That is how long it took me to drive from Austin to Fort Worth on Sunday. No accidents along route, just traffic. And it would have been longer if I had not taken a lot of feeder routes to move past lots of congestion. It is an actual embarassment that our state has a two lane highway linking up population centers of 4 million (DFW), over a million (austin) and 2 million (San Antonio). These roads should have been widened years ago. The money is there. Our state gas tax provides plenty of funds, the politicians just keep stealing from it to pay for crap. It is only going to get worse.
Sounds very frustrating. I imagine that the spring breakers returning to campus had something to do with this. When I drive from southwest Houston to Austin I take the alt 90 route just to avoid I-10 as much as possible.
The highway infrastructure is one of the very few reasons for our taxes. Schools, military, police, roads, fire departments, etc. As a country, we havne't really made much effort at mass transport so the highways (and our dependence on oil) are a pretty big part of why we share our efforts to earn money. It's somewhere between capitalism and socialism, but it's an undeniable fact of our country. Not just ours.
so the government should solve your problem, got it ... _________________________________________________ well, i do pay a lot on taxes. the only thing the government does for me is keep the roads and transportation system in place so yes, i would like the government to live up to their most basic obligations.
the only thing the government does for me is keep the roads and transportation system in place so yes... Wait... what? So you saying the ONLY thing the govenment (and you seem to mean federal government) does for you pertains to roads and transportation? Come on.
Try Hwy 281 next time. Beautiful drive through the Hill Country. At Hamilton, grab Hwy 22 East to Meridian. Then Hwy 174 to Cleburne. Finally, Hwy 67 to I-35 (joins up at Alvarado). MUCH less traffic. You'll be glad you did.
Not sure what time it was for you, but we were driving back to Ft. Worth from Austin and around 11:00 am there was a horrendous looking accident just north of Salado. Traffic was backed up for miles and it took us 45 minutes to get through it. Might have had something to do with the backup, but I agree - 35 is a cluster.
And knowing General from the West Mall boards- he wants his government to spend billions of dollars on a 8 year solution that expands the highway another 2-4 lanes, rather than spend a little more money on a 100 year solution that puts high speed rail in to link the 5 big cities in Texas, would reduce traffic and pollution, and help facilitate commerce based trade. Whether you like rail or not, it doesn't have the same 'limits of growth' issue that you have if your only view is to expand highways. Besides, as every highway expansion has always done- it only creates more traffic after the initial improvement stage is done.
i want the government to spend the gas tax money on the roads. they can use it on rail too if they want. i would prefer they use it as it was designed, on transportation. of course, a few rail cars arent going to help the traffic problems in this state. im sure you admire the rail in japan. i would too if my country was the size of california.
I think I would still drive my car, but mass transit has a lot of appeal for many reasons. Plenty of unappeal, but we really haven't had the democratic (not the democratic political party) debate in this country. It's a thorny issue.
Just out of curiosity and not territoriality. Which cities come into your mind as the Texas triangle. Everyone will say Dallas and Houston, but which is the third? I PROMISE I won't try to turn your answer into a debabe. Just curious about your view. It's fairly predicable that it is not Laredo or Corpus or Lubbuttock, but is it Austin or SA in your view. I repeat, I will not challenge your view.
Do any of you know whether the missing trains in Japan have been found? I have only heard initial reports such as this: The East Japan Railway Company has announced that most of their lines are ‘suspended’ following the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan on Friday. There have been reports of several trains that are missing since the disaster struck. One national newspaper claimed that up to ’400 passengers on a high speed bullet train’ have not yet been found. One JR East train has been found near Nobiru station on the Senseki Line, north of Sendai. It is thought the train derailed at high speed and was swept over ground by the tsunami. No survivors were found. The Senseki Line runs to the main station in Ishinomaki. Three more trains are thought to be unaccounted for but information is limited as the Japanese authorities try to deal with the huge scale of disaster. The Tokyo metro is still operating with limited service as are limited JR East services including the Joetsu and Nagano Shinkansen lines.
