How Much Does a Mile of Road Cost? • Hacker News Board

Re: How Much Does a Mile of Road Cost?

#321

Post by beerandt » Fri, Jan 31, 2020, 5:48 PM UTC

sershe wrote: post #307

ldoughty wrote: post #161

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If I'm passing at 5 over the limit, I'm still passing. I waited my turn. Not my fault I don't want to go 20+ over. I'll move back when the passed car is in my rear view. Oh, you really to ride my rear, and pay me on the right? Will Joe we have a problem because I'm happy merged into the right line and you're on my as, and now you're 3 feet from both me and the car were passing. That's what I got from this comment...…

There should be a very simple rule - if there's a car behind you in the left lane, no car ahead of you, and this situation persists for a bit, merge right. Make the /right/ choice - the pedal, or the lane ;)

Why put the conditional if? Avoid conflict entirely by eliminating judgement calls. Like how close a car needs to be in front or behind you for you to react. It just provides justification (in their mind) for a driver to stay left.

Just pass and get over, regardless of if anyone is behind you. Driving rules should be as simple as possible.

The fact that the lane isn't being used by anyone else isn't an excuse for you to use it as you see fit. Anymore than driving on the wrong side of a 2-lane road, just because there's no oncoming traffic.

Re: How Much Does a Mile of Road Cost?

#322

Post by EricE » Fri, Jan 31, 2020, 8:23 PM UTC

rayiner wrote: post #86

inferiorhuman wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Obviously this is a very back-of-the-napkin calculation, but it puts things into perspective. You're comparing an all-inclusive capital budget versus simply repaving roads. How much does DC Metro spend on track maintenance annually? How much does Cedar Rapids spend on lighting and signage? How much do Cedar Rapids residents spend on their cars? The average used car payment runs in excess of $4,800 annually. New cars…

Good point--I forgot WMATA is in the middle of major rail car purchases. The 6-year plan for rail systems, track rehabilitation, and stations is $600 million annually. I've updated my numbers above accordingly.

WMATA is also one of the most poorly run metro systems in the world http://unsuckdcmetro.blogspot.com

Re: How Much Does a Mile of Road Cost?

#323

Post by inferiorhuman » Mon, Feb 03, 2020, 3:06 AM UTC

rayiner wrote: post #273

inferiorhuman wrote: post #190

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Again you're making an apples to oranges comparison. The metro budget also includes expenditures for bus and paratransit service, station improvements, fare collection modernization, fire alarm upgrades, information technology projects, police services, and so-called "business support investments". Per the budget the plan is to spend at most $249 million annually (less for most years) on track and structures rehabili…

I excluded those items from the Metro budget. I included signaling and stations, because those are a necessary part of subway maintenance that don’t have much of an analog with roads. (Traffic lights must be maintained, but train signaling systems are very complex and very expensive to maintain in comparison. There are millions of feet of wiring throughout the Metro system and each track segment is wired up for the t…

I included signaling and stations, because those are a necessary part of subway maintenance that don’t have much of an analog with roads.

Sure, because municipalities typically externalize those costs (e.g. police doing traffic duty or parking control). Road signaling itself is simpler than rail signaling but still needs periodic maintenance. You've got stuff like generators (a necessity out here now that PG&E is introducing recreational blackouts. Presumably sensor lights increase the cost of repaving.

Likewise Cedar Rapids almost certainly has to plow the roads for a good chunk of the year where a subway and even a surface rail system typically wouldn't. Of course with plowing comes the cost of more frequent repaving.

In any event, the point isn’t to say that road paving is cheaper, but to address GP’s question, which is how cities can afford it. It’s an order of magnitude comparison to put the number into context.

Sure, because governments typically externalize the cost of roads but not public transit. In San Francisco, SFPD will bill the MTA for any sort of police presence on Muni. They sure as shit don't bill Caltrans for the cost of traffic enforcement.

Re: How Much Does a Mile of Road Cost?

#324

Post by Rury » Mon, Feb 03, 2020, 3:26 AM UTC

samstave wrote: post #204

Stevvo wrote: post #186

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In all of Europe, undertaking is illegal. When we come to the US, driving feels like you are in a third world country.

So many aspects about driving in the US are so terrible. The road conditions are pretty bad, and what i would like to understand are the gas taxes and other taxes which ostensibly go into road infra. We have high gas taxes and drive more miles than most countries on the planet - where is that money going? Some countries have high vehicle costs and their roads to me seem pristine and perfect by comparison. Specificall…

Singapore and Hong Kong are both in areas which never experience freezing. The act of freezing and thawing of water in temperate climates is super harsh on roads - as water will seep into cracks and then expand when it freezes. It's the main reason why many roads are bad in many US cities like Chicago.

Another reason might be due to regulations. I faintly recall hearing that European highways are built on an 18" base, whereas the US only a 12" base, but I'm sure it varies...