William World News William F. Yurasko's blog v.14 – Nats, Redskins, Capitals, D.C. life, transportation, not so much Penn State anymore,

Financing for turnpike/I-95 connector concerns auditor general – The Inky
In not-all-surprising news, that Pennsylvania Turnpike/I-95 green card scheme has gotten the attention of Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale.
DePasquale said he was especially interested in why an entity was created to broker the deal, in which wealthy foreign investors would lend the turnpike $200 million [...]

Chinese investors to fund turnpike-I-95 connection – The Inky
The multi-generational saga to build an interchange between the I-276/Pennsylvania Turnpike and Interstate 95/Delaware Expressway just got weirder:
To help pay for the construction of the long-awaited connection between the Pennsylvania Turnpike and I-95, turnpike officials plan to borrow $200 million from wealthy foreign investors.
The investors, expected to [...]

BREEZEWOOD, Pa. — We had just gotten away from the indirect connection for Interstate 70 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike when I saw a familiar color scheme on a bus. As I got closer, I was kind of surprised to see that it was a D.C. Metrobus. Why it was approximately 128 miles away from Washington, [...]

Beneath the surface, the Beltway crumbles – The Post
The core infrastructure of the Capital Beltway (Interstate 495 and between Springfield, Va. and Beltsville, Md. also Interstate 95) is approaching the end of its usable life.
Under the surface of all but some recently restored segments, fissures are spreading, cracks are widening and the once-solid road bed [...]

In the ‘what exit?’ state, famed Turnpike, Parkway logos could be marketed – Star-Ledger
Several years after knockoff apparel, stickers and other tchotchkes became available, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority is getting ready to sell official merchandise. Already, unauthorized vendors are selling t-shirts with the Turnpike and Parkway logos on them. Additionally, there are plenty of [...]

After a trip to San Francisco several years ago, I noted that the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge would be considered the signature bridge in most cities, but it is second to the majestic Golden Gate Bridge. The Bay Bridge with its two back-to-back suspension bridges is majestic and beautiful in its own right. Now, an [...]

Recently, I overheard somebody praising the new Transurban I-495 EZ Pass Express Lanes (also known as HOT Lanes for High Occupancy or Toll) because “they respond to the marketplace in real time” or something along those lines. Overall though, the marketplace response seems to be “not interested.”
Over the first few months of operation, the [...]

Photo by I.C. Ligget – The control cities are weak, should be Del Mem Br/Baltimore/Washington

Working to end the bottlenecks – The Inky
The extension of the New Jersey Turnpike car-bus-truck lanes southward to Exit 6, the Pennsylvania Turnpike interchange is progressing well.
Billed as the biggest ongoing roadway project in the United States, the undertaking will transform [...]

FALLS CHURCH, Va. — The strange, heavy-at-time, rain storms on Friday resulted in rainbows throughout Northern Virginia. I saw one to the north from my office building window in Tysons, but the ones I saw driving to Ballston along Route 267 (Dulles Toll Road) and Interstate 66 were quite impressive:

Traffic was moving very slowly if [...]

After nearly a half-century, Maryland House to close its doors – The Sun
Two-year project will replace aging I-95 travel plazas with modern offerings
The first service area on Interstate 95 north, Maryland House, will close just after midnight this coming Sunday. The building will be knocked down and replaced by a new facility. After the Maryland [...]