Sure, Why Not?

Interstate 40 Knoxville, TN SmartFIX40 Construction Photos & Video

2008-05-19T23:47:00.007-04:00

The SmartFIX40 project in Knoxville is underway and is noteworthy because the project closes Interstate 40 through downtown Knoxville for approximately 14 months. The I-40 shutdown began not that long ago on May 1st and last through June 2009. TDOT is rebuilding from the ground up I-40 from James White Parkway (Exit 388) to Hall of Fame Drive (Exit 389).

TDOT says that the 14 month total closure will save two to three years in construction time vs. traditional piecemeal methods.

During the closure, this segment of I-40 will be widened to six through lanes and four auxiliary lanes. In addition to interstate improvements, work will include the construction of nine bridges, 14 retaining walls and three noise walls. Additionally, two existing bridges will be demolished, 12 side roads will be completed and seven new ramps will be constructed.

Through traffic on I-40 heading in both the eastbound and westbound direction will be detoured onto I-640 (the northern bypass arc of Knoxville.) Local traffic into downtown will still be able to use the stretch of I-40 through the construction zone.

Joe Babyak was out in Knoxville this weekend and took some photos and video of the SmartFix40 construction zone.

All photos are taken from the Magnolia Ave. area.

Video:

Raleigh TV Station Criticizes NCDOT

2008-05-19T18:45:00.005-04:00

WRAL TV has completed an investigation into the possible spending of millions of dollars by NCDOT on a consultant report that may not have been needed.

Riddled by delayed and botched road projects and criticized for its inefficiency, the North Carolina Department of Transportation paid millions of dollars for a report last year that offered some of the same recommendations it got at no cost nearly a year earlier.

That's according to Kathryn Sawyer, executive director of the American Council of Engineering Companies of North Carolina.

In May 2006, the member organization paid to bring experts and transportation department officials from Florida, Missouri and Virginia -states that lead the nation in transportation project management - to find ways to help North Carolina become more efficient and successful when it comes to finishing projects on time....

Among the think tank's findings were needs to improve productivity, use key performance indicators and increase accountability - an area Sawyer said North Carolina needs improvement.

In the other states, like Missouri, a project deadline is locked in place, and if it is not met, project managers are held accountable for it, Sawyer said.

"(Project managers in North Carolina) had goals, but if they didn’t meet them, then (the goals) were moved," she said. "If a project was not completed, they just moved the date to where they thought it could be completed next."

Those three recommendations were some of the same more than a year later in a 472-page report from management consultant McKinsey & Co. The state paid $3.6 million to the international agency to analyze the DOT's entire organization and its practices.

Story: WRAL.com

Quick Commentary:
Didn't I say in my previous post, the last thing NCDOT needs is another story about it wasting money? What most of the problems with NCDOT that have been exposed over the last few years have in common in my opinion, and it's sort of ironic coming from someone sometimes described as being quiet, is a lack of communication. Between contractors and engineers (botched I-40 pavement), between separate departments in NCDOT (wrong exit numbers on NC 540), between engineers themselves (what is the proper thickness of pavement for an interstate highway, in this case what became I-795), and spending millions of dollars to find out something many in the department already new (the McKinsey Report). It would be interesting to know if the Missouri, et al DOT recommendations made it all the way to the top or were held back by some in management who did not want to change their practices that would make them more accountable.

It will also be interesting to see how this affects the debate about funding going on in the legislature.

Snowmobile Route Signage in Quebec

2008-05-18T16:30:00.004-04:00

Recently, I took a trip around Quebec, visiting rural landscapes, small towns and cosmopolitan cities alike. One thing that I stumbled across, in a couple of instances, was Quebec's snowmobile trail system. The Quebec Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (FCMQ), who represents that snowmobile clubs in Quebec, has set up an extensive trail system for snowmobiles around the province that appears to be loosely based on the highway system in Quebec. There are Trans-Quebec trails, which tend to be longer, and regional trails which are just within a smaller area, but just as fun. The signage appears to be on par with highway signage as well. The various member clubs maintain the trails for the most part, with the Ministry of Transportation Quebec (MTQ) helping with maintenance where necessary. Here is an example of the signage I saw near Sherbrooke in the Eastern Townships region of Quebec.

A Carolinas Road Meet Preview

2008-05-17T17:50:00.005-04:00

Bob Malme and I did a brief road trip today to scout for the upcoming Carolinas Road Meet on Saturday, May 31.

The meet will be featuring a tour of the soon to be completed US 70 Clayton Bypass. The bypass will carry US 70 around one of the more congested areas of the triangle, the town of Clayton. It will run from Interstate 40 at milemarker 310 to the current US 70/US 70 Business split west of Smithfield and Selma. Besides the two interchanges at the bypass' terminal points (I-40 and US 70 Business) there will also be diamond interchanges with NC 42 and Ranch Road.

The meet will be held at the Cleveland Draft House on NC 42 in Garner at 12:30 PM on Saturday, May 31st. The group will meet up for lunch and then head on a tour of the Clayton Bypass and perhaps a few other items. We should be done around 3:30-4 pm.

If you are interested in going to the meet, just send me an e-mail.

Since I usually never get around to taking photos the day of the meet, here are some photos from the trip today:

Overhead signs at the Western Terminus of the Clayton Bypass at Interstate 40.

