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Post by Mike on Sept 15, 2006 15:17:48 GMT -4
Do you think people would complain if they setup some type of rail transit system from Stevensville to Annapolis, maybe similar to a light rail, I am sure a 4 mile train bridge is cheaper to build than a 4 mile road bridge. I wonder if that would ever/has ever be considered.
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Post by Alex on Sept 15, 2006 15:34:10 GMT -4
I don't think that it would do much because most of the Bay Bridge traffic is either the Virginia people going to the beach in the summer, or people going to/from work in places like DC. Too many people are travelling too far west of Annapolis and too far east of Kent Island in my opinion.
As bad as the Bay Bridge can be, something really needs to be done about the Severn River Bridge. That keeps getting worse and is pretty unbearable nowadays. Between 4:45PM and 6PM route 50 is a parking lot from Aris T. Allen right to that horrible little bridge, and lately it has been backing up in the mornings going in the other direction. It's a big problem that isn't being addressed.
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Post by gwbushdumb on Sept 15, 2006 15:40:17 GMT -4
That would be a good idea but then Kent Island might experience the problems the Annapolis area is having. The rail transit system is blamed on the influx of crime coming out of the city into the less populated areas.
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Post by Mike on Sept 15, 2006 16:29:01 GMT -4
Oh snap, I forgot about that crime. Timonium is out of control. All the hood rats riding the light rail from the slums to steal stuff and ride back. Nevermind. Lock topic...
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Post by Mikey on Sept 15, 2006 16:42:07 GMT -4
I personally think it sounds dumb. But the Bay Bridge Planning Commission ... or whatever they are called ... thinks it is worth studying for the next 2 years. That way they can put off having to look at where they are going to build the next bay crossing and dont have to make somebody mad.
I think they need to look at busses. Prioritize them through the traffic back-ups like they do in Virginia, and people will want to ride them instead of their cars. Increase the routes so they go to places like Baltimore, BWI and New Carrolton. You will certainly have less cars on the road.
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Post by bchevy on Sept 15, 2006 22:48:24 GMT -4
I don't thing light rail in the anwser either, however- IF it left KI at 5am, and went to Glen Burnie at Cromwell.... I'M IN! But I'd HATE for them to go through all that trouble to put in light rail just for me....
Observation: I've never seen a light rail car even close to half full, (except ball games) Have you? These systems can't pay for themselves so why have them?
HOW ABOUT, Eliminate the TOLL at the Bay Bridge? This is also something Virginia is known for, when the project is paid for, the tolls go away! Stop making me slow down, and others stop, to pay the toll. This bridge is an asset to the state, let the state coffers take it over.
Severn River: I can't figure this one out except for the people getting off at rte2, these guys have to hop out to pass a couple cars and hop back in to make the exit. It really doesn't seem like that many cars getting on at Rowe Blvd to cause this backup...
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Post by falgar25 on Sept 16, 2006 14:45:33 GMT -4
A train to Annapolis would be fun, but probably wouldn't help much. As someone else wrote, most of the traffic is from farther west to farther east.
If the train extended to Bowie and then to the New Carrolton metro to the west and to the outlets and maybe Easton to the east then I think that might ease a little of the traffic.
I wonder if eliminating the toll would make all the difference? I've seen days when you can't get through the toll because the bridge is full. Toll or no toll, there are still four lanes narrowing to two. (Besides, I like having the EZPass-only lane and I don't see how that could be maintained if there was no toll) On the other hand, it would seem more honest if they eliminated the toll once the initial cost was paid for.
Have you ever noticed that once you get to the top of the Severn River bridge there is no longer any traffic in front of you? It's as if people coast up the bridge or slow down to look around rather than maintaining their speed. Someone slows, someone else taps their brakes, the next guy spends a little more time on his brakes, and eventually traffic is backed up past 97.
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Post by Frank on Sept 16, 2006 23:30:44 GMT -4
High speed EZ-Pass would help. Other states have it where you can cruise through at 55mph. Also if we were to shoot every third car without EZ-Pass, I think we could cut down on a lot of traffic heading our way.
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Post by Frank on Sept 16, 2006 23:38:22 GMT -4
Also if we were to shoot every third car without EZ-Pass, I think we could cut down on a lot of traffic heading our way. This is just a joke, Rich. I'm not incinuating we kill motorists. But a piantball marker from a tree stand as the cars come off the bridge would be a lot of fun!!!
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Post by Mike on Sept 17, 2006 0:33:32 GMT -4
Frank your post offended me. What if your sister, mother or aunt was the 3rd person without EZ-Pass?
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Post by Frank on Sept 17, 2006 11:47:01 GMT -4
You left out wife, Mike, that could change things. Well, I guess I would have to wash the paint off the car, and make them promise never to cross the bridge again! Or, maybe give family and friends some sort of special banner or marking to display in their vehicle, and these vehicles would be banned from play. In fact, we could establish a point system by vehicle type (larger cars = 1 point, smaller cars = 2 points, etc..) and award prizes like gift certificates to Applebees. It's sort of the same as when they come over the bridge to shoot our ducks!
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Post by Mike on Sept 17, 2006 12:51:22 GMT -4
Frank, Did I ever tell you you're my hero?
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Post by ljp on Sept 30, 2006 19:39:42 GMT -4
you people are cracking me up.... Also, our bridge still collects tolls as it is self maintained. Snow removal, accident removal maintenance and salaries are all paid out of the toll fund. I am for discouraging those drivers as well, with whatever media you want to shoot them with is fine with me!!
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