Posted on 07/10/2016 8:13:18 AM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
A lot of truckers use I-81 because there are very few major metro areas that create gridlock. Basically if you use I-95 from south of Richmond headed north of NYC, you will hit rush hour traffic in at least one of , Richmond, DC, Baltimore, Philly, and NYC. If what I see on the DC beltway is anywhere near normal, this can mean upwards of 3 hours of sub 30MPH on a road designed for 55-70MPH.
I-81 is better than I-95 despite the trucks. Truck drivers are generally safe and predictable (with a few exceptions). In contrast I-95 is full of druggies and idiots driving 90 mph. I-95 has cities full of bad drivers along its route.
Troublemaker.
Historical accidents: I sometimes wonder what would have happened if air conditioning and modern emissions controls on powerplants and factories had become the norm by the 1930's or 40's, making cities much more liveable, before America bought into mass suburbanization.
I wonder what would have happened had liberal policies on education not wrecked urban pubic education, driving out so much of the middle class from otherwise attractive urban neighborhoods.
Or if liberal policies on crime not turned the cities into such dangerous places.
Or if Great Society housing policies had not created vast toxic public housing wastelands.
Or if the alliance between public sector unions and welfare constituencies not taxed the middle class, and much of the business base, out of town.
The suburbs have some inherent and perfectly legitimate advantages: lower land costs, newer and larger homes, expansive lawns to give Harry Homeowner something to do on his weekends, etc. These are natural comparative advantages, especially if you enjoy yard work and intimate private time with your car. But a great deal of the impetus for suburbanization was caused by disastrous policy choices by the corrupt Democrat-union-welfare machines that made cities unliveable. Cities can recover if these factors can be unwound.
But when all is said and done, the automobile suburb culture requires huge commitments of space. Above a certain threshold, cities pass the point of diminishing returns. Traffic congestion, long commutes, and sprawl begin to outweigh the attractions of the suburban cul de sac, and gentrification begins in earnest. Much of the northeast corridor is well past this threshold, and trying to build more roads is precisely the wrong response.
The same principle applies to freight. Congestion is going to force some movement from trucks back to rail, perhaps even shipping. In theory, we may even see the reemergence of more regionalized production and distribution systems in some sectors. Computer technology and 3D printing open many doors.
A last thought. Overcentralization is part of the problem. Much of American doesn't face the congestion issues that bedevil the northeast corrider, coastal California, and the cesspools of the interior like Chicago and Atlanta. But as transportation policy has come to be dominated by Washington, the impetus to find a one-size-fits-all solution raises its ugly head. Some of this is driven by arrogant liberals trying to impose New York and Los Angeles lifestyle values on people in flyover country. But some of it is deliberate sabotage, as policymakers from the coastal conurbations recognize that their regions have acquired significant, logistics based comparative disadvantages. They wish to ensure that less-congested regions are unable to fully exploit their competitive edge. They demand that Missippi and Montana ape New York and Massachusetts and California as a way of precluding policy competition.
Dude, you take all the fun out of driving.
Suicidal ideation is a symptom of a very troubled person who should seek counseling. He should think more about his own family and friends.
On the specific topic, the .gov sucks up money like an alien giant sponge. The priority is better government and honest, result oriented non ideologue politicians.
Mr. Trump could get a lot of roads built, on time and under budget.
TWB
I drive a semi over this exact stretch of I-81 daily and was stuck in the traffic caused by this accident referenced by the author. My observation is that Marylanders DO NOT KNOW HOW TO MERGE!! I slow down to 50mph in this area because of all the stupid people.
OMG!! When merging, they slow down to a crawl and try to pick a hole to slide into. Some are even dumb enough to stop!! They NEVER try to match their speed to the traffic when they merge.
And I’m just talking about the ones that are paying attention. I see many not even bothering to pay attention when they merge. They are talking on the phone, texting, bs’ing with passengers, etc. Anything but trying to avoid an accident.
This area of I-81 does need to be widened. But if people would actually DRIVE, many of these accidents could be avoided.
Yes indeed! You are 100% correct abut that.
I agree, all of I 81 in Virginia should have three lanes in each direction. Very scenic, though.
Dallas drivers are so fast it is sick. And I grew up in heavy NYC traffic.
Oh I read it...I acknowledge he claimed it was allegory. I also read anger and aggravation in his writings.
Frankly he ought to try LA traffic before he continues on
His delusion runs deep
Railroads also typically have a cost disadvantage against trucks for shorter hauls (less than 500 miles or so).
I want to know how there can be heavy congestion and cars going fast at the same time.
Just like I want to know where are all those people going too fast on snowy roads? (Besides me, because no one ever passes me on snowy roads!)
Saw an article in the dead-tree WSJ which suggested that the transition to driverless vehicles should start with such vehicles being isolated from person-driven vehicles. Article pointed out that the “three second rule” for separation is not necessary for autopiloted vehicles, and that would dramatically increase the carrying capacity of a traffic lane.By all means, create autopiloted vehicle lanes, in lieu of “high occupancy vehicle” lanes. Require all vehicles in such lanes to observe tight speed specifications. And maximize carrying capacity, and attractiveness, of such lanes by setting speed specifications high.
I’m a trucker and regularly drive I 81 from north of Watertown NY to Roanoke VA. The worst non construction area is through Syracuse NY especially southbound (take 481 around it). Overall the permanent construction zone between Scranton and Wilkes Barre is the worst but in a few years it will be 3 lanes in each direction. Maryland isn’t too bad except trying to go from 70 West to 81 North, there’s virtually no merge area. In general MD 81 on ramps are way too short.
The biggest problems with any highway aren’t the highways but the drivers who drive on them.
Don’t drive like its a NASCAR track, keep your distance, mind your high beams at night, stay out of the passing lane except to pass, use signals, and move over if possible when there’s a vehicle on the shoulder.
About one third of a way through your post I had a strong feeling that it was one of yours! I always appreciate reading your posts here!
Shoot I read this because I thought it was about the I-81 in VA...
I go up and down it for 300 miles through VA on my way to Washington DC a couple of times a year...
But NOOO its about the paltry 10 mile stench of the highway through Maryland..
well with only 10 miles it probably does seem that theres a lot of deaths on I-81..
Deaths on the roads are not funny but I don’t think adding more lanes are going to make much difference..
more people will be able to go fast...
and there’ll be more lanes and chances to have a fatal accident ...
I was on a state highway in Texas yesterday. 7 lanes free lanes and two toll lanes going my direction (plus a 4 lane frontage road).
if it won’t for the trucks you wouldn’t have any roads.the last year i drove 94 i paid 36,000 in road tax not even mention a slew of other taxes.
Around here, adding one lane each direction on existing ROW for approx. 7 miles works out to about $48 million. Since Maryland has more institutional corruption, the numbers would probably be significantly higher there.
What they really need is an outer bypass that runs clear of both WDC and Baltimore.
Probably takes I-84 thru CT & NY to Scranton, then down I-81 to Harrisburg, I-83 to Baltimore, and I-95 to white-hut town.
Always drive that route from here in MD to avoid the "real" traffic on the east-coast route...Well worth the extra hour of driving...Usually relaxing...
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