Large-enough cities passed over for control-city status

[roadman65]

West Palm Beach and Melbourne (or Palm Bay) on I-95.

West Palm Beach exists on many BGSs north of Miami-Dade County to about FL 706 for northbound traffic. Around Melbourne, sometimes "Miami" is used for I-95 South.







Fort Lauderdale gets few mentions here and there, but Melbourne, Palm Bay, and Stuart get the shaft.

I guess there's more tourism for Daytona Beach than the other three, but I think Palm Beach is just spaced a bit further apart from Miami to justify its inclusion over Fort Lauderdale (the latter of which is a larger city in a more populous county).

Daytona Beach is mentioned from West Palm Beach to the Brevard County Line where you begin to see Jacksonville as the primary control.

Its district politics that causes that as Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, and Indian River Counties are in District 4 of FDOT and Brevard County (and Volusia north of it) is in District 5.  They both have different ideas on how to sign the interstate, even SB.  D5 uses Miami, but cross the Indian River County Line and West Palm Beach takes over as D4 has its own ideas completely different again.

It can be confusing as if you are following the distance signs for Miami, which are pretty much there from Jacksonville, you then have no idea how far Miami is once you reach Sebastian because the other city now dominates.  I have seen that on I-70 in MO where Columbia is listed on all the mileage signs and then all of a sudden disappears several miles before you reach the destination as "St. Louis" now takes over.  I actually thought I passed the City of Columbia, MO because the info disappeared.

What is most interesting is that on Florida's Turnpike in Fort Pierce they have I-95 signs for both Jacksonville and Miami at the SR 70 exit as that is a transfer point between the two freeways.  However, you exit the Turnpike for SR 70 and you have both Daytona Beach and West Palm Beach as the ramp control points on SR 70 itself.  Again two FDOT districts as the Turnpike, who owns its own signs, is the FTE, while SR 70 is maintained by FDOT District 4.

[formulanone]

^ Looking back, I meant to say Okeechobee Boulevard, but opted for the route number instead...meant to say "FL 704".

There's a pull-through for Daytona Beach on the sign left of said exit on I-95 northbound.

[The Nature Boy]

This isn't a city per se but "Outer Banks" should be a control city on US 64 east of Raleigh. It should definitely be a control city at the I-95/US 64 junction.

[jwolfer]

This isn't a city per se but "Outer Banks" should be a control city on US 64 east of Raleigh. It should definitely be a control city at the I-95/US 64 junction.

Sort of like Shore Points in NJ.. it is discouraged to use regions but it makes sense to me for places like the Jersey shore where there are dozens of towns

[KEVIN_224]

As a control city, Bridgeport makes the most sense for those on CT Route 8 heading south out of the Waterbury area. New Haven in New York City makes much more sense since:

1- It has a major interstate junction (I-95 with I-91)
2- Train connections with Amtrak and Metro North.

[Roadgeekteen]

Philly being skipped in the D.C. Area is annoying. Also Manchester on I-93 north.

[PHLBOS]

Philly being skipped in the D.C. Area is annoying.

Had your post mentioned Wilmington (DE) or even Baltimore as opposed to the "DC area"; I would agree with you.  However, since Baltimore is the next major city along I-95 north of the DC area; using it instead of Philadelphia makes logical sense.  Yes, I'm aware of one pull-through BGS along I-95 northbound in VA that lists both Baltimore & New York City on one panel but such is an exception to the more common single-control city listings on signs.

Also Manchester on I-93 north.

Already mentioned.  See Page 1, Reply #6 of this thread

[Roadgeekteen]

Philly being skipped in the D.C. Area is annoying.

Had your post mentioned Wilmington (DE) or even Baltimore as opposed to the "DC area"; I would agree with you.  However, since Baltimore is the next major city along I-95 north of the DC area; using it instead of Philadelphia makes logical sense.  Yes, I'm aware of one pull-through BGS along I-95 northbound in VA that lists both Baltimore & New York City on one panel but such is an exception to the more common single-control city listings on signs.

Also Manchester on I-93 north.

Already mentioned.  See Page 1, Reply #6 of this thread

oops, meant in the Baltimore area.

[roadman65]

Elmira gets skipped over on NY 17 (soon to be I-86) from Binghamton west in NY now for Corning being I-99 junctions there and the MUTCD now wants interstate junctions over the big cities inbetween.

