Why do road studies cost so much? Let’s count the reasons
QSo it’ll cost $1.5 million to study possible changes at the interchange of Highway 101/ Interstate 880. I think I’ll go into the transportation study business. Can you enlighten us on why studies like these take so long and cost so much? — Russ Wood, Mountain View
AThose prices are pretty typical. These are big jobs and will involve hundreds of consultants who specialize in everything from environmental impacts to traffic flow to alternative solutions.
Typically an agency has to do the following to initiate a project on a state road:
• Define the purpose and need for the project, i.e., figure out what the priorities are.
• Get input from stakeholders, which involves meetings with agencies and the public.
• Collect and analyze traffic data and environmental reports.
• Identify alternatives, which involves engineering teams creating options for consideration, reviewing benefits and
any flaws.
• Develop a plan to deliver the project.
• Estimate the cost and schedule engineering work to figure out how to construct it.
This can take many months, involve a lot of people and meetings, and it all needs to be documented, which can add up to $1.5 million. — Frank Fantozzi, San Jose
AThat might cost more than $1.5 million.
QI was targeted by a reckless driver with an attitude and want to know how to report it using his license plate info. It would have been an accident if I hadn’t reacted like I was instantly thrown into a Formula One race.
This was an unprovoked, freeway-speed maneuver where the non-HOV driver drove into the no-man’s-land shoulder left of the diamond lane I was in.
And then, unexpectedly and without signaling, he merged into my lane while almost clipping my front left fender.
Minutes later, the same
thing happened again, and he had worked his way back to repeat his attack maneuver.
I resisted honking because he was obviously hell-bent to bother me for some reason, and my horn would only reinforce and reward his road rage. After the second pass, he quit his reckless sport and exited the freeway.
I want to know how to report what happened. Will reporting it do any good?
Now, hopefully, back to normal, non-racetrack, defensive driving. — Tim Mitchell
AI applaud you for not escalating this road rage incident by honking at this foolish driver. If you have the plate number, make of vehicle and time of day, pass it on to the CHP. It’ll likely not do any good, but if this driver makes this commute frequently, it’ll give the CHP a heads up.