The Center Lane

[Chuck]

This article in the Ledger-Independent displays the need to make improvements on the use of the Center Lane at Intersections and crossings. http://maysville-online.alerisdata.com/article.asp?catid=2&articleid=11203

To me this whole idea requires little thought. The primary question is “What is safer for the people?”

The only thing the Center Lane did was add to the confusion. How to use them and what is legal use for them.

You see the Center Lane and 2 safety thoughts come to mind for the prudent man.
1. Use it as a turn lane to not have to stop or slow down in the High Speed Lane.
2. Use it to merge out. This saves you from needing to wait and focus on 5 lanes of traffic to clear.

The law is clear that you are not allowed to drive in the center lane, yet it makes an exception to allow you to use it as a turn lane. This is even though they are not marked in that manor. The confusing part is that these lanes are that they are not marked as to how you are to uses them properly. You are forced to guess till you are issued a citation. Then you know.

Now after you receive a citation for this you become “Gun Shy”, Afraid to use these lanes. Now we have people stopping dead in the High Speed Lane to turn Left in to a business while people in the parking lots are waiting for 5 lanes of traffic to clear so the can exit the businesses.

I used the lanes in the past based on how I have seen the police officers use them. I would assume that during their normal routine patrol driving they would not violate the law. Now I hear the police warning that it is illegal to use these lanes as a merge lane. I will comply now that I see there is a clearly defined use for the lanes. I don’t agree with this but will comply.

The problems that we had before the Center Lanes must still exist. The Center Lanes where seen as a solution to many traffic problems. Now it is apparent that they are just wasted pavement on the roadways.

Tell me what you think, How do you feel the Center Lanes best serve the public.

[kcredden]

I honestly thought that using it as merge lane coming from the hospital was a good idea. That or run right out into traffic, when it's the ONLY way to get out.

They need merge lanes like on highway exits. I've seen a few wrecks there myself, and sometimes I have to go right for a mile or two to turn around. Several places are like that.

[navywife]

This is the only place that I have ever been that the center lane is only for turn ---on a 5 lane road.... I can understand it if it was only a 2 lane road and the speeds were only 35 but on the bigger roads it is just safer to use it as a merge lane---I will follow the law even though I disagree--this place has the craziest laws that I have ever seen ----just crazy--they want to stay a small town but want the economy of a larger place --No one wants to change with the times....Needless to say I will not miss this town just the people ----

[canaco]

I think they need a stop light at the Hospital entrance/exit. Most people going in and out of here are not feeling well to state the least. I hate stop lights but some day I too might be thankful if one was put in there somewhere. Chuck, you sound like you got a ticket there.

[mark]

......not only is a stop light needed at the hospital, the speed limit needs to be lowered to 45 mph. That would hopefully slow down all the accidents around here lately..................see ya Mark

[Chuck]

Nope, No ticket. We fortunately we have a Police Dept. that doesn't get "Ticket Happy". I was attempting to draw a reference to what could happen and failed I guess. I might consider rewording the lead post. It should sound more like a scenario.

Mark and I agree. I think a stop light and speed limit reduction would work.

[tkcomer]

I always thought the center lane was for turning and merging. Shows how much I know. On 68, you almost have to use the center lane to get across. But the article was about people that pull out in front of vehicles and get nailed in the driver's door. Probably the best thing to do is shut the Kenton Station exit down. That would stop 90% of the traffic. I thought about merging that road with the hospital road, but you don't want all that traffic roaring through there.

[kcredden]

Nope, No ticket. We fortunately we have a Police Dept. that doesn't get "Ticket Happy". I was attempting to draw a reference to what could happen and failed I guess. I might consider rewording the lead post. It should sound more like a scenario.

Mark and I agree. I think a stop light and speed limit reduction would work.

I think more than anything, a stop light would be a MAJOR help. It may even help the ambulances, and fire dept. get out quicker. Especially since they may be able to control the lights in an emergency.

