part of the state.  The only other I could possibly think of would be, generically, the Mat-Su Valley, since AK1 and AK3 meet in between Wasilla and Palmer.

Chris

[vdeane]

New York: Albany
...

Objections?

There was some debate about this earlier in the thread. Some say Syracuse, some say Albany. You could maybe even make a case for Binghamton.

I'm in the Syracuse camp on the basis that it's more central than Albany and it's a crossroads for a greater number of in-state trips. Albany isn't a ridiculous answer by any means, but most trips between Western/Central NY and Downstate/NYC don't go through Albany.

There's an argument to be made that Syracuse is the crossroads of upstate and Albany is the crossroads of the state as a whole.  I guess two questions would be, does it count as a crossroads to somewhere if traffic has to change routes once or twice (and maybe even pass through two more states) to get there, and how much Rochester/Buffalo traffic to NYC is going through Syracuse?  I know my parents always favored I-390/NY 17 to Binghamton and points south, even though Google says Thruway/I-690/I-81 is marginally faster.

[webny99]

There's an argument to be made that Syracuse is the crossroads of upstate and Albany is the crossroads of the state as a whole.

Interesting thought, although if you were weighting towards downstate, wouldn't the case for Binghamton be almost as strong as Albany? Or maybe that's just Western NY bias and I'm underrating the North Country.   

I guess two questions would be, does it count as a crossroads to somewhere if traffic has to change routes once or twice (and maybe even pass through two more states) to get there, and how much Rochester/Buffalo traffic to NYC is going through Syracuse?

(1) I'm open to suggestions on this one, but I think so. After all, a crossroads (at least in the context of Indiana being the crossroads of America, which was the original inspiration for this thread) is all about long-distance traffic.

(2) My estimates would be 85% for Rochester and 45% for Buffalo. At the time of this post, Google thinks the Southern Tier route to the I-81/I-86 split is about 15 minutes longer from Rochester and basically a toss-up from Buffalo. I personally prefer I-390/I-86 because it has less traffic and better scenery, but it adds more mileage than you might think because of I-390 bending westward and the less straightforward routing of I-86.

[vdeane]

There's an argument to be made that Syracuse is the crossroads of upstate and Albany is the crossroads of the state as a whole.

Interesting thought, although if you were weighting towards downstate, wouldn't the case for Binghamton be almost as strong as Albany? Or maybe that's just Western NY bias and I'm underrating the North Country.   

I guess two questions would be, does it count as a crossroads to somewhere if traffic has to change routes once or twice (and maybe even pass through two more states) to get there, and how much Rochester/Buffalo traffic to NYC is going through Syracuse?

(1) I'm open to suggestions on this one, but I think so. After all, a crossroads (at least in the context of Indiana being the crossroads of America, which was the original inspiration for this thread) is all about long-distance traffic.

(2) My estimates would be 85% for Rochester and 45% for Buffalo. At the time of this post, Google thinks the Southern Tier route to the I-81/I-86 split is about 15 minutes longer from Rochester and basically a toss-up from Buffalo. I personally prefer I-390/I-86 because it has less traffic and better scenery, but it adds more mileage than you might think because of I-390 bending westward and the less straightforward routing of I-86.

It probably depends on where you have the starting point.  If starting east enough that getting to I-390 requires backtracking, yes it's 15 minutes, but it's only half that if starting from the southern/western parts of the metro area.

Albany is very accessible to the other parts of the state.  If we're allowed to count the short hop from I-88 down to NY 17, Binghamton doesn't really add anything over Albany except Watertown and the towns along US 11.  And if we don't, Binghamton doesn't have a direct route to NYC anyways, because the Quickway ends at the Thruway.  There's a reason why one of the attractions of Albany is that everywhere is just a couple hours drive away (and why the Northway gets so congested in tourist season).

[webny99]

It probably depends on where you have the starting point.  If starting east enough that getting to I-390 requires backtracking, yes it's 15 minutes, but it's only half that if starting from the southern/western parts of the metro area.

I went generic and used Google's definition of Rochester (St. Paul & E Main). It's similar from where I'm at because I also have to backtrack to get to I-390/I-590, which is a good point: the difference would be a lot less if there was a faster way to get from downtown to I-390 southbound.

[NWI_Irish96]

Illinois: Chicago

I prefer Bloomington, but Chicago is an ok choice despite being in a corner of the state.

