Latest news with #Routes
The Drive
13-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Drive
Car Rental Hidden Fee To Watch For: Get Charged for Crossing State Lines
The latest car news, reviews, and features. Renting a car in America is a consumer experience that's fraught with pitfalls. Hidden fees and fine-print conditions abound. After publishing the frustrations people have had with new AI-based damage fees, somebody emailed us to share another rental car company 'gotcha' that might not be on your radar: Extra charges for driving across a state border. This week, an email came in complaining about a rental car service called Routes—a brand I personally hadn't heard of, but one that does have quite a few agencies across the country. It also has a pretty deep catalog of reviews. Bad ones. As of this writing, it's at 1.3 stars on TripAdvisor. 'I recently rented from ROUTES in Atlanta (slightly lower cost and wanted to support an upstart), but my savings were dwarfed by a change they have for leaving the state,' our reader told us [sic] over email. 'Yes of course it is on the rental agreement, but under a category of Cross Boarder, which I assumed dealt with going into a foreign country like Mexico, Canada or maybe Texas. I had prepaid my rental and ten had zero option to resolve this. Oh and even though they have GPS on the car they charge me for every day of my rental, not just the ones that I was in South Carolina. The price for getting caught was $30 plus tax and the cost of paying up front was $21/day.' I looked into this and, sure enough, an out-of-state driving fee is plainly stated in Routes' rental policy, though I found it under the subheading 'Geographic.' As the rental company states [sic] : 'Mileage: Unlimited mileage is offered only within the state where the vehicle is rented. Vehicles are not allowed to leave the state of the renting location without written permission otherwise, an out-of-state/state crossing fee will be applied up to $29.99 USD/per day. Please check with the agent at the time of pickup.' Looks like Routes is following the RyanAir model of offering an ultra-low base price, then slapping fees on as many details as possible once you're committed. Scammy? No. Scummy? Maybe a little. But the moral of the story here is that you absolutely positively have to read your whole rental agreement, especially when you're going for a budget option on something like a car rental or flight. I could totally see somebody hastily scrolling through the terms and conditions at a car rental counter, not realizing, or expecting, something as trivial as crossing a state border to incur an extra fee. Hence, my inclination to share this with those of you who might need to hire a car in the near future. I've certainly never heard of such a fee, and like the person who wrote in to us, if I saw a 'cross-border' clause, I'd probably think that referred to driving to Canada or Mexico. Stay vigilant, folks. Run into any other rental car shenanigans like this? Drop the author a note at
Irish Independent
11-07-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
Wexford community divided about safe routes to school scheme
The scheme, which will see speed ramps constructed in the proximity of the school; pedestrian crossings erected in a number of locations; the removal of the set-down area outside the school with 26 car parking spaces removed; the installation of a two-metre wide footpaths throughout the village; and the reduction of the road width to six metres; is part of a national programme run by the National Transport Authority (NTA). Designed to make it safer for children to walk and cycle to class, Safe Routes to School schemes are carried out in a finite number of Wexford schools on an annual basis. This year, Ballaghkeene NS and Kiltealy NS were two of the schools selected for the programme. Already, a number of community meetings have taken place in Ballaghkeene with residents expressing their reservations about both the scheme and the lack of public consultation prior to its approval. While the Ballaghkeene scheme led to 24 submissions from members of the public, those living in Kiltealy – a village with a population of 466 according to the last census – have gone considerably further. 'The submission phase was completed on July 2 and there were 92 submissions in total,' said Kieron Doyle who has been involved in setting up the meetings in Kiltealy. 'We've had two community meetings and approximately 50 people at each of them, in the second meeting we unanimously agreed that we wanted to reject this programme in full." The plan has the support of both the school board of management and the parish council. Many of the submissions, which will now be considered by WCC, highlight a number of concerns and fears regarding the proposed scheme and how it will impact pedestrians and motorists in Kiltealy. One of those submissions relates to an individual undergoing medical treatment who will be discommoded by the installation of pencil bollards. "Don't get me wrong, safety comes first but how do you expect a dialysis patient to go and be picked up from another location when he has been picked up outside his gate for the last 30 years?' they ask. 'Sometimes he is not in good health after coming back from being on dialysis for four hours or more. He is picked up by a bus which is funded by the HSE and you expect him to go and be collected in another location? He has to have his dialysis and be picked up outside his gate. 