Looking eastbound on US 70. The NC 42 interchange is ahead.

Line painting is taking place on soon to be US 70 East at Exit 326 - US 70 Business (The eastern terminus of the bypass)

A closer view of the Exit 326 overhead.

You'd think that the 55 mph speed limit sign here on Cole Road would have been removed.

Pretty soon this 'End' sign for US 70 Business won't be needed as it will continue west from here on the former mainline of Highway 70.

Local Sign Find - 8

2008-05-17T17:28:00.003-04:00

Here's a good one for everyone:

You are on US 70 East/NC 50 South (Glenwood Ave.) at Crabtree Valley Mall in Raleigh. The overhead signs date to a time when a whole mess of highways were on what is now the I-440 Beltline. Now, only a 'TO' US 64 shield stays. I am not sure what all could have gone on the signs. But the middle sign would indeed have East US 70, South NC 50, and North US 1. It appears there is room for even more. Maybe an I-440 shield maybe a 'TO' US 401, who knows.

The right overhead sign was most likely just US 1 South, but it could have had more.

So what was once there? Anyone out there know?

NC 218 improvements financing may benefit from some quick thinking

2008-05-15T20:22:00.006-04:00

NC 218 has become a 'Monroe Bypass' by default, and as a result the rural Union County highway is starting to show some wear in addition to safety deficiencies. So there's a plan to improve it.

Resurface 30 miles of highway, widen the roadway to 24 feet (from 20-22 feet), build turning lanes at various major intersections (US 601, NC 200 and 205.)

Cost: $15.5 million.

Not a big deal, right? Well, the Charlotte Division of NCDOT (Division 10) is about $14 million short in funds to start the project this year.

So the division's engineer, Barry Moose, came up with the suggestion that some of the funds come from a project to add additional lanes to US 601. Well this proposal didn't sit to well with Monroe City Council. In fact, they passed a resolution against the idea.

Their concern is that the wider US 601 will be needed when the real US 74 Monroe Bypass is built. (which, quite honestly, no one has a clue on when that actually will see the light of day - unfortunately.)

Now normally, this is where my commentary on the situation would begin...but we're not done. By a struck of good fortune and also good management, a Charlotte highway project is going to come close to $10 million under budget. (Cheers to Mr. Moose and Division 10. With construction costs as they are...and the state of highway financing within NC...finishing a project $10 million under budget is a great accomplishment.) The $10 million covers nearly 2/3rds of the cost for the NC 218 improvements.

Mr. Moose would get the remainder of the funds from pushing back a rural project in Anson County that has been lowered in the region's priority list.

The Charlotte Region's Planning Organization (Mecklenburg-Union Metropolitan Planning Organization (MUMPO) is scheduled to review Moose's suggestion later this month. This plan has the support of the Monroe City Council...as long as they still keep widening US 601 on track.

Story: Charlotte Observer

US 117, Where Art Thou?

2008-05-15T19:04:00.011-04:00

The once, current, and future northern end of US 117 at US 301?

Since Adam introduced me by saying I had yet to post, I thought this would be as good time as any. Many of you may have seen my recent post on SERoads regarding AASHTO's decision on US 117 between Wilson and Goldsboro. For those that haven't, or cannot access the AASHTO decisions since they used some new Microsoft coding only good on Internet Explorer, I thought I'd summarize it here.

This is the text of AASHTO's denial:

Disapproved were:
North Carolina U.S. 17 – disapproved see next remarks
North Carolina U.S. 17 ALT – disapproved since the Alternate must be as good as or better than the primary route and suggest NC designate this as a business route.
North Carolina U.S. 117 – disapproved see next remarks
North Carolina U.S. 117 ALT – disapproved since the map was incomplete as it did not show where 117 came back at the north end. Alternate must be as good as or better than the primary route and suggest NC designate this as a business route.

The web page to access the posts is here: http://cms.transportation.org/?siteid=68&pageid=1540

So, as of now US 117 is signed on a route that isn't officially US 117 but Alternate US 117 (NCDOT hasn't changed a lot of the signs so most still say US 117). Meanwhile, according to AASHTO, US 117 runs on a route that it isn't signed on, except for a few BGSs, since NCDOT went and removed all the ground US 117 signs from the freeway (US 117 mileposts and exit numbers remain) and on-ramps last December and January.

Commentary: It appears that there is enough blame to go around for this ruling. In recent years NCDOT has sent in many applications to AASHTO which that organization thought were incomplete or did not follow proper procedures. I believe this is one of the reasons why the US 117 (and US 17) applications may have simply been rejected out of hand once they did not meet the standard AASHTO policy regarding moving US routes. Of course, if NCDOT had spoken to someone at AASHTO about there application beforehand, maybe this rule would have come up and a negotiation could have taken place. NCDOT could have indicated that in regard to US 117 that they were only moving a route back to its original alignment that it had been on for, what, 75+ years?, that they didn't know at the time they asked it moved to the freeway that the route would be designated I-795, and that it might be more helpful to the traveling public that the freeway have only the interstate designation. AASHTO could have contacted NCDOT about why they were confused about the map with the US 117A application (I surmise this map only showed US 117 alternate going to US 301 or to US 264, not connecting back to AASHTO's official routing of US 117 on the freeway, so they did not see a proper northern end point for the route) and resolved that problem. And, of course, NCDOT could have waited for the AASHTO ruling, like there supposed to do, before removing all the US 117 signage.

