Re: US95

["David peckham" <bikosphere@hotmail.com>]

Ry Jones
why dont you take 97 thru Bend, its quicker and less chance of snow? I-84 to 
Portland when there is snow beats Donner.

I dont know why you choose to make such an awesome drive regularly, but for 
most purposes, this is madness.  Why does America think it deserves this 
level of mobility?  The costs are staggering, in terms of the environment, 
the infrasturcture and the quality of life we have to put up with so that we 
can all drive everywhere.  I am sickened by the five levels of overpasses I 
see all around the SF Bay Area, each one costing hundreds of millions of 
dollars, completely dividing the communities they rip apart. If you want to 
go anywhere around there, you have to drive.

and speaking of trucks, I saw on the back of one the other day "Without 
Trucks America Stops" and it angered me.  First the oil, rubber, truck and 
auto industries ganged up to subvert democracy by buying Congress, crippling 
rail transport, and then the truckers claim bragging rights.

NOw lets talk about how those trucks keep getting bigger.  Look at whats 
happening around Moscow, they can't safely make turns at 3rd and Washington. 
  Soon the highway departments are going to want to rip out buildings on the 
corners because "the roads too small, trucks can't turn."

thanks for the great rant!  I feel so much better!
Dave Peckham



>From: rjones@airgap.net
>To: vision2020@moscow.com
>Subject: US95
>Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2000 16:50:21 -0800 (PST)
>
>I think I have a unique perspective on this whole US95 issue. I drive from
>Moscow to Newark, CA and back once a week. It's 960 miles and about 16 
>hours
>of driving time one way. I am very much in tune with 95 and it's flaws.
>Here are the ones that I think are the worst:
>1) 95 goes through Oregon. The speed limit drops to 55 all the way and 
>there
>are a lot of cops in Jordan Valley and camping out near the 95/78 weigh
>station to enforce this. The limit is 65 in Idaho and 70 in Nevada.
>2) Ice fog. On every trip this winter I have driven through ice fog. On
>Thursday Night my minivan picked up a good half inch of ice on all
>forward facing parts.
>3) Nowhere to pass. I drive late at night to avoid the worst of it but
>it's just about impossible to pass anywher on 95. North of White Bird
>it gets better but not much better.
>4) Grades. White Bird and Lewiston put a hurting on anything other than
>a two seater.
>5) Wind. I have dents from tumbleweed hitting my minivan on Thursday night.
>It was impossible to maintain lane control above about 35 miles an hour.
>
>How can we solve this? I would suggest some tunnels, and perhaps a wind 
>break
>of trees along the road. Run 95 right out the bottom of Idaho down to
>Winnemucca. Sure, McDermitt will die off but the only thing there is the
>Say When casino. Perhaps a covered roadway if tunnels are not acceptable.
>Winter driving on 95 is the worst I've ever seen. At least it's not as
>heavy in the traffic department; I was stuck on Donner Pass on Superbowl
>Sunday b/c Californians were too busy putting Jeep Grand Cherokees into
>the median and other cars. I gave up and pulled off and waited out the reno
>returners. I certainly don't want to open up Moscow like Reno or Tahoe
>but the current situation is just beyond stupid. Most of the truckers
>I talk with take 84 up to 395 and take that up rather than deal with
>95. The price we all pay is higher prices for products brought up from
>the south.
>
>Sorry for rambling but I drive 95 a lot and it's a serious sore point for 
>me.
>No, driving over across Oregon to 5 and down isn't really an option.
>--
>Ry Jones
>

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