'What we want is to go back a little bit with the pencil bollards so they can leave enough space for a vehicle to park, especially if they are planning to put a ramp outside the pier.' With regards to the scheme's overall impact on the village, many of those who have filed official submissions suggested Kiltealy would become less safe if the works go ahead. ADVERTISEMENT 'It is difficult to understand how anyone, conducting a health and safety risk assessment of the proposed changes could conclude that these measures will reduce the risks faced by our children on their way to and from school each day,' one wrote. 'Currently, children are dropped to school outside of the school gates. Going forward if the proposed measures are approved, children will be walking from either the graveyard or hall carpark. "The hall carpark is already limited in capacity at times and will now be expected to handle a significantly higher volume of cars. However, it lacks a circular flow of traffic and only has one entry and exit point which will exacerbate congestion and create a more hazardous environment.' Arguing that the proposed changes will simply move the congestion issues elsewhere, the resident said some aspects of the plan are 'definitely positive' but that, in order to find a workable solution, 'all sections of the community' needed to be involved in the decision-making process. The issue of consultation and ensuring the voices of the public are listened to, was also referenced in another submission. 'It is my understanding that the wider Kiltealy community was not adequately consulted during the early stages of this process,' they wrote. 'As a result, many local residents feel that their views and concerns have not been sufficiently considered, and there is a general lack of agreement with the proposals as they currently stand. 'I respectfully request that further consultation be undertaken with the community to ensure a more inclusive and transparent process. This would also allow for alternative options to be explored which may better reflect the needs and priorities of those directly affected.' A parent of three children under the age of five explained why they felt compelled to 'strongly object' to the proposal. 'Shifting the problem down the road to the community centre carpark where there is a large number of tiny toddlers arriving and leaving the playschool at the same times is not the answer,' they wrote. 'This is also the same carpark for the large playground which attracts a lot of users from near and afar daily and also the carpark for the community gym which is constantly busy and in use. 'As a mother who is currently doing drop off and collections in this small carpark five days a week I can firmly give my opinion that this is in no way an improvement or a solution to the current situation at the primary school. Moving the primary school parents' designated drop off/collection point to the community carpark will create more problems such as a severe shortage of parking spaces and pose a serious risk to the toddlers attending the playschool. 'The prospect of parking by the school with two toddlers multiple times a day causes me great stress and worry. Having to unload a double pram to unload three children to then walk up to the school, then walk back with two of them, is just not feasible every day.' A fellow parent explained that, as someone whose children attend a rural school, it was generally accepted that some pupils would have to be driven to the gates every morning. 'We have no choice but to drive to our rural community school. It is neither convenient nor safe to think I will be able to park the proposed distance from the school and safely walk all four of my children through a busy village. I have two hands and four children. I can not hold hands with all four of them. They are all well-behaved, however, they're young, and all children no matter how well-behaved, can be unpredictable. They do not have the same regard for safety. "I am certainly not against walking. We are a very active family. The walk is not the issue. Not having a set-down area for parents is a safety issue. People in a hurry to work, people with sick children in the car, or very young babies could make mistakes, could drop off as close to the school as possible but this will mean children being set-down at unsafe areas not designated to the task.' However, in support of the changes one resident, who wished to remain anonymous said: "It is evident that some members are opposed to this scheme, despite its obvious benefits. But there is a considerable portion in favour. "Many are unhappy with these signs saying Kiltealy Says No which have mysteriously appeared in the village. It gives the impression that the entire village is against this scheme, which is blatantly not true. "Many Kiltealy people, as laid out in submissions, believe there is a greater good at play here and that some small change and small sacrifice will result in a safer environment for our children. "Many believe this is a sacrifice worth paying." Kiltealy NS's board of management has outlined its reasons for approving the scheme. 