Traffic Congestion and Highway Construction

[Crucial_Infra]

6 hours ago, Windsurfer said:

Shouldn't you  have on your emergency flashing lights if it's an emergency?

You should never be in motion with your flashers on. It confuses other drivers and confusion leads to accidents. 

[DCMetroRaleigh]

7 hours ago, davidclt said:

I was taught you only use your flashers/hazards when you're stopped. I'm always dumbfounded when drivers are in motion with their hazard lights flashing.

I’ve never of that and definitely don’t abide by it.

[davidclt]

23 minutes ago, DCMetroRaleigh said:

I’ve never of that and definitely don’t abide by it.

I'm not clear on why you'd be moving with your hazard lights on? Regardless, it not illegal in NC but it is against the law in quite a few places: When You Should Use Your Hazard Lights When Driving.

[jjwilli]

3 minutes ago, davidclt said:

I'm not clear on why you'd be moving with your hazard lights on? Regardless, it not illegal in NC but it is against the law in quite a few places: When You Should Use Your Hazard Lights When Driving.

School buses use their flashers while on the highway. Never understood why they do that here.

[davidclt]

37 minutes ago, jjwilli said:

School buses use their flashers while on the highway. Never understood why they do that here.

I agree! I do know they're limited to 45(!) MPH by state law. G.S. 20-218 (ncleg.gov) That's patently absurd and I think school buses shouldn't be able to operate on limited access highways.

[Windsurfer]

8 hours ago, davidclt said:

I'm not clear on why you'd be moving with your hazard lights on? Regardless, it not illegal in NC but it is against the law in quite a few places: When You Should Use Your Hazard Lights When Driving.

That article clearly says you can use them while moving. For instance, funerals.   I've seen folks using them (in rare instances) while speeding down the fast lane. I always assumed they had a baby on the way or someone was bleeding and would give them plenty of room.

[davidclt]

4 hours ago, Windsurfer said:

That article clearly says you can use them while moving. For instance, funerals.   I've seen folks using them (in rare instances) while speeding down the fast lane. I always assumed they had a baby on the way or someone was bleeding and would give them plenty of room.

Sure you can, but the question is, should you? If you're on a limited access highway, I maintain if you're moving and using your hazard lights, you're doing it wrong and you need to not be on the highway.

[DCMetroRaleigh]

1 hour ago, davidclt said:

Sure you can, but the question is, should you? If you're on a limited access highway, I maintain if you're moving and using your hazard lights, you're doing it wrong and you need to not be on the highway.

I now live in a region wherein drivers commonly use hazards while driving in harsh weather (thunderstorms, deluges, snowstorms) or sudden traffic incidents. 

[nicholas]

13 hours ago, Windsurfer said:

That article clearly says you can use them while moving. For instance, funerals.   I've seen folks using them (in rare instances) while speeding down the fast lane PASSING LANE. I always assumed they had a baby on the way or someone was bleeding and would give them plenty of room.

I thought it was customary to use hazards during funeral processions.  Especially since traffic is usually following smaller local roads, not interstates.

Aside from that exception, most of the times hazards are used is to alert other drivers of a car sitting idle on the side of the road/moving very slowly.  It can be extremely confusing when hazard lights are on and the car is still driving at a regular speed, especially at night in the rain.  There have been a number of times that I have not been able to tell how far away I am from a moving car with its hazards on, because it keeps moving and changing lanes (which can't be signaled in most cars due to turn signals doubling as hazard flashers).

[Windsurfer]

On another topic, it's pretty awesome that in London the lights turn yellow before turning green, in addition to turning yellow before red.  Nobody runs the yellow (probably because of all the millions of cameras around) an there're never delays in traffic from folks not paying attention.

[CLTdev18]

On 10/23/2023 at 12:58 PM, Windsurfer said:

On another topic, it's pretty awesome that in London the lights turn yellow before turning green, in addition to turning yellow before red.  Nobody runs the yellow (probably because of all the millions of cameras around) an there're never delays in traffic from folks not paying attention.

This is common in many countries where manual transmissions still reign supreme. It gives the first driver time to get back in gear and get ready to move.

[Windsurfer]

3 hours ago, CLTdev18 said:

This is common in many countries where manual transmissions still reign supreme. It gives the first driver time to get back in gear and get ready to move.

And, bicyclists.  At least for those who actually stop at red lights. 

