Why Some Roads In New York Don’t Have Lines
Sometimes I will wander down the strangest information holes. It is usually a result of me noticing something and then becoming more curious about it.
My husband says I ask good questions but he also agrees that I may ask too many questions. When I am on a good "questioning roll" I can be a bit overwhelming. Recently I had a question come to mind that I am sure I can't be alone thinking about especially after a road has been repaved.
Why Some New York Roads Don't Have Lines
Lately, towns and villages have been resurfacing and fixing up roadways around the Hudson Valley. Avoiding road closures will have me self-detouring just so I don't have to sit in traffic. Getting off the beaten path never hurts and sometimes it can be a learning experience.
So the question that has come up this week for me as I travel "off the beaten path" is why don't all roads have lines? I had always known that some roads don't have any traffic markings but I never gave much thought to why it was that way.
The reason some roads don't have yellow or white lines is quite simple. It is not because of the type of road they are or even the amount of people who live on them. Instead, it is based on some simple facts such as how wide is the road.
I did a little digging on the internet and was able to find the answer thanks to the NYS LTAP Center which is hosted by Cornell Local Roads Program. They have a very straightforward answer as to which roads get traffic lines.
Roads that Get Lines According to the NYS TLAP
1- Center line-markings should be placed on paved urban arterials and collectors that have a traveled way of 20 feet or more in width and an ADT of 4,000 vehicles per day or greater.
2 - Center line markings should also be placed on all rural arterials and collectors that have a traveled way of 18 feet or more in width and an ADT of 3,000 vehicles per day or greater.
3 - Center line markings should also be placed on other traveled ways where an engineering study indicates such a need.
So if you live on a road with no lines one of the reasons above is the reason why. Most likely number two.
8 of the Worst Roads for Bad Drivers in the Hudson Valley
Gallery Credit: CJ
BOO: These are the scariest haunted roads in America
Gallery Credit: Stacker
LOOK: These are the highways in New York with the most fatalities.
Gallery Credit: Stacker
LOOK: The longest highways in America
Gallery Credit: Hannah Lang