'Concerns regarding traffic speed and congestion outside the school, particularly during drop-off and pick-up times, have long been a significant issue for both the school itself and the wider Kiltealy National School community,' read a statement issued by principal of the school, Maeve Duff. "Current and previous boards of management have made repeated representations to the local authority seeking action to address these matters.' Following the launch of the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programme in 2021, Kiltealy NS submitted an application and was subsequently accepted into the programme. In September 2024, the school was notified of its selection for Round 3 of the SRTS Programme. "During the initial stages of engagement, the board of management put forward the school's specific concerns regarding traffic speed and congestion,' continues the statement. 'These concerns were further heightened following a road traffic incident earlier that year involving a staff member who was commuting through the village, to the school, just prior to morning drop-off time. 'As part of the programme, the SRTS team conducted an audit, which included the observation of traffic flow during school drop-off and collection times. In addition, communication with parents was initiated via a letter from the SRTS, providing background information on the programme and a survey link, this letter and survey link was distributed to parents through the school's online communication platform. "Upon the collection and analysis of this data, the SRTS engaged with the local authority, WCC, which was tasked with drafting a preliminary design to address the concerns raised.' According to the board of management it, along with 'various community stakeholders', were afforded the opportunity to review this preliminary design at a dedicated stakeholder early engagement session organised by the SRTS. "This session enabled attendees to raise questions and express concerns regarding the proposed measures,' the board of management states. 'These were acknowledged and considered by the relevant authorities during the meeting.' The plan has also received support from the Parish Council. "Overall, Kiltealy Parish Council supports the proposed Kiltealy Safe Routes to School. After considering the potential impact on access to church properties such as the Church, Parochial House, parish car park, and graveyard, and the likely loss of existing on street car park spaces, we believe the long-term safety and wellbeing benefits for our school children and the wider community outweigh any short-term challenges and change that can likely be managed. The safety of the school children now and into the future is our primary consideration.' Currently awaiting approval from the local council, a vote on whether to go ahead with the scheme will be made at a future district meeting. And for Kieron, the fear is that the situation facing those in Ballaghkeene will be repeated in Kiltealy. 'That's been the case elsewhere,' he said when asked if he expected the scheme to be pushed through without consultation. 'It seems to be the modus operandi if you look at what happened in the Ballagh; acting without people being fully aware of what's going on. It will get done over the summer when no one's looking, and it can't be undone then.' The statement from the board of management said: 'The board of management of Kiltealy National School remains confident that WCC will give due consideration to all submissions received and will develop a final plan that effectively addresses the longstanding issues of traffic speed and congestion outside the school. It is our expectation that the outcome will prioritise the safety and wellbeing of our pupils – a matter which has always been, and will continue to be, our foremost concern,' the statement concludes.
Irish Independent
10-07-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
‘I have two hands and four children' – Wexford community ‘unanimously reject' safe routes to school scheme
The scheme, which will see speed ramps constructed in the proximity of the school; pedestrian crossings erected in a number of locations; the removal of the set-down area outside the school with 26 car parking spaces removed; the installation of a two-metre wide footpaths throughout the village; and the reduction of the road width to six metres; is part of a national programme run by the National Transport Authority (NTA). Designed to make it safer for children to walk and cycle to class, Safe Routes to School schemes are carried out in a finite number of Wexford schools on an annual basis. This year, Ballaghkeene NS and Kiltealy NS were two of the schools selected for the programme. Already, a number of community meetings have taken place in Ballaghkeene with residents expressing their reservations about both the scheme and the lack of public consultation prior to its approval. While the Ballaghkeene scheme led to 24 submissions from members of the public, those living in Kiltealy – a village with a population of 466 according to the last census – have gone considerably further. 'The submission phase was completed on July 2 and there were 92 submissions in total,' said Kieron Doyle who has been involved in setting up the meetings in Kiltealy. 