The universe according to MMM

[Flint1979]

People are always unhappy when their houses or businesses are acquired through eminent domain.  How much angrier will the Canadians be when they find out it is for an American road?

The road would run along existing roads on Canada and no houses/businesses would need to be relocated. The highway would just need to be converted to full limited Access and the interstate signs installed.

And then the Canadians who normally use the road have to go through customs in order to use it. Why would they agree to that?

That minor inconvenience is not as important as the US not having a consistent and logical interstate highway system.

Minor inconvenience? Do you not have any idea what it's like to cross an International border? It's more than a minor inconvenience. I don't get how you think this even makes sense.

[Flint1979]

@Flint, the point is to have a logical and easy to understand highway grid, and the interstate system is the best way of going about that. Since just the road would be American, we wouldn't really be "hogging" Canadian land. It is needed to fully finish our interstates and have an I-90 that isn't to be confused with I-80.

The Interstate highway system is already easy to understand as it is. What makes you think renumbering highways is going to make things easier to understand? Yes it would be hogging Canadian land and I-80 and I-90 are not confused with each other.

[Flint1979]

Ok here is a serious question here. What difference does it make what a route number is? If I-80 and I-90 run together what difference does that make? It doesn't change the roadway, it doesn't do anything. It's a road with a highway number and another highway number running along the same route due to the fact that the highways split at some point and take you to other places. What difference does it make what the number is? What difference does it make if it's an Interstate? I think here in Michigan our state has a pretty good idea that we don't need a red, white and blue shield to tell us it's a freeway. We have a pretty good understanding of our highway system and our routes haven't changed in years and we don't change route numbers just for the hell of it.

[Flint1979]

Canadian and Mexican Borders aren't the same as going through airport customs or landing in an international transport hub in another country. They probably just ask you for your ID, drivers license (if that) and ask how long you'll be there, and that's it. Maybe if you seem really suspicious they'll search your vehicle. I don't even think you need a passport to drive into Canada/Mexico.

Yes you do need a passport, you have to prove citizenship. And it doesn't take you being really suspicious before they'll search your car either.

[Flint1979]

Actually those requirements may have changed somewhat after 2020, do I'm not sure, but even if you needed a passport, by-land customs between the US and Canada are much easier compared to most international Canada.

You've always needed a passport, it's not just since 2020.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

Actually those requirements may have changed somewhat after 2020, do I'm not sure, but even if you needed a passport, by-land customs between the US and Canada are much easier compared to most international Canada.

You've always needed a passport, it's not just since 2020.

Has MMM heard of a certain event that took place in 2001? Any shortcutting the process of border crossings permanently ended forever on that date.

[roadman65]

Before 9-11 it was required ( not mandatory) to carry birth certificates to cross the U.S.- Canada Border.  I've easily gotten across and back ( though the Detroit Windsor Tunnel Station was very tough in 1995) with no major issues.

[jeffandnicole]

I don't even think you need a passport to drive into Canada/Mexico.

You seriously don't know the answer to this?  Actually, I'm sure you do.  Most of your posts are just to get reactions from others.

You've always needed a passport, it's not just since 2020.

Has MMM heard of a certain event that took place in 2001? Any shortcutting the process of border crossings permanently ended forever on that date.

Actually, both of these quotes are incorrect.  Passports have only been necessary since January, 2007.

I didn't have a passport until about 2006.  I drove to Montreal to see the last Phillies-Expos series in September 2004 and used my birth certificate.  The border agent rolled his eyes, but he took it, reviewed it, asked the standard questions (where you going, how long, etc), and let me go on my way.

[Roadgeekteen]

People are always unhappy when their houses or businesses are acquired through eminent domain.  How much angrier will the Canadians be when they find out it is for an American road?

The road would run along existing roads on Canada and no houses/businesses would need to be relocated. The highway would just need to be converted to full limited Access and the interstate signs installed.

And then the Canadians who normally use the road have to go through customs in order to use it. Why would they agree to that?

That minor inconvenience is not as important as the US not having a consistent and logical interstate highway system.

You understand how stupid you sound do you? Or do you not?

I don't even think you need a passport to drive into Canada/Mexico.

You seriously don't know the answer to this?  Actually, I'm sure you do.  Most of your posts are just to get reactions from others.

You've always needed a passport, it's not just since 2020.

Has MMM heard of a certain event that took place in 2001? Any shortcutting the process of border crossings permanently ended forever on that date.

Actually, both of these quotes are incorrect.  Passports have only been necessary since January, 2007.

I didn't have a passport until about 2006.  I drove to Montreal to see the last Phillies-Expos series in September 2004 and used my birth certificate.  The border agent rolled his eyes, but he took it, reviewed it, asked the standard questions (where you going, how long, etc), and let me go on my way.

Isn't there some NEXUS card or something you can use instead?

[jeffandnicole]

Isn't there some NEXUS card or something you can use instead?

I believe NEXUS is something you can use to expedite a crossing.  There's a passport card you can use, but either the passport card or book is required to be shown.

[Scott5114]

Actually those requirements may have changed somewhat after 2020, do I'm not sure, but even if you needed a passport, by-land customs between the US and Canada are much easier compared to most international Canada.

You've always needed a passport, it's not just since 2020.

Has MMM heard of a certain event that took place in 2001? Any shortcutting the process of border crossings permanently ended forever on that date.

Honestly, there's a chance he hasn't. If I remember correctly, he's said he's 23, which would mean he was either 1 or 2 when 9/11 happened.