[FLOSC843]

https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/relief-coming-congested-i-485-interchange-west-charlotte/S4STCHHY4JCCXKRFNYO34G7BWA/?outputType=amp
 

Good news on the front of improving congestion at the 485 interchange in west Charlotte. As a resident of this side of town and someone who uses the 485/85 interchange daily, I can say this is needed and overdue. Always thought this was horribly designed. The article doesn't mention when work is expected to start but gives the impression it will be soon as funding is being allocated from a House contingency fund. Had this needed to wait on DOT, it would be 2033 before anything would be done. 

[kermit]

1 hour ago, FLOSC843 said:

https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/relief-coming-congested-i-485-interchange-west-charlotte/S4STCHHY4JCCXKRFNYO34G7BWA/?outputType=amp
 

Good news on the front of improving congestion at the 485 interchange in west Charlotte. As a resident of this side of town and someone who uses the 485/85 interchange daily, I can say this is needed and overdue. Always thought this was horribly designed. The article doesn't mention when work is expected to start but gives the impression it will be soon as funding is being allocated from a House contingency fund. Had this needed to wait on DOT, it would be 2033 before anything would be done. 

And while Moore was here peacocking about finding $45 million taxpayer dollars in his couch cushions he decided to twist the knife in the heart of transit expansion again by saying Charlotte residents are not smart enough to decide how to spend our own money:

Quote

Prominent NC lawmaker delivers a blunt message on Charlotte's $13B transit plan

“I’ve been very candid with the mayor and with others,” he said. “I’m very resistant to raising taxes. I think we need to find other ways to fund these kinds of projects [transit]. We don’t have a shortage of dollars; I think it’s a matter of repurposing what we have and making sure we’re using dollars in the wisest way.”

https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2023/11/03/tim-moore-vi-lyles-transit-taxes-nc-ncga.html

Edited November 3, 2023 by kermit

[davidclt]

1 hour ago, FLOSC843 said:

https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/relief-coming-congested-i-485-interchange-west-charlotte/S4STCHHY4JCCXKRFNYO34G7BWA/?outputType=amp
 

Good news on the front of improving congestion at the 485 interchange in west Charlotte. As a resident of this side of town and someone who uses the 485/85 interchange daily, I can say this is needed and overdue. Always thought this was horribly designed. The article doesn't mention when work is expected to start but gives the impression it will be soon as funding is being allocated from a House contingency fund. Had this needed to wait on DOT, it would be 2033 before anything would be done. 

I wonder if Tim Moore's appearance on the west side has anything to do with this?

Republican NC House Speaker Tim Moore running for Congress | Charlotte Observer

[15895]

2 hours ago, kermit said:

And while Moore was here peacocking about finding $45 million taxpayer dollars in his couch cushions he decided to twist the knife in the heart of transit expansion again by saying Charlotte residents are not smart enough to decide how to spend their own money:

https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2023/11/03/tim-moore-vi-lyles-transit-taxes-nc-ncga.html

 I love talking policy. 

I rarely see anyone, other than maybe a few posters here, who have issue with North Carolina economic policies (ignoring social issues: abortion, LGBT, redistricting, etc.) 

IMO, North Carolina has been heading towards the path of what “successful” Republican economics look like. Lower taxes, lower social/educational programs, hands-off government (as far as spending on public programs & infrastructure), etc. and in turn, that leads to growth. NC GOP wants to eliminate the corporate tax rate, Democrats want it to return to pre-tea party wave of 2012 or whenever. That’s not a winning message for Democrats in NC. Even on here, I think the majority prefers tax cuts over public investment. 

With the growth of Charlotte & NC, who is to say the NC GOP has been bad for CLT? Who wants to change course? And what policies do people want to change to? (Which goes beyond specific projects such as say the Silver Line. Thats a single project, not legislation.)

There’s no clear articulate message of what an alternative to the NC GOP even looks like. Sure you have the abortion isssues and such, but that really shows up in the Governor race (and Senate) and doesn’t change the calculus of NC’s legislative agenda.

Who is out there talking about massive investments in green & sustainable forms of transportation, in large increases in affordable housing programs, in many other public investments while simultaneously raising corporate taxes? Who is showing what Progressive & Democratic policy would mean for all of NC from our ports, to universities, to micro-transit in smaller cities, inter-city rail, etc? There’s no champion of policies opposite of the NC GOP / Tim Moore - trickle down economics. Why isn’t Tim Moore right? Is there any evidence the NC GOP hasn’t been a boon for Charlotte? It gets down to how we measure our priorities. 