'We've had two community meetings and approximately 50 people at each of them, in the second meeting we unanimously agreed that we wanted to reject this programme in full." The plan has the support of both the school board of management and the parish council. Many of the submissions, which will now be considered by WCC, highlight a number of concerns and fears regarding the proposed scheme and how it will impact pedestrians and motorists in Kiltealy. One of those submissions relates to an individual undergoing medical treatment who will be discommoded by the installation of pencil bollards. "Don't get me wrong, safety comes first but how do you expect a dialysis patient to go and be picked up from another location when he has been picked up outside his gate for the last 30 years?' they ask. 'Sometimes he is not in good health after coming back from being on dialysis for four hours or more. He is picked up by a bus which is funded by the HSE and you expect him to go and be collected in another location? He has to have his dialysis and be picked up outside his gate. 'What we want is to go back a little bit with the pencil bollards so they can leave enough space for a vehicle to park, especially if they are planning to put a ramp outside the pier.' With regards to the scheme's overall impact on the village, many of those who have filed official submissions suggested Kiltealy would become less safe if the works go ahead. 'It is difficult to understand how anyone, conducting a health and safety risk assessment of the proposed changes could conclude that these measures will reduce the risks faced by our children on their way to and from school each day,' one wrote. 'Currently, children are dropped to school outside of the school gates. Going forward if the proposed measures are approved, children will be walking from either the graveyard or hall carpark. "The hall carpark is already limited in capacity at times and will now be expected to handle a significantly higher volume of cars. However, it lacks a circular flow of traffic and only has one entry and exit point which will exacerbate congestion and create a more hazardous environment.' Arguing that the proposed changes will simply move the congestion issues elsewhere, the resident said some aspects of the plan are 'definitely positive' but that, in order to find a workable solution, 'all sections of the community' needed to be involved in the decision-making process. The issue of consultation and ensuring the voices of the public are listened to, was also referenced in another submission. 'It is my understanding that the wider Kiltealy community was not adequately consulted during the early stages of this process,' they wrote. 'As a result, many local residents feel that their views and concerns have not been sufficiently considered, and there is a general lack of agreement with the proposals as they currently stand. 'I respectfully request that further consultation be undertaken with the community to ensure a more inclusive and transparent process. This would also allow for alternative options to be explored which may better reflect the needs and priorities of those directly affected.' A parent of three children under the age of five explained why they felt compelled to 'strongly object' to the proposal. 'Shifting the problem down the road to the community centre carpark where there is a large number of tiny toddlers arriving and leaving the playschool at the same times is not the answer,' they wrote. 'This is also the same carpark for the large playground which attracts a lot of users from near and afar daily and also the carpark for the community gym which is constantly busy and in use. 'As a mother who is currently doing drop off and collections in this small carpark five days a week I can firmly give my opinion that this is in no way an improvement or a solution to the current situation at the primary school. Moving the primary school parents' designated drop off/collection point to the community carpark will create more problems such as a severe shortage of parking spaces and pose a serious risk to the toddlers attending the playschool. 'The prospect of parking by the school with two toddlers multiple times a day causes me great stress and worry. Having to unload a double pram to unload three children to then walk up to the school, then walk back with two of them, is just not feasible every day.' A fellow parent explained that, as someone whose children attend a rural school, it was generally accepted that some pupils would have to be driven to the gates every morning. 'We have no choice but to drive to our rural community school. It is neither convenient nor safe to think I will be able to park the proposed distance from the school and safely walk all four of my children through a busy village. I have two hands and four children. I can not hold hands with all four of them. They are all well-behaved, however, they're young, and all children no matter how well-behaved, can be unpredictable. They do not have the same regard for safety. "I am certainly not against walking. We are a very active family. The walk is not the issue. Not having a set-down area for parents is a safety issue. People in a hurry to work, people with sick children in the car, or very young babies could make mistakes, could drop off as close to the school as possible but this will mean children being set-down at unsafe areas not designated to the task.' Kiltealy NS's board of management has outlined its reasons for approving the scheme. 