Do Austin Roads Seem Bumpier than Normal? (Houston, Dallas: rental car, rental)

[austin-steve]

Just returned from a week in California, where I had a rental car and drove a lot. I noticed while there in San Diego two things:

1) The uniformity and consistency of the road markings, intersections, signs, and general design and layout of roads is vastly superior to the disjointed, inconsistent and poorly thought out roads we drive on in Austin. I grew up in California and forgot how completely sensible and practical cloverleaf intersections are.

2) Upon returning, I also realized how bumby almost all the roads in Austin feel compared to those in San Diego.

I'm not for turning Austin into another California, but if that were to happen, I'll take the road system for sure over the mess we have. Has anyone else noticed this?

Steve

[cBach]

I think part of the reason is the weather in California. Here you have extreme heat, rain, freezing weather, & ice storms. This leads to severe buckling of the roads.

I would have to say that the metering lights in California are a good idea and I wish we had it here. Dallas and Houston have it in places but nowhere as consistently. Trying to merge onto I-35 at rush hour is problematic, the metering lights would solve it.

[Trainwreck20]

Originally Posted by cBach

the metering lights would solve it.

You really think anyone would pay attention to those lights anymore than the regular stop lights?

[TexasHorseLady]

Originally Posted by austin-steve

Just returned from a week in California, where I had a rental car and drove a lot. I noticed while there in San Diego two things:

1) The uniformity and consistency of the road markings, intersections, signs, and general design and layout of roads is vastly superior to the disjointed, inconsistent and poorly thought out roads we drive on in Austin. I grew up in California and forgot how completely sensible and practical cloverleaf intersections are.

2) Upon returning, I also realized how bumby almost all the roads in Austin feel compared to those in San Diego.

I'm not for turning Austin into another California, but if that were to happen, I'll take the road system for sure over the mess we have. Has anyone else noticed this?

Steve

When I moved to Austin in 1969, one of the things I noticed was how much sense the road layout made. It was EASY for someone from out of town to find their way around. Then the Austin Monster started growing and engulfing everything in its path, including nearby small towns that had their own reasonable road systems (this is how 290/Koenig/Allandale/Northland/2222 came to be), and we ended up with what we have today.



If you've watched this all happen and watched the roads being built, it all makes perfect sense. It's organic rather than plastic. Helps if you look at it that way.


As for the condition of the roads, that has decreased, it seems to me. Used to be that Texas had the best roads in the country. Not that long ago, either. Not sure what happened.

[Trainwreck20]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

Not sure what happened.

They stopped funding the road budget because the gas tax (an absolute number, not a percentage) has not changed since 1991.

[austin-steve]

Originally Posted by cBach

I think part of the reason is the weather in California. Here you have extreme heat, rain, freezing weather, & ice storms. This leads to severe buckling of the roads.

I would have to say that the metering lights in California are a good idea and I wish we had it here. Dallas and Houston have it in places but nowhere as consistently. Trying to merge onto I-35 at rush hour is problematic, the metering lights would solve it.

That makes sense, about the heat and cold. The metering was interesting too.

[ScoPro]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

They stopped funding the road budget because the gas tax (an absolute number, not a percentage) has not changed since 1991.

And our state legislators have been diverting about 30% of said gas tax revenue away from road projects & maintenance for decades. Same on the federal level.

[Ivory Lee Spurlock]

Originally Posted by austin-steve

Just returned from a week in California, where I had a rental car and drove a lot. I noticed while there in San Diego two things:

1) The uniformity and consistency of the road markings, intersections, signs, and general design and layout of roads is vastly superior to the disjointed, inconsistent and poorly thought out roads we drive on in Austin. I grew up in California and forgot how completely sensible and practical cloverleaf intersections are.

2) Upon returning, I also realized how bumby almost all the roads in Austin feel compared to those in San Diego.

I'm not for turning Austin into another California, but if that were to happen, I'll take the road system for sure over the mess we have. Has anyone else noticed this?

Steve

I haven't noticed roads in Austin roads being bumpy. For the most part, the streets seem pretty smooth to me. I haven't noticed any streets in such a state of disrepair or negligence that they need to be reported to the city.

Which streets are you talking about.?

[austin-steve]

Originally Posted by Ivory Lee Spurlock

I haven't noticed roads in Austin roads being bumpy. For the most part, the streets seem pretty smooth to me. I haven't noticed any streets in such a state of disrepair or negligence that they need to be reported to the city.

Which streets are you talking about.?

From the airport west on 71, 290, to Mopac, and in my neighborhood in SW Austin. Also up and down Lamar. Pretty much everywhere. I wouldn't have noticed either without the reference point of riding on smoother roads then returning. Sort of like when you visit Colorado and return and notice how ugly Austin is, how trashy our roads and streets look as well.

[cBach]

I always thought the roads here were fine, but my reference point is Louisiana.