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Post by bchevy on Jan 17, 2007 21:42:30 GMT -4
Wow, that sign went up QUICK!
Governor O'Malley's name went up today on the Bay Bridge sign......
they can't change direction of traffic very quick but man, get that sign up! Right now!
Just WHY does any Governor's name go up on those signs? he had nothing to do with building it, He really doesn't "run" it.
More gov't waste, no matter who's name is on it.
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Post by Mike on Jan 17, 2007 23:43:32 GMT -4
You think thats bad? The guy who drives the Governors Wellness Mobile (Started by Bobby) had his name removed from it... TODAY. I saw him coming home this afternoon
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Post by shorti on Jan 18, 2007 9:57:29 GMT -4
I guess bobby's run is over now & it's time for the new guy to take over... but let me ask a question that has bothered me since i moved here...
why is it that on 50 W coming from Easton before the merge w/ 301 are there signs on Route 50 that say 50 is the swiftest to the bay bridge??? No S**t sherlock!! If you're on the bay bridge - hate to tell you - you're on 50 - granted 301 too but still 50!!! I just dont' understand.... talk about a waste of money???
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Post by Mike on Jan 18, 2007 10:42:09 GMT -4
I means stay off of 18
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Post by Frank on Jan 18, 2007 10:56:18 GMT -4
During heavy traffic, idiots think they can by-pass the 50 traffic by clogging our sideroads. Then they realize they need to get back on 50 and create more problems for everyone. I simply tell everyone "Nope, there is no way to get around it!" or "No, those roads will take you to other parts on the island".
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Post by Brooke on Jan 18, 2007 11:17:09 GMT -4
The sign should read Local Traffic Only. The QA Sheriffs Dept. were giving nice little tickets to people that were using Rte. 18 going East at Evans Avenue last Summer. Also, what the He11 is up with the Pace You Space campaign? It's useless. They actually taped the red reflective markers on the concrete Jersey walls. Do you think anyone is pacing their space coming to the Eastern Shore? Not at all! They are running over each other to get here and that's why there are fender benders on the bridge. AA County needs to do something about the Severn River Bridge because that is 10 times worse than the Bay Bridge. What a nightmare!
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Post by shadow1 on Jan 18, 2007 11:58:28 GMT -4
Brooke - I agree that "Local Traffic Only" would be a better sign, and that the other sign is insignificant. But how are you going to enforce it? I don't know what the cops were ticketing people for, but if I happened to be one of the "pain in the neck weekend travelers", all I'd say to the cop is I had to use the "john" or wanted to get something to eat. Maybe Pete Richter could give us his perspective on the cops pulling people over for that (see his "cops making illegal stops" thread) Frank - unfortunately a good amount of those people are already aware they can get off 50, take Rt. 18 and get back on again. I also agree that the Severn Bridge is now the major bottleneck trying to get to the Eastern Shore - I deal with it daily.
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Post by uvrays on Jan 18, 2007 13:34:35 GMT -4
Maybe the State should start a "Pace Your Space" campaign of the Severn River Bridge too!
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Post by highlander73 on Jan 18, 2007 13:39:30 GMT -4
How can traveling on a public road be illegal? I mean how can they stop you and cite you for your "intent" which presumably is to avoid traffic? I don't get it.
I ask because its the same coming from the west - forget the name of the road but you can bypass 50 all the way to the bridge. I take that route all the way from downtown Annapolis all the time.
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Post by shadow1 on Jan 18, 2007 13:44:39 GMT -4
UV - after the construction (expand merge lanes, etc) they did prior to the bridge to supposedly relieve some of the congestion - which it didn't - I don't think the enginners could figure out how to measure the distance between the "Pace your Space" markers.
Maybe I'm missing something, but still can't figure out why it bottlenecks there - other than pure volume. Even though it goes from 3-4 lanes to 3 lanes on the bridge, if everyone keeps moving at a reasonable pace there wouldn't be a problem.
I guess that's asking too much!
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Post by uvrays on Jan 18, 2007 13:58:27 GMT -4
In Annapolis at the Severn River Bridge, I believe that motorists traveling Rt 50 East can't see far enough ahead of them as they come around that bend/corner (under the overpass) before the bridge. I notice that the majority of motorists break before they get to that bend because they can't see the traffic in front of them. As you know by traveling Rt 50 on a regular basis, as soon as one motorist breaks, EVERY motorists breaks.
I generally just take my foot off the gas and coast under the bridge and around the corner until I can see the traffic in front of me and adjust my speed accordingly.
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Post by Mike on Jan 18, 2007 14:01:38 GMT -4
I say we setup our own toll booth, only for non-locals. Make them pay $1.00, we'd be ritch!