Why fund mass transit or rail in Charlotte other than it just being a shiny toy? It’s a bigger reason than just having rail for the sake of it; but again, there’s no voices articulating why we should be investing in sustainable transportation. What is the ideology & vision behind advocating for mass transit? 

Edited November 3, 2023 by AirNostrumMAD

[davidclt]

  I was going to move this to Political Digression but . . . here it is.

2 hours ago, AirNostrumMAD said:

I think the majority prefers tax cuts over public investment. 

With the growth of Charlotte & NC, who is to say the NC GOP has been bad for CLT? Who wants to change course? And what policies do people want to change to? (Which goes beyond specific projects such as say the Silver Line. Thats a single project, not legislation.)

Count me amongst the minority then. I want to live in a state where there are structures in place to ensure that all citizens to have a potential to live a civil, safe, well-educated life. In a society with as much wealth as we have, it's abysmal that any child goes to bed hungry. It's abysmal that our infant mortality rate is the worst in the developed world, it's abysmal that one health emergency has the ability to bankrupt families. What the legislature did this year with school choice vouchers is unmitigated BS and will make our state weaker in the long-term as some kids receive a solid "biblical" education (from schools that can discriminate for any number of reasons) but where they will not be prepared to function in the real (multi-cultural) world. The Legislature is now imposing In punitive taxes on EVs (before it equated to a 30 MPG vehicle travelling 15,000 miles a year) - just to make a statement for oil and against EVs.  The incessant beating on cities in this state concerns me greatly and feels a bit like Diana Moon Glamper, Handicapper General against Harrison Bergeron and the "majority" won't be satisfied until we're all back to their world of the 1950s.

[DCMetroRaleigh]

3 hours ago, AirNostrumMAD said:

 I love talking policy. 

I rarely see anyone, other than maybe a few posters here, who have issue with North Carolina economic policies (ignoring social issues: abortion, LGBT, redistricting, etc.) 

IMO, North Carolina has been heading towards the path of what “successful” Republican economics look like. Lower taxes, lower social/educational programs, hands-off government (as far as spending on public programs & infrastructure), etc. and in turn, that leads to growth. NC GOP wants to eliminate the corporate tax rate, Democrats want it to return to pre-tea party wave of 2012 or whenever. That’s not a winning message for Democrats in NC. Even on here, I think the majority prefers tax cuts over public investment. 

With the growth of Charlotte & NC, who is to say the NC GOP has been bad for CLT? Who wants to change course? And what policies do people want to change to? (Which goes beyond specific projects such as say the Silver Line. Thats a single project, not legislation.)

There’s no clear articulate message of what an alternative to the NC GOP even looks like. Sure you have the abortion isssues and such, but that really shows up in the Governor race (and Senate) and doesn’t change the calculus of NC’s legislative agenda.

Who is out there talking about massive investments in green & sustainable forms of transportation, in large increases in affordable housing programs, in many other public investments while simultaneously raising corporate taxes? Who is showing what Progressive & Democratic policy would mean for all of NC from our ports, to universities, to micro-transit in smaller cities, inter-city rail, etc? There’s no champion of policies opposite of the NC GOP / Tim Moore - trickle down economics. Why isn’t Tim Moore right? Is there any evidence the NC GOP hasn’t been a boon for Charlotte? It gets down to how we measure our priorities. 

Why fund mass transit or rail in Charlotte other than it just being a shiny toy? It’s a bigger reason than just having rail for the sake of it; but again, there’s no voices articulating why we should be investing in sustainable transportation. What is the ideology & vision behind advocating for mass transit? 

Horrible. I completely disagree 

1 hour ago, davidclt said:

  I was going to move this to Political Digression but . . . here it is.

Count me amongst the minority then. I want to live in a state where there are structures in place to ensure that all citizens to have a potential to live a civil, safe, well-educated life. In a society with as much wealth as we have, it's abysmal that any child goes to bed hungry. It's abysmal that our infant mortality rate is the worst in the developed world, it's abysmal that one health emergency has the ability to bankrupt families. What the legislature did this year with school choice vouchers is unmitigated BS and will make our state weaker in the long-term as some kids receive a solid "biblical" education (from schools that can discriminate for any number of reasons) but where they will not be prepared to function in the real (multi-cultural) world. The Legislature is now imposing In punitive taxes on EVs (before it equated to a 30 MPG vehicle travelling 15,000 miles a year) - just to make a statement for oil and against EVs.  The incessant beating on cities in this state concerns me greatly and feels a bit like Diana Moon Glamper, Handicapper General against Harrison Bergeron and the "majority" won't be satisfied until we're all back to their world of the 1950s.

