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I-81 Toll Roads vs Rail Investment
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<P>I-81 is awful stragetic.</P> <P>Truckers need to run that road for all loads to and from the Northeast. There are thousands every hour on all of that Interstate.</P> <P>Who are the railroads or anyone for that matter kidding when they think they can accomodate 1000 tired truckers ready to be shipped a few hundred miles in either direction with both the tractor and trailer?</P> <P>What happens when three trains depart and thousands more loads pile up at the staging/loading area wanting to be shipped in a few hours?</P> <P>Unacceptable.</P> <P>Truckers sometimes will NOT be at the other end ready to get that trailer.</P> <P>Tolling I-81 will not solve the problem. It will force drivers to select I-55 at Memphis, cross into Kentucky and working across via WVA using high horsepower and Jakes to defeat the mountains. The small loss in fuel and out of route mileage will turn out to be a cheaper expense than paying toll on I-81 end to end.</P> <P>I-81 is up against the mountains with low clearences and some very dangerous terrain. I remember one road in particular that is a severe S curve that climbs basically straight up near I-81. On the bottom you see cliff and at the top, nothing but sky and wonder if your outside wheels are still on the pavement.</P> <P>If I had to travel that road to bypass tolls, I would find other cargo instead NOT going to that area.</P> <P>Finally I-81 is a place where you dont expect to find parking space at night. You dont run that road in bad weather. Especially ice. I know that road and every inch of it and can assert to you that truckers will rest at Knoxville TN or Harrisburg PA and run it straight thru.</P> <P>Take a look at White's on mile marker 205 (I think.. or was it 195?) that is one truckstop that is ALWAYS FULL. You have more than enough business to support a dozen more along that Interstate.</P> <P>The rest of the traffic support regional industry and commuters.</P> <P>Use the effort and funds to build a new interstate parrallel to I-81 or improve the network of roads and needed areas to better truck access.</P> <P>I want to thank the powers that be for causing me to be amused and fall out of my chair in breathless mirth and humor thinking that waving a few toll tickets can solve the current problems along I-81.</P> <P>My solution?</P> <P>Close I-81 to ALL vehicles EXCEPT... Clawss 6, 7 and 8 commerical vehicles and build a nice toll parkway for cars and such. Dedicate I-81 to commerical traffic ONLY.</P> <P>Yes people will scream. But build em a nice road free from battling trucks they will love you for it.</P> <P>By the way, I run the PA Pike, Midwest I-80 etc for years and have no issues. Part of the convience is in the electronic transponders that automatically bills the trucking company from the cab. It is nice not having to juggle company cash alongside your own or having to collect reciepts (And log them within 15 minutes in the comic book).</P> <P>In my last years along that road, VA made massive improvements in the rest areas with parking space that really helped. Now if they can put down the construction and back away from it everything will be fine.</P> <P>It is my personal belief that you can pave a 100 lane wide monster with the best of everything and it will still be stop and go frankenstien at rush hour with all the wonderful road rage associated with it.</P> <P>Moller Skycars anyone?</P>
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