[contador]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Robert Moses lived in a very different time than it is today. There were not the same regulations on how major projects are planned and built as there is today. There was also not the number of special interest groups to oppose improvement projects. You can't really compare the times. Jay

While true, it's not the point I was trying to make, Jay . The point re Moses is, that in his attempts to relieve traffic congestion by building/expanding highways, the traffic congestion got worse. The link points to an article that discusses this and verifies this phenomenon in other states and offers a plausible explanation for why it is so.

[mikelizard860]

Originally Posted by contador

While true, it's not the point I was trying to make, Jay . The point re Moses is, that in his attempts to relieve traffic congestion by building/expanding highways, the traffic congestion got worse. The link points to an article that discusses this and verifies this phenomenon in other states and offers a plausible explanation for why it is so.

Was the white flight/expansion of population into the suburbs not the OBVIOUS cause of more congestion? Come on now. let's be fair.

The link to the site literally has bicycle in it's name. Do you think maybe they have an agenda on that site and hate cars?(or at least prefer more "green" transportation?)

[HeadedWest]

Originally Posted by mikelizard860

Was the white flight/expansion of population into the suburbs not the OBVIOUS cause of more congestion? Come on now. let's be fair.

The link to the site literally has bicycle in it's name. Do you think maybe they have an agenda on that site and hate cars?(or at least prefer more "green" transportation?)

Here's a non-bicycle view: Debunking the Induced-Demand Myth.

[Raider111]

Is there a "Dreams and Fantasy" forum. That's where this one belongs.

[CT_Native]

Originally Posted by Raider111

Is there a "Dreams and Fantasy" forum. That's where this one belongs.

Then it's in the right place

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by JayCT

I very much understand how ramp metering works but there is more to it than just slapping some signals up on a few ramps.

No doubt. But still infinitely cheaper than widening 95. And could easily be done within 2 years if the state could move quickly.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by contador

While true, it's not the point I was trying to make, Jay . The point re Moses is, that in his attempts to relieve traffic congestion by building/expanding highways, the traffic congestion got worse. The link points to an article that discusses this and verifies this phenomenon in other states and offers a plausible explanation for why it is so.

Still, it was a different time and a much different world. Back then, highways were new and they were trying to ease traffic congestion in the city and facilitate traffic flow through it. Route 1 was the major route for traffic and that went through the center of every major town in its path. This made travels times unbelievably long. Also, highways opened up a lot of vacant land that was ripe for new development so the suburbs were born.

Today the suburbs are more mature in the northeast. There are no vast tracts of undeveloped land and strict zoning limits the amount of new development potential there is here. If what you are saying is true, then if we widened I-95 to say 20 lanes, traffic congestion would increase to fill those 20 lanes. A lane of traffic can handle about 1,900 vehicles per hour so 20 lanes can handle 38,000 vehicles per hour. That works out to well over 400,000 vehicles per day. There is not a road in the country, let alone Connecticut, with that kind of traffic. It would take a lot of new development to get there. Of course I am not suggesting we widen I-95 to 20 lanes but to keep it a 6 lane highway that is basically the same as was first planned back 60 years ago at the dawn of the development of the modern highway system is just poor planning. Jay

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by contador

While true, it's not the point I was trying to make, Jay . The point re Moses is, that in his attempts to relieve traffic congestion by building/expanding highways, the traffic congestion got worse. The link points to an article that discusses this and verifies this phenomenon in other states and offers a plausible explanation for why it is so.

Thank goodness he never got his wish and put a highway straight through Manhattan.

Also, the NYC highway system was seriously designed by a drunk. Some of the interchanges/exit configurations make absolutely no sense whatsoever.

[Wilton2ParkAve]

Originally Posted by Stylo

Thank goodness he never got his wish and put a highway straight through Manhattan.

Also, the NYC highway system was seriously designed by a drunk. Some of the interchanges/exit configurations make absolutely no sense whatsoever.

That actually makes more sense than taking away all waterfront property on both sides of the borough as it exists today. Oh well.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by Wilton2ParkAve

That actually makes more sense than taking away all waterfront property on both sides of the borough as it exists today. Oh well.

You have to understand that back then the waterfront properties were not valued. They were decrepit old docks that served less and less of a purpose. Again a much different time. Jay