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It's not just you: The Katy Freeway is scientifically awful
Posted on 4/20/24 at 10:14 pm
Posted on 4/20/24 at 10:14 pm
quote:
The Katy Freeway consistently strikes fear in the hearts of Houston's commuters.
You'd think that because it's so wide, there wouldn't be as much congestion as other, less huge highways. But alas, that is not the case.
A video from Vox uses the Katy Freeway to explain how adding lanes to a highway doesn't automatically mean less traffic.
At its widest point, the Katy Freeway has 26 lanes including the feeder roads. It doesn't matter. Those 26 lanes at the Katy Freeway at Beltway 8 were ranked the second-worst bottleneck in the country in 2004.
Vox points out that adding more lanes just brought in more drivers that might not have used the highway before, making all efforts to mitigate the paralyzing traffic moot.
Yes, the Katy Freeway is not the place to relax or enjoy a pleasant morning commute. But it does bring us some other fame because of its ridiculous size.
The concrete monstrosity is reportedly the widest freeway in the world. It's wider than several Houston landmarks, including NRG Stadium, Discovery Green and Minute Maid Park.
No, adding lanes to a highway does not always mean less congestion.
21
Posted on 4/20/24 at 10:23 pm to hikingfan
quote:
The Katy Freeway consistently strikes fear in the hearts of Houston's commuters.
That’s a bit dramatic.
Posted on 4/20/24 at 10:23 pm to hikingfan
quote:
You'd think that because it's so wide, there wouldn't be as much congestion as other, less huge highways. But alas, that is not the case.
It has been proven that simply widening highways does not improve congestion. It just creates more lanes of it.
Posted on 4/20/24 at 10:29 pm to hikingfan
I lived in Katy for 12 years. That freeway is still seen in my nightmares. frick that highway
Posted on 4/20/24 at 10:29 pm to hikingfan
Just ride HOV lane regardless of being in a HOV?
Posted on 4/20/24 at 11:30 pm to hikingfan
Katy is for the poors as are the hwys. You should be in memorial and take memorial to downtown if needed or live in river oaks and be downtown in 7 minutes. Or have up office near your own - OT rich solutions.
This is not a prob for the OT
This is not a prob for the OT
Posted on 4/20/24 at 11:51 pm to hikingfan
This seems like hyperbole.
I've driven on it and it seems fine.
I drive I-45 the most frequently and it seems more "dangerous" than the Katy fwy.
I've driven on it and it seems fine.
I drive I-45 the most frequently and it seems more "dangerous" than the Katy fwy.
Posted on 4/21/24 at 12:42 am to hikingfan
Just checking in to mention my biggest traffic challenge around the house here is a 4 way stop a few miles down the road.
Sometimes I've seen as many as 3 cars all at the intersection at the same time.
What a mess.
Sometimes I've seen as many as 3 cars all at the intersection at the same time.
What a mess.
Posted on 4/21/24 at 3:59 am to hikingfan
And almost everyone is going to jobs they could do from home.
Posted on 4/21/24 at 4:03 am to hikingfan
Just one more lane bro.
Posted on 4/21/24 at 6:59 am to hikingfan
Katy Freeway, especially that section, is heaven compared to most of 45 north.
Posted on 4/21/24 at 7:29 am to hikingfan
It’s not the 26 lanes that’s the problem - it’s dropping 22 lanes to get back to 4.
Posted on 4/21/24 at 7:37 am to hikingfan
At least it is scenic.
Posted on 4/21/24 at 7:42 am to hikingfan
I have driven it several times visiting family in e hill country, and while people drive like nimrods on it, it was never really that bad. now from Houston to BR to me is worse - but in fairness, I do not have to drive it very often.
Posted on 4/21/24 at 7:50 am to hikingfan
Katy Highway, in the sunshine. Where the drives are longer, the nights are somber, than moonshine. You're gonna go, I knowwwwwwww
This post was edited on 4/21/24 at 7:54 am
Posted on 4/21/24 at 8:44 am to hikingfan
quote:
second-worst bottleneck in the country in 2004.
20 years ago? Who cares?
Posted on 4/21/24 at 10:03 am to hikingfan
Still not as bad as hwy 290 pre-2018
Posted on 4/22/24 at 3:40 pm to hikingfan
Katy Freeway is wide open wayyyyy more than 610 on Western side. Not even close. Majority of the time I'm on I-10 in Houston, I don't really have to slow down below 50. On 610, I've never once been able to maintain a speed over 25.
This post was edited on 4/22/24 at 3:46 pm
Posted on 4/22/24 at 3:48 pm to hikingfan
I don't like city driving.
20 lanes sounds very frightening to me.
20 lanes sounds very frightening to me.
Posted on 4/22/24 at 3:51 pm to hikingfan
And yet, I'd still rather drive on the Katy Freeway during rush hour, morning or afternoon, or any time of the freaking day, than trying to get in or out of Baton Rouge on I-10 during a similar timeframe.
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