I do not know what NCDOT will do, AASHTO has no powers to force them to put the US 117 signs back, but ignoring a ruling might cause more problems with later NCDOT applications. I have a feeling some sort of compromise will be reached. If not, NCDOT could simply as to decommission US 117 since it is about 110 miles long and does not meet AASHTO's current US Route standards. Given NCDOT's recent problems, the last thing they need to see is another news story about how they wasted more money removing signs that they had to put back.

Let the debate begin! 21st Century Transport Committee releases their findings

2008-05-14T23:24:00.005-04:00

As you all well and know, earlier this week, Governor Mike Easley announced his own plan for improving road financing within the state of North Carolina. And as we predicted (and Bob made note of in the comments), the Governor's 21st Century Transportation Committee came up with their own suggestions.

Story: Raleigh News & Observer

There was a plethora of items within the Committee's conclusions, but since the governor specifically targeted the annual transfer of $172.6 million from the Highway Trust Fund to the General Fund, lets look at the differences there first.

Gov. Easley suggested that the transfer be reduced by $25 million this year and eventually be eliminated completely. (He didn't give a timetable for how long that would take.) The $25 million would then be applied for the necessary gap funding for the proposed Triangle Expressway Toll Road. (Which needs about $22-25 million per year for 40 years to cover the cost of building the highway.)

I pointed out how that would most certainly differ from the committee's findings (which hinted at the total elimination of the transfer), and that other parts of the state would question why a Raleigh project would be favorited over theirs.

Well, the Committee's proposal for the Highway Fund transfer is as follows:

It would completely eliminate the transfer
$75 million of the gained funs would be used for 'gap financing' for the Triangle Expressway and three other toll projects within the state
The balance of the money would be used to retire nearly $800 million in debt from a bond issue ($1 billion) the committee also suggested.

Now, obviously the differences between the two are pretty stark. All at once, vs. a vague piecemeal proposal. Four total toll projects would receive 'gap funding' vs.only the Triangle Expressway.

Of course, any of these suggestions would have to be passed by the Legislature before moving forward. And I am sure various members of the NC House and Senate have their own ideas on this as well.

But the Committee's report was not limited to eliminating the Highway Trust Fund transfer. It included the previously mentioned bond referendum. The referendum proposed at $1 billion could be on the ballot as early as this fall. (again if it gets the ok from the legislature...there's always the fine print remember) The committee made one point of caution. The bond issue should not be a small amount to where it has very little impact in improving or moving the state's highway infrastructure forward.

The report also recommended that legislation be made that would allow counties to issue half-cent sales tax increases and small vehicle registration fees to pay for various transit measures (similar to what passed in Mecklenburg County). The tax and fee increases would have to be approved by county commissioners to be on the ballot and ultimately by county voters in an election.

It also suggested a new trust fund for congestion relief and transit projects. The $160 million per year fund would go towards bus and light/commuter rail projects.

The committee's report was not unanimous as a few members objected to the lack committed money to transit projects.

Final Commentary:

So there you have it...another proposal to fix and fund our transportation issues. The NC Legislature now has the ball in their court, and who knows what the final solution will look like after it goes through their 'R&D' process (I tried to make the term 'bureaucratic process' sound a little different.) Will the various 'gap funding' proposals not make the grade like it did last year? Or will something come out of it? We'll blog about it...and so will others. So stay tuned.

You may have noticed a few new authors....

2008-05-14T22:45:00.002-04:00

I've really enjoyed the blog over the past couple of years. Of course there have been posting frenzies and droughts...but I try to keep it as current as possible. Hopefully, you have enjoyed the roadtrips and oddities, news stories and opinions (even when there is internal disagreement) and at times even commented.

So to add to the roadtrips and oddities, news stories and opinions, I've invited a few new folks to participate in adding their own input to the blog. So, here's the somewhat formal introduction.

Bob Malme - Although he has yet to post, he's added to the blog in numerous comments. Bob adds a strong research background and insight on various projects throughout North Carolina (as if the blog has enough NC material as it is :-p), but also hails originally from New England.

Charles Slater - His unique viewpoint of transportation and of the roadgeeking hobby is well known. He's already added his own opinions to the blog and along with Doug has expanded our New York coverage.

Jeff Kitsko - The first source of Pennsylvania Highways and webmaster of the site of the same name, Jeff won't be afraid of giving his own opinion.

Corey Dukes - He blogs the Delmarva. And just to torment Jeff, he has his own opinions of Pennsylvania.

Billy Riddle - Hails from Tennessee and along with news from the Mid-South, he'll add a bit of good humor too.

Of course, there Doug Kerr who has pretty much been to every nook and cranny of New York (and is on his way to doing the same in PA and New England) and Brian LeBlanc (he's building a house so give him a break!) who have been part of the blog for nearly a year.

What else may be different? You'll see more back and forth conversations in the blog and definitely different opinions on various issues. But that's what we want to do, present our own personal view and feelings of transportation issues and insights on the roadgeeking hobby.

Oh I don't want to forget, if you have your own roadblog and I haven't added it to the list of roadblogs. Let me know, so I can add ya.

