DENVER | Transportation Thread

[COtoOC]

Originally Posted by bunt_q

I confess I do not know the answer to this question. I am not aware of any planned improvements to 270 within the project scope, but you know as much as I do on specific mitigation measures (I do not see anything in the EIS). There aren't really supposed to be any peak hour lane closures.



They'll build part of the new trenched freeway - not to its full cross section - first, then demo the viaduct, then build the rest of the cross section, would be my guess. Although the private teams will have a lot of discretion on that, so maybe they come up with something more creative.

Lots of changes planned at the stock show, but none of them really driven by the I-70 project.

It'll be a mess for years. I swear CalTrans in California was way faster with freeway widening/rebuild projects. Maybe it's just my imagination that CDOT is slow.

[bunt_q]

Originally Posted by COtoOC

Maybe it's just my imagination that CDOT is slow.

I think that's right, it's just your imagination. T-REX was widely lauded as going smoothly given the scope of the rebuild.

[Scottk]

Originally Posted by bunt_q

I think that's right, it's just your imagination. T-REX was widely lauded as going smoothly given the scope of the rebuild.

completed early, and under budget if i remember correctly?

[TakeFive]

Originally Posted by bunt_q

I think that's right, it's just your imagination. T-REX was widely lauded as going smoothly given the scope of the rebuild.

Like with most projects of significance like that it's the utilities, drainage projects etc that slow things down or at least that's the impression I've had. If it were just a matter of getting out the Tonka road building equipment they could finish in half the time.

Back in the day, every 2/3 weeks, I used to take Sunday mornings and drive I-25 the length of the project to follow the progress. T-REX was quite the project.

[COtoOC]

Originally Posted by bunt_q

I think that's right, it's just your imagination. T-REX was widely lauded as going smoothly given the scope of the rebuild.

IDK. Could be. Some of the projects I had to drive through in California, they added a lane in each direction, but didn't completely rebuild the freeway. Here, it seems that every project includes completely ripping out/replacing all lanes.

[TakeFive]

They're all up-in-arms over toll lanes. The NASCAR crowd ain't happy in Charlotte.

[Zmapper]

Remember the discussion from a few months ago about a higher-visibility Downtown-Cherry Creek service?

From the RTD Operations and Customer Service Committee.

"The following items are service concepts currently under consideration or are planned events that impact operations in the next service change period:
- US36 BRT Service Plan restructures the majority of Regional Service aligned along US 36 into the Flatiron Flyer Bus Rapid Transit service.
- Route 79L/83L rescheduling and rebranding to simplify customer information in the Speer/Leetsdale corridor.
- Route 6 restructure creating a distinct east-west service (Route 6) and a north-south service to be named the Route 19 – North Pecos.
- Grant funded peak period service increase on the Free MetroRide"

[Cirrus]

Originally Posted by Zmapper

Route 79L/83L rescheduling and rebranding

[bunt_q]

Originally Posted by TakeFive

They're all up-in-arms over toll lanes. The NASCAR crowd ain't happy in Charlotte.

The only NASCAR race I've ever been to was in Charlotte. Holy crap, I felt like I should've gotten a stamp in my passport. Because I've traveled internationally and not felt so... different.

[TakeFive]

Originally Posted by Zmapper

Remember the discussion from a few months ago about a higher-visibility Downtown-Cherry Creek service?

From the RTD Operations and Customer Service Committee.

Yes, it was all RyanD's fault IIRC. Well at least his Cherry Creek thread post tickled the discussion.

Good to see they're paying attention over there at RTD though.

[Cirrus]

We're talking about Charlotte in 2 threads now. How did that happen?

[Denver Dweller]

http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/mornin...mA+ElKTwGoSbqOBYu5F/O7W7Amf&t=1434048473

[Cirrus]

Toronto just opened its airport DMU line this week. Here's their trains. If you think they look Japanese, you're right.


metrolinx on flickr

[Launch 12]

Originally Posted by Cirrus

Toronto just opened its airport DMU line this week. Here's their trains. If you think they look Japanese, you're right.

They're using that same type of train for the SMART rail in the Bay Area. If the NW rail was to ever happen, it would be cool to get some of these.

[CharlesCO]

Originally Posted by Launch 12

They're using that same type of train for the SMART rail in the Bay Area. If the NW rail was to ever happen, it would be cool to get some of these.

That probably won't happen as long as the Hyundai RTD cars can also be built as DMUs. That was one of the primary reasons RTD chose them over other manufacturers.

