Coffee Talk V: The Final Battle

[puckhead]

because, of course

 

[jstewismybastardson]

 

[forty_three]

I am convinced

 

[dash]

I am convinced

The above post has the full approval of Mazda©

 

[thedddd]

I am convinced

Always point to this logic and you will appreciate this more driving around Pittsburgh.

They had funding at one time to do one or the either:

Option A: Build/extend the light rail system so that it would connect the Airport, Downtown with the Eastern, Northern and Southern suburbs.
Option B: dig a tunnel under the river to extend the subway from downtown to the stadiums/casino.

Yep they went with option B because there were no con's with option A. Option B is as useful as tits on a bull because the subway in Pittsburgh is useless.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Always point to this logic and you will appreciate this more driving around Pittsburgh.

They had funding at one time to do one or the either:

Option A: Build/extend the light rail system so that it would connect the Airport, Downtown with the Eastern, Northern and Southern suburbs.
Option B: dig a tunnel under the river to extend the subway from downtown to the stadiums/casino.

Yep they went with option B because there were no con's with option A. Option B is as useful as tits on a bull because the subway in Pittsburgh is useless.

Google “Scarborough Subway”. They’ve needed a replacement for the old LRT line there for about 30 years and had an LRT line fully funded and ready to go in 2009, with an extension in the pipeline to basically link the entire borough. Then Rob Ford happened and they still haven’t stuck a shovel in the ground because they’ve been trying to squeeze water from rocks trying to find a fully buried subway instead of an LRT line.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

In general, subways are pointless to build in the west now. The cost to do so has become so prohibitive, the disruption to the area so devastating, and the benefit over surface modes of transit so small that the only explanation for why they still get built is corruption and graft.

On a similar note, I'm pretty convinced that any fixed-rail rapid transit mode is a waste of money barring a few circumstances. BRT's get the same job done, require a shit ton less maintenance, and we're probably not far off from being able to automate them as well.

 

[thedddd]

In general, subways are pointless to build in the west now. The cost to do so has become so prohibitive, the disruption to the area so devastating, and the benefit over surface modes of transit so small that the only explanation for why they still get built is corruption and graft.

On a similar note, I'm pretty convinced that any fixed-rail rapid transit mode is a waste of money barring a few circumstances. BRT's get the same job done, require a shit ton less maintenance, and we're probably not far off from being able to automate them as well.

Yep and most of the infrastructure is in place vs having to purchase land.

 

[elocomotive]

In general, subways are pointless to build in the west now.

I disagree. There is no reason a person in Idaho or Utah shouldn't have access to a delicious meatball sub just like someone in New York City.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

I disagree. There is no reason a person in Idaho or Utah shouldn't have access to a delicious meatball sub just like someone in New York City.

I can think of a few reasons...

 

[forty_three]

European HGV drivers' union chief dashes hopes of fix

Lorry drivers from the EU are refusing to come to the UK - because they believe problems plaguing the supply chain are its own fault.

www.dailymail.co.uk

It's kind of looking like Brexit was either a bad idea or not really thought out very well.

 

[forty_three]

‘Up to 90 percent’ of UK petrol pumps dry amid panic buying

Lack of truck drivers means fuel cannot be transported to petrol stations, but government promises urgent action.

www.aljazeera.com

I don't think the UK has a lot of plastic bags, so how did the panic buyers get their petrol home? Pint glasses?

 

[dare2be]

New term I will now use. Brexited.

You've been brexited.

 

[thedddd]

‘Up to 90 percent’ of UK petrol pumps dry amid panic buying

Lack of truck drivers means fuel cannot be transported to petrol stations, but government promises urgent action.

www.aljazeera.com

I don't think the UK has a lot of plastic bags, so how did the panic buyers get their petrol home? Pint glasses?

This isn't beer:

 

[Comeds]

Always point to this logic and you will appreciate this more driving around Pittsburgh.

They had funding at one time to do one or the either:

Option A: Build/extend the light rail system so that it would connect the Airport, Downtown with the Eastern, Northern and Southern suburbs.
Option B: dig a tunnel under the river to extend the subway from downtown to the stadiums/casino.

Yep they went with option B because there were no con's with option A. Option B is as useful as tits on a bull because the subway in Pittsburgh is useless.

In general, subways are pointless to build in the west now. The cost to do so has become so prohibitive, the disruption to the area so devastating, and the benefit over surface modes of transit so small that the only explanation for why they still get built is corruption and graft.

