It is now referred to as "Brightline West" and I read their repeated failures to sell the large bond issue to fund it, they are now going to build and fund the line in segments like they did Brightline in Florida. I'll give them high marks for persistance.
https://brightlinewestconstruction.com/
So they figure that Victor Valley station will become an outlying parking lot for the Vegas strip with the train serving as the shuttle connector?
GrampSo they figure that Victor Valley station will become an outlying parking lot for the Vegas strip with the train serving as the shuttle connector?
If they're now self-financing the south end with development on the Brightline model... centralizing the "PUD" may make better sense than having to effectively regionalize in one place or the other early, before actual demand patterns develop.
Getting CalTrans to turn I-15 into a toll road will be the final step.
You can't turn an existing Interstate into a toll road.
azrailYou can't turn an existing Interstate into a toll road.
Overmod azrail You can't turn an existing Interstate into a toll road. A state can do it easily by paying the Federal government's share of the historical construction expense -- for early Interstates, often a tiny cost compared to replacement -- after which they can impose tolls as desired. Florio proposed exactly this for the section of 95/80 between the end of the New Jersey Turnpike and the George Washington Bridge in the late '80s or early '90s; it was a major reason I drove all night from Louisiana to cast my vote to throw the bum out in '92.
azrail You can't turn an existing Interstate into a toll road.
A state can do it easily by paying the Federal government's share of the historical construction expense -- for early Interstates, often a tiny cost compared to replacement -- after which they can impose tolls as desired. Florio proposed exactly this for the section of 95/80 between the end of the New Jersey Turnpike and the George Washington Bridge in the late '80s or early '90s; it was a major reason I drove all night from Louisiana to cast my vote to throw the bum out in '92.
Went to Armonk NY last year via Harrisburg & Allentown with a toll only over the Tapan Zee Bridge ($5.95 or so). Made a wrong turn on my return which would have only had a toll for the bridge between NJ & PA on I-87 (I think). Instead made a wrong turn and came down the GW Bridge - I-95 (NJ Turnpike, DE Turnpike, MD Turnpike) route - nearly $40 in tolls.
Made the trek from Maryland to Road America at the first part of the month to race at the SCCA Runoffs.
My route is to use I-70 & I-68 to Indy, I-65 to Gary and then I-80/94 to I-43. Missing the toll roads except in Illinois. The round trip EZ-Pass tolls for my 3 axles was $44 apportioned among multiple toll locations.
GPS would have routed me via the Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana Toll roads, which would have cost $166 round trip in EZ-Pass tolls which would have shortened the trip by about 1 hour.
One thing I did notice - the Cash toll across the Indiana Toll road for my 3 axles is $24.90 - with the EZ Pass 'discount' that is cut to $24.87 - a whole 3 f'n cents.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
When 78 and 287 were completed, the cost to go south and west dramatically dropped. It is a shame that the I-95 extensions were never finished, as that road is the only 'free' crossing of the Delaware both ways as well as a good route through most of the Philadelphia area.
I was amused that both the westernmost sections of the 'tolled' NewYork State Thruway and virtually the whole of the Indiana Tollway are among the worst of any I have driven; in fact a stretch of the former between Pennsylvania and Buffalo was so bad it damaged the front suspension on the Jaguar. Indiana was just a misery, in a way even worse than the old tilted-slab 20 east of Shreveport with the constant hammering.
The Tappan Zee is gone, replaced by a spectacularly lit new bridge with a political name I don't remember that was put up with dramatic speed (and is at least designed to accommodate a rail link later... probably at about the time the GWB (or more precisely the MWB) gets its track at last. It is remarkably easier to cross and approach than the old bridge was.
It has been amusing to watch the various discount systems with EZ-Pass develop. It depends greatly on what state issued your particular transponder -- the discount at the GWB, for example, is different, as are the increments in Massachusetts. I suspect Indiana may have taken this to an extreme, perhaps taking advantage of 'charging what the put-of-state traffic will bear' ... but judging by their road, they badly need whatever they can get.
