Texas Madness

I am a Midwesterner.  I lived in Pennsylvania for graduate school.  My first real grown-up job was in the State of Washington.  I’ve driven in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Chicago, Seattle and other large cities.

None of these compare to Dallas-Fort Worth – lovingly called the “Metroplex” by natives.  I visited family in a suburb called Keller but to get ANYPLACE requires traveling on interstate highway and state roads that in any other city would be considered an interstate.

Their urban arterials – those roads used to get people and cars around a city easily are at least 6 lanes.  In Wisconsin we have Interstate that is only four lanes.  A typical Interstate that loops Dallas is eight lanes – three lanes in each direction and a two lane express.

The express is a challenge.  On the road sign it is listed as an “exit” but it isn’t really.  It’s an exit to an express highway.  Above the express highway that tells you if it is free or if there is a fee.  If there is a fee the sign tells you that the fee can be mailed in.  Doesn’t tell you where to mail it.  How do they know you’ve used the express lane?

The posted speed in the express lane is 75 mph – in the heart of the city.  In Wisconsin the posted speed is only 70 mph out where the cows roam.  I accidently wandered into an express lane and was passed like I was standing still.

With the grandkids in the back seat I had to ask them to stay quiet so that I could hear the GPS instructions on the phone.  When you are traveling 70 mph the instructions come to late to make any lane adjustments and I missed many exits on our journey to the Botanical Gardens.

A trip that was supposed to take 20 minutes took me 60 minutes as I roamed the city from exit to exit.  Tension made my shoulders and neck ache, the only relief a fist full of ibuprofen.   
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My warning is: if you go to Dallas-Fort Worth – don’t drive.