User talk:Stretch Longfellow/Nebraska Highway Classification

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Upgrading US 34 from Ft. Morgan to McCook to Trunk

It was proposed by the Colorado Highway Classification group to upgrade US 34 (partially done on this changeset). I threw in my two cents worth over on their talk page, and further discussion should take place there. Hopefully we can come to some sort of agreement. --Stretch Longfellow (talk) 01:18, 4 October 2022 (UTC)

I agree that we extend the trunk classification on US 34 eastward to McCook. Having been on the highway myself, there was certainly a lot of truck traffic proportionate to the population of the area. US 34 is after all the only major east-west highway running through the area. Maybe we could even extend the trunk status eastward to Hastings along US 34 or to Rock Port, MO along US 136. NocoRoads 05:14, 4 October 2022 (UTC)
The only argument I've heard for US 34 is that it's the major east-west highway. The truck traffic I've seen out there is mostly local access. As I brought up on the CO talk page, US 36 is not that far away to the south (it literally is the next east-west highway to the south for much of the length under discussion), has less slowdowns for towns, serves larger populations, better quality, and used more (see my discussion about McCook and US 36 on the CO page). McCook is already served by a trunk road, and the only other city (by NE's definition; OSM has it as a town, which technically don't exist in NE in the legal sense) on that route is Benkelman, and I haven't actually seen any justification on the Colorado side in any discussions beyond "it should be". Maybe I'm missing them? I do want to know what initiated this particular discussion in the first place, but haven't actually seen anything specific to this route in the discussions I've been directed to and no overall rule that I see pertaining to this route.
In the event that we do decide to extend trunk status to US 34, I could see an argument of going through to Hastings so that there at least is a city on the route (by OSM definition), although I still caution against the over-propagation of trunk roads in rural areas that I'm seeing in other states (primary is still a thing!). That at least is part of the NHS network (feel free to jump into that discussion below). US 136 is a different matter. It doesn't merit NHS status until east of Hebron, has minimal improvements, and its federal classification is actually lower than many state routes. It is not a good candidate for preferential large-network routes.
A reminder that the classification standards for mainline state highways are secondary and US routes are primary, unless there is a reason to elevate them. If we upgrade US 34, I find it hard to justify why this should be enacted and not a majority of other US routes in NE with similar conditions, which will almost eliminate the primary designation. In summation, my admittedly very wordy opinion is that there is still value in the primary designation for routes such as this. --Stretch Longfellow (talk) 16:36, 4 October 2022 (UTC)
The CO working group has decided not to make this segment trunk, so I think we can close this discussion here. --Stretch Longfellow (talk) 21:13, 18 October 2022 (UTC)

Upgrading US 81 from Norfolk to Yankton, SD to Trunk

This would resolve the trunk spur from Yankton, and US 81 does receive a decent amount of north-south traffic, plus includes a four-lane bridge over the Missouri. It is unofficially part of the Pan-American Highway and follows the old Meridian Highway, for what it's worth. There are also currently no trunk highways between NE and SD east of US 385 (although admittedly not much population either). Thoughts? --Stretch Longfellow (talk) 01:18, 4 October 2022 (UTC)

Hearing no objections for over a month, I implemented this. --Stretch Longfellow (talk) 20:35, 22 November 2022 (UTC)

Upgrading NE 2 from Grand Island to Alliance to Trunk

This is a major thoroughfare (and practically the only one) through the heart of the Sandhills. While it never is greater than a two-lane road, it does have wide shoulders and is well-improved. It is part of the NHS. --Stretch Longfellow (talk) 01:18, 4 October 2022 (UTC)

Hearing no objections for over a month, I implemented this. --Stretch Longfellow (talk) 20:36, 22 November 2022 (UTC)

Relationship between the NHS and Trunk Roads?

It appears like several other states are taking a more liberal approach to trunk roads than Nebraska, and it's not solely related to population density (see Wyoming). It seems to me that most states are treating any road that is part of the NHS as a trunk road. To me this seems a bit excessive, but I want to know your thoughts. --Stretch Longfellow (talk) 01:18, 4 October 2022 (UTC)

Significant destinations

Following Wyoming's lead, I posted a table of significant destinations based on the 20 most populous population centers in Nebraska. Anywhere else to consider? Smaller rural towns such as McCook, Chadron, Valentine, etc? --Stretch Longfellow (talk) 20:39, 22 November 2022 (UTC)

US 83 between I-80 and I-90

So I'm working on South Dakota (there is no group, it's just me for now); would US 83 between North Platte and Valentine be a good candidate for Trunk classification? Seems there's a hole in the network that this would fill, but I don't know how important that route is in Nebraska. If this is approved, I'll upgrade 83 from the border to I-90, if not I'll leave as-is. I can say I haven't seen many Nebraska license plates around Murdo, but that is the route my friend used to go to/from college (Spearfish to Norman OK). SD Mapman (talk) 23:01, 22 February 2023 (UTC)

It is probably worthy of such classification. This stretch has about 1000 AADT (1/5 of which are trucks), which is around enough for trunk status in this area. It absolutely fills in that missing N/S gap in Nebraska. It may be even worthier than US 20 from Chadron to Valentine of this trunk status. We should wait to hear from Stretch Longfellow before we change the classification, of course. NocoRoads 00:43, 23 February 2023 (UTC)
I agree; I was actually considering this myself as there is talk (just talk so far) of eventually routing I 27 up that corridor as Colorado apparently has rejected any attempts to add the I 27 corridor there as part of the Heartland Expressway. I don't know that it's hugely important within Nebraska, but it is one of the more significant north-south routes through the state, filling the gap between US 81 and US 385, and does link Pierre with further south locales such as North Platte, Garden City, and Amarillo. --Stretch Longfellow (talk) 16:52, 8 March 2023 (UTC)