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w0jty t1_iycx3vj wrote

Reply to comment by jumprcablips in Why are traffic lights in Pittsburgh timed so poorly? by rickyrichboy

Cost of upgrading a non actuated light (timed only) to mag loop or camera actuated is usually 50-100k per intersection.

Cost of adding bike lane painting is 5-15k per mile.

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Gnarlsaurus_Sketch t1_iyd9cv0 wrote

I’m mostly pro bike lane for the record, but don’t they have to be repainted every couple years or so like the rest of the roads, negating much of the cost advantage?

IMO we would see more benefits by upgrading intersections before adding bike lanes in areas. This would make the bike lanes faster, safer, and also improve access for cars and pedestrians.

This would probably also cut down on people bitching about “useless” bike lanes that appear as such because they are incomplete and non-contiguous.

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w0jty t1_iydk630 wrote

Oh there are definitely ongoing, nuanced costs to both.

DOMI has done a decent job timing bike lane painting with resurfacing, so the paint crew is already there and the cost drops. On the flip side, complete street intersection upgrades (bike boxes, the retro reflective polymer tape that lasts longer than paint, etc) can balloon intersection upgrade costs closer to 500k, but definitely provide the improvements you called out.

My point to the “BiKe LaNeS CoSt MoNeY” comment was the highlight that it’s a balancing act, and simply saying bike lanes are why we don’t have good traffic lights is just wildly out of touch with how these things work. And that doesnt even factor in traffic analysis, neighborhood complaints, federal grant funding streams, politics, yadda yadda.

So a more nuanced response like yours is welcomed. Cheers!

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