Concord, NH over Manchester on I-93 out of Boston.  Manchester is NH's largest city too.

Petersburg, VA is left out along I-85 in NC.  Petersburg is a decent size city and its the terminus of said interstate. Richmond is used instead which is beyond it on another interstate.  Some points along I-95 in NC and VA also skip over Petersburg and go right to Richmond as well.

[Roadgeekteen]

Elmira gets skipped over on NY 17 (soon to be I-86) from Binghamton west in NY now for Corning being I-99 junctions there and the MUTCD now wants interstate junctions over the big cities inbetween.

Concord, NH over Manchester on I-93 out of Boston.  Manchester is NH's largest city too.

Petersburg, VA is left out along I-85 in NC.  Petersburg is a decent size city and its the terminus of said interstate. Richmond is used instead which is beyond it on another interstate.  Some points along I-95 in NC and VA also skip over Petersburg and go right to Richmond as well.

It makes sense because Petersburg is very close to Richmond and Richmond is a lot bigger.

[jaehak]

I like my control cities large, somewhat distinct, and famous. I'm in favor of every one of these "skips."  Philly is the only case with a valid argument, but I get it because of the quirks of 95 and the Delaware Bridge/Jersey Turnpike route to NYC.

[Jmiles32]

Petersburg, VA is left out along I-85 in NC.  Petersburg is a decent size city and its the terminus of said interstate. Richmond is used instead which is beyond it on another interstate.  Some points along I-95 in NC and VA also skip over Petersburg and go right to Richmond as well.

Actually Petersburg, VA is not left out along I-85 in NC and VA and is signed as a control city as far south as the I-85/NC-147 split in Durham.
https://www.google.com/maps/@36.0365745,-78.9735746,3a,60y,125.03h,85.83t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s6ZpI9rht5wfYyxMHlUpB-A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en
https://www.google.com/maps/@36.0272158,-78.9396726,3a,29.9y,61.74h,92.73t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1suPVgtOSlvfDOtR3TqJLQAw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en
https://www.google.com/maps/@36.0131848,-78.8749018,3a,57.4y,70.09h,91.73t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1ssot8xNUtVlmMo6rK5sNSQw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en
https://www.google.com/maps/@36.7118674,-78.1110025,3a,28.3y,327.94h,97.52t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sKHljLrrgM_bCueBsU35Jtg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

I will agree however that on I-95 from as far south as Rocky Mount NC, Petersburg VA, is skipped over for more populated/important Richmond

[The Nature Boy]

Philly being skipped in the D.C. Area is annoying.

Had your post mentioned Wilmington (DE) or even Baltimore as opposed to the "DC area"; I would agree with you.  However, since Baltimore is the next major city along I-95 north of the DC area; using it instead of Philadelphia makes logical sense.  Yes, I'm aware of one pull-through BGS along I-95 northbound in VA that lists both Baltimore & New York City on one panel but such is an exception to the more common single-control city listings on signs.

Also Manchester on I-93 north.

Already mentioned.  See Page 1, Reply #6 of this thread

There's some merit to his "DC area" comment though. I recall seeing "NY City" used as a control city for I-95 in NoVa once, I can't remember exactly where however.

[Roadgeekteen]

Philly being skipped in the D.C. Area is annoying.

Had your post mentioned Wilmington (DE) or even Baltimore as opposed to the "DC area"; I would agree with you.  However, since Baltimore is the next major city along I-95 north of the DC area; using it instead of Philadelphia makes logical sense.  Yes, I'm aware of one pull-through BGS along I-95 northbound in VA that lists both Baltimore & New York City on one panel but such is an exception to the more common single-control city listings on signs.

Also Manchester on I-93 north.

Already mentioned.  See Page 1, Reply #6 of this thread

There's some merit to his "DC area" comment though. I recall seeing "NY City" used as a control city for I-95 in NoVa once, I can't remember exactly where however.

95/495 in Springfield?

[PHLBOS]

Bold emphasis added to the below-quote:

Philly being skipped in the D.C. Area is annoying.

Had your post mentioned Wilmington (DE) or even Baltimore as opposed to the "DC area"; I would agree with you.  However, since Baltimore is the next major city along I-95 north of the DC area; using it instead of Philadelphia makes logical sense.  Yes, I'm aware of one pull-through BGS along I-95 northbound in VA that lists both Baltimore & New York City on one panel but such is an exception to the more common single-control city listings on signs.

