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Long Island's shape (long, narrow) makes it an unusual suburb, or at least unusual comapred to other cities not on the ocean. That keeps it from having a true "loop", though the belt is pretty loop-like.
I look at a loop from two ways. A positive is they help alleviate traffic from a city's core. Atlanta's and Houston's loops were great for that because the Traffic is so heavy in those cities. The negative is it helps traffic bypass urban cores which could be potential buisness and tourism, ect. Having one for Indianapolis for example is stupid. The Traffic is not as bad, and its urban core gets completely bypassed, preventing people from being able to see the city.
Great post, TB Fla. But I'd like to put you into the driver's seat of my big truck for a moment. Federal law prohibits cities from requiring through trucks to use loops unless they are hauling hazardous materials or temporary construction work necessitates it. Atlanta is the only city that is grandfathered from that requirement. So that means, since I'm paid by the mile, I lose $2.88 every time I drive the extra 8 miles around the I-285. (Given the way Atlantans drive, maybe the GA DOT is actually doing truckers a favor.)
As for Indianapolis, I'm truly glad the I-465 is there. Frequent construction projects (like the current one on the west side) make it a true time saver. The truck restriction in the left lane is both unsafe and unfair, but that's a different thread...
San Antonio has three loops I-410(70 miles long) 1604(160 miles) and 46 named the Circuit which is a exburban loop reaching small metro towns and high growth areas. San Antonio's traffic would be a parking lot without them even when Mass transit is up and running.
1604 and 46 are not proper loops yet hun. They still look like county roads in most places. it is only the north part of 1604 that is developed
1604 is most certainly a proper loop. Just because the south portion of 1604 isn't as heavily traveled on as the north portion does not mean that it doesn't qualify as a loop and doesn't actually circle the city.
The wheel pattern doesn't really work well unless you have plenty of high-flow spokes.
Exactly, the hub and spoke in San Antonio, Loop 410 has 8 freeways that cross the loop at different points all across the city. Some of these freeways are the same IH 35 on the northeast side and crossing through the city and then loop on the southwest side.
The problem with loops is there is really no destination
True. Until the gas stations, fast food joints and big boxes start going up.
I think loops are a good idea from a traffic perspective, but only if growth around it can be restricted. Often loops become centrifigul, pulling retail and other businesses away from the inner-ring of the city and suburbs and further out into the exurbs. I don't know if it's avoidable really, but does anyone have ideas?
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