Please pass that along to the goverment if you can, Chuck. Lights for this area.

[collins17]

DO away with it. What more important some one getting killed or taking 2 more minutes and take the far exit coming out of the hospital(across from chrysler ).. Just another case of State Officals not taking time to add more dirt and fill to accommodate the GUARD RAILS that block your view there..

[KrisT]

I know this small town can seem to make up its own rules, but everywhere else in the world I have been the middle lane can be used to help merge into traffic after crossing two lanes, so why would we have different rules? The driving handbook the kids get might clarify this? I learned it in driver's ed, and have never been cited for doing it. Maybe there are certain ways it should be done?
Curious to see how the entry problems at the hospital resolve, since they are serious. I have taken the emergency vehicle road a couple times to avoid the Kenton Station road entry/exit (with eyes wide open, aware of my mistake!). They should maybe cut the speed limit once past the golf course and expand the other hospital road to make it more easily accessed and obvious as a choice....and add at least a blinking yellow light.

[tkcomer]

The ultimate solution is to build a road from Kenton station, across in front of the hospital and tie it into the Martha (She married into a good family) Comer road and stick a stoplight up. Close the other exits. But the state would rather spend millions building a bypass that no one seems to want than to actually fix the problems on the AA. Go figure.

[mark]

.............tkcomer has the best idea, however, I know how the state operates. They want something cheaper. The other above post is correct also. Get rid of the entrance closest to Kenton Station Rd.

If you force everyone to go to the other entrance, it will be a lot safer. Of course if they do that, the entrance will probably need a stoplight & even a center lane to hold ALL the traffic.............see ya Mark

[Daphne]

I have used the far entrance several times, when I have been in a hurry to get to another appointment. But I have found the that entrance/exit is a little more difficult to use especially on exit. You have to get down as far as you can making sure that you are not sticking out in the AA. The hill there tends to hinder your view of traffic coming at you. Keep in mind that a good deal of traffic on the AA is truck drivers, not from this area. Most of us in the Maysville area know that the hospital is there and that more than likely there are going to be a few cars turning in and out of that area. So we are alert to the situation in that area.

If I remember correctly the AA was a project that was intended to increase traffic to this area, it is a road that connects I275 to the Ashland area basically I64. The AA is a time saver for this area if you need to get to any of the above areas. However, it has become a shortcut for truckers who need to their loads to these locations. I can remember my dad using the AA to get his load to Ashland and Cincy before the AA was ever officially open. It is a great time saver. But look how the area has progressed since the AA was put into play. Thirteen years or so of the AA being here, what do you remember. Farmers use the AA as well and if you don't watch or are not familiar with it that is always a danger. In certain areas of the AA there are farmers who think they are still on the farm and pull out right in front of you and then go 20mph. LOL If anyone has travelled the AA enough they know what to look out for and are still amazed as to what they see. I travelled the AA for a little over 3 years going to school in northern Kentucky and working there as well. The more and more the AA progresses to develop the more we will need additional stop lights and specific turn lanes for areas. I can think of at least 7 stop lights that have been put into place on the AA from I275 to the Tollesboro area.

Another area that I see needing a stop light in the coming future is the expansion of Tucker Drive US 68 to the AA. I can see another stop light on US 68 in the future, this is one reason that I did not want to purchase a home in that area at this time because the traffic is so bad from the K-Mart area as well as the additional entrance/exit to this area. We were looking at houses in this area and were using the 2nd entrance/exit to this subdivision and what I seen was a situation similiar to the problem at the Speedway/BP area. If you are trying to use a certain entrance/exit you will have traffic stopped right in front of you and you are not able to move and if someone feels bad for you and leaves an opening for you and you are travelling the opposite direction (not with the flow of traffic) you are risking your life trying to pull out because you are in one heck of a blind spot and are depending on others to help you out in this situation and end of getting smashed because someone trying to use the turn lane has no clue as to what is going on and comes flying up in your area not knowing what you are doing.