[Launch 12]

Originally Posted by CharlesCO

That probably won't happen as long as the Hyundai RTD cars can also be built as DMUs. That was one of the primary reasons RTD chose them over other manufacturers.

Hmmm...interesting. I did not know that.

[RyanD]

So after being in LA / Chicago recently I've really been looking at how the cycle communites are in the larger cities. All in all, most of them obey signals, respect sharing the road, etc. These cities also have some pretty strict enforcement.

Then there's the elitist bicycle culture in Denver. I was driving up / down 16th Avenue this afternoon and counted 17 cyclists running red lights without slowing down, 3 waited for lights with 5 going AROUND the good cyclists waiting for lights.

Why is our culture here so hostile and feel like they don't need to obey the signals?

There's a reason why I don't support more infrastructure here, because it's just going to be abused.

/rant

[mr1138]

Originally Posted by RyanD

So after being in LA / Chicago recently I've really been looking at how the cycle communites are in the larger cities. All in all, most of them obey signals, respect sharing the road, etc. These cities also have some pretty strict enforcement.

Then there's the elitist bicycle culture in Denver. I was driving up / down 16th Avenue this afternoon and counted 17 cyclists running red lights without slowing down, 3 waited for lights with 5 going AROUND the good cyclists waiting for lights.

Why is our culture here so hostile and feel like they don't need to obey the signals?

There's a reason why I don't support more infrastructure here, because it's just going to be abused.

/rant

I completely agree with you about the elitist, rules-don't-matter attitude of our cyclists. But I actually come to a different conclusion about the infrastructure. I think that better, more clearly defined bike infrastructure (combined with enforcement) would help immensely.

City of Boulder has received a lot of feedback from hardcore cyclists that they really don't like the experimental cycle-track on Baseline, because it prevents them merging left across traffic to get into a left turn lane intended for cars. I feel like this wishy-washy attitude about where on the street a bike should belong, and the inherent "battle" it creates between drivers and bicyclists, is a big part of the problem and the reason there is so much animosity between the two groups. Anybody knows you don't drive on a sidewalk, or walk down the middle of a busy street. If bikes had a clearly defined 3rd category, with their own traffic signals, I feel like it would be easier to create the societal expectations and enforce that they stay there.

[bobg]

Originally Posted by RyanD

So after being in LA / Chicago recently I've really been looking at how the cycle communites are in the larger cities. All in all, most of them obey signals, respect sharing the road, etc. These cities also have some pretty strict enforcement.

Then there's the elitist bicycle culture in Denver. I was driving up / down 16th Avenue this afternoon and counted 17 cyclists running red lights without slowing down, 3 waited for lights with 5 going AROUND the good cyclists waiting for lights.

Why is our culture here so hostile and feel like they don't need to obey the signals?

There's a reason why I don't support more infrastructure here, because it's just going to be abused.

/rant

16th is horrible for cyclists it really should be a bike boulevard to allow for better flow. Of course people should still pay attention to the laws but the infrastructure is contributing to the problem.

I cannot speak about LA as I haven't spent more than a few days in a row there over the past several years, but Chicago has been doing a fabulous job of implementing bike infrastructure. However, when I lived in Chicago substantially more cyclists were deviants than here (and they had very strict enforcement then too) , and their infrastructure was substantially worse than ours. I think what has changed over the years is not the attitude of the cycling community (which IMO has grown more militant especially around places like Wicker Park), or the enforcement by the city, but the built infrastructure.

[RyanD]

Originally Posted by bobg

16th is horrible for cyclists it really should be a bike boulevard to allow for better flow. Of course people should still pay attention to the laws but the infrastructure is contributing to the problem.

Pardon my ignorance but how is infrastructure contributing to the problem of cyclists not following the laws of the road? If 16th were to turn into a bike boulevard, they would still have to stop for the cross streets in turn giving you the same problem of not following the laws of the road.

That's like saying, the roads / general infrastructure is bad in this area so I'm going to just drive through stop signs and stoplights.

EDIT: Also 15th Street cyclists don't use the lane half the time and ignore the bike signals PW has given them. I've spent many a hours observing the nature of our wonderful community and really can provide photo proof if needed. It's just getting ridiculous and I'm beginning to hate strongly dislike the culture here.

Chicago has stepped it up since last time I was there and has added some good

|Sidewalk|Bike/Buffer|Parking|Road|Road|Sidewalk|

LA - They know people don't have time for cyclists running reds and will probably assume they'll just get hit lol.