L.C. 10.13 - High Speed Highways Act - Vetoed - Override Failed

[KaiserDave]

There is, by the way, not going to be a single cent of federal funding for any of this nonsense if it passes. I am not backing the further demolition of (mostly low-income) neighborhoods to build clones of Houston’s 26-lane monstrosities. Urban freeways have done enough damage to communities already.

To clarify, there would be no demolition of neighborhoods, if it needs to pass through a neighborhood, it'd be built at an elevated height (i.e. above the buildings). Also I'd expect most of the expansion to be done in rural areas, urban areas can probably mostly just have the lanes be repurposed.

So their property values decline due to the screaming of cars and overpasses over them.

[At-Large Senator LouisvilleThunder]

https://talkelections.org/AFEWIKI/index.php?title=Make_Automobiles_Vroom_on_Autobahns_Act
I remember passing this pretty badass act back in 2018. I guess it was repealed in the omnibus repeal. 

I think Ninja made a map as regional Secretary of Development and Infrastructure making the speed limits 90 MPH on most rural interstates after this was passed.

[AGA]

I don't think building new lanes is worth the cost. I'd prefer that we just raise some speed limits.

[S019]

I'm retiring the idea of building new lanes completely

High Speed Highways Act

An act to facilitate travel between population centers


1. For the purposes of this act, a High Speed Highway (HSH) shall be defined as any highway that has one or more lanes permitted to drive at speeds up to 980 miles per hour

2. Express lanes shall be built on the following highways to convert them to High Speed Highways

a. Interstate 95 from Foxborough, MA to Andalusia, PA

b. Interstate 80 from Elmwood Park, NJ to Gary, IN

c. Interstate 71 from Montgomery, OH to Strongsville, OH

d. Interstate 76 from King of Prussia, PA to Harmar Township, PA

3. All of the above highways shall have at least two one lanes of express lanes at HSH standards, but may have as many as four in more urban areas.

4. Local authorities may at any point choose to lower the speed limit, if it is required for safety reasons

5. Cost for this project shall be determined at a later date per estimates This project shall cost $18,468,000,000

6. Funding methods for this project shall be determined at a later date

7. In areas with a population density above 2,000 people per square mile, no new lanes shall be built, instead at least one lane in each direction shall be converted to a HSH lanes using the following formula:

A. If there are two or three  lanes in each direction, one lane shall be converted to HSH standards

B. If there are four or five lanes in each direction, two lanes shall be converted to HSH standards

C. If there are six or more lanes in each direction, three lanes shall be converted to HSH standards

7. 8. This act will begin to be implemented two years after passage by the Council

[AustralianSwingVoter]

Having one lane driving driving 20mph faster than the others right next to it is not remotely safe. Just upgrade the entire highway to a higher speed limit.

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Any objection to the amendment?

For the record, if the Council would prefer just doing a higher speed limit for all lanes, I'm not opposed to that.

[S019]

Having one lane driving driving 20mph faster than the others right next to it is not remotely safe. Just upgrade the entire highway to a higher speed limit.

The lane would be cutoff with a barrier, they'd be express lanes separated from the local ones.




https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/05/21/do_high_occupancy_toll_lanes_really_help_congestion.html

For instance, these ones in NoVA use these little stick like things to separate them and some use actual barriers like these ones in New Jersey:



(Left is express, right is local)

https://www.aaroads.com/guides/i-078-east-newark-nj/

[S019]

Any objection to the amendment?

For the record, if the Council would prefer just doing a higher speed limit for all lanes, I'm not opposed to that.

This is quite dangerous especially in urban areas, which is why I have not entertained the idea.

[Sestak]

How about you just don’t increase the speed limit anywhere in urban areas?

LT’s bill’s standards for determining where the speed limit can be increased are quite good, borrowing some of the language from there wouldn’t be a bad idea.

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

S019 amendment adopted

[S019]

Where are we on this?

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

How about you just don’t increase the speed limit anywhere in urban areas?

LT’s bill’s standards for determining where the speed limit can be increased are quite good, borrowing some of the language from there wouldn’t be a bad idea.

Where is this LT bill you speak of? I don't see anything related on the Senate introduction thread by him.

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

This will easily be covered by our surplus, so Amendment:

6. Funding methods for this project shall be determined at a later date shall be via existing unobligated government funds.

Once the objection period on this has expired we're probably ready to vote.

[At-Large Senator LouisvilleThunder]

How about you just don’t increase the speed limit anywhere in urban areas?

LT’s bill’s standards for determining where the speed limit can be increased are quite good, borrowing some of the language from there wouldn’t be a bad idea.

Where is this LT bill you speak of? I don't see anything related on the Senate introduction thread by him.

I linked it in my post above. Please take some language from it.