Amen!

[15895]

2 hours ago, DCMetroRaleigh said:

Horrible. I completely disagree 

Amen!

You disagree that there isn’t an adequate liberal / progressive political coalition in NC that can effectively communicate to North Carolinians all over the state (rural, coastal, Appalachia & the Piedmont) an alternative to the NC GOP & Tim Moore?  You think the NC Democrats have done all they could to show North Carolinians what their legislative priorities could do for their communities vs. what the NC GOP is offering? Particularly in a climate where NC is economically prosperous?
 

I’m just not sure what you find horrible? 
 

You have to *explain* to all of North Carolina why returning to the historical corporate tax rate is good for them (and the inevitable backlash from the largest employers in NC…). The political reality in our country is. People think of NY, CA, WA as proof of the failure of progressive laws and look at NC, FL, TX as signs that GOP is better at handling the economy. A lot of people feel lower taxes, less regulation, smaller government is good for them. How do you explain to people in Appalachia how progressive legislation improves their lives? You have to have the conversation… a conversation of why the NC Democrats deserve a chance at power in the NC Legislative branches… You have to have the conversation that the economic success of NC is inequitable or why you think it isn’t a success under GOP rule…

The case has to be made that the NC GOP isn’t delivering on the economy & “dinner table” issues for North Carolinians. If that case can’t be made - then under GOP rule will it remain (ignoring statewide races)

 

Edited November 3, 2023 by AirNostrumMAD

[KJHburg]

7 hours ago, FLOSC843 said:

https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/relief-coming-congested-i-485-interchange-west-charlotte/S4STCHHY4JCCXKRFNYO34G7BWA/?outputType=amp
 

Good news on the front of improving congestion at the 485 interchange in west Charlotte. As a resident of this side of town and someone who uses the 485/85 interchange daily, I can say this is needed and overdue. Always thought this was horribly designed. The article doesn't mention when work is expected to start but gives the impression it will be soon as funding is being allocated from a House contingency fund. Had this needed to wait on DOT, it would be 2033 before anything would be done. 

I think this is great news and it was built and designed wrong from the beginning.  With CLT airport right there and that is the shortest bypass it should have built 2 lanes ramps from the get-go.  I am glad the state is moving it up as many have said it is a real choke point and almost backed up all day long.  

[Windsurfer]

12 hours ago, KJHburg said:

I think this is great news and it was built and designed wrong from the beginning.  With CLT airport right there and that is the shortest bypass it should have built 2 lanes ramps from the get-go.  I am glad the state is moving it up as many have said it is a real choke point and almost backed up all day long.  

Gotta chuckle when I hear Tim Moore speaking in that WSOC story. "I ride it everyday. I've seen it first hand". ....

Amazing how the politicians can find the money when they get delayed.

[Eastern]

20 hours ago, AirNostrumMAD said:

You disagree that there isn’t an adequate liberal / progressive political coalition in NC that can effectively communicate to North Carolinians all over the state (rural, coastal, Appalachia & the Piedmont) an alternative to the NC GOP & Tim Moore?  You think the NC Democrats have done all they could to show North Carolinians what their legislative priorities could do for their communities vs. what the NC GOP is offering? Particularly in a climate where NC is economically prosperous?
 

I’m just not sure what you find horrible? 
 

You have to *explain* to all of North Carolina why returning to the historical corporate tax rate is good for them (and the inevitable backlash from the largest employers in NC…). The political reality in our country is. People think of NY, CA, WA as proof of the failure of progressive laws and look at NC, FL, TX as signs that GOP is better at handling the economy. A lot of people feel lower taxes, less regulation, smaller government is good for them. How do you explain to people in Appalachia how progressive legislation improves their lives? You have to have the conversation… a conversation of why the NC Democrats deserve a chance at power in the NC Legislative branches… You have to have the conversation that the economic success of NC is inequitable or why you think it isn’t a success under GOP rule…

The case has to be made that the NC GOP isn’t delivering on the economy & “dinner table” issues for North Carolinians. If that case can’t be made - then under GOP rule will it remain (ignoring statewide races)

