AARoads Forum

Regional Boards => Mid-Atlantic => Topic started by: talllguy on May 03, 2014, 10:12:23 PM

Title: MD 2 in Baltimore Oddity
Post by: talllguy on May 03, 2014, 10:12:23 PM
Here is an odd sign I spotted on W Lafayette Ave at St. Paul St. in Baltimore. As many of you know, the city doesn't do a particularly good job signing things, especially state and US routes. This one is a color scheme I'm not used to though. What is the meaning and history of this?

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7315/14089584881_321de81f5f_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/nt3NHg)
Lafayette at St. Paul St. (https://flic.kr/p/nt3NHg) by Elliott Plack (https://www.flickr.com/people/88483799@N00/), on Flickr

(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5338/14069701446_bd519417f0_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/nrhU4q)
MD 2 What? (https://flic.kr/p/nrhU4q) by Elliott Plack (https://www.flickr.com/people/88483799@N00/), on Flickr
Title: Re: MD 2 in Baltimore Oddity
Post by: cpzilliacus on May 04, 2014, 12:19:38 AM
Quote from: talllguy on May 03, 2014, 10:12:23 PM
Here is an odd sign I spotted on W Lafayette Ave at St. Paul St. in Baltimore. As many of you know, the city doesn't do a particularly good job signing things, especially state and US routes. This one is a color scheme I'm not used to though. What is the meaning and history of this?

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7315/14089584881_321de81f5f_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/nt3NHg)
Lafayette at St. Paul St. (https://flic.kr/p/nt3NHg) by Elliott Plack (https://www.flickr.com/people/88483799@N00/), on Flickr

(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5338/14069701446_bd519417f0_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/nrhU4q)
MD 2 What? (https://flic.kr/p/nrhU4q) by Elliott Plack (https://www.flickr.com/people/88483799@N00/), on Flickr

The "round" state route signs were once somewhat common in Baltimore City (there were once many along Md. 140,  Reisterstown Road, in Baltimore City only - which date back to when U.S. 140 was decommissioned), but I have never noticed one like this before. 
Title: Re: MD 2 in Baltimore Oddity
Post by: Mapmikey on May 04, 2014, 10:02:28 AM
This shield has gotten redder over time.  Here is GMSV from 2011...

http://goo.gl/maps/baZHF

Mapmikey
Title: Re: MD 2 in Baltimore Oddity
Post by: Alex on May 04, 2014, 10:17:47 AM
So its just a side effect of weathering over time. There was no red on the shield in 2010:

(https://www.aaroads.com/mid-atlantic/maryland020/md-025_nb_at_md-002_sb.jpg)
Title: Re: MD 2 in Baltimore Oddity
Post by: talllguy on May 04, 2014, 03:02:12 PM
Wow, thanks for posting those. So weird that a sign would "fade" to red. Why are they circles though?
Title: Re: MD 2 in Baltimore Oddity
Post by: hotdogPi on May 04, 2014, 03:03:49 PM
Quote from: talllguy on May 04, 2014, 03:02:12 PM
Wow, thanks for posting those. So weird that a sign would "fade" to red. Why are they circles though?

We occasionally get circles in Massachusetts too.
Title: Re: MD 2 in Baltimore Oddity
Post by: Zeffy on May 04, 2014, 03:13:03 PM
Quote from: talllguy on May 04, 2014, 03:02:12 PM
Wow, thanks for posting those. So weird that a sign would "fade" to red. Why are they circles though?

It's the default state route marker as specified in the MUTCD. Only NJ, DE, IA, MS, and one another use these as their state route markers.
Title: Re: MD 2 in Baltimore Oddity
Post by: Big John on May 04, 2014, 03:26:26 PM
Quote from: Zeffy on May 04, 2014, 03:13:03 PM
Quote from: talllguy on May 04, 2014, 03:02:12 PM
Wow, thanks for posting those. So weird that a sign would "fade" to red. Why are they circles though?

It's the default state route marker as specified in the MUTCD. Only NJ, DE, IA, MS, and one another use these as their state route markers.
KY.  plus VA secondary routes.
Title: Re: MD 2 in Baltimore Oddity
Post by: hbelkins on May 04, 2014, 03:56:32 PM
And West Virginia county routes.
Title: Re: MD 2 in Baltimore Oddity
Post by: Alps on May 04, 2014, 08:32:39 PM
And Vermont town-maintained state highways.
Title: Re: MD 2 in Baltimore Oddity
Post by: Henry on May 05, 2014, 03:28:49 PM
.
Quote from: Big John on May 04, 2014, 03:26:26 PM
Quote from: Zeffy on May 04, 2014, 03:13:03 PM
Quote from: talllguy on May 04, 2014, 03:02:12 PM
Wow, thanks for posting those. So weird that a sign would "fade" to red. Why are they circles though?

It's the default state route marker as specified in the MUTCD. Only NJ, DE, IA, MS, and one another use these as their state route markers.
KY.  plus VA secondary routes.
OK did too, until it changed over to the state outline a few years ago