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Seen. I guess this can serve as some nice light reading tonight.

[S019]

Honestly I think my idea is the best way to do this, I'll have an amendment clarifying that dividers are out between the lanes, sometime soon.

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Amendment adopted.

Drafting something. stay tuned.

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Amendment:

High Speed Highways Act

An act to facilitate travel between population centers


1. For the purposes of this act, a High Speed Highway (HSH) shall be defined as any highway that has one or more lanes permitted to drive at speeds up to 80 miles per hour

2. Express lanes shall be built on the following highways to convert them to High Speed Highways

a. Interstate 95 from Foxborough, MA to Andalusia, PA

b. Interstate 80 from Elmwood Park, NJ to Gary, IN

c. Interstate 71 from Montgomery, OH to Strongsville, OH

d. Interstate 76 from King of Prussia, PA to Harmar Township, PA

e. Any other interstate, or section thereof, in a County with an average population density of less than 200 people.

3. All of the above highways shall have at least one lanes of express lanes at HSH standards

4. Local authorities may at any point choose to lower the speed limit, if it is required for safety reasons

5. This project shall cost $128,468,000,000

6. Funding shall be via existing unobligated government funds.

7. No new lanes shall be built, instead at least one lane in each direction shall be converted to a HSH lanes using the following formula: If at all possible, existing lanes shall be converted to HSH standards. However, if absolutely necessary, new lanes may be built such that existing buildings will not be demolished. Construction/Conversion shall be according to the following formula:

A. If there are two or three lanes in each directionIn Counties with an average population density of 400 people or more, one three lane shall be converted to HSH standardsHSH lanes shall exist. At least two non-HSH lanes shall also exist.

B. If there are four or five lanes in each directionIn Counties with an average population density of 201-399 people, two lanes shall be converted to HSH standardsHSH lanes shall exist. At least one non-HSH lane shall also exist.

C. If there are six or more lanes in each directionIn Counties with an average population density of 200 people or less, three one lanes shall be converted to HSH standardsHSH lane shall exist. At least one non-HSH lane shall also exist.

8. This act will begin to be implemented two years after passage by the Council

Amendment using some of LT's standards. Upped the appropriation some to accommodate.

[S019]

Ummm I have an issue with this, you would need more express lanes in cities due to the high traffic and less in the country, not formally objecting, but I want to bring this to the sponsor's attention. To use an example, whenever I go down to Virginia or South, the worst traffic is always in Baltimore or DC, and the least traffic is on the rural parts of the NJ Turnpike in South Jersey after the main Philly exits pass and before the Delaware Memorial Bridge.

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Ummm I have an issue with this, you would need more express lanes in cities due to the high traffic and less in the country, not formally objecting, but I want to bring this to the sponsor's attention. To use an example, whenever I go down to Virginia or South, the worst traffic is always in Baltimore or DC, and the least traffic is on the rural parts of the NJ Turnpike in South Jersey after the main Philly exits pass and before the Delaware Memorial Bridge.

Okay, fair enough. Editing - complete.

[S019]

Ummm I have an issue with this, you would need more express lanes in cities due to the high traffic and less in the country, not formally objecting, but I want to bring this to the sponsor's attention. To use an example, whenever I go down to Virginia or South, the worst traffic is always in Baltimore or DC, and the least traffic is on the rural parts of the NJ Turnpike in South Jersey after the main Philly exits pass and before the Delaware Memorial Bridge.

Okay, fair enough. Editing - complete.

One last thing, we should clarify that there will be no demolition of existing buildings, and that there must be at least one non HSH lane in counties with pop density under 399 and two in counties with pop density over 400. One last thing, do we want to pay for some of this with tolls so we can use our surplus for other purposes? Tolling is pretty easy since every state in Lincoln other than Vermont uses E-ZPass, and we can just make Vermont's sections free, if we choose to toll.

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

The protection against building demolishment and the non-HSH stipulation have been added to the amendment above.

Now I'll start the 24 hour objection clock.


For the information of the Council, tolls will be dealt with later. Details being worked out.

[S019]

Me and the Speaker have been discussing a toll proposal to pay for part of this, the estimated revenue for the proposal is $2,849,348,571.43, full details will be revealed in an amendment tonight. (by tonight I mean Sunday night)

[Sestak]

More lanes does nothing to solve traffic and everything to make it worse; and as discussed previously, there are also safety concerns with express lanes in urban areas. Quite frankly I see no reason to have any of these “high speed” lanes in urban areas at all.

[S019]

More lanes does nothing to solve traffic and everything to make it worse; and as discussed previously, there are also safety concerns with express lanes in urban areas. Quite frankly I see no reason to have any of these “high speed” lanes in urban areas at all.

I mean if they're separated from local lanes with a barrier, it shouldn't be an issue?