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Post by BlueMule on Jan 18, 2007 14:17:19 GMT -4
In Annapolis at the Severn River Bridge, I believe that motorists traveling Rt 50 East can't see far enough ahead of them as they come around that bend/corner (under the overpass) before the bridge. I notice that the majority of motorists break before they get to that bend because they can't see the traffic in front of them. As you know by traveling Rt 50 on a regular basis, as soon as one motorist breaks, EVERY motorists breaks. I generally just take my foot off the gas and coast under the bridge and around the corner until I can see the traffic in front of me and adjust my speed accordingly. Maybe so, UV. I kinda think it's a matter of stuffing 25 lb. of mud in a 10 lb. sack. You got two lanes of traffic from Rowe Blvd. trying to jamb themselves into the already crowded US 50. Add to that that if they don't yield to the traffic on 50, there's nowhere else to go so you have everyone jumping on the brakes.
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Post by BlueMule on Jan 18, 2007 14:26:54 GMT -4
O'Malley's picture here looks more like Doug Duncan at the Maryland DOT web site than it does Martin O'Malley. www.chart.state.md.us/
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Post by shadow1 on Jan 18, 2007 14:28:20 GMT -4
My solution is to buy a cheap helicopter and fly over the mess, waving as I go by. I'm no Donald Trump so that probably won't happen
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Post by highlander73 on Jan 18, 2007 14:28:23 GMT -4
Merges cause traffic jams/slowdowns, any traffic engineer will tell you. It is the merge from Rowe Blvd and others causing that backup, and even though its only a few cars its the cars moving to the left to avoid the mergers that cause the left hand lanes to slow down, etc, etc.
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Post by shadow1 on Jan 18, 2007 14:34:31 GMT -4
Highlander - makes sense, but seems like they could come up with something better when designing the plan.
Maybe we could talk PG County into some plan to cut housing costs by 25-30% to draw people back in that direction - ok,ok, now I've lost all credability ;D
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Post by matt on Jan 18, 2007 15:35:24 GMT -4
Merging traffic and not enough lanes for the volume... nothing more, nothing less.
The only solution is increased capacity or reduced volume. Widening in that area is insanely expensive (buying prime Severn River waterfront properties for millions apiece?). That means the traffic will remain.
The other solution is self-regulation by another name: carpooling, public transit, or switching vehicles (to two-wheeled vehicles). This solution is more efficient and longer lasting. If just half the single drivers would ride a motorcycle, traffic problems would be eased beyond any lane/highway widening.
Getting people to move west, let alone to the ghetto of PG County, is unlikely. Letting people know of the traffic problems with the commute to the shore is a possible means of reducing the eastward migration, though.
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Post by shadow1 on Jan 18, 2007 16:16:56 GMT -4
Matt -this ain't Europe, chances of getting that many people on a motorcycle is slim, though I've been trying to talk my wife into letting me get a Harley -no luck!
I hear you though, there really is no good solution with the amount of volume - I think a mono-rail system to Kent Island would be cool.
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Post by Mike on Jan 18, 2007 16:35:52 GMT -4
dreams are a wonderful thing to have. Let's just sink Ocean S-hity
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Post by matt on Jan 18, 2007 17:10:24 GMT -4
Shadow, I agree - in the short term. As gas prices go back up motorcycle sales will continue to surge. Oh, and why a Hardley Ableson? Why not a real bike?
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Post by baycitydan on Jan 18, 2007 17:20:03 GMT -4
Why not re-direct the off ramp from Rowe Blvd to be before the exit for Rowe Blvd and / or just closing the current ramp. It seems stupid that all of those cars should be stuck in traffic every day just because a few cars want to enter 50 from Rowe Blvd. Shadow1 - Noooo! Not another noisy Harley I don't understand why I would get a ticket if I had a noisy muffler on my 'Stang, but it's ok to have a motorcycle that annoys everyone within sight of it.
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Post by uvrays on Jan 18, 2007 17:45:26 GMT -4
Anybody know where I can buy a bumper sticker that reads: "Ocean City is closed. Now go home"?
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Post by Mike on Jan 18, 2007 21:15:22 GMT -4
uvrays, I've wanted one of those for years
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Post by shadow1 on Jan 18, 2007 22:53:23 GMT -4
Matt/BCDan, I'd probably kill myself if I got crotch rocket, and the Harley would keep me from dodging in and out of traffic like the idiots popping wheel stands doing 60MPH on Rt. 50. A moped is probably more my speed anyway- hey, that might be the solution to the congestion; one million mopeds that can only go so fast and think of how much room that would open up on the roads Might be rough getting across the bridges on a windy day though
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