Lets face it there are several locations in this area that originally had good entensions but now are just a very hazardous situation at this day and time.

[tkcomer]

One of the problems I see is the overdevelopment of the AA. Does the hospital really need 3 right of ways? No, one would do. Does Kenton Station Road need to be open? No. Do two shopping centers butted together really need 5 right of ways? No, one should have been constructed to serve both. We don’t have THAT much traffic. It’s just that all the lights are backing things up until another right of way starts having problems. Once you get out of Maysville, and away from the lights, traffic smoothes out. Poor planning and cheapness created this mess and stoplights are an even cheaper way to solve the problem. And we pay for it in longer drive times, poorer gas mileage, and higher maintenance on our vehicles.

[Chuck]

Traffic in our area has increase 1/3 in 10 years. Closing Simon Kenton to the AA would only stop the people that use it as a cut across between 68 and the AA.

If you create the access from Simon Kenton to the hospital, Close Simon Kenton to the AA, you have only passed the problem over to US 68. A solution would be needed there.

Stop light don't create traffic, people do. I have absolutely no room to talk, but also people with poor driving habits.

The accidents in the Hospital area are mostly patient or family of a patient coming out of the Medical Center area after hearing bad news.

We have around 5 Plants/Factory's off the AA. The Hospital and many large and small businesses.

The main question that would need a solution is "What can be done to insure the safety of our Friends. Family and Neighbors come to and from the Hospital." Keep in mind that someday that WILL include you.

I am pretty much the blame for the scattered path of this topic. I really should have focused on the real issue and not the Purpose of the "Center Lane". A little late to correct that.

I believe the best solution is one that will insure the safety of all traveling to and from the Hospital.

[kcredden]

I am pretty much the blame for the scattered path of this topic. I really should have focused on the real issue and not the Purpose of the "Center Lane". A little late to correct that.

I believe the best solution is one that will insure the safety of all traveling to and from the Hospital.

I think this post however has done a great service. I think all the city officals should read it closely. I was talking to my mother of just this, and she too is under the impression that the center lane is designed for turning and merging The idea it is not is nuts. Sometimes that's the only way to get on the other lanes.

[tkcomer]

Back to the center lane. The law I find is fuzzy. KRS 177.300 00260 Improperly Turning, Drive Lane, or Entering LTD Highway. It goes on to state: Drive Motor VEH O/CTR Divider Sect on LTD Access Highway. Also: Driving Motor Veh in Improper Lane on LTD Access HWY. It’s also a misdemeanor. Does that mean no ticket? To me, the first one applies to the section of the AA that has no center lane but a raised ridge. The second one refers to “Improper Lane” But what’s improper? It doesn’t mention center. KRS 189.330 00270 Improper Lane usage/Vehicles Keep Right Except to Pass. Could it be referring to that? Or how about: KRS 189.310 (1) 00126 Fail to Give Right of Way to Veh Passing Opposite Direction? I think that applies to a highway with 3 lanes, and the person is driving in the left hand lane and the oncoming traffic can’t pass because of it. But I can’t find a law that specifically says that you can’t use the center lane to merge into traffic. Of course they have KRS 189.000 00699 All Other Traffic Offenses Not Listed. We know what that one is for. Maybe that’s the one they are referring to.

[mark]

..............all of that makes little sense to me. What other reason could there be for a center lane except the reasons we've been talking about??

I have another.........
Maybe it's a good place to start changing flat tires..................see ya Mark

[Daphne]

Within the next 30 days look for a new stop light at the intersection of Kenton Station Dr and KY 9 (AA). It is speculated that there will be warning lights at this intersection but another study must be done first.

[mark]

..............another study ?? Doesn't the state get it?? All they have to do is look at the last few years of accident reports. Those stoplights will help, but will be useless IF they don't install those warning flashers about 1/4 away from the intersection.......and.........lower the speed limit to 45mph.

Then it will be safer.
The sooner the better...............see ya Mark