Interstate Changes in New York State

2008-05-14T20:45:00.004-04:00

On May 4, 2008, AASHTO officials met and discussed a few changes to some of New York State's Interstate Highway system. The changes to the Interstate system in this state were obvious choices to be made. I-695 in the Bronx is now officially I-695, as it has been signed as such by NYSDOT since 1986. Technically, it had been considered to be a spur of I-295 between I-95 and I-295 near the Throgs Neck Bridge.
Corresponding AASHTO Document

The other topic of discussion was increasing the length of I-86's mileage here in New York. I-86 has been signed from the New York/Pennsylvania state line near Erie out to Exit 52 (NY State Route 14) in Horseheads, and from I-81 just east of Binghamton to NY State Route 79 in Windsor. With the completion of the Horseheads Bypass, I-86 will now be signed between Exits 52 and Exit 56 (NY State Route 352) in Elmira.
Corresponding AASHTO Document

To me, these are obvious moves that gets New York State in line with AASHTO about how roads are signed.

Gov. Easley makes his own Highway Trust Transfer proposal

2008-05-12T21:42:00.004-04:00

With the short session of the North Carolina Legislature just underway, Governor Mike Easley proposed some changes in the annual transfer of funds from the Highway Trust Fund to the General Fund.

The governor's proposal - reduce the transfer of $172.6 million by $25 million. The ultimate goal is to reduce the transfer in its entirety. The governor did not mention how many years it would take to complete phase out the funds transfer.

Where would the $25 million go? As the gap funding for the Triangle Expressway. The change in the transfer of funds would ultimately need to be approved by the legislature.

Story: Triangle Business Journal

Commentary:

Where should I begin on this one. First, I am sure Sue Myrick, Pat McCrory, and others will enjoy this one. Myrick and McCrory, both from Charlotte, will certainly not like the fact that Raleigh would get funding to build another piece of 540 while I-485 gets delayed.

The opponents of tolling 540 will not like this because it pretty much seals the deal on building the toll road. Of course, if approved it will.

Other areas considered for tolling or behind in projects will also be unhappy about the $25 million going to a project in the capital's backyard.

Plus, we have yet to see the 21st Century Transportation Commission's final report on this. the committee had suggested eliminating the transfer completely with some of the $172 million going towards issuing a large bond issue to help fund highway projects throughout the state. The Governor made no mention of that today. This also will be a sticking point for opponents of toll projects throughout the state. (See the recent entry on the Cape Fear Skyway)

My personal opinion. I am glad to see various proposals made to end the annual transfer of the Highway Trust Funds. This is a great step forward. Personally, I am in favor of eliminating the transfer in its entirety as soon as possible (now preferably). I would be in support of a bond issue to help finance projects throughout the state. I would also have no issue on some of the money being used for 'gap funding' on toll projects. However, if it is only for one project when there are quite a few other toll projects just as important that can use the toll funding also, I can't support that. Especially when the NCTA can't even get an estimated cost narrowed down correctly.

This will be an interesting short session of the legislature on the highway front. The 21st Century Transportation Commission should formally present their findings soon.

Some Old Maps I Got Today

2008-05-11T23:17:00.008-04:00

Went to the local antique store today, and I copped to some NEET olde maps:
2 NYC metro maps from Esso/General Drafting: one 1940-with a special World’s Fair map; the other 1941.

1 NYC Metro/Long Island-NYC streets from Shell/HM Goushá from 1939 which also has World’s Fair pr0n on it.

A Maine/Maritimes Map-also Shell/Goushá from 1939-which may end up being a reference for a quick n’dirty Maritimes Route List. The Maine map is pretty standard-US highways have the special indication used by Goushá on many maps through the 40’s to 1964(and beyond in some cases): a red line encased in 2 thin black lines.

The Maritimes map is more basic, and pretty much indicates the main numbered roads. For US highways, it uses the term ‘US Federal Highways’ as a descriptor. I knew I’d seen that before, nope, CalBog didn’t make that one up, as much as he’d like you to think it. The Maine map has it correctly.

A DE-MD-VA-WV Gulf/Rand McNally from 1934-Rand McNally is common as dirt, but this map is unique in being a VERY early accordion fold map(operating instructions are included); and the map is actually split into 3 panels: The outer and middle panels are the map; the two panels between that contain a variety of information and advertisements, including plugs from State Highway officials(one of whom is Henry Shirley) congratulating Gulf for including basic information on road laws. Not that anyone else didn’t do that, Gulf just manged to queen it up rilly nicely. There’s a table of national information, speed limits-many states had no maximum; other states varied between 35-45mph, and Washington DC had a maximum allowed speed limit of 22mph. The reverse of the map had a US map similarly split. the information provided was VERY basic-nothing to write home about, and not as comprehensive as Gulf’s copywriters implied. One of the bits was the various uses for the map/info, and it has a pictures showing a person reading the map WHILE DRIVING. Hmmm bad juju, that.

I thought it was so NEET that I’d share:

The map cover featuring Enthusiastic!
Service Station yobbos comin to hook you up!
I'd wager these days that would freak most people out.

Instructions on using the map. While Driving?!?
Today's Nanny Staters would have a coronary,
and lawyers would be rubbing they greedy lil paws together.