There's some merit to his "DC area" comment though. I recall seeing "NY City" used as a control city for I-95 in NoVa once, I can't remember exactly where however.

This is the one.  It's located at Exit 161, about 9 miles south of the I-395/495 interchange.

As previously stated (see above-quote) & to the best of my knowledge; it's the only BGS along I-95 northbound in VA that lists New York City on its primary guide & pull-through signs.  Hardly enough to make an issue over it.  Baltimore & northern MD OTOH is a different story. 

[WhitePoleRD]

I feel as though I-80 in Ohio passes over a ton of "large enough cities" when it signs New York City as a control city.

Especially when I-80 technically doesn't even go to NYC.

[kphoger]

I feel as though I-80 in Ohio passes over a ton of "large enough cities" when it signs New York City as a control city.

Especially when I-80 technically doesn't even go to NYC.

Yeah, but [Ridgefield Park] or [Teaneck] on the signs instead would set off an argument of its own on here.

[Roadgeekteen]

I feel as though I-80 in Ohio passes over a ton of "large enough cities" when it signs New York City as a control city.

Especially when I-80 technically doesn't even go to NYC.

I get it for the interstate junction because it is more long distance.

[WhitePoleRD]

It's funny to see some of these towns like Yuma being passed over as control cities when some of these exist in Iowa:

US 218 and I-80- Mt. Pleasant, about 5,000 people, instead of St. Louis (which is technically not on 218 but is the quickest and most direct route from basically anywhere else in Iowa).

US 30 and I-35- Nevada (the town, not the state), about 4,000 people, instead of Marshalltown, nearly 30,000 or Cedar Rapids, about 130,000 people (and most of 30 is now 4 lanes between the two).

Chicago is mentioned in Des Moines on I-80 about as much as Davenport, despite being an entire state away.

Omaha is replacing Council Bluffs on a few signs in Des Moines as well, notably the 80/35 West Mixmaster. Also, I noticed in MO that 29 north of KC almost always mention St. Joe but 29 south of Council Bluffs in Iowa never do and mention KC instead.

[The Nature Boy]

I feel as though I-80 in Ohio passes over a ton of "large enough cities" when it signs New York City as a control city.

Especially when I-80 technically doesn't even go to NYC.

Not that unusual. Boston is the control city for I-84 west of Hartford, CT and it doesn't go anywhere near there, it just connects to the Mass Pike, which connects to Boston.

[Roadgeekteen]

I feel as though I-80 in Ohio passes over a ton of "large enough cities" when it signs New York City as a control city.

Especially when I-80 technically doesn't even go to NYC.

Not that unusual. Boston is the control city for I-84 west of Hartford, CT and it doesn't go anywhere near there, it just connects to the Mass Pike, which connects to Boston.

What would you use instead of Boston? Sturbridge?

[PHLBOS]

Not that unusual. Boston is the control city for I-84 east of Hartford, CT and it doesn't go anywhere near there, it just connects to the Mass Pike, which connects to Boston.

FTFY.

[The Nature Boy]

Not that unusual. Boston is the control city for I-84 east of Hartford, CT and it doesn't go anywhere near there, it just connects to the Mass Pike, which connects to Boston.

FTFY.

Sorry - temporary bout of confusion.

I feel as though I-80 in Ohio passes over a ton of "large enough cities" when it signs New York City as a control city.

Especially when I-80 technically doesn't even go to NYC.

Not that unusual. Boston is the control city for I-84 west of Hartford, CT and it doesn't go anywhere near there, it just connects to the Mass Pike, which connects to Boston.

What would you use instead of Boston? Sturbridge?

That would be the only other option. I think that it's important to remember the point of control cities, they're meant to guide you towards your destination. For I-84 eastbound traffic, Boston is almost certainly going to be more helpful than Sturbridge.

[kkt]

Yes.  It's a lot more likely that people going to Sturbridge can figure out that the route posted to Boston will take them there, than that people going to Boston can figure out that the route posted to Sturbridge will take them there.

[RobbieL2415]

I feel as though I-80 in Ohio passes over a ton of "large enough cities" when it signs New York City as a control city.

Especially when I-80 technically doesn't even go to NYC.

Not that unusual. Boston is the control city for I-84 west of Hartford, CT and it doesn't go anywhere near there, it just connects to the Mass Pike, which connects to Boston.

What would you use instead of Boston? Sturbridge?

Worcester