 

Davidclt gave multiple reasons why the GOP in NC is horrible and you just ignored it. The economy is only one issue that falls under the bigger issue of quality of life. Health care here could be a lot better. The life expectancy is decreasing and is worst than the national average. NC's Infant mortality rate is worst than Cuba's. The maternal mortality rates are terrible also. Many small towns are dying, while too many no longer have a dr living there. There are lots of areas in the state that are healthcare deserts and people have to drive 50 miles or more to find a trauma level hospital. NC education standards are low and the GOP wants even lower HS graduation requirements. Our teachers are leaving in droves and fewer are left who can inspire students to become leaders, while hundreds of millions are being poured into charter schools that have few measures of accountability. This year's GOP overlords in the NCGA had a chance to deal with two central issues that could have drastically improved the quality of life for many of their constituents, the childcare crisis and Medicaid expansion. Childcare is a costly item for many households and the industry is hurting from a lack of employees. Childcare costs are high, but wages for employees are abysmal and people are leaving for better wages. Little if anything was done to help solve the crisis though they were begged to address it. Instead of increasing the child tax credit, they gave a tax cut to industry.  Secondly, the Medicaid expansion glitches were resolved early on but the GOP's leaders dragged their feet for months, keeping over half a million people waiting, many in need of better healthcare while they  bickered trying to get gambling approved. Gambling, something that's tiny in importance. The GOP is about aggregating power and money. They don't want a well educated, healthy, confident citizenry because they would be hard to control. Your GOP (the very ones who claim to dislike big government) has run on social issues, gerrymandering, limiting accountability through public records access, so that they can broaden their control while threatening and denying home rule on the city and county level.  The job recruitment is a joint effort of the GOP and governor and gov. Cooper is doing a great job on that. Toyota's decision to add 3,000 jobs to its battery plant under construction came after his visit to Japan. NC may be a top ranked company for recruiting industry but if you can't keep providing a skilled, healthy workforce, and a good quality of life, the companies you are recruiting are going elsewhere because it takes more than just tax cuts to run a successful company.

[Eastern]

On 11/3/2023 at 9:19 AM, kermit said:

And while Moore was here peacocking about finding $45 million taxpayer dollars in his couch cushions he decided to twist the knife in the heart of transit expansion again by saying Charlotte residents are not smart enough to decide how to spend our own money:

https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2023/11/03/tim-moore-vi-lyles-transit-taxes-nc-ncga.html

He says "we don't have a shortage of dollars", Charlotte and Mecklenburg county leaders need to take him up on that and go get this money that the state has. Call his bluff.

[KJHburg]

Hey to get back to highways and state maintained roads around the south.  I have been to almost every state in the south this year and here are my power rankings of highways in them.

Top of the list would be Texas as their urban highways and interchanges are best in class but their rural roads and highways are good too.

Not in particular order but Virginia, Georgia, Florida,, Kentucky and yes North Carolina would be in the 2nd best group.  All have decent urban highways and rural roads and highways.

Next level down on the list would be Alabama which is better than Mississippi but both are decent.   I would rank South Carolina in with these 2 states but the worst of them but I would alway say SC seems to be improving their roads the most of these 3 states .  

 

At the bottom of my power rankings would be Tennessee and Louisiana.   Both have serious deficiencies in the urban areas and rural areas.   

Like I said I have driven in all the above states this past year.  

couple of photos from the winning state in this region  1, photo of the High 5 in Dallas LBJ Freeway and N Central ie I-635 and US 75   2. I-10 Katy Freeway west Houston 16 lanes total including 4 express HOV lanes   3. Loop 410 and I-10 interchange being rebuilt in San Antonio.  This is typical Texas style of compact urban major interchanges.  

 

[NcSc74]

I live in Tampa and can say that without a doubt that every major city needs to invest in mass transit. The traffic here is horrible. The state spent millions on big shiny roads that are either useless or parking lots pretty much all day everyday. Even if you have to do it segments, building alternative ways of getting around is paramount for growing cities. If something isnt done here in Tampa soon, I feel it will choke on its own growth. The city council here cancelled a cross bay ferry and voted down a tax hike for transit funding. SMH, I don't know who or where thsese folks live but can they see the traffic build up on the Selmon, I-4/275 interchange and 75 north from Riverview to the MLK. Its bad.