'Concerns regarding traffic speed and congestion outside the school, particularly during drop-off and pick-up times, have long been a significant issue for both the school itself and the wider Kiltealy National School community,' read a statement issued by principal of the school, Maeve Duff. "Current and previous boards of management have made repeated representations to the local authority seeking action to address these matters.' Following the launch of the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programme in 2021, Kiltealy NS submitted an application and was subsequently accepted into the programme. In September 2024, the school was notified of its selection for Round 3 of the SRTS Programme. "During the initial stages of engagement, the board of management put forward the school's specific concerns regarding traffic speed and congestion,' continues the statement. 'These concerns were further heightened following a road traffic incident earlier that year involving a staff member who was commuting through the village, to the school, just prior to morning drop-off time. 'As part of the programme, the SRTS team conducted an audit, which included the observation of traffic flow during school drop-off and collection times. In addition, communication with parents was initiated via a letter from the SRTS, providing background information on the programme and a survey link, this letter and survey link was distributed to parents through the school's online communication platform. "Upon the collection and analysis of this data, the SRTS engaged with the local authority, WCC, which was tasked with drafting a preliminary design to address the concerns raised.' According to the board of management it, along with 'various community stakeholders', were afforded the opportunity to review this preliminary design at a dedicated stakeholder early engagement session organised by the SRTS. "This session enabled attendees to raise questions and express concerns regarding the proposed measures,' the board of management states. 'These were acknowledged and considered by the relevant authorities during the meeting.' The plan has also received support from the Parish Council. "Overall, Kiltealy Parish Council supports the proposed Kiltealy Safe Routes to School. After considering the potential impact on access to church properties such as the Church, Parochial House, parish car park, and graveyard, and the likely loss of existing on street car park spaces, we believe the long-term safety and wellbeing benefits for our school children and the wider community outweigh any short-term challenges and change that can likely be managed. The safety of the school children now and into the future is our primary consideration.' Currently awaiting approval from the local council, a vote on whether to go ahead with the scheme will be made at a future district meeting. And for Kieron, the fear is that the situation facing those in Ballaghkeene will be repeated in Kiltealy. 'That's been the case elsewhere,' he said when asked if he expected the scheme to be pushed through without consultation. 'It seems to be the modus operandi if you look at what happened in the Ballagh; acting without people being fully aware of what's going on. It will get done over the summer when no one's looking, and it can't be undone then.' The statement from the board of management said: 'The board of management of Kiltealy National School remains confident that WCC will give due consideration to all submissions received and will develop a final plan that effectively addresses the longstanding issues of traffic speed and congestion outside the school. It is our expectation that the outcome will prioritise the safety and wellbeing of our pupils – a matter which has always been, and will continue to be, our foremost concern,' the statement concludes.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Why Austin will spend $80k to remove newly installed bike lanes
Austin (KXAN) — The City of Austin is about to spend $80,000 to remove bike lanes installed six months ago because of the volume of complaints from Southwest Austin neighbors. But not every neighbor is against the new bike lanes. 'Since their installation, we started riding every single day to school,' said Circle C Resident Greg Klipp. Greg Klipp has two students at Mills Elementary who will eventually go to Gorzycki Middle School. Those two schools were recently chosen for improvements by the city's 'Safe Routes to School' program. 'I think the bike lanes have been a wonderful addition to the community. My kids feel safe riding in the streets. We can get to and from school without having any sort of conflict with walkers, dog walkers. Everyone uses the sidewalks, and the bikes stay in the bike lanes. And before the lanes were implemented, speeding was the main issue on Hillside Terrace,' said Klipp. And since the new bike lanes went in last October, the city says the change has slowed down traffic in the neighborhood. 'We saw a 25% reduction in speeding on Hillside Terrace and Barstow. But we also saw some challenges. Neighbors were reporting challenges getting to the mailboxes, frustration with not being able to park immediately in front of their home, and then just concern that we put in too many signs and markings in their neighborhood where they weren't before,' said Anna Martin, the Assistant Director with Transportation and Public Works for the city of Austin. Those challenges became complaints, which are now leading to changes. 