The Indiana Toll Road was leased to a private consortium which maintains the road and keeps the tolls. Does that answer the question as to why the road is in bad shape?
Overmod... It has been amusing to watch the various discount systems with EZ-Pass develop. It depends greatly on what state issued your particular transponder -- the discount at the GWB, for example, is different, as are the increments in Massachusetts. I suspect Indiana may have taken this to an extreme, perhaps taking advantage of 'charging what the put-of-state traffic will bear' ... but judging by their road, they badly need whatever they can get.
My statements about EZ-Pass discounts was derived from the toll published on each toll authorities web site.
The Maryland EZ-Pass has different 'offerings' depending upon what one's most frequent use of it will be. I have the 'general' version as under normal circumstance in my everyday travels I don't go near any of the toll facilities.
My tolls I-94 in Illinois tend to show that there is a 'time' component to their pricing - My Northbound trip which took place in the 10 AM Sunday time frame cost more than my Southbound trip that took place in the 5 AM Saturday time frame.
I use I-68, I-70 & I-65 to route myself around the Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania toll roads.
MidlandMike The Indiana Toll Road was leased to a private consortium which maintains the road and keeps the tolls. Does that answer the question as to why the road is in bad shape?
Another example of the misapplication of privatization to an area where the "market" doesn't work very well. But those proponents zealously believe in the "one size fits all" concept and mislabel any deviation "socialism" when it is no such thing.
States like the electronic toll tags as it allows for them to maintain a constantly refreshed balance. Unused balances on transit cards provide a good source of revenue.
Back to my original comment that started this. I do not see it out of line for a toll to be established on some part of I15.
Last time I was in RI I noticed a toll for trucks on I95
rdamonBack to my original comment that started this. I do not see it out of line for a toll to be established on some part of I15.
Look to see demand pricing for trucks to ramp up, and be put in place technically, in many places on Interstates before it is applied to passenger cars. Even in the 1970s I noted that tariffs on 'combinations' went by axle, and even a passenger car with a light single-axle utility trailer could be soaked -- one quickly learned to avoid the ex-Lincoln Highway in Delaware where you faced local traffic and loads of lights AND extortionate bridge tolls with a trailer on.
In my opinion, even with progressively higher (or demand-sensing) toll imposition, the system is 'fairer' if made free for passenger off-peak travel than having unit tolling imposed at all times as it is in northern Illinois or some of the new construction in Texas. There should be clear indication when the system is 'free' for people without transponders 'yet', even when one of those license-plate sensing scams is being used.
I look for some combination of cameras and sensors to be extended to enforcement of truck no-passing zones when those become imposed. It may be a very long time before they are, but this upcoming administration is more likely to implement them, as every cent of revenue will be needed for their various capital improvement schemes...
OvermodIn my opinion, the camel's nose in this tent is going to be....
What a great metaphor, I had never heard that one before, but look forward to using it the next time someone "slippery slope"s me.
I am not feeling it!!
Why drive to Victorville and hop on a train when there are plenty of low cost flights from the major airports of so cal?
They are deluding themselve when they say the high speed rail will extended from Victorville to LA. Your in NIMBY land once you get over Cajon Pass and into the metroplex.
Yeh, The camel gets its nose into the tent and then humps you to death.
JoeBlowThey are deluding themselve when they say the high speed rail will extended from Victorville to LA.
I actually suspect that it will work, eventually. What they will likley do is bend the southern leg of the HSR route between LA and San Diego so that it passes through San Bernardino. Everyone who is being forced to help pay for HSR, wants a station in their back yard....so that the use is practical for them.
Once that is set in stone, a link from Victorville to San Bernardino for the Las Vegas train...is not that bigga deal.
And my guess is that the once considered run from Victorville to Palmdale....never gets built. That was the segment that never made sense to me
The PMD <-> VCV route never made sense to me. Hard to draw people from Orange and San Diego Counties that way.
https://cms.sbcounty.gov/dpw/Transportation/HighDesertCorridor.aspx
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