Bloomington/Normal has direct interstate routes to Chicago, St Louis, Rockford, Springfield, Quad Cities, Champaign, and Peoria. Chicago is not only less central but lacks the direct connection to Peoria.

[Rothman]

I'd bet there's more traffic headed north from Albany to Montreal than north from Syracuse -- to nowhere.  Although I live in central NY, have to say Albany may edge Syracuse out.

[webny99]

I'd bet there's more traffic headed north from Albany to Montreal than north from Syracuse -- to nowhere.

Watertown? Thousand Islands? Kingston? Ottawa?

[sprjus4]

I would think Dallas, particularly Downtown Dallas. I am sure some people would be equally vehement  that it is Houston. Some MIGHT argue San Antonio. It is academic that AUSTIN is not the center of anything except for governmental bureaucracy.  Arlington would like to claim it for their own as being the center of DFW.

San Antonio is easily more of a crossroads than Houston.

[Roadgeekteen]

I'd bet there's more traffic headed north from Albany to Montreal than north from Syracuse -- to nowhere.

Watertown? Thousand Islands? Kingston? Ottawa?

All pale in size to Montreal plus the Adirondacks.

[webny99]

I'd bet there's more traffic headed north from Albany to Montreal than north from Syracuse -- to nowhere.

Watertown? Thousand Islands? Kingston? Ottawa?

All pale in size to Montreal plus the Adirondacks.

However, they are decidedly not "nowhere". Ottawa's metro population is close to 1.5 million.

Also, I-81 is used by some traffic heading to the Adirondacks, too. From western NY, I-81 is the fastest route to anywhere on the US 11 and NY 3 corridors west of Lake Placid.

[Roadgeekteen]

I'd bet there's more traffic headed north from Albany to Montreal than north from Syracuse -- to nowhere.

Watertown? Thousand Islands? Kingston? Ottawa?

All pale in size to Montreal plus the Adirondacks.

However, they are decidedly not "nowhere". Ottawa's metro population is close to 1.5 million.

Also, I-81 is used by some traffic heading to the Adirondacks, too. From western NY, I-81 is the fastest route to anywhere on the US 11 and NY 3 corridors west of Lake Placid.

I would still go with Albany, as I-87 south of Albany is more important than I-81 south of Syracuse.

[Rothman]

I'd bet there's more traffic headed north from Albany to Montreal than north from Syracuse -- to nowhere.

Watertown? Thousand Islands? Kingston? Ottawa?

Pfft.

[Rothman]

I'd bet there's more traffic headed north from Albany to Montreal than north from Syracuse -- to nowhere.

Watertown? Thousand Islands? Kingston? Ottawa?

All pale in size to Montreal plus the Adirondacks.

However, they are decidedly not "nowhere". Ottawa's metro population is close to 1.5 million.

Also, I-81 is used by some traffic heading to the Adirondacks, too. From western NY, I-81 is the fastest route to anywhere on the US 11 and NY 3 corridors west of Lake Placid.

I would still go with Albany, as I-87 south of Albany is more important than I-81 south of Syracuse.

Yeah.  This is compelling.

[SkyPesos]

Here's another related topic, how about crossroads of a region of this nation? For the Midwest, Chicago is an obvious choice, with I-94 to Milwaukee, Madison, Minneapolis, Grand Rapids and Detroit, I-90 to Toledo and Cleveland, I-80 to Omaha, Des Moines, Quad Cities, Toledo, Cleveland and Pittsburgh, I-65 to Indianapolis, Louisville, Cincinnati and Columbus, I-55 to St Louis and Kansas City, either serving it directly or via another interstate in the region. Some regions would be more difficult, like I can see a case for either Denver or SLC as the crossroads for the Mountain states.

[CoreySamson]

I would think Dallas, particularly Downtown Dallas. I am sure some people would be equally vehement  that it is Houston. Some MIGHT argue San Antonio. It is academic that AUSTIN is not the center of anything except for governmental bureaucracy.  Arlington would like to claim it for their own as being the center of DFW.

San Antonio is easily more of a crossroads than Houston.

If I had to rank the top 10 Texas cities in crossroads worthiness, this would be it:

1. Dallas/Fort Worth
2. San Antonio
3. Abilene
4. Houston
5. Victoria
6. Lubbock
7. Austin
8. San Angelo
9. Waco
10. Tyler