text-based guide signs instead of shields

[Alps]

In case no one has mentioned it yet, Massachusetts used to have all text on their paddle signs.

Used to?  They don't do that any more?  That's too bad.  It was sort of endearlingly quirky.

They still do, but it's more limited.  Generally, plain white squares are used, but you definitely see new text signs popping up.  It's more likely on signs without arrows, but there's no true pattern to it.

[Ian]

In case no one has mentioned it yet, Massachusetts used to have all text on their paddle signs.

Used to?  They don't do that any more?  That's too bad.  It was sort of endearlingly quirky.

They still do, but it's more limited.  Generally, plain white squares are used, but you definitely see new text signs popping up.  It's more likely on signs without arrows, but there's no true pattern to it.

They do? Every new paddle sign I've seen have shields on them.

[KEK Inc.]

Oregon uses them quite a bit on their distance signs.

[TheStranger]

Just found another California example through Flickr archives, on I-5:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/raymondyue/4311201070/