Table of basic laws glorified by the endorsement of
State Highway Officials.
Yes, there was a time where EVERYBODY wrote like CalBog.

If It's FREE, It's for ME!

Ask the Gulf Man! Yeah.
These days he prolly doesn't know where He's at.

Didja know, you can put Paraffin on top of yr jelly?
MMMM. Love that petroleum aftertaste.

NCDOT begins thinking on upgrading US 64

2008-05-10T12:08:00.003-04:00

NCDOT is looking at ways to upgrade and improve traffic flow on a 19 mile stretch of US 64 from Cary to Pittsboro, and they will be holding two community workshops in May for residential input.

The current study is looking at ways to improve US 64 into a freeway or an expressway or a combination of both over the next 30 years.

One of the key issues is the improved highway's environmental impact along with citizen's access to the popular Jordan Lake State Recreation Area. In addition, access to and from existing and future shopping centers and residential developments along US 64 will be a topic of discussion.

The US 64 corridor in upcoming years will also see the addition of an interchange with the Triangle Expressway (NC 540).

Currently, a small part of US 64 in Cary is already considered an expressway by the state.

In addition to the long term improvements, the DOT is looking at intersections where the 'superstreet' concept can be installed. The modified intersection that is designed to eliminate most left turns can be found in Chapel Hill, Brunswick County, and non-signalized versions can be found on US 1 near Vass.

The 19 mile US 64 corridor is part of North Carolina's Strategic Highway Corridor Program. The program consists of 55 highway corridors aiming to provide a network of high-speed, safe, reliable highways throughout the state. The section of US 64 is part of SHC Corridor 26 (Charlotte to Raleigh) which consists of NC 49 from Charlotte to Asheboro and US 64 from Asheboro to Raleigh.

NCDOT introduced a new website in March 2008 and can be accessed here.

The two meetings will be held at Apex High School on Monday, May 19 and Northwood High School in Pittsboro on Tuesday, May 20. Both meetings will be held from 5 to 8 pm.

NCDOT plans to have a second round of meetings and community input sometime in October.

Story: Raleigh News & Observer

Could a bond issue allow the Cape Fear Skyway to be toll free?

2008-05-10T11:02:00.003-04:00

Yes, it is indeed possible.

The $550 Million Wilmington Bypass/Cape Fear Skyway Project is one of the several proposed NC Turnpike Authority (NCTA) projects.

In a recent Brunswick County Commissioners meeting, the NCTA presented an update to their Cape fear Skyway Toll Highway proposal. Afterwards, County Commissioner urged those in attendance to contact the 21st Century Transportation Committee in support of a bond issue that would help finance road construction throughout the state.

If built as a toll road, the tolls would only cover 50% of the cost causing the NCTA to look for other sources of 'gap funding', most likely from the state's General Fund. However, a member of the NCTA's Board of Directors, David Redwine, said that if a bond referendum is passed it could solve the funding gap problem for the Cape Fear Skyway. He also stated that tolling the highway is just a series of options to get the project underway.

Story: Wilmington Star-News

Commentary:

Well, the idea of a bond issue to pay for the Skyway not only caught the attention of the Brunswick County Commissioners, but it also made waves with the Editorial staff at the Star-News.

On Tuesday, the paper penned an editorial titled "Toll-free, if possible" voicing their support in "...the state should do everything in its power to avoid building [the Cape Fear Skyway] as a toll road."

They also point out and strongly urge (as it also has been in this blog as well) the legislature to phase down and ultimately eliminate the annual transfer of $170 million from the Highway Trust Fund to the General Fund. The suggestion has also been made by the 21st Century Transportation Committee, and it should come up in the upcoming short session of the NC Legislature.

The Star-News editorial also looks at the possibility of a state-wide bond issue along with county based sales tax increases (like the one recently approved in Horry County, South Carolina) to help fund highway projects.

It seems to me that the bond issue is being floated around as a trial balloon. If editorials and discussion of the possible bond issue continues, it may in fact make it to a state wide referendum in the near future.

The final piece of the Carolina Bays Parkway may see a slight routing change

2008-05-08T22:11:00.002-04:00

It is quite possible that there may be a slightly different path to the final four miles of the Carolina Bays Parkway in Myrtle Beach.

Why? Well a few reasons...First, federal law requires an updated environmental impact study because the initial study was done before the first segments of the highway were completed in 2002. And since it has been over three years since the completion, they have to go through it again.

But the most likely reason for a shift in the soon to be constructed highway's routing is 15 lots within the 68 lot 'The Meadows' subdivision. SCDOT is actively trying to avoid having the highway impact the 15 lots. Plus, the developer is currently withholding the 15 lots from the market and also informing buyers throughout the subdivision that the highway will be built nearby.

Last year, a 248 lot subdivision called Osprey Plantation was halted to make way for the new highway. SCDOT is in the process of purchasing the land within the former development.

Construction on the four mile extension from SC 544 to SC 707 should begin in 2010 and should be completed by 2013.

Story: Myrtle Beach Sun News

People e-mail us...Vol. 1

2008-05-08T21:25:00.006-04:00

This is a new feature to the blog. "People e-mail us." It's where we'll share e-mails good bad and inane that just have to be shared. I have to admit this post is a bit of a vent as the writer hit a number of my pet peeves.

