DENVER | Transportation Thread - Page 417

bunt_q · #**8321** Posted **Apr 16, 2015, 2:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottk

Looks like senate republicans think having good tires or chains on I-70 is too much of a burden.

Unbelievable

http://www.vaildaily.com/news/15917087-1..._source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Good. The requirement wasn't for good tires, it was for snow tires. Or carrying chains (but not necessarily using them, which is good, because then we'd have a cluster of motorists on the shoulder trying to figure out how to put chains on their little cars). And exempting 4WD vehicles altogether - this is a bill that would've done nothing more than give people another reason to buy an SUV. Glad it's dead. Basically, our state Dems are transforming into collectively the biggest bunch of idiots in the west. We are very much going to lose the House in the next election. (Which is deserved - turning the leadership over to a Boulder County rep is foolish - they're not representative of anything rational.)

Brainpathology · #**8322** Posted **Apr 16, 2015, 3:58 PM**

It wasn't already required that people have snow tires? or did that always only apply to truckers when I heard that notice? ("Chains or adequate snow tires required")

seventwenty · #**8323** Posted **Apr 16, 2015, 7:44 PM**

Oh this is gonna be fun: Telephone town hall today, meeting Tuesday in Broomfield on U.S. 36 Express Lanes and tolls

Quote:

Originally Posted by Denver Post

Commuters can chime in on proposed tolls for the new U.S. 36 Express Lanes by phone tonight and in person on Tuesday.

A telephone town hall meeting on the toll rates for the new lanes slated to open this summer will be from 7 to 8 p.m. today. The forum will include representatives from the High Performance Transportation Enterprise, which sets toll rates on state highways in the metro-area; the Colorado Department of Transportation and Plenary Roads Denver, who will discuss the new lanes and proposed tolls. To participate in the call, dial 877-229-8493 and use PIN 113264. To register to receive a call to be included in the town hall, register at http://bit.ly/1NRbRvJ. To listen to the town hall live, go to http://bit.ly/1DMebNW.

I expect you all to call in to complain.

seventwenty · #**8324** Posted **Apr 16, 2015, 7:51 PM**

I will be calling in to complain that the super fancy regional buses, which start on July 13 and will cost between $10-$12 o/w ($28 to Glenwood Springs), were not called the SuperDooperPurpleBus. I expect my testimonial complaint will last 2 hours.

Scottk · #**8325** Posted **Apr 16, 2015, 8:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bunt_q

Good. The requirement wasn't for good tires, it was for snow tires. Or carrying chains (but not necessarily using them, which is good, because then we'd have a cluster of motorists on the shoulder trying to figure out how to put chains on their little cars). And exempting 4WD vehicles altogether - this is a bill that would've done nothing more than give people another reason to buy an SUV. Glad it's dead. Basically, our state Dems are transforming into collectively the biggest bunch of idiots in the west. We are very much going to lose the House in the next election. (Which is deserved - turning the leadership over to a Boulder County rep is foolish - they're not representative of anything rational.)

Right because the chain / snow tire laws in California on I80 in between Tahoe and San Francisco have been proven so so so ineffective.

California has figured this out. If you don't have adequate tires you know not to even attempt I80 during adverse conditions. I don't know why you foolishly believe that this wouldn't be useful on I70, when there are already real world examples of this in several states and canada.

And... You even got a boulder burn in. Nice one bunt. Too bad I don't even live in Boulder anymore, but I do, however, enjoy trolling you

seventwenty · #**8326** Posted **Apr 16, 2015, 8:15 PM**

Trolling?

EngiNerd · #**8327** Posted **Apr 16, 2015, 9:28 PM**

What I think is funny is that those with AWD would have been exempt under that rule, that is completely asinine in my opinion, and I am glad it failed strictly because of that exemption. Many of the ones you see cause the issues are those who drive up with their AWD/4WD SUV on crappy tires and think they are invincible.

Remember folks, we all have 4 wheel braking, and the quality of tires are the only thing that really matter when braking on snow.

TakeFive · #**8328** Posted **Apr 17, 2015, 3:08 AM**

Colorado's Dem (business) governor stepping up to the plate.
When one finds a money tree it's best to nurture it.

The problem comes from (tea party) Conservative and Republican inspired provisions who's unforeseen and unintended conflicts create a conundrum. Since "you all" made me understand this messy mixture, it's easy to endorse the fix.

On the Federal level there's been a rally of red states. House transportation Chairman Shuster led a road show to his home state of Pennsylvania that included the transportation secretaries from North and South Carolina, Oklahoma and Texas. Our neighbors from Utah are sending a whole delegation to D.C. to lobby for transportation funding. Pressure coming from red states is key since Republicans now run the show.

The message percolating up from Republican (and other) states is that they need a REAL transportation bill passed. While they don't care how Congress chooses to fund it, not being able to decide on how is no longer acceptable. States need more than band aid extensions.

Brainpathology · #**8329** Posted **Apr 17, 2015, 1:39 PM**

Is Iran a glowing wasteland yet? No? Then no roads for us!

TakeFive · #**8330** Posted **Apr 17, 2015, 4:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brainpathology

Is Iran a glowing wasteland yet? No? Then no roads for us!

Are you inspired by My Senator?

Interestingly, I recently communicated to someone that we probably spend more for infrastructure in war torn countries than we do in our own country. But that comes from a different budget. We spend over $700 billion a year (including supplementals) for DOD. That budget is more sacrosanct and vague however. If we transferred just $50 billion from defense to transportation we'd double their budget. But infrastructure spending in our own county is harder to justify. Go figure.

