Next HUGE transportation project (Pittsburgh, New Castle: new construction, discount, castle)

[ferraris]

I thought one of the main benefits of living in Cranberry was that there's much less traffic to the city than from the exurbs of the south, west, and east? I always hear about the "20 minute" commutes people living there enjoy. Would an HOV lane actually improve things?

[Der Schwabe]

Originally Posted by ferraris

I thought one of the main benefits of living in Cranberry was that there's much less traffic to the city than from the exurbs of the south, west, and east? I always hear about the "20 minute" commutes people living there enjoy. Would an HOV lane actually improve things?

The traffic on the Parkway North seems to have gotten terrible lately. They go on and on about it on the radio traffic report in the morning. As with any highway, seems like the empty capacity has been more than filled and it is experiencing the congestion many tried to avoid. Takes my coworkers 30-45 minutes minimum to an hour and a half, worst case scenario (that was coming in from Mars, I believe).

[Merge]

An HOV lane is feasible to build, but clearly not necessary as erieguy has consistently told us that there are no traffic problems "muphere". Everyone loves it there (apparently) and they don't need the benefit of our tax dollars to build another road to the exurbs.

[norcider]

Originally Posted by ferraris

I thought one of the main benefits of living in Cranberry was that there's much less traffic to the city than from the exurbs of the south, west, and east? I always hear about the "20 minute" commutes people living there enjoy. Would an HOV lane actually improve things?

That 20 minute commute thing is BS. Maybe on a Saturday morning, definitely not Steeler Sunday. You may get a 20 minute commute from the 910 interchange on a light traffic day.

[jmn3]

I can't see the HOV lane being extended to Cranberry any time soon. The cost to manage the 79/279 and 79/910 interchanges alone would make me think we won't see that soon.

However, I think the biggest value you'd see would be extending it to just beyond Camp Horne Road. That's where the traffic issues are 95% of the time anyway. The 79-Camp Horne section has no exits and runs smoothly as long as there isn't an accident or backup from the dumb 3-lane to 2-lane merge between Camp Horne and West View.

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by ferraris

I thought one of the main benefits of living in Cranberry was that there's much less traffic to the city than from the exurbs of the south, west, and east? I always hear about the "20 minute" commutes people living there enjoy. Would an HOV lane actually improve things?

Sure it would. May as well extend it out to Jackson Twp as there's going to be a lot going on out there soon enough, also.

[BigPizzaHutFan]

Originally Posted by erieguy

Sure it would. May as well extend it out to Jackson Twp as there's going to be a lot going on out there soon enough, also.

At a population of ~28,000 for Cranberry Township and ~3600 for Jackson Township, it would be a criminal waste of the taxpayer's money to spend so much for a project that serves no demand.

[jmn3]

Originally Posted by erieguy

Sure it would. May as well extend it out to Jackson Twp as there's going to be a lot going on out there soon enough, also.

Maybe they should extend it to Erie..or Buffalo..

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by BigPizzaHutFan

At a population of ~28,000 for Cranberry Township and ~3600 for Jackson Township, it would be a criminal waste of the taxpayer's money to spend so much for a project that serves no demand.

Using it is better than it going in someone's corrupt pocket.

[BigPizzaHutFan]

Originally Posted by erieguy

Using it is better than it going in someone's corrupt pocket.

Paying workers fairly is corruption, but expensive infrastructure projects that make life convenient for a very few at everyone's else expense isn't corruption. What an interesting world you live in.