Criminally expensive MFE section opening (inspections, taxes, cheapest)

[speagles84]

Originally Posted by Gnutella

No, I-79, I-279, the Pennsylvania Turnpike and PA 43 are all built to Interstate standards. I-70 is not between Washington and New Stanton. I-376 is not between Robinson and Monroeville. I-579 is not except across the Veterans Bridge. PA 28 is not between I-279 and Blawnox.

That's the exact point I was making. Sorry if it was confusing.

[jimsmith022968]

I think Fayette County would benefit the most if the sections to I-376 are completed. The net benefit would likely be comparable to what took place in northern suburbs after I-279 was finished.

[Impala26]

Originally Posted by jimsmith022968

I think Fayette County would benefit the most if the sections to I-376 are completed. The net benefit would likely be comparable to what took place in northern suburbs after I-279 was finished.

Even so, the benefit would only be towards NEW greenfield development, not really any sort of revitalization of the EXISTING river towns.

Case-in-point: New Kensington and Tarentum along Route 28. They both have absolutely DEAD main streets/commercial districts.

[Love2Golf09]

Originally Posted by Impala26

Even so, the benefit would only be towards NEW greenfield development, not really any sort of revitalization of the EXISTING river towns.

Case-in-point: New Kensington and Tarentum along Route 28. They both have absolutely DEAD main streets/commercial districts.

The section that just opened was in Brownsville. You can't get much more dead than Brownsville.

[ditchdigger]

Just curious, cause I havn't been through there in a while--with all the development that followed 279, is Mars better or worse off?

[gg]

It was a total waste of money. I used to ride part of that toll road with its wildly high tolls. People downy there don't want to pay to drive like that, so they take the long way and save. No one on those roads. Too funny, but what would you expect in PA?

[barneyg]

As misguided as MFE spending can be, as a person who is no longer living in Pittsburgh, I believe it would be criminal for it to try to look like Atlanta.

[LIRefugee]

All I will say is massive investment into large highways is backwards thinking. Transportation infrastructure that is overwhelmingly dependent on the internal combustion engine is not a good long-term strategy.

[airwave09]

Originally Posted by LIRefugee

All I will say is massive investment into large highways is backwards thinking. Transportation infrastructure that is overwhelmingly dependent on the internal combustion engine is not a good long-term strategy.

Yep, within 10 years the internal combustion engine will no longer be the majority driving source of power for vehicles on roads in this country. The only thing that will slow this inevitable force down is the viability of alternative fuel sources (fuel cells, solar panels, batteries, super capacitors).

ICE efficiency ~ 28% (+ transmission required)

Electric motor >95% (transmission not required)

[Copanut]

So, how will the state make highway repairs since the gas tax will be history?