2011 Rand McNally

[Brandon]

Who actually buys maps these days? When I need to go somewhere and I don't already have a detailed map of the area I simply print out a screengrab of Google Maps.

I prefer to have a paper map, but I don't buy them.  I usually try to get the official DOT map for the state and use that.  They tend to be more accurate, IMHO, and they have the advantage of being free.

[mightyace]

I prefer to have a paper map, but I don't buy them.  I usually try to get the official DOT map for the state and use that.  They tend to be more accurate, IMHO, and they have the advantage of being free.

I try to get those, too.

But, I can also say this about an Atlas. (in addition to what I said earlier)
1) I only have to look for and lay my hands on one thing to be covered for everything.  (as I am a pack rat, that is a very good thing!)  That said, I try and take the DOT maps if I have them and can find them.

2) A consistent legend.  The legend/symbology of DOT maps ranges from excellent to one that a third grader might have done and it seems that no two states use the same legend.

[Hot Rod Hootenanny]

Who actually buys maps these days? When I need to go somewhere and I don't already have a detailed map of the area I simply print out a screengrab of Google Maps.

I'll be damned if I know where to find "local" map(s) in Louisiana.  Therefore, I bought Rand McNallys of BR & NO.  In comparison, I know where to find local maps for 86 of the 88 counties in Ohio (Hamilton/Cincy & Cuyahoga/Cleveland the exceptions) so I don't need Rand McNallys here.  State maps from the various DOTs aren't a problem either.

[Alex]

Who actually buys maps these days? When I need to go somewhere and I don't already have a detailed map of the area I simply print out a screengrab of Google Maps.

I'll be damned if I know where to find "local" map(s) in Louisiana.  Therefore, I bought Rand McNallys of BR & NO.  In comparison, I know where to find local maps for 86 of the 88 counties in Ohio (Hamilton/Cincy & Cuyahoga/Cleveland the exceptions) so I don't need Rand McNallys here.  State maps from the various DOTs aren't a problem either.

The company I worked for used to own the 'New Orleans Map Company', and they had atlases for most of the parishes of southeastern Louisiana. In the months before it went under, all of the LA bases and remaining product were sold to a guy based out of Slidell. I have no idea of what he did with those or if his map company is still in business.

I know that County Engineers in Ohio are required to publish maps for their respective county. Is that what you are referencing for local maps in OH?

[Hot Rod Hootenanny]

I know that County Engineers in Ohio are required to publish maps for their respective county. Is that what you are referencing for local maps in OH?

Yes. 

[rschen7754]

I use Thomas Guides.... but then I'm in Southern California I find Rand McNally a good quick reference when I need to look up a road for a project though.

[PAHighways]

• Symbology now shown for Historic U.S. 66, The Lincoln Highway, The Lewis & Clark Highway, and The Great Circle Route. The Great River Road symbol has also been improved

That's great news, for the organization I am involved with, that they've added a Lincoln Highