I Don't Do Slow

"PatBateman" (PatBateman) 05/24/2016 at 09:51 • Filed to: Speed Up, Texas

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I honestly don’t know how the rest of you drive on highways. I would have a life sentence in Virginia. Floridians would be breaking hips trying to get out of my way. Why does it take so long to drive between all the major cities in the NE?! They aren’t that far apart...

Oh, that’s right; your speed limit and traffic SUCKS. Did you know that Houston widened IH-10 to TWENTY-SIX LANES west of downtown? And the speed limit there, for that huge stretch of road, is 60, which is RARELY abided by. Big road + decent speed limit = less traffic than before.

We aren’t fast drivers; we are time and speed-efficient drivers.

Birddog > PatBateman 05/24/2016 at 09:56

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I’m in Illinois and Chicago’s clusterf#$k expressways aside, 70 mph is slow.

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > PatBateman 05/24/2016 at 09:57

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speed limits? Ha....speed limits don’t exist once you’re on the Garden State Parkway heading down the shore. You could do 70-80 and you will have people right on your ass

Flyboy is FAA certified insane > PatBateman 05/24/2016 at 09:58

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What’s a “speed limit?"

Ash78, voting early and often > PatBateman 05/24/2016 at 10:00

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Geographically, everything from DC to Boston feels like just the Houston MSA alone. And about the same travel times, too. But I won’t defend Houston or Atlanta or any other fast-growing Sun Belt city. Our infrastructure is just one giant Band-Aid after another, and the people just keep coming.

Aaron M - MasoFiST > PatBateman 05/24/2016 at 10:00

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We don’t have 26 lane highways in Massachusetts because the land is actually worth something.

crowmolly > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 05/24/2016 at 10:00

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78 is an interstate but also an accepted speed.

InfinityAero > PatBateman 05/24/2016 at 10:00

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Beltway in NOVA is 55. Average speed of vehicles on the beltway, outside of rush hour, is probably 70. It’s the city streets, country roads, and I95/66 that you really have to be cautious. Oh, and on the beltway near the Pentagon— they like to snag speeders there.

Flavien Vidal > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 05/24/2016 at 10:02

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70/80 is slow by modern standard... In France speed limits are set at 81mph and no one respects them because that’s too slow... 90/100mph is normal. You just slow down for fixed radars. Not even talking about Germany of course...

not for canada - australian in disguise > PatBateman 05/24/2016 at 10:03

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Meanwhile, the fastest you can go in the ENTIRETY of Canada is 120 km/h, or about 75 mp/h.

We aren’t a very fast country.

Azrek > PatBateman 05/24/2016 at 10:03

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There are speed limits in the NE? I am not sure I’ve gotten above 40 on most ‘interstates’ in this area. We have an unhealthy mix of idiot drivers and timid drivers. So we just have phantom traffic jams and folks who have 0 idea how to merge.

adamftw > Aaron M - MasoFiST 05/24/2016 at 10:05

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Pretty much for the entire tri-state area.

That and all the NIMBYs who complain about traffic and public transit. Then, “Hey! We’re expanding this highway to ease traffic!” or “Hey! We’re adding another rail to lower transit times and train crowding!” The NIMBYs go “WTF MAN HOW CAN YOU DO THIS!!!!!?!?!? I bought my house next to a four lane highway and now you want to make it SIX!!???! I WILL NEVER ALLOW THIS”

Idiocracy.

E90M3 > PatBateman 05/24/2016 at 10:06

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Mmmmm 85 mph

CalzoneGolem > PatBateman 05/24/2016 at 10:07

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I like to drive 55 at all times.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > PatBateman 05/24/2016 at 10:08

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> Missing from this thread <

Gone > PatBateman 05/24/2016 at 10:11

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That section of I-10 is a cluster in rush (which is almost all day 6-9am/4-7pm). The extra lanes don’t really help. Now when it’s flowing (weekends), it’s great though and actual speed is more 70-85 depending on how many Constables are out and about...

Also, Houston traffic sucks ass.

I remember the double nickel in TX. So much suck.

Aaron M - MasoFiST > adamftw 05/24/2016 at 10:11

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Same thing for rent around here and allowing more housing development. At least we’re doing better than San Francisco (barely).

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > crowmolly 05/24/2016 at 10:16

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78 is the worst highway in america

Milky > PatBateman 05/24/2016 at 10:16

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This is why I like Detroit/Michigan. You can pretty much do 90 in a 70 across the entire state with no issues. But for my daily commute I do 90 in a 55 and have never had an issue. The police genuinely have more important things to do.

Ash78, voting early and often > Aaron M - MasoFiST 05/24/2016 at 10:22

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In other words, leaving the land in private hands ensures more property tax revenues :D

Aaron M - MasoFiST > Ash78, voting early and often 05/24/2016 at 10:25

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Plot twist- the average property tax rate in Massachusetts is 1.15%, while in Texas it’s about 1.8%.

Ash78, voting early and often > Aaron M - MasoFiST 05/24/2016 at 10:26

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M. Night Shyamalan twist: Texas property values are extremely low, so the actual dollar amounts are a lot lower...and there's no state income tax. (btw, I'm not defending TX, I think they are fiscally unsustainable)

Tekamul > PatBateman 05/24/2016 at 10:33

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I don’t know, I’m a little hesitant about any road that would let a trucker weighing in at 40 tons go 85. That’s about 1000 feet to a stop. I hope Texas is truly void of all hills and turns.

crowmolly > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 05/24/2016 at 10:35

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East of 24, yeah. Once you get down in the 30's you can move out.

Aaron M - MasoFiST > Ash78, voting early and often 05/24/2016 at 10:41

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Yeah, land use issues in Texas and Massachusetts don’t even resemble each other, really.

red014 > Aaron M - MasoFiST 05/24/2016 at 10:42

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Double plot twist...

Average value of land per acre in:

Texas $7,542

Massachusetts $102,214

Aaron M - MasoFiST > red014 05/24/2016 at 10:42

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To quote myself: “We don’t have 26 lane highways in Massachusetts because the land is actually worth something.”

red014 > Aaron M - MasoFiST 05/24/2016 at 10:45

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Just adding some numbers for you.

Aaron M - MasoFiST > red014 05/24/2016 at 10:49

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It is a pretty dramatic difference. That said, the average house in MA is about $330,000, while in Texas it’s about $150,000. Considering the abovementioned property tax bills, that’s only a difference of about $1k a year in taxes between the two.

Now admittedly, the cost per acre does tell you all you need to know about the state buying highway abutments.

Nonster > PatBateman 05/24/2016 at 11:03

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come to Ohio and you’ll chew through your steering wheel in frustration.

the speed limits are comically low and people actually drive at that speed or slower....and refuse to move out of the left lane

PatBateman > not for canada - australian in disguise 05/24/2016 at 11:15

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You’ll get honked at if you’re cruising at JUST 75 on the rural highways here.

PatBateman > Aaron M - MasoFiST 05/24/2016 at 11:17

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We have PLENTY of land down here. We just manage it. Y'all had to dig tunnels for your highways in Boston.

Ash78, voting early and often > Aaron M - MasoFiST 05/24/2016 at 11:20

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Exactly, might as well be comparing New Mexico and London :D

scoob > E90M3 05/24/2016 at 11:24

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Hngggggggggg

Aaron M - MasoFiST > PatBateman 05/24/2016 at 11:24

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...that’s exactly what I said. Having plenty of land implies the land has minimal value because there’s no scarcity.

PatBateman > E90M3 05/24/2016 at 11:57

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YAS.

PatBateman > Gone 05/24/2016 at 12:01

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Rush hour anywhere will be stop and go. Austin is more of a clusterF than Houston when it comes to rush hour traffic. The main arteries out of town (MOPAC and 35) haven’t been adequately updated. They’re TRYING to right now, but it’s 15 years overdue.

I've been stuck in traffic in Austin on a damn Saturday afternoon. And not just a bottleneck here and there, but TRAFFIC traffic.

PatBateman > Nonster 05/24/2016 at 12:09

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I got pulled over in Illinois years ago in an late night/early morning trek to Chicago from Houston. I was going 65 just in case the speed limit had dropped as I crossed the border over ththe Mississippi from Missourri. I asked the cop why he pulled me over.

“You were speeding. Our highway speed limit here is 55.”

I actually laughed out loud asking him if he was serious about the speed limit being only 55 on the interstate. Then he wrote me a ticket.

PatBateman > Tekamul 05/24/2016 at 12:15

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Meh. On wide open stretches of road with 85 MPH speed limits, I do believe that the limit for trucks should be 75. However, these are pretty straight and non-curvy roads (TX 130) we’re talking about.

PatBateman > Birddog 05/24/2016 at 12:16

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70 is slow here too. The 70 MPH SPEED LIMIT, though, is laughed at by pretty much everyone.

PatBateman > CalzoneGolem 05/24/2016 at 12:16

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Stay in the right lane, ya bastard.

PatBateman > Flyboy is FAA certified insane 05/24/2016 at 12:17

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Those little white signs on the side of the road that are only good for neighborhoods.

PatBateman > Aaron M - MasoFiST 05/24/2016 at 12:22

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Admit it, there was a back-handed little jab in there as well. I'm not mad, but don't pretend that there wasn't. ;)

CalzoneGolem > PatBateman 05/24/2016 at 12:23

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What if I need to turn left?

Aaron M - MasoFiST > PatBateman 05/24/2016 at 12:28

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I plead the fifth. :-p

On a related note, I’m in Houston for work somewhat regularly and driving there is terrifying. Not sure if it’s the speed, the trucks, or the fact that I’m at the mercy of a Houston cab driver.

PatBateman > CalzoneGolem 05/24/2016 at 12:38

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Then you'll take the exit to turn left. That, or three rights make a left.

Urambo Tauro > PatBateman 05/24/2016 at 12:39

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What is “fast”? Faster than what? What is “slow”? Slower than what?

PatBateman > Urambo Tauro 05/24/2016 at 12:41

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Yes.

Gone > PatBateman 05/24/2016 at 12:50

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I’m in it in Houston traffic 2.5hrs a day. It’s mostly stop. ;) It’s really only bad if it rains or there’s an accident. So...always, haha.

Austin traffic is hell. I’ve been on MOPAC during “rush” with accidents blocking the road ahead. *dies of old age trying to get to an exit* And yeah, I-35 and MOPAC both suck on Sat/Sun as well. I bomb up/down TX-130 now when I go through Austin. I will gladly pay all the dollars to not use MOPAC or I-35. I can’t imagine being in that every day.

As you probably know, all of I-35 is awful - from SA through Denton including I-35E through Dallas.

PatBateman > Gone 05/24/2016 at 13:08

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Yup yup yup. I lived in Austin during the 90's and always wondered why the local and state government never did anything about the major North-South arteries. They were jammed up 20 years ago!!

Conan > PatBateman 05/26/2016 at 08:28

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As a Virginian... I like to take back roads a lot. Before I learned this lesson I got a lot of tickets.

PatBateman > Conan 05/26/2016 at 09:57

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It’s hard to get a ticket on Texas interstates. You really have to be hauling balls to attract attention, or be the only person on a stretch of road exceeding the limit.

However, I also like to take back roads as well.

Conan > PatBateman 05/26/2016 at 10:00

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Yeah, I know. I’ve got good friends in Galveston and a cousin in Houston. When my girlfriend eventually finds a more long term job we’ll probably end up moving. I’m sad she’s so against Texas.

PatBateman > Conan 05/26/2016 at 10:21

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Most people that move down here end up loving it so much that they stay. Houston can be humid and hot (today feels like 101° humidity), but the culture, diversity, and entertainment in this city is world class.

Conan > PatBateman 05/26/2016 at 10:59

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Absolutely. My cousin does music research and he’s had an amazing time.