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See the link above. I knew they had implemented that out on 1604 before Culebra and after Bandera but I haven't been on 281 in years so I didn't know if it was the same out there. Those systems make a lot of sense for a very low cost.
http://www.texashighwayman.com/superstreets.shtmlA "superstreet" is a roadway where the signalized intersections have been modified to eliminate left turns and straight-through traffic on the cross street.Luck_The_Fakers_ Doing this reduces the number of traffic signal phases required to move traffic through the intersection thereby allowing for longer green times on the major roadway and thus reducing congestion caused by the signals.
The San Antonio area currently has two sections of superstreets: one on US 281 North (four intersections) and one on Loop 1604 West (two intersections).Luck_The_Fakers_ In both cases, the superstreet provides a transition between the freeway and non-freeway sections of those roads and both are considered to be "short-term" improvements while planning is completed and funding acquired for more substantial upgrades.Luck_The_Fakers_ A superstreet has also been proposed along Bandera Rd. between Eckhert and Loop 1604.
See the link above. I knew they had implemented that out on 1604 before Culebra and after Bandera but I haven't been on 281 in years so I didn't know if it was the same out there. Those systems make a lot of sense for a very low cost.
Yeah. Everyone I know that lives north of 1604 off 281 says the super street has helped emensely but traffic still sucks hard.
They just have regular stoplights on 1604 between bandera and culebra (and beyond). Not sure what you are talking about.
Basically on 281 it goes like this: If you are travelling up 281 N and want to turn left onto stone oak parkway (or evans, etc), then you have to travel about a half a mile to a mile past stone oak parkway then take a lighted turnaround and come back down to take a right. Realize that this creates another light that the southbound traffic must stop at to let those on the other side of the street turn around.
the really crappy thing right now is the interchange construction. I drove over there today at 11:30 and needed to go from 1604 E to 281 N. I approached the exit and the traffic was backed up to the exit... that , I went to gold canyon, turned around and cut through those shops to get to sonterra parkway and down to the highway.
Actually, you can turn straight left onto Evans heading N on 281. Not sure about Stone Oak Pkwy (TPC Parkway).
Before if you were on Evans heading East to West, trying to go south on 281, you simply turned left at the stop light and were heading south.
Now if you are on Evans trying to go south on 281, you have to turn right [no right turn on this red light, btw], head north for couple hundred feet, then get in the left lane to make a u-turn........at the stop light.....to head south with your fellow 281 southbound commuters.
Where does the congestion gets straightened out? The amount of vehicles is still the same but there are no extra lanes.
yeah, you are right. It is so messed up I can't even explain it correctly.
Dude they have the same thing on 1604. Its not very long, but its right there by that s station between Braun and before the Walmart. Well I don't know if its the same thing since I've not been on 281, but I knew they had the system that limits turning.
The Duration of time the light remains red is reduced for drivers heading north and south on 281. This time savings comes at the expense of people heading north coming from the west side of 281 and heading south coming from the east side of 281 as the are forced to do a turnaround.
manny, i thought you were living in new mexico.
The congestion gets lessened because you're able to run the traffic through are more optimal levels. Left turns take longer and thus have an affect on the rest of the traffic at an intersection than a system like this does.
I am. The last couple of times I've been home I've gone through the area on 1604 several times though and I noticed the lane changes immediately. I used to drive that stretch of 1604 to go to work on a daily basis back around 2000 and it was already then. I can't imagine how bad it is now.
good thing you moved. you guys in new mexico ride burro's, right?
Might as well. I can get (almost) anywhere in Santa Fe faster on my bike than by driving because of how poorly the lights here are timed. Its seriously some re ed . Its pretty much the level of incompetence you come to expect from NM in most areas.
Then again, I'm on a computer train as I type this going through an area a lot less congested than I35 between Austin and San Antonio (Albuquerque to Santa Fe is pretty much the same distance). So maybe TX could learn something from NM in this regard.
Might as well. I can get (almost) anywhere in Santa Fe faster on my bike than by driving because of how poorly the lights here are timed. Its seriously some re ed . Its pretty much the level of incompetence you come to expect from NM in most areas.
Then again, I'm on a commuter train as I type this going through an area a lot less congested than I35 between Austin and San Antonio (Albuquerque to Santa Fe is pretty much the same distance). So maybe TX could learn something from NM in this regard.
http://www.texashighwayman.com/superstreets.shtml
Really cool info and it includes a table at the bottom regarding the improvements. Not bad for the cost actually.
Also I guess what I was thinking about earlier is actually called a Michigan Left and its not exactly what the Superstreet system is but pretty similar.
before:
this was your typical 4 way intersection with stop lights.
the major commuter traffic is heading right to left, the light turns red and the up traffic can head left.
after/ what it looks like today:
I'm still not following why forcing the cars going up to turn right before heading left increases speed. There is still a stop light that halts the left bound traffic so that the up traffic can also go left.
at a red light.
Well it doesn't benefit cars on those roads. IE if you're on Evans the new system isn't going to help you get across 281 faster but there is fr more traffic on 281 than on Evns to whom is DOES benefit because they no longer have to wait for the light cycle that would have allowed you to go straight through.
I am getting to the point where I could potentially get to work faster on my MTB than in my car, with one major drawback... No shower at work.
Might as well. I can get (almost) anywhere in Santa Fe faster on my bike than by driving because of how poorly the lights here are timed. Its seriously some re ed . Its pretty much the level of incompetence you come to expect from NM in most areas.
Then again, I'm on a computer train as I type this going through an area a lot less congested than I35 between Austin and San Antonio (Albuquerque to Santa Fe is pretty much the same distance). So maybe TX could learn something from NM in this regard.
The 281 cars have to wait for a light cycle at turnaround for the Evans cars.
I guess it's the shorter light duration? I dunno. I guess it's why I'm not an engineer.
Apparently it's working:
http://blog.mysanantonio.com/leroyal...e-after-study/
Yup, one of the biggest advantages to living in a much drier place is that you don't really sweat nearly as much. When I worked for a doctor my first year here I would ride 5 miles to work and not even have broken a sweat. Took me 10-15 minutes depending on traffic on the bike trail (another big plus, actually). The way back was significantly uphill (my elevation gain was even more than San Antonio's total elevation above sea level LOL) so I sweat a lot more but coming home thats not a problem.
Albuquerque has a fantastic set of bike trails that allow you to get around that city as well.
Actually, back in 1999, TxDot had plans to spend $99 million to construct three bridges: Encino Rio, Evans & Stone Oak. Then in 2001, they changed the plan and wanted the three bridges and to add one two additional lanes (one north/one south). The the tolling forces jumped in and in 2003-4 it went to $250 million. Recently the toll forces estimate a cool $500 million.
Keep in mind Obama's stimulus money was suppose to pay for those connectors.
The entire tolling road arguement all boils down to money, and a lot of money to be made by all the people and groups at the feed trough. The Terri Brechtel's and Bill Thorton's at the RMA, the ADT, the MPO. Now Henry Munoz and Nelson Wolfes dumb kid are squeezing them all out in a power play. A power play thay will hand out millions to lawyers, enginners, and road contractors, all to be regrouped 100X by the motorist who use the roads.
Yeah, but that's only one cycle compared to the 3-4 before. You still have the lights but instead of waiting through 5 total cycles before that were described on that page, you now only have 2.
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