Talk:Local–express lanes

Merge of Local Lane and Collector/distributor road into article
I believe that the articles of Local lane and Collector/distributor road should be merged. Both articles are okay in their present form so there isn't a need to delete. Both refer to the same thing, a freeway with a collector-express system. The collector-express system is the successor to the Frontage road or service road. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.38.206.199 (talk) 16:31, 9 July 2005 (UTC)


 * Hmmm, not a bad idea. --SPUI (talk) 23:51, 9 July 2005 (UTC)


 * I disagree. C/D lanes are very short, typically only serving the ramps of a single full-cloverleaf interchange.  Express lanes are much longer (most of the examples are about 10-20 miles in length), and several have interchanges on the express lanes at the major junctions.
 * Since this has been tagged for just about a year and no one's done anything about it, I'm going to go ahead and remove the tag. If someone wants to re-tag and form a full-on debate, be my guest. -- Northenglish (talk) -- 23:30, 26 June 2006 (UTC)

I made the merge. The reservation Northenglish mentioned doesn't sit well with me. There doesn't seem to be any particular measurement between the two, and certainly no need to have two articles when one could easily describe both. -  ʄɭoʏɗiaɲ  τ ¢  18:19, 10 January 2011 (UTC)


 * Since the merger, mention of collector/distributor road exists nowhere in the article. I would describe such as a scaled-down version—often single-lane—which serves multiple exits (albeit in different directions) at a single interchange. 199.101.56.96 (talk) 05:55, 7 December 2012 (UTC) JoeBuck7 (talk) 05:57, 7 December 2012 (UTC)

Name Convention
This isn't an express lane, why does it redirect here? Express lanes have less access to interchanges. I-70 in St. Louis has a physically separated 2-lane express lane in the middle that switches directions for rush hours. Since it is in the middle, it doesn't have access to any interchanges for the duration of the express lane. I noticed car pool lanes in LA are like this sometimes as well, though they don't have a physical separation, just two solid white lines.

By the way, I came here from the "See also: Express lane" link under "Third (reversible) carriageways on freeways" section in the "Reversible Lane" article. — Preceding unsigned comment added by RalphTheWonderLlama (talk • contribs) 03:40, 1 June 2006 (UTC)


 * The article is about a system of local lanes and express lanes. There's no way to have one article for local lanes and a separate one for express lanes.  If someone would like to propose a more appropriate title for this article, that might be good, but I'm happy as it stands. -- Northenglish (talk) -- 23:30, 26 June 2006 (UTC)


 * Either Collector-Express lanes or Local-Express lanes be better -- KelleyCook 20:22, 6 July 2006 (UTC)


 * I was WP:BOLD (as you can see) -- KelleyCook 18:47, 27 July 2006 (UTC)


 * This article should be renamed Local-Express lane system to eliminate confusion between this system and the dedicated contraflow express lanes that used to be referenced on this page. TEG 17:23, 31 July 2006 (UTC)


 * Feel free to rename, but the express lanes page should be nuked. See comment below. -- KelleyCook 22:27, 31 July 2006 (UTC)


 * Actually according to FHWA "A lane or set of lanes physically separated or barriered from the general-purpose capacity provided within major roadway corridors. Express lane access is managed by limiting the number of entranced and exit points to the facility. Express lanes may be operated as reversible flow facilities or bi-directional facilities." Therefore the Express Lane page should continue to exist, and this page should become a page to expand the local-express system, and explain how it is different than the Espress Lanes, or local-express system should be removed. TEG 15:28, 2 August 2006 (UTC)

The reason express lanes was created because all entries that exist on that page were removed from this page. Additionally, to the best of my knowledge, express lanes as indicated in the express lanes article still have connections off the freeway, just less than the mainline, where as express lanes in the local-express lane system only has the ability to access the local lanes. Also, express lanes in the local-express lane system run in each direction at the same time, whereas those referenced in the express lanes system are reverseible and operate in a contraflow design, with special sinage and mechanics to allow ingress and egress at constructed inchanges. TEG 17:18, 31 July 2006 (UTC)