Nick- the third part of the triangle, as I understand it, is San Antonio. However, Austin is a part of the triangle- along the IH 35 Axis, not every major city must be at a corner of the triangle. Also, Waco would probably be a stop, and considered part of the triangle even though it's not on the corner. If you want to waste time thinking- what happens to Fort Worth?
If I admit that I hadn't thought about Ft. Worth, would it hurt their feelings? I am embarrassed to admit that I don't know if there is a straight shot from Houston to Dallas. Surely there is, but from my sheltered, provincial upbringing I think of I10, I35 and I37 when I have to name Interstates. I kinda think Waco would just be a wave from the window and there wouldn't be even a wave between SA and Houston. Maybe Buccee's, but Austin sounds like a sure stop. Who do you think are behind the forces that resist rail? People like my BIL who are in the oil business? Just taxpayers who don't want to pay today? My daughter has special needs and after 20 years we got on the public teat and now have the local mass transit Company (VIA in SA and VIATRANS for disabled) escorting her to supported employment. Yesterday, they picked her up l.5 hours late and then drove her from the top of the loop to the bottom of the loop and back when we live .25 miles from her job on the one day when she misplaced her phone. Makes you focus and pinch the buttons off of an upholstered chair. The Girl is fine. So is the phone. Not hopeful for the chair.
I think people resist mass transit, because they politicize an issue that isn't very political. Look at a google maps picture of IH 10 in West Houston, or IH 35 in Austin/SA. Think about how crowded the IH is in rush hour. Now, add time and population, and of course more cars. There simply is ZERO room to expand the highways. Countless research shows when you widen highways in the suburbs- it encourages cities to expand horizontally when you want them to instead expand vertically- if you are trying to lessen traffic, costs, expenses, health issues and pollution that is. So- the only solution is one that involves a higher up front cost in exchange for a much better longer term solution. My best guess is that because the solution involves the govt, higher costs/taxes- it is labeled a liberal conspiracy. The truth is- it is a conspiracy of math, finance and common sense. It's very difficult for people and politicians to act and think long term- we all have this weakness.
No pain, no gain, but no tao if you go vertical or horizontal compaction. Houston is an example of horizontal sprawl and NYC is fairly vertical. I wouldn't want to live in either place, but I know there are compelling reasons for mass transit that override my personal desires for QUIET!
So why would I use the rail system if I live in Dripping Springs but need to get to, say, Plano instead of downtown Dallas for business? Rail can't effectively serve enough locations to make it feasible.
I am not questioning your statement Perham (I believe you), but can you shed some light on why they call it an Interstate then if it is an Intrastate? Iromically, I just signed up to be a high school chaperone and stay in a hotel on I45. I have an extreme aversion to Houston transportation issues and have a strong aversion since my insane FIL lives there so I am a lesson in studied ignorance.
Just off the top of my head there could be several reasons why I-45, as you said an intra-state highway, is called an inter-state. 1) It is part of the interstate highway system; 2) it received funds from the interstate highway system (which kinda goes with #1); 3) there were/are plans to extend it further north, thus making it a true inter-state road. Isn't there an Interstate 37 that goes from like San Antonio south?
I-45 was funded as part of the interstate highway system so its an interstate. While building, the US government decided there should be only so many access points in and out of the state of oklahoma so they delayed contruction indefinitely.
Yes, Perham, I37 goes from the sparkling city by the sea and then stops. Hadn't thought about that one, but I'm picking up on the idea that a road can be called an Interstate because it was part of an interstate plan. Makes sense. The explanation if not the execution (and probably that too). I37 is pretty much the only North/South in SA and if you come North and don't exit it will turn into US 281. While going thru SA it is called 37, 281, 10, 35, Airport and McAllister at times. Like many cities, SA is going to be ****** for a decade North of the outer loop because of the construction that was actually anticipated and funded, but was successfully resisted by people who wanted THEIR quiet.
I have my doubts that College Sation or Lubbock will get covered up by anything other than sheepshit or sand.
