Wikipedia:WikiProject U.S. Roads/Newsletter/Newsroom/Issue4-3

Issue 3 (Fall 2011)
Publication deadline: 12 PM Pacific, 3 PM Eastern on 10/31/2011, if not :Editor:

Junction list template updates coming

 * Editor: Imzadi1979

In 2011, based on some feedback from regular reviewers at FAC, there was a proposal to update how our junction/exit lists are formatted to include a second distance column. This second column would contain the metric equivalents of our mileposts. In the end, the solution was to mandate a footer at the bottom of the tables that contained the conversion formulas so that readers could do the math themselves. Many of our articles were never updated to add this footer however. In fact, the junction lists in several states are not compliant with MOS:RJL, the section of the Manual of Style on "road junction lists".

Several of us have worked to merge the previously separate templates for at-grade junction lists with the templates for exit lists. Afterwards, the templates were extended so that a table can show a separate column for any previous exit numbers that had been used, or even named interchanges. (See Ohio Turnpike and Pennsylvania Turnpike for examples.) We can even now add a state column for multi-state junction lists like on U.S. Route 491. The next update that will be activated in early 2012 will automatically add the second column to a junction list table for the metric equivalent distances.

To prepare for the change over, some changes will be required to the template formatting. The first is that if junction is listed with a range of mile posts, as with mileposts 7.886–8.776 for the US 131 interchange on the M-6 article, then the first number needs to be input using the   parameter while the second number is added to the. (There are equivalent  and   if the highway is measured in metric like Interstate 19.) Anything else except the number needs to be removed. That means if there is a footnote or the name of another highway, they have to be removed. Any non-numeric characters will produce a big, red error message once the templates are updated. The metric value will be calculated for you, so as long as the templates on the article are in proper shape, the transition should happen seamlessly. (We've already tested the changes in a sandbox.) The benefit is that as we do this, our articles will be better for international readers, and as other countries start to use the junction list templates, we will gain mileages in their junction lists as well.

ACR processes merged

 * Editor: Imzadi1979

Back in January, an A-Class Review (ACR) process was started for the Canada Roads WikiProject. In September, this review forum was merged with the USRD ACR and moved to the international Highways WikiProject. Since the CRWP version was essentially cloned from the USRD version, no procedural changes have been made to how ACR works save one thing. A note was added to the instructions that states: "Various national-level subprojects may have slightly different standards for articles under their scope. They will also use different variations of English. These differences will be respected and applied as appropriate." Please review the articles that have been nominated at WP:HWY/ACR, and if you know of any articles that are listed as Good Articles (GA-Class) that meet the criteria, feel free to nominate them.

Stub drive getting toward the end

 * Editor: Dough4872

The USRD stub drive has continued throughout the summer with the destubbing of several articles. As of October 31, the stub count for USRD is down to 2860, a decrease of 924 stubs since the last newsletter. Destubbing has taken place in several states, with Pennsylvania in particullar losing a lot of stubs over the summer. The process of destubbing has also began in Texas, with the state becoming the last to get under 250 stubs. In order to meet the goal of removing 2011 stubs in 2011, 336 stubs still need to be removed before December 31. At the current time, USRD is on pace to meet the goal on exactly December 31. We would encourage editors to keep working on destubbing articles as soon as possible so we can meet our goal.

Project news

 * Editor:

Be sure to look through Article Alerts and WT:USRD. (Maybe this will be a stub drive update.)

State updates
Write the updates below. If signatures are present, remove them before adding to the newsletter. California has slowed down in the fall. However, over the summer all of CA was de-stubbed. We remain at 4.272 in terms of relative WikiWork. There are currently plans to clean up a lot of the articles and convert them to RJL templates to ensure full compliance with WP:RJL.
 * California

While the pace of work in Maryland has slowed over the summer, there is still some nice improvement work done among the state's road articles. In the past six months, Maryland has gained three new Good Articles: Maryland Route 318, U.S. Route 15 in Maryland, and Interstate 70 in Maryland. In addition, a fact from Maryland Route 194 was featured in the Wikipedia front page's Did you know? column. Almost all articles in Carroll and Howard counties have been systematically brought up to B-class; Baltimore County is about halfway complete. Once Baltimore County is brought up to standard, there will be three counties left to systematically improve: Anne Arundel, Prince George's, and Montgomery.
 * Maryland

Since the spring, Michigan has had slower progress updating articles. Brockway Mountain Drive passed its FAC, and Portal:Michigan Highways passed its FPoC. U.S. Route 2 in Michigan is at ACR in preparation for an FAC nomination by the end of the year. Plans for any work on M-185 have been put on hold, but it could still be nominated at FAC before the end of the year.—Imzadi1979
 * Michigan

Destubbing work has continued in Pennsylvania throughout the summer and into the fall. This work has brought Pennsylvania down to 57 stubs and a relative WikiWork of 4.646 as of October 31. Most recently, Pennsylvania Route 848 became a GA.
 * Pennsylvania

Stub reduction has begun again in Texas, with the most recent push getting the state below 250 stubs and a stub count lower than Florida and Georgia. Texas has 205 stubs and a relative WikiWork of 4.673 as of October 31.
 * Texas

The stub elimination drive in Virginia has picked up steam in the last six months. All Interstate Highways and all but two U.S. Route articles are at least Start-class; in addition, all state-numbered primary highways with a number less than 123 are at least Start-class, with a significant number of higher-numbered route articles de-stubbed as well. Virginia now has 181 stubs, which is a reduction of close to 50% in the past year.
 * Virginia

Leaderboard and stub count

 * Editor: Dough4872

In the past several months, progress was made to improve the project's articles. Iowa and Arizona both pushed under the 4.0 mark. Here's a look at the top ten as of the October 31, 2011, update. States in italics are task forces. Unlinked states have no project.

During the summer, the only change in position is that Iowa moved ahead of Arizona and Minnesota to number 8. All other states remain in the same position from the last newsletter. For updated statistics daily, check out WP:USRD/A/S.

Taking a look at the project as a whole:

Since the last newsletter, the project converted one A-class article to a featured article. In addition, there has been a gain of 21 good articles. Several stubs have also been removed and the project now has more start-class articles than stubs.

Selected article/picture from portal

 * New Jersey Route 55
 * U.S. Route 30 in Iowa
 * Minnesota Highway 610
 * Interstate 40 in Arizona
 * Capitol Loop
 * Interstate 80 Business (West Wendover, Nevada – Wendover, Utah)
 * Prairie Avenue

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