This is a personal web page
and is in no way affiliated
with the Connecticut Department of Transportation.
August 13, 2009: Update: After submitting my proposal
to ConnDOT, I was informed
that the use of color was not going to happen, and that the current shield,
they feel most represents the suggestions of the MUTCD. I respect and
understand their feeling on the
matter, and there is currently no plan to make any changes to state route
markers.
I have one final proposal to offer on a CT Route Marker that maintains the
elements of the current
shield that are so important to ConnDOT.
1) It retains the current black background with white text field, with black
numerals.
2) The MUTCD Square is maintained with the use of varying series FHWA fonts to
properly
fit the 12" high numbers on 24" square shields, and the 18" high
numbers on the 36" square shields.
If you prefer to skip looking at the other pages of the original proposal,
whose links are below,
please click here to
jump to my final compromised proposal that can hopefully be looked at
by
ConnDOT in the future. If you'd like to view my original proposals, keep
reading down this page
and navigate the links at the bottom.
JULY 2009. A Proposal: CT
Highway Route Markers Update
Navigation to additional
pages can be found at the bottom of this page.
I welcome any comments: chris@wytout.com
The Purpose: The purpose of this page is
to illustrate my idea for a new CT State Route Marker.
I would like to show that a redesign, uniform font, and set number of shield
dimensions
would bring a sense of careful
thought and pride to the way we mark our state
roads. I also think that to build a real identity for CT's roads it could
be based on
the current license plate redesign for added continuity and awareness of
visiting and driving around CT.
I also provide a second proposed style, if it's felt by experts that something
similar to the license plates doesn't
provide optimum readability.
Preferred Proposal Collage

Alternate Proposal Collage

Background: This
is not the first time I have taken interest in this subject. A previous
version of this page has
existed for some time. It was a crude attempt to just get a new design out
there on the web. I've taken a renewed interest
in the subject lately, especially seeing that in the past year another state has
gone forth with a colorful redesign in their own
state route markers. South
Carolina is the latest state, just in the past 2 years,
to be moving
forward with an initiative to replace their
route markers with a new design featuring the state name and silhouette of the the state map
with a stylized palmetto tree
centered within emblazoned on a medium blue banner across the top of the sign.
Some other states that have
abandoned basic black and white are California, Colorado, Minnesota, Vermont,
and South
Carolina, as pictured below. The source images for the graphic immediately
below below are credited to James Lin and his
Routemarkers.com website.
2003 MUTCD EXCERPT REGARDING STATE ROUTE MARKERS:
"Standard:
U.S. Route signs (see Figure 2D-3) shall consist of black numerals on a white
shield surrounded by a
black background without a border. This sign shall be used on all U.S. routes
and in connection with route
sign assemblies on intersecting highways.
Seeing this, and seeing other
states' shields utilizing colorful and pertinent elements, gave me renewed hope
that one day
a similar idea could be undertaken by the CT state government and ConnDOT.
There is no need to stick with black and white.
The Federal Highway Administration's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)
does SUGGEST that a state shield be black
lettering on a white circle on a black background similar in size to the
1,2-digit and 3-digit US route markers respectively (which we do
not use of course, anwyay). However, the actual STANDARD set forth by the MUTCD
is that the states shall be in charge of designing
their own state route markers.
When to undertake a project
like this: At first
thought, I'm sympathetic to the fact that this may not be the time
to even consider and idea such as this. Our state is facing enormous
deficits and the Governor has had to work day and night
to reign in unnecessary spending. I understand that this is very important
for our state now, so on the one hand, I would agree
that at best my likely pipe-dream should not even be considered until the state
faces a much more robust outlook in revenues.
HOWEVER...... this project could actually benefit the state in these hard
economic times.
Why Fast Tracking this project
and using stimulus funds could boost businesses
and overall state economy:
I do have one potential argument
for undertaking a project like this in the current economy, though. This
idea is contingent on
the receipt and allocation of federal stimulus dollars by the state of CT.
This project could provide direct and immediate positive impact to the state's economy
and increase tax revenues.
The sign-making and sign-replacement could be contracted out to various businesses
all over the state. Every district
could see higher employment. Businesses and individuals throughout the state involved in this
project would benefit,
and the state would benefit. The state would benefit through increased tax revenue, and
it could help tourism as there
wouldbe something (even if subconscious) that would provide a mental association with
being on OUR roads, and not
someother states'. The
MOST important thing to remember about contracting out to
multiple vendors, however, is that the guidelines for making
signage must be clear and followed strictly by sign makers. After signage is replaced, it
should be impossible to tell that different signs were
made by different companies. That is the biggest problem with our signage
now. Every different sign making contractor seems to have created the
signage differently than every other one. The aesthetics are key here.
Current Signage: I
apologize for this section being editorialized, but currently CT signage looks
like a mish-mash.
Additionally,
CT route signage is generally showing it's age. Many signs are severely
worn.
I would say that most have been in place for very many years, and at some point
are going to need replacing anyway.
Why not use that as an opportunity to make a positive change in marking our roads.
At
the bottom of this page are links to more detailed pages about the issues raised here.

Intro to basic variations: As best I can tell CT route
signage is supposed to go like this with regard to fonts. 3 digit signs are to
be numbered in the square in FHWA type B. To keep the
height standard and for the most legibility this is 100% true for 3-digit signs
that do not
contain any 1's. Typically you will see this in practice. Although you will also find many of these
routes signed in a reduced
size FHWA type-D font. This is not optimal as the font is quite small on
the signage and utilizes
barely more than 1/3 the height available.
Now, another variation on
3-digit signs is any sign having at least one 1 in it. These signs can use FHWA type C and retain
proper size
and height. In practice though, I see many 3-digit routs with at least one 1 (i.e. Rte 190)
signed in Type B, Type C and even reduced size
type D. This is visible all within a few miles, as
almost every intersection and reassurance shield is different.
2 digit, and 1 digit signs
should use Type-D FHWA font. It fits the signs fine. However I often
see Type-C used, Type-D used, and even the
reduced size type-D that leaves a lot of
wasted sign space and makes readability at a distance difficult.
Then there are the anomalies. Many route markers do not even use an FHWA
font. Also, you may find the occasional elongated sign for
a 3-digit route, even though CT does
not use them.

Please use the links below to view some picture examples of current route marks
and variations,
My proposal for a new uniform route marker, and some computer generated overlays
showing how
the new markers might look in the field! I have provided examples of the
original proposal style
and of the alternate proposal, as the samples immediately below indicate.

>>> Pictures of current route markers
>>> Computer graphics showing my idea for a fresh and uniform route marker.
>>> Comparisons
of current installations, with side-by-side computer enhanced versions
showing the new
shield being used in the field.
>>> HOME: Return to www.wytout.com
All content, photographs, and computer enhanced images created by and copyright (c) 2009 by Christopher Pelizari