'I think that there are different ways that they could have gone about making it safer, versus everything that they put in. Having one bike lane on each side of the road, going with traffic would have made more sense,' said Circle C resident Shelley Brothers. On Hillside Terrace, you'll see the sidewalk, the two-way bike lane, an area for parking, and then two lanes for traffic. Months after their installation, the city hosted in-person and online surveys where 64% of the 1,300 responses strongly opposed the project. The city decided to change the bike lanes on 3 neighborhood streets to one-way painted lanes, which would allow people to once again park along the curb in front of their homes. 'I think what the city is implementing with the removal of these bike lanes in favor of shared use is basically requiring students and other bicyclists to ride in traffic without any means of reducing vehicle speed. I feel like that's just a return to the status quo, which was unsafe,' said Klipp. That said, Klipp is not surprised the city got so much negative feedback. 'It doesn't shock me at all. I feel like the bike lanes were installed with very little notice to any of the residents. It seemed like they just kind of popped up overnight, and it was a shock to the system, especially for people who live on the streets, with the bike lanes. I think some advanced notice or communication from the city about what was being implemented before it was done would have probably alleviated some of that shock,' said Klipp. The City has implemented 600 Safe Routes to School improvement projects, following a similar notification protocol for each, but this one in Circle C just didn't land as they had anticipated. 'I will say the feedback afterwards was unique, or has been unique. It made us realize that we didn't hit the mark with public engagement the first time around,' said Martin. The city plans to wait until the end of the school year to make the changes. The area people complained about is a small portion of the entire project around Mills & Gorzycki. The entire project cost $1.3 million to implement, which included curb and signal improvements, bike lanes and other features to make it safer for students to walk, bike and scoot to school. If you have concerns about this project, you can email the city at MobilityBonds@ Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
PennDOT expects to spend record $302 million on new projects in region in 2025
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation administrators on Thursday afternoon unveiled an ambitious schedule of 2025 infrastructure road upgrades and replacement projects in District 3, with a projected cost of $302 million. The presentation was conducted online. District 3 encompasses nine counties, including Montour, Northumberland, Snyder and Union counties. The $302 million is an all-time high for District 3, said Eric High, district executive, in his opening remarks. A part of that funding is federal funding, he said. High was not able to provide a breakdown of the federal amount. 'At this time there are no projects in construction in the district that are impacted by the federal transportation funding that is currently under review,' Dave Wise construction manager, said. 'We continue to maintain our construction schedule and will work with our federal partners regarding any future funding changes, but at this point there is no impact in District 3.' The $302 million is for 109 new projects over the nine counties in District 3, and some projects like the Central Susquehanna Valley Transportation (CSVT) Project that will continue to be constructed, he said. Of the 109 projects, 51 are bridge projects, including upgrades and replacements. The CSVT project is expected to cost $970 million. Of that, $430 million are federal funds. The new projects include road repaving and bridge upgrading and replacement with the target largely on Interstate 80 work and state routes. They include: In Montour County, the Routes 54 and 642 intersection realignment and signalization, starting Spring 2025; Route 54, north of Danville bridge replacement over Stony Brook. In Northumberland, resurfacing, from Route 44 to River Road in Delaware Township; Route 405 from 8th Street to Route 1028, resurfacing in Northumberland Borough In Snyder-Union counties, Route 45, between Lewisburg and Vicksburg, micro surfacing: Route 11 between North Main Street and Penns Creek, micro surfacing. The Montour County project was supposed to start last fall with minor work — such as vegetation clearing and utility work — but it was pushed to begin in spring 2025 High also provided an overview of the CSVT project, which is anticipated to be completed in 2027. 'It's one of the largest projects we've ever had and the largest in the state,' High said. 'The entire estimated cost of the project is $970 million; the original estimate was $940 million. The increase was due in part to the inflation of prices for some of the work that remains to be completed.' Some early benefits of the project were discussed. Taken in 2023, traffic counts on the new river bridge are 16,000 vehicles a day. 'As expected, CSVT is removing substantial amounts of through-traffic from local communities. On Route 15 just south of Lewisburg, the amount of traffic is roughly 30 percent less and truck traffic 45 percent less.'