Last night, I received this e-mail:

you are incorrect about the misspelling of holsopple.

Charles was my grandfather's grand father and he
spelled it the same way I do now.

the 1970 census taker misspelled the of the town on
the census that year. that is why the signs are
spelled both ways. when a sign needs to be replaced
they have to put the double L on it because the
incorrect census spelling officially changed the name
of holsopple.

my dad was there to the holsopple centinal [sic]
celabration [sic] in the 80's. that was what the city
fathers told him

(name removed)

P.S. please check your facts

Now the town in question is Holsopple/Hollsopple, PA which is featured on my PA Keystone Town Markers Page.

There I write:

HOLSOPPLE or HOLLSOPPLE (taken by Denny Pine) Founded 1880. Named after Charles Hollsopple; however, when the railroad replaced the name of Bethel Station, they dropped one of the 'L's. Both spellings are used for and throughout the town.

The information I found out on the spelling came from a rather detailed genealogy website on the town.

So, I was taken aback by the perceived tone in the e-mail. Especially, the 'P.S. Please Check Your Facts' line. It also had one of my biggest pet-peeves an e-mail from someone I don't know that doesn't have a formal opening (Like 'Adam' or even To whom it may concern', etc.) At least the author did have a subject for the e-mail. An e-mail without a subject is another pet peeve.

So I wrote back and hopefully rather nicely:

(name),

Thanks for the e-mail. I was basing the information from this website (which I linked to on my description):

http://home.comcast.net/~smith268/About%20me/Hollsopple/hollsopple.htm

Which reads:

A post office was established in the town in 1881, and named for Charles Hollsopple. However, when the railroad replaced its sign on the old Bethel Station, they dropped one "L" in the name. Since then, buildings, maps and road signs might have either Hollsopple or Holsopple on them.

Out of curiosity which facts did I not check? When I look up history of the town I do a search for information on how it was named. Your story about the spelling is the first that I have heard.

---Adam

So we'll see how it goes but it just took me aback today. And if anyone knows more on why Holsopple/Hollsopple really had its spelling changed or even reversed, please let me know! (With something in the subject line, please :-p)

Mass Transit?

2008-05-05T23:21:00.004-04:00

I thought Adam's post on the socioeconomic impact of toll motorways was an interesting bit. It's good to see that he'll at least take the time to look at and discuss another point of view. BTW, I hope that cheque's in the mail, Adam, brown-nosing of this quality don't come cheap!

I read Julie McCormick's editorial, and was particularly struck by this bit:

[The North Carolina Legislature] will decide in this year's short session whether to adopt the Turnpike Authority's request for $24 million a year "gap funding" that these toll roads won't cover. That is $24 million a year for 40 years that could be better spent on public transit improvements, such as light rail, recommended by the Special Transportation Advisory Committee. Legislators should do the right thing and put public transit ahead of toll roads.

Now I'm not as nice as Adam in any event. I think this is a particularly clueless statement on Ms. McCormick's part; I'm with her on the funding bit. A tollway should be self-supporting and not subsidised by tax dollars. If the Turnpike authority builds a product that the people want, then funding shouldn't be a problem. But simply put, Ms. McCormick suggests shifting the cash from one dodgy enterprise to another. Mass Transit is hugely capital intensive, and the profit return is low if there is any at all. Most public transport systems in this country are heavily subsidised. If you live in Bangor, ME, you're paying for Denver's tramway system, which you will in all likelihood never use. Like a tollway, Mass Transit should be able to support itself, If it's not, well, then, they're doing it wrong.

Now folks like this tend to suffer from an idealistic vision. They pine for the days when the trams ruled the roads, and there were no cars cloggin up the jenrt and causing air pollution and global warmin'; if they could only rebuild the tramways of yore, we'd all be happy. The problem with this line of thought is we, the 'Oi Polloi are not given a choice, here. These folks get all excited about trams, sink some srs cash into a tramway, and tell us what a wonderful thing it is, and how we should all use it, as it benefits us. The tram is novel for a bit, but then we find it goes to point 'x' when we need to go to point 'y'. If we want to go to the shops and Consume Mass Quantities of China's finest goods, it's rather difficult to jam a lot of goods onto a tram.

Nobody recalls that the trams of yore were dismantled for good reason-they were haemorrhaging cash. Now in the late 1940's there was some CalBoggery with National City Lines(a holding company owned by GM) buying out of street railways and replacing the trams with busses; but the simple fact was, with the pattern of urban growth at the time, the decentralisation of the city and the rise of the automobile, the tram was not adaptable. Now there is some merit to the concept these folks embrace: We were sold a bill of goods with the auto and it's 'promise of freedom': Namely, a huge expensive infrastructure that is becoming increasingly difficult to find the funds to just maintain, never mind improve or build new. No, we're really not more free at all, we now have this huge yoke around our necks, and as she stands just now, we don't know how the hell to deal with it.

Now that's not a nice scenario to visualise, but as far as I see it, it's the reality of it. Starting on the solution is something that will entail pain and sacrifice, and people just aren't up to that. So some folks maintain the happy illusion that if we dump a buttload of cash into something that worked back in the day, then everything will be all fixed. No. One thing the automobile gave us was a way to go where we wanted, when we wanted, without having to endure an all day ride with a buncha strangers. Fed right into our selfishness. Dislodging that concept is going to take some doing, and people are going to have to come up with some smart new ideas to effect that.

