Highway-related things I would like to see for 2013

[cpzilliacus]

(1) Ways to prevent fatal crashes - my two favorites are how to prevent wrong-way incursions onto all sorts of divided highways (including freeways and expressways) and fatal crashes caused by smaller vehicles rear-ending larger vehicles (especially semi-trailers) at high speed.

(2) More emphasis on deterring drunk/drugged driving (including more and longer jail sentences for such crimes).

(3) More emphasis on preventing people from driving while suspended/revoked or without liability insurance.

(4) Straight talk from elected officials about how much it really costs to maintain transportation infrastructure (that which is funded out of highway user fees and taxes).

Your thoughts?

[NE2]

More emphasis on getting shitty drivers off the road even if they're not impaired.

More emphasis on enforcement of pedestrian crossings.

More Alanland.

[Zmapper]

The list below is more of an inclusive transportation-related things I would like to see...

- More focus on operational transit improvements like improved frequency or service span, instead of capital projects like new rail lines.

- FRA reform, allowing US agencies to use lighter weight vehicles found in Europe or Japan.

- A serious look at implementing electronic tolling methods on the Interstate system instead of a punitive gas tax increase.

- An increased use of alternative left turn methods instead of the typical turn lane approach.

[SSOWorld]

More emphasis on getting shitty drivers off the road even if they're not impaired.

That would definitely clear up the congestion on the roads

[hbelkins]

Rebuilding some of these crappy roads in rural Kentucky, or at least making progress toward that goal.

[Quillz]

Reconnecting CA-39 to CA-2, making the trip to Wrightwood much shorter.

The repaving of several local streets near my house that are full of potholes.

[cpzilliacus]

More emphasis on getting shitty drivers off the road even if they're not impaired.

That would definitely clear up the congestion on the roads

In some places, I think it would. 

There are a lot of drivers out there that don't have licenses or insurance coverage or are driving vehicles that are unsafe or cannot pass an emissions test.

Removing them from the roads would free up capacity.

[NE2]

Less of a certain toll road blog.

[Alps]

Dedicated revenue sources in each state and on the Federal level that are not cannibalized for other funding.
Increased emphasis on planning, even as we continue other projects. If we don't plan now, we'll be sorry later.
More button copy and embossed signs. Put them back out where we can see them.

[sp_redelectric]

Focus on one law, and exactly one law:

Slower traffic must keep right and allow faster traffic to pass in the left lanes.

That would solve so many problems.

[kkt]

Greater safety by banning complex screen interfaces in cars.  Driver's eyes should be looking out the windows and at the mirrors, not looking down at the menu-driven heating, radio, or telephone controls.

[J N Winkler]

More online construction plan archives.

[jcarte29]

Interstate 285 from Lexington NC to Winston NC a reality!!

[Brandon]

As long as it is wishes and dreams and fantasies...

Plans to rebuild IL-59, North Avenue, and 75th Street as Michigan-style boulevards with Michigan Lefts and Superstreet ideas.

An announcement that the Illiana Tollway will be built, preferably by ISTHA.

An announcement that the Prairie Parkway will be built and connected to the Illiana Tollway.

More cowbell, less SPUI. 

[codyg1985]

I would like to see the acceleration of the widening of highly-traveled interstates in Alabama to six lanes.  I would think these are:

- I-65 from the Jemison exit (Exit 219) to AL 157 in Cullman, AL (Exit 310). Eight lanes minimum from AL 25 in Calera (Exit 228) north to Mount Olive Road in Gardendale (Exit 272)
- I-65 from Hartselle (Exit 328) north to I-565 (Exit 340)
- I-20/59 from the Black Warrior Pkwy (Exit 68) in Tuscaloosa east to the current end of the six lane east of US 11 (Exit 79)
- I-20 east from Pell City to the Georgia State Line
- I-565 from its beginning at I-65 to Wall-Triana Highway (Exit 9)
- All of I-10 in Alabama
- Maybe I-85 from Auburn to the Georgia State Line

I would also like to see more developments on US 280 access management in Birmingham. A toll-road proposal (or even a freeway, but that's more of a pipe dream) between Montgomery, Dothan, and I-10 north of Panama City, FL

I would also love to see I-24 between Nashville and Chattanooga widened to six lanes as well as I-65 from Nashville north to the Kentucky state line. I would also like to see the widening of I-65 in Kentucky completed or all sections being worked on.

[KEK Inc.]

Your posts seem to be more directed at politics than actual highway engineering. 

Drunk driving penalties are strong enough.  In fact, the enforcement is sort of shady.  You can technically be charged with a DUI if you're parked in a car intoxicated, even if you never drive and are just crashed in your vehicle. 

Giving incentives to bars and clubs to moderate drunk driving may be the better alternative. 



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What I want to see in 2013 is more effecient LED street lighting.  Arrayed LEDs pointing down at the road is a terrabad idea, as it only lights up directly underneath the fixture.  Retrofitting existing cobraheads and using semi-cutoff lenses to diffuse the light will be the best way to handle that.

[Ian]

-Speed limit 70 for the Pennsylvania Turnpike
-State named interstate shields being brought back in some more states
-Clearview eradication
-Completion of the I-95/DE 1 interchange in Delaware

[Takumi]

-State named interstate shields being brought back in some more states
-Clearview eradication

These. (Virginia seems to be going the opposite way, however; state-name interstate shields are banned by the 2011 MUTCD supplement and the Clearview infestation is getting worse.)
I'd like to see US 311's extension to US 58 Business be signed in a timely manner. I've read the extension to Eden took several years to be signed after it was approved.

[Billy F 1988]

I swear, better pedestrian enforcement is needed everywhere. Every time I walk around any intersection, some asswipe decides to rush things through. I nearly got mowed down by one this past summer and I'm not gonna let that happen.

[Scott5114]

I wish ODOT would stop making ugly signs...

[KEK Inc.]

I swear, better pedestrian enforcement is needed everywhere. Every time I walk around any intersection, some asswipe decides to rush things through. I nearly got mowed down by one this past summer and I'm not gonna let that happen.

Also, jay-walking pedestrians and idiotic pedestrians should be enforced.

[kkt]

Drunk driving penalties are strong enough.  In fact, the enforcement is sort of shady.  You can technically be charged with a DUI if you're parked in a car intoxicated, even if you never drive and are just crashed in your vehicle. 

On the other hand, most of the time when there's a death due to drunk driving, it's discovered that the driver had multiple drunk driving convictions before.  That suggests the penalties are not strong enough.

[NE2]

Also, jay-walking pedestrians and idiotic pedestrians should be enforced.

So should speed limits. Fair's fair.

[Brandon]

Also, jay-walking pedestrians and idiotic pedestrians should be enforced.

So should speed limits. Fair's fair.

They usually are, but I would like to see licensing of bicyclists locally (Chicago area, especially the city) to crack down on the red light running and sidewalk riding that endangers pedestrians.

[NE2]

yawn