[Roadgeekteen]

Actually those requirements may have changed somewhat after 2020, do I'm not sure, but even if you needed a passport, by-land customs between the US and Canada are much easier compared to most international Canada.

You've always needed a passport, it's not just since 2020.

Has MMM heard of a certain event that took place in 2001? Any shortcutting the process of border crossings permanently ended forever on that date.

Honestly, there's a chance he hasn't. If I remember correctly, he's said he's 23, which would mean he was either 1 or 2 when 9/11 happened.

Every single American over the age of 8 has heard of 9/11.

[kkt]

People are always unhappy when their houses or businesses are acquired through eminent domain.  How much angrier will the Canadians be when they find out it is for an American road?

The road would run along existing roads on Canada and no houses/businesses would need to be relocated. The highway would just need to be converted to full limited Access and the interstate signs installed.

So the road that formerly accessed their property is now limited access... no more driveway for their house.  How about back to the drawing board on this one.

[Scott5114]

Every single American over the age of 8 has heard of 9/11.

There are some real dumb Americans out there.

[roadman65]

Hey if a motorist can't read a road sign while relying on the GPS and arrives on a clearly marked toll road to a toll booth not realizing he is on a toll road, then it's possible that some never heard of 9-11 as well.

[Flint1979]

Actually those requirements may have changed somewhat after 2020, do I'm not sure, but even if you needed a passport, by-land customs between the US and Canada are much easier compared to most international Canada.

You've always needed a passport, it's not just since 2020.

Has MMM heard of a certain event that took place in 2001? Any shortcutting the process of border crossings permanently ended forever on that date.

Yep true that. Before 9/11 I could get across the border and not have a problem with customs. They'd simply ask for citizenship, you'd say US and they'd ask what you would be doing in Canada, my answer would be just driving through to New York and they'd let ya go. But since 9/11 it's much more difficult.

[Bruce]

Isn't there some NEXUS card or something you can use instead?

NEXUS gives you access to reserved lanes at the customs facility (and often a long ways on the approach) for pre-approved travelers determined to be of "low risk" during an interview process. The membership card can be used instead of a passport/enhanced ID, but typically one would still carry another form of approved ID just in case.

[MultiMillionMiler]

Jesus Christ I haven't "Not Heard" about 9/11. I had looked up stuff about crossing into Canada a couple years ago and something I read said they may not even ask for a passport. If it was wrong, fine, but Jeez. And 9/11 ramped up airport security, because it involved PLANES. What does driving your car north of New York have to do with that? There are roads where the double yellow line is on the border of the US and Canada, so what do people do there?

0h and I don't think major roads like Canada 403 and 401 have driveways to peoples houses right next to it.

[Flint1979]

I don't even think you need a passport to drive into Canada/Mexico.

You seriously don't know the answer to this?  Actually, I'm sure you do.  Most of your posts are just to get reactions from others.

You've always needed a passport, it's not just since 2020.

Has MMM heard of a certain event that took place in 2001? Any shortcutting the process of border crossings permanently ended forever on that date.

Actually, both of these quotes are incorrect.  Passports have only been necessary since January, 2007.

I didn't have a passport until about 2006.  I drove to Montreal to see the last Phillies-Expos series in September 2004 and used my birth certificate.  The border agent rolled his eyes, but he took it, reviewed it, asked the standard questions (where you going, how long, etc), and let me go on my way.

No it's not incorrect. You have always needed a passport or birth certificate, it just wasn't mandatory. That's the date it became required to do so.

[kalvado]

People are always unhappy when their houses or businesses are acquired through eminent domain.  How much angrier will the Canadians be when they find out it is for an American road?

The road would run along existing roads on Canada and no houses/businesses would need to be relocated. The highway would just need to be converted to full limited Access and the interstate signs installed.

This makes no sense at all.

It makes perfect sense... MMM just wants to invade Canada - probably tanks travelling via ice bridge on the lake - and annex some land for highway.

[GaryV]

They could simply agree to the highway being an American road and they could keep the rest of their territory.

The most direct route from Toronto - the largest city - to many places in western Canada is through US territory. Should we cede them highway routes too? After all, we're keeping most of our territory.

[Scott5114]

Jesus Christ I haven't "Not Heard" about 9/11.

Many of your posts seem to operate in a plane of reality so different to our own that it is hard to know what you have and haven't gotten wind of over there.  🤷

[Max Rockatansky]

Jesus Christ I haven't "Not Heard" about 9/11.

Many of your posts seem to operate in a plane of reality so different to our own that it is hard to know what you have and haven't gotten wind of over there.  🤷

On the plus side, it does give me some hope that we'll eventually as a society get over terrorism paranoia if someone like MMM is oblivious to the security measures taken after 9/11.

[Flint1979]

They could simply agree to the highway being an American road and they could keep the rest of their territory.

The most direct route from Toronto - the largest city - to many places in western Canada is through US territory. Should we cede them highway routes too? After all, we're keeping most of our territory.

Good point.

[kalvado]

They could simply agree to the highway being an American road and they could keep the rest of their territory.

The most direct route from Toronto - the largest city - to many places in western Canada is through US territory. Should we cede them highway routes too? After all, we're keeping most of our territory.

Good point.

Actually transit through other country territory is not an infrequent problem. Gambia-Senegal in Africa may be the the most interesting to discuss right now once India-Bangladesh exclaves are resolved.  As far as I remember, Senegal was pretty desperate and offered some solutions making MMM approaches looking very realistic.