What will likely do that is a good healthy dose of adversity. The thing is, though, $4/gal gas isn't that adversity, nor are tollways, really, if people think they can deal with these things, they'll suck it up and roll on. When the situation starts to get very dire, that's when people will start actually coming up with ideas to deal with the problem. Consider the Montgomery Bus Boycott. The blacks in Montgomery were tired of having to sit in the back of the bus, and so on. It was a great deal more complicated than that, but the upshot was that it was a voluntary collaborative effort to deal with a problem and to change the status quo. It was adaptive to conditions. It served the interests of those involved, and it was ultimately successful. It did not come from government, but from those affected by the Montgomery City Bus lines discriminatory practises. There's a lesson in that, pretty much forgotten these days.

There will be limited response to huge transit projects, and they may help ameliorate some traffic problems, but they are someone else's idea of how a problem should be addressed, and in the main, that just fails. If things start getting dire, petrol is viciously expensive, or people are priced off the interstate by tolls, some people are gonna start getting together and working out ways to address the situation in a way that best suits them, without asking the government for pointers on how to do this. That's how the problem will be solved, and the only way it can be solved-from below.

You may think this is all optimistic claptrap on my part. You're wrong. I've already participated in such an exercise. Not in a transport context, but my favourite club in New Jersey was shut at New Years. Fire code violations. It's open again. We raised the cash to bring it up to code. The Town of Montclair enacted strict new penalties for serving minors alcohol. The club went alcohol free. It's still in business, because we'd all rather have a music venue. We can always drink elsewhere. The scene generates it's own economy, and supports bands far and wide. There are no corporations, arts grants, or public funding of any sort. We do what we need to to keep things going. There's a lesson in that, and it bears thinking about beyond just that context.

Editorial against tolling NC 540 from a socio-economic viewpoint

2008-05-04T21:52:00.002-04:00

Earlier this week, there was an editorial column in the Raleigh News & Observer on the impacts the proposed toll road on lower-income drivers. Written by Julie McClintock, the column is decidedly against the toll highway and suggests that the annual $24 million in gap funding be better served for public transportation projects.

An excerpt from the op/ed:

ALTHOUGH THE TURNPIKE AUTHORITY HAS NOT YET DECIDED on a particular electronic tolling technology, it will probably require users to sign up for an account and obtain a transponder. This imposes several difficulties on low- income and minority drivers.
* First, most electronic tolling systems require either a credit card or bank account just to sign up. Many low-income and minority drivers do not have these. A 2002 study at UNC showed that 45 percent of low-income families in the state do not have credit cards and that 25 percent of all minority families in the nation do not have any bank accounts.
* Second, many toll road transponder accounts require a deposit or sign-up fee, a monthly service fee or automatic recharge fee.
* Third, electronic tolling discourages occasional or emergency use by requiring all potential users to go through the hassle of setting up an account and purchasing a transponder in advance. If a driver does not have a transponder and needs to use the toll road for an emergency, he would be subject to a very high fine.
Will the toll road affect many low-income drivers? You bet. One such group would be the many low-income workers who service office buildings. At U.S. Environmental Protection Agency offices alone, there are more than 300 maintenance and custodial contractors who would fall into this category.

Well, if North Carolina follows the lead of some Northeastern states that have EZPass system some of Ms. McClintock's concerns will be answered.

In New York, Pre-Paid EZPass Transponders can be purchased at local grocery stores, service plazas, or at various NY State Thruway offices. Called E-Z Pass On-The-Go, it is a $25 prepaid transponder that can be registered online or at a NY Thruway office or by mail. This EZPass on the go is also available in Pennsylvania. If the North Carolina Turnpike Authority follows this pre-paid multiple options to register and fund EZ-Pass On-The-Go, this will allow non-credit card holder or those without a checking account greater access to a transponder and the means to pay for it.

In New York, there is not a monthly service or recharge fee. In Pennsylvania, there is a yearly $3 fee and no recharge fee.

There is not a 'fine' to use the toll highway without a transponder, there is a higher toll-rate up to 3x the toll rate, but not a fine.

I do agree with Ms. McClintock that there should be a non-transponder cash toll booth option on the new highway. However, the NCTA sees this as a cost-savings move, and in other states like Texas, cashless toll highways are becoming more common.

Finally, Ms. McClintock closes with:

That body will decide in this year's short session whether to adopt the Turnpike Authority's request for $24 million a year "gap funding" that these toll roads won't cover. That is $24 million a year for 40 years that could be better spent on public transit improvements, such as light rail, recommended by the Special Transportation Advisory Committee. Legislators should do the right thing and put public transit ahead of toll roads.

Now in an area where Public Transportation is pretty much not utilized, and in an area where they can't get a common public transportation system and gameplan together, I'd argue that the $24 million per year over the next 40 years would be better spent improving, expanding, and building the transportation network we need (spread through highways and public options) vs. throwing everything in the boondoggle that can be public transportation.

Starting with the Long Island Meet Snaps!