On a similar note, I'm pretty convinced that any fixed-rail rapid transit mode is a waste of money barring a few circumstances. BRT's get the same job done, require a shit ton less maintenance, and we're probably not far off from being able to automate them as well.

In this area we had so many mishaps too. At different times there were talks of a 2nd beltway or an east west highway through the city, Nothing was ever done for lots of reasons (some legit) but the last few times I have heard nothing will be done because projections show they wont be needed in the future. Meanwhile this mid sized city is ranked in the top 20 in congestion and climbing every year, They also originally messed up the beltway by making the majority of bridges that go over it 6 lanes. So adding another lane is largely impossible unless you replace a bunch of bridges as well.

Plus the 'moderate' republican governor (who voted for Ronald Reagan last presidential election) killed a paid for by the feds east-west Baltimore light rail.

 

[Comeds]

I can think of a few reasons...

Militias need food too......and the quality they deserve us Subway.

Also isn't the Cincinnati subway going to open soon?

Cincinnati Subway - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[forty_three]

In this area we had so many mishaps too. At different times there were talks of a 2nd beltway or an east west highway through the city, Nothing was ever done for lots of reasons (some legit) but the last few times I have heard nothing will be done because projections show they wont be needed in the future. Meanwhile this mid sized city is ranked in the top 20 in congestion and climbing every year, They also originally messed up the beltway by making the majority of bridges that go over it 6 lanes. So adding another lane is largely impossible unless you replace a bunch of bridges as well.

Plus the 'moderate' republican governor (who voted for Ronald Reagan last presidential election) killed a paid for by the feds east-west Baltimore light rail.

And even when they had the chance to build roads that would help around the city, they didn't. I-70 was originally supposed to go through to 95 Just south of the tunnel which would have alleviated a lot of the west side traffic to downtown. They when they extended I-83 into downtown, they just kinda stopped. If that connected to 95 on the other side of the tunnel that would help from both the south and east.

And I always wished they would have put light rail up to Bel Air. Even if it only got to the harbor it would have been better than driving into downtown every day.

Columbus has that "bullseye" type setup with an outerbelt and two highways through the city going both east/west and north/south. The only issue is the North/South highway goes through an area that makes widening it really hard so as the congestion goes up, that area gets worse.

 

[Comeds]

And even when they had the chance to build roads that would help around the city, they didn't. I-70 was originally supposed to go through to 95 Just south of the tunnel which would have alleviated a lot of the west side traffic to downtown. They when they extended I-83 into downtown, they just kinda stopped. If that connected to 95 on the other side of the tunnel that would help from both the south and east.

And I always wished they would have put light rail up to Bel Air. Even if it only got to the harbor it would have been better than driving into downtown every day.

Columbus has that "bullseye" type setup with an outerbelt and two highways through the city going both east/west and north/south. The only issue is the North/South highway goes through an area that makes widening it really hard so as the congestion goes up, that area gets worse.

Yeah, it's frustrating. I went to an after hours zoo event Friday night and by the time I got there I was angry and wanted to go home.

 

[thedddd]

GA Gerrymandering begins.

Check out the new district 9. It takes at least 30% of Gwinnett County and puts it in Andrew Clyde's district. Note that part of Gwinnett is currently part of Carolyn Bourdeaux's district and where she lives.

 

[elocomotive]

Per the commuter/traffic talk, the likely reality is that current infrastructure will probably continue to be the norm in many places because:

• More work from home options will continue to reduce weekday pressure on roads and mass transit.
• Self-driving cars are likely to become the norm and when you factor in their efficiency, accident reduction, eliminating unpredictable/emotional driving decisions, etc. - our current roadways will probably be able to handle significantly more cars while actually reducing traffic.

When you combine these factors, you have the possibility that even presently congested cities will become downright pleasant to drive in/through/around without adding any new travel lanes. This isn't even factoring new models of car sharing/ownership that may come about. There is the potential to see the benefits of the car (solo travel, direct routing) with the efficiency of mass transit.

I think it's going to be amazing to see. And of course likely finally in place around the time I'll be retiring.

If some of these people don't like a COVID shot, imagine how they're going to feel when we start legislating such that humans won't be ALLOWED to drive cars anymore because it will be too dangerous. Kids driving now are unlikely to learn how to drive a stick. Kids born now may not ever have to learn how to drive at all.