 * I would just fix this article. There is nothing set-in-stone local-express lanes that means the express lanes can't have their own exits every now and then.  If so then many of the local-express (collector-express) lane systems wouldn't qualify as such.  Interstate 96 in Detroit has an exit to the Southfield Freeway from both the express and local portions.  -- KelleyCook 22:27, 31 July 2006 (UTC)

M20 lanes seem to be just C/D lanes —Preceding unsigned comment added by Joe The Dragon (talk • contribs) 02:19, 8 September 2006 (UTC)


 * It is possible that terminology regarding local lanes, C/D lanes, and variations on the "express" theme may vary depending on which region or country that you are in. Growing up in PA, NJ, and now working in MD -- I've typically used C/D lanes for any type of lanes fitting such similar descriptions, but I will sometimes use local lanes to refer to longer applications of C/D lanes.  That means that by my definition: Local Lanes are always C/D Lanes, but C/D Lanes are not always Local Lanes.  Sort of like how a square is always a rectangle, but a rectangle is not always a square. --Thisisbossi 14:07, 12 December 2006 (UTC)

On IL-53 by I-90 the sings referrer to Local and Express lanes but they are short like Collector distributor lanes so Local-express are like long Collector distributor lanes. Joe The Dragon 02:19, 8 September 2006 (UTC)


 * That's a special case... the marked route on one side of the interchange is different from the marked route on the other side of the interchange. So you also need to emphasize that you're traveling onto a new route. The I-290 exit to I-90 is a part of I-290/Illinois 53. The exit later on in the C-D ramp is the Illinois 53 exit to Illinois 62, and solely a part of Illinois 53. So to address this, IDOT decided to mark the thru lanes Illinois Route 53 Express, and the exit ramp Illinois Route 53 Local. Strangely, IDOT decided not to carry this convention traveling the opposite direction. (Interstate 290 for the express lanes, and the excessive "Interstate 90 / Illinois 62 (Algonquin Road) / To: Illinois 58 (Golf Road) / Illinois 72 (Higgins Road)" "exit"). This is likely because signage on Route 53 was unaffected by the Interstate 290 reconstruction project of 2002-2004. &mdash; Rob (  talk  ) 14:58, 8 September 2006 (UTC)


 * I have been working on these articles and the leads in particular. I have changed the article title in the lead to 'Local-express lane system'. Does anyone object to a move? PeterEastern (talk) 14:46, 21 July 2011 (UTC)

I-15 in Las Vegas
This one was classified as a collector-distributor road, not collector-express. Also we need images of this one.Jasper Deng (talk) 23:05, 2 July 2010 (UTC)

Diagram needed?
Here's one that could be of some use to the article Haljackey (talk) 05:19, 12 December 2010 (UTC)


 * Done. PeterEastern (talk) 05:45, 21 July 2011 (UTC)

Ontario examples
This articles lead needs to be rewritten. Ontario and 400 series freeways are mentioned 10+ times. The article is suppose to be about local-express lanes, not an advertisement for the greater Toronto Areas highway system. I will rewrite it when I get the chance. UrbanNerd (talk) 17:02, 12 December 2010 (UTC)


 * I think the cleanup much be complete as I see no excessive references to Toronto now. PeterEastern (talk) 14:47, 21 July 2011 (UTC)

NJ 18
New Jersey Route 18 should be added to the list. its a unique example of a local-express configuration through downtown New Brunswick. 71.168.227.172 (talk) 22:59, 3 August 2011 (UTC)

History?
Does anyone know the history of this design? I think it would be pretty cool if someone in the know could write a little bit about who invented it, when it started to be used, etc :) — Preceding unsigned comment added by 216.239.45.4 (talk) 01:18, 13 December 2011 (UTC)

Suggested merge
This article appears to discuss pretty much the same thing as Frontage road, and probably should be merged. If they're indeed different, that should be made clear in both articles. --Paul_012 (talk) 14:59, 6 March 2012 (UTC)
 * They are distinct. A local express setup is essentially a freeway within a freeway; frontage roads are akin to service roads in that residences, businesses or turn-offs may be present along them. -  ʄɭoʏɗiaɲ  τ ¢  16:20, 6 March 2012 (UTC)