TakeFive · #**8331** Posted **Apr 17, 2015, 5:57 PM**

Whoa Doggies

"EXCLUSIVE: Bill to raise $3.5 billion for highway funding coming..."
Apr 17, 2015 by Ed Sealover, Denver Business Journal

Quote:

Business leaders and legislators are working on a plan to renew the state's transportation bond...

State Sen. Randy Baumgardner, R-Hot Sulphur Springs, is expected to introduce a bill Monday that would authorize a November ballot initiative asking statewide voters to approve the extended TRANS bonds (Transportation Revenue Anticipation Notes).

I've been noticing that Brian DelGrosso, R-Loveland is one sharp cookie. He should run for Governor.

Anyway regarding this new proposal and yesterday's proposal by Hickenlooper, he suggests:

Quote:

Baumgardner and House Minority Leader Brian DelGrosso, R-Loveland, questioned whether there was legislative support for that effort but said that the bill they will bring could incorporate that $1 billion in transportation-funding transfers for maintenance and upkeep, while setting the bond revenues for expansion projects.

DelGrosso emphasized that the time is right to ask voters for the bond sale, saying it will be easier to garner attention for the initiative this year than it would be next year when it is competing with presidential and U.S. Senate races for attention

Now this get me juiced. Born To Be Wild baby.

Brainpathology · #**8332** Posted **Apr 17, 2015, 6:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TakeFive

Are you inspired by My Senator?

Not yet.. but I will be once I invest in some defense contractor stocks.

Denver · #**8333** Posted **Apr 17, 2015, 10:13 PM**

Video of East Line train operating under its own power!

http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2015/04/17/another-look-at-rtds-dia-commuter-railcars.html

EngiNerd · #**8334** Posted **Apr 17, 2015, 10:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Denver

Video of East Line train operating under its own power!

http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2015/04/17/another-look-at-rtds-dia-commuter-railcars.html

Screen Capture!

CharlesCO · #**8335** Posted **Apr 18, 2015, 12:32 AM**

That is awesome! Too bad the weather didn't cooperate. The horn also sounds a little different from SEPTA's.

bunt_q · #**8336** Posted **Apr 18, 2015, 3:22 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottk

Right because the chain / snow tire laws in California on I80 in between Tahoe and San Francisco have been proven so so so ineffective.

California has figured this out. If you don't have adequate tires you know not to even attempt I80 during adverse conditions. I don't know why you foolishly believe that this wouldn't be useful on I70, when there are already real world examples of this in several states and canada.

And... You even got a boulder burn in. Nice one bunt. Too bad I don't even live in Boulder anymore, but I do, however, enjoy trolling you

Do you have any evidence that they have made any difference at all? In Washington state all it seemed to do was nurture a booming business for selling chains (that nobody uses) is little shops on either side of Snowqualmie Pass. But did it help traffic at all? I am skeptical. And enforcement is impossible. I'm not into passing laws with uncertain benefit and obvious enforcement problems. I can see how that would be popular in Northern California, though. Another reason not to do it. Not much to be learned from Northern California IMHO.

TakeFive · #**8337** Posted **Apr 18, 2015, 4:05 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CharlesCO

That is awesome! Too bad the weather didn't cooperate. The horn also sounds a little different from SEPTA's.

Indeed, I got a chill thrill from watching it. But just like the mail: "come rain or shine."

It's also on YouTube and after I watched it I then watched the FULL RIDE on the W line. 38 minutes but I had some extra time before the Rockies played and it was rather neat.

TakeFive · #**8338** Posted **Apr 18, 2015, 5:34 PM**

Get em while they're hot

Courtesy of https://cincystreetcar.wordpress.com/

Who was the fellow that came up with "Buy America?"

Not unlike Hyundai-Rotem train cars which are assembled in Philadelphia - CAF which is a Spanish company is assembling their Urbos 3 Streetcar in Elmira NY. Both Cincinnati and Kansas City will be using these on their new streetcar lines, coming soon.

Intelligence alert

If you really want to know all about streetcars then check out THIS HERE BLOG. I was especially impressed by this gem:

Quote:

Ultimately the limiting factor on streetcar length is the size of city blocks. Streetcars can’t typically be longer than one city block, lest they block traffic on perpendicular streets.

Srsly though, one of the best dang transit blogs in the universe.

CharlesCO · #**8339** Posted **Apr 18, 2015, 8:32 PM**

I've always been a fan of the European-style trams, and I would love to see more designs like that come here.

The city block size was also the same reason why RTD lengthened trains to a maximum of 4-car consists with a longer traffic light schedule a few years ago.

seventwenty · #**8340** Posted **Apr 19, 2015, 7:50 PM**

EXCLUSIVE: Bill to raise $3.5 billion for highways coming to Colorado Legislature

Quote:

Originally Posted by DBJ

Business leaders and legislators are working on a plan to renew the state's transportation bonds first sold in 1999 and generate $3.5 billion to be spent on expanding Colorado highways over the next 20 years.

State Sen. Randy Baumgardner, R-Hot Sulphur Springs, is expected to introduce a bill Monday that would authorize a November ballot initiative asking statewide voters to approve the extended TRANS bonds ( Transportation Revenue Anticipation Notes).

The measure will have a list of 50 priority projects identified by Colorado Department of Transportation — from Interstate 70 widening to Interstate 25 expansion between Denver and Fort Collins to work on more rural roadways like U.S. Highway 50 — and will seek to bond against 50 percent of the anticipated gas-tax revenue coming in from the federal government.