2008-05-04T21:14:00.003-04:00

Well, here it is May, and I'm just getting around to this :) Welcome to the wonderful world of my backlog, which is Ginormous. I have probably enough material to occupy me for years. Just the same, I've started it, and if I plug along, I should have the whole thing going within a couple of weeks. I'm using Album Shaper, which combines a lot of utility into one application, and really speeds the process of dealing with mass quantities of pictures. I plug this a LOT, but then it's turned out to be one of the most useful apps I've come across in awhile.

I've also done a New England PHP gallery-just finished captioning that. Of course I'll have to redo the beginning again, because, I guessed, as it's a PHP app(Coppermine), it might use the same markup code that is used on the forums that I frequent. Turns out that was a good guess. That means I can do cool text formatting and stuff, and add links, too. That's nice, because I can link into relevant stuff, like Kurumi's Connecticut Highways pages, Google, and MSN maps, right from the Gallery. There will be a second part to that, too-Doug sent along the folder that has the rest of the photos from that roadtrip(I have it someplace, rilly); so you can expect that sometime in future.

Cell Towers Along the Adirondack Northway, Revisited

2008-05-04T20:59:00.003-04:00

If you recall from a couple of winters ago, there was tragedy on the I-87 (Adirondack Northway) as some motorists had died as a result of emergencies that happened on the Northway. These emergencies may have very well been averted if there was a way to call for help.

The background behind this is that the Northway used to have call boxes in order to call for help, but as cellular technology has come into place, the call boxes had been disabled. Within the Adirondack Park of New York State, the governing body, the Adirondack Park Agency, has been slow to allow for cell towers to be placed along the Northway in Warren and Essex Counties.

However, the Adirondack Park Agency has now given the go-ahead to Verizon to build cell towers along the Northway. Currently, they have the OK for three towers, out of a possible eleven towers that could be built.

The Times Union had an article in today's edition that can be found here.

More on the Peace Bridge

2008-04-30T17:13:00.004-04:00

Some additional recent stories about the current battle over the Peace Bridge in Buffalo, all from the Buffalo News. I will refer you direct to the links to the stories this time around.

http://www.buffalonews.com/149/story/331388.html
http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/buffaloerie/story/332410.html
http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/334415.html
http://www.buffalonews.com/149/story/333747.html
http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/buffaloerie/story/333767.html
http://www.buffalonews.com/180/story/335234.html

More from Tribes Hill, NY

2008-04-30T06:58:00.005-04:00

Regarding the old "80" posts in Tribes Hill, there are also some other gems in the immediate vicinity to be found. Michael Moroney, a frequent contributor to the Usenet newsgroup misc.transport.road and webmaster of Vermont Roads (among a few other sites), had asked why I didn't post photos of the old New York State Highway signs in the area. I wanted to focus on the cement posts. However, I've decided to post a few extra photos from the area.

The aforementioned old signs, with destinations of Auriesville and Fort Hunter (on the other side of the Mohawk River). The Amsterdam and Fond destinations denote that this was an old alignment of NY 5. For some reason, the original lettering was scraped off (these are cast iron signs which originally came with embossed lettering) and then repainted. It's also possible the signs were recreated.

An original cast iron destinations sign. You may have noticed the half of a circle which has been broken off. At one time, New York State had put the route number inside the circle.

A view of old NY 5 (Mohawk Dr.). Currently, NY 5 uses an alignment to the north of the hamlet of Tribes Hill.

Re: Old Stuff Found Along The Road

2008-04-29T23:14:00.001-04:00

Slater,

Great finds! But I'll raise ya on the old yield sign. The one I found in Saratoga County in 2006 was EMBOSSED.

See: Local Sign Find - 1

Old Stuff Found Along the Road

2008-04-29T22:27:00.009-04:00

Old signs and a low railway bridge in the Town Of Chester, NY.
(Click the thumbs to see full sized snaps)

A old Yellow YIELD sine at the corner of Lehigh Road and Greycourt Road near Chester NY.

The advance warning for the overpass says 8'6"; but the older sign says 8'4". This one of four of this type of sign that I saw in the area. This particular one is on Greycourt Road.

Old Relic State Route Marker?

2008-04-28T22:32:00.004-04:00

Posting to a blog has many uses. One such use would be to enlist help in trying to identify an old relic.

Recently, I was on a drive with Mark Sinsabaugh and Steve Alpert and we decided to check out various road related items of interest in Fort Hunter, NY and Tribes Hill, NY, which are neighboring towns separated by the Mohawk River in Montgomery County. You may have heard of Fort Hunter as it is the town where the Interstate 90 / New York Thruway bridge collapse over the Schoharie Creek occurred in 1987.

Upon checking out a few old signs in Tribes Hill, we noticed a few concrete markers that appeared to have a route number or something similar.

This old marker is found on Mohawk Dr. (Old NY 5) at Main St. What I am trying to figure out is what the "80" stands for. We think it's for a route number. Current day NY 80 runs from Syracuse to Nelliston, which is a ways to the west of Tribes Hill. However, New York State did employ a different route number system prior to the 1930s, and this could be a relic of that era.

Having traveled all over the Empire State, I have seen different ways of posting routes and distances. In the 19th Century, and even before then, there were mile markers along various post roads and other turnpikes, a few of which still exist today. There are a few more recent markers that are made of cement or some similar compound.

I figured I would open the question to anyone that may have some insight. Comments are appreciated...