 Purpleback pack  89  ≈≈≈≈  16:51, 6 March 2012 (UTC)
 * Oppose for two reasons
 * 1) Local-express lanes and frontage roads aren't the same thing
 * 2) Frontage road is both the older and more common term; therefore if any merger is made, frontage road should be the result page
 * Oppose* Agreed!
 * 1) Local/Express lane pairing typically are long runs. Local lanes sometimes run the full length of the Express lanes.  Local lanes have somewhat reduced speed limits, and serve to feed traffic on and off of high speed lanes, and don't typically have homes immediately on the road though may have businesses with residential instead lying on connecting roads.
 * 2) Frontage roads are often highly residential, may only run several blocks, often having residences facing the road, and can have speed limits of as low as 15 MPH or lower and with Watch Children postings.Foxkat (talk) 07:00, 9 April 2012 (UTC)
 * Oppose - They are two different concepts.  Dough 48  72  18:10, 22 April 2012 (UTC)
 * Oppose - My understanding is that Express Lanes are between two 'freeway' standard roads and frontage roads may be lined with shops/houses etc. PeterEastern (talk) 09:47, 23 April 2012 (UTC)
 * Oppose - As per the above explanations, these are completely different traffic engineering solutions.--Mariordo (talk) 00:22, 24 April 2012 (UTC)

The conclusion seems to be clear and that there will be no merge. As such I have removed the banner. PeterEastern (talk) 08:18, 24 April 2012 (UTC)

Dulles Toll Road
Does the Dulles Toll Road/Dulles Access Road (Virginia State Route 267) fall under this category? I would argue that it does. Nwebster84 (talk) 02:23, 20 July 2012 (UTC)


 * Having been on it before, I would say not. The primary reason is that there are no direct transitions between the access road in the center and the toll road on the sides. The other reason is because the outer roadway is tolled while the inner one is not.--Jasper Deng (talk) 03:19, 20 July 2012 (UTC)

Ontario Highway 403
Why is Ontario Highway 403 not considered a local-express highway? The entry for Highway 403 says that it is. Notwithstanding that it's a short system, reasons why I believe it is:
 * Ontario Highway 401 express westbound exits to Highway 403 express westbound; likewise, Highway 401 collector westbound exits to Highway 403 collector westbound. It's basically a spur of Highway 401's collector-express system.
 * There are exchanges between express and local lanes.
 * The local lanes have several exits; the express lanes have few.
 * Long-distance traffic (going from Highway 401 to the Queen Elizabeth Way) uses the express lanes, thereby avoiding the several local exits on Highway 403
 * Overhead signs are green in the express lanes, blue in the local lanes (as is the standard in Ontario for a collector-express system). — Preceding unsigned comment added by Backguy (talk • contribs) 13:46, 20 November 2012 (UTC)


 * Highway 403 only has separate lanes to go to separate destinations around the Highway 401-410/Eglington interchanges. It doesn't even go past one exit. You cannot "collect" on this highway. UrbanNerd (talk) 23:36, 20 November 2012 (UTC)


 * The article defines local-express as follows: "The local-express lane system is an arrangement of roadways within a major highway where long distance traffic can use lanes with fewer interchanges compared to local traffic which use 'local' or 'collector' lanes that have access to all interchanges." Long-distance traffic coming from Highway 401 express exits onto Highway 403 express and avoids two interchanges (Eglinton Ave and Eastgate Pkwy).  There is no mention of minimum distance or number of bypassed interchanges.  I think the requirements are met, unless someone can reference an authoritative external definition that provides a different definition. Backguy (talk) 01:12, 26 November 2012 (UTC)

Naming Confusion
I would like to bring attention to some naming confusion.

1) What is a local express system precisely and how does it differ from the collector distributor system?

2) of the four lane types (local, express, collector, distributor) which ones are inside the centre of the highway and which lanes are on the outside? The article is a bit confusing when it comes to this

I would like somebody to please help correct this issue because I am stumped myself, I've checked state DOT articles from the United States and Canadian government websites but they have conflicting information. Roadmasterbuick (talk) 02:58, 7 July 2022 (UTC)