Making Route 22 an interstate from I-78 split to Route 33 makes most sense
Transportation matters lie at a confusing nexus of local, state and federal needs, funding and regulation. When I write about it, a main goal of mine is to focus on the important parts: What is the government trying to accomplish? What are the challenges? When will it start? How long will it take?
So when I wrote last week that regional planners may try to designate Route 22 as an interstate, I fell back on that pattern. They want to address congestion on the highway, and interstates are getting more funding these days than local and state roads. They’d need to convince people at the state and federal levels to go ahead with the plan even though Route 22 is not up to interstate design standards. It would be difficult to accomplish, but not impossible.
But one of the fun things about being Road Warrior is the feedback from readers. You guys catch things I overlook and connect dots I don’t always spell out in the column. Last week was no different. biggest problem isn’t Cemetery Curve or the too narrow toll bridge, but the New Jersey portion of Route 22.
The 1.4 miles of Route 22 in Phillipsburg has three traffic lights, a dozen intersections and too many street-side businesses to easily count. The same issues apply in Lopatcong and Pohatcong townships in New Jersey, which have large box store developments along the highway. Making this stretch of Route 22 an interstate would be supremely expensive and wreak havoc with Warren County’s economy.
Like Vic, I think the best option would be to designate Route 22 an interstate between the I-78 split in Fogelsville to Route 33. Interstate traffic would then be directed south on Route 33 before joining with the current I-78 in Lower Saucon Township. This would likely require improvements to the Route 33/Route 22 interchange, but I don’t think it would be a deal-breaker under the right circumstances.
As for Route 33, I think making that an interstate would be an easier sell than Route 22. It already links Interstate 80 and I-78, and its design is better than Route 22’s. If it did become an interstate, I think it would be Interstate 580. I-80 is a primary interstate, so it would most likely take precedence over I-78. I have been wrong about this before, though ... available if I-78 ever gets a bypass in the Lehigh Valley. become a godsend for public safety. But there are challenges, obvious and subtle. Tech companies need to design vehicles that can sense its surroundings, navigate public roads and deliver its passengers in a safe and timely manner — all while being impervious from remote hacking attempts.
Self-driving vehicles also need to make split second judgments that raise ethical questions for society. If a child darts into the road and the vehicle can’t stop in time, should it swerve and potentially endanger others or strike the child? For a human driver, there’s little time to do anything but react. But tech firms need to program the computer ahead of time, meaning decisions need to be consciously made before the vehicle leaves the garage.
Right now, a few dozen tech companies are making those calls on their own. By taking no action, our government has allowed our streets and interstates to serve as test grounds. Other motorists and pedestrians are guinea pigs. Some people already have paid for this laissezfaire approach with their lives. Tesla and Uber autonomous vehicles have already killed people in Arizona, California and Florida.
Choosing inaction is a willful decision by politicians. The federal government hasn’t addressed its broader transportation problems in decades, and Congress has decided its best course of action is to not have a role in regulating self-driving cars. It has passed the buck to the states.
In Pennsylvania, the same rules for regular cars apply to autonomous vehicles. That means someone with a pulse and a driver’s license is required to be sitting behind the wheel. PennDOT has made recommendations that companies must provide information about their testing before these vehicles are allowed on public roads. In typical Harrisburg fashion, legislators haven’t acted. PennDOT spokeswoman Jan Huzvar said Plus.ai voluntarily complied with PennDOT policies, but it had no legal obligation to do so.
While I appreciate Plus.ai acting in good faith, the state shouldn’t allow experimental, potentially dangerous vehicles onto interstate highways based on a hope and a prayer. Harrisburg needs to get its act together.
Morning Call reporter Tom Shortell can be reached at 610-820-6168 or tshortell@mcall.com.