Vision 2040 Transportation Plan

[luke2401]

Originally Posted by GRU_Minion

I don't see the point in HOV lanes anywhere in Augusta, to be honest. Even as far as Grovetown seems to be a stretch to me, but nearly all the way to the Harlem/Appling exit?? We're already 4 lanes in the only places that might be close to needing it. People might say it hinders development or something, but I don't see it. Seems like something else to spend the money on that isn't really needed.

I'm not the biggest fan of them either. The only reason I show remote interest in them is because I am a highway nerd. Coming from a traffic engineer standpoint (even though I'm not one), HOV lanes would not be necessary for the next 50 years. They may become necessary in a Vision 2070 plan, but not 2040. The most that stretch of highway needs is another lane (for a total of 6) just because it gets congested in the morning and evenings. However, if they did add an HOV and general use lane (for a total of 8), their would be no congestion for a few years. But as shown in Atlanta, when more lanes are added, more people use the road, creating the same issues as seen before. While I'm not positive it would happen in Augusta, I can say that another lane is necessary for the time being.

[GRU_Minion]

Originally Posted by luke2401

I'm not the biggest fan of them either. The only reason I show remote interest in them is because I am a highway nerd. Coming from a traffic engineer standpoint (even though I'm not one), HOV lanes would not be necessary for the next 50 years. They may become necessary in a Vision 2070 plan, but not 2040. The most that stretch of highway needs is another lane (for a total of 6) just because it gets congested in the morning and evenings. However, if they did add an HOV and general use lane (for a total of 8), their would be no congestion for a few years. But as shown in Atlanta, when more lanes are added, more people use the road, creating the same issues as seen before. While I'm not positive it would happen in Augusta, I can say that another lane is necessary for the time being.

It's not that I'm not a fan of them. I have no problem with HOV lanes. I just don't remotely see any need for them through Augusta. Columbia doesn't even have them, and that MSA is around 200,000 larger of a population than the Augusta MSA. There are massively better things to spend money on. Seems like politicians just want to spend money because they can and not because it's something that is needed.

[therealpattman]

Originally Posted by GRU_Minion

It's not that I'm not a fan of them. I have no problem with HOV lanes. I just don't remotely see any need for them through Augusta. Columbia doesn't even have them, and that MSA is around 200,000 larger of a population than the Augusta MSA. There are massively better things to spend money on. Seems like politicians just want to spend money because they can and not because it's something that is needed.

Columbia may be larger but it also has three interstates and one spur while Augusta only has I-20 and I-520. With only one major roadway in the area coupled with the fact that most of the major development is occuring in and around the I-20 corridor it kind of makes sense in the long run although I too was only expecting the roadway to be widened to 6 lanes.

[GRU_Minion]

Originally Posted by dpatt.marine1

Columbia may be larger but it also has three interstates and one spur while Augusta only has I-20 and I-520. With only one major roadway in the area coupled with the fact that most of the major development is occuring in and around the I-20 corridor it kind of makes sense in the long run although I too was only expecting the roadway to be widened to 6 lanes.

It might as well just be a roadway widening. Adding an HOV lane will simply be adding another lane because it will never be enforced. They rarely enforce the speed limit from the state line through Belair, which is evident by the people flying by me even when I'm going 65...so I don't see them doing any different with an HOV lane. I never really saw the point of HOV lanes, personally, compared to just adding another lane. I rarely see them being enforced anywhere that does have them.

[cst8670]

I kinda wish that they could add a light rail system to the plan connecting Grovetown, Evans, Martinez and Augusta all together but it would probably be a nightmare to try and do one now with how the varies subdivisions are scattered willy-nilly. *sigh*

[Airforceguy]

I too would like to see a light rail/commuter rail line in the Augusta area one day. My idea for the line would run from downtown to the Evans Towne Centre using the existing rail line. It would be similar to the WES Commuter rail line in Portland. https://trimet.org/wes/index.htm

[GRU_Minion]

Originally Posted by Airforceguy

I too would like to see a light rail/commuter rail line in the Augusta area one day. My idea for the line would run from downtown to the Evans Towne Centre using the existing rail line. It would be similar to the WES Commuter rail line in Portland. https://trimet.org/wes/index.htm

I would think something like that would need to be on a new or abandoned line. That rail line is a pretty busy one. Unless it was expected to only make the trip every couple hours at most, I'm not sure how that would work out.

[TravelingMat]

Originally Posted by Airforceguy

I too would like to see a light rail/commuter rail line in the Augusta area one day. My idea for the line would run from downtown to the Evans Towne Centre using the existing rail line. It would be similar to the WES Commuter rail line in Portland. https://trimet.org/wes/index.htm

A better route would be to connect downtown,, medical center, mall, ft.gordon and grovetown there are plans to abandon the line between 15th and Walton way next to medical center and plenty of available right of way to lay a new set of track parallel to the existing line that runs between 15th and grovetown. It would have a higher ridership due to its connection to many of Augusta's largest employment centers it would also travel thru some of the more populated areas.

[All In for Augusta]

I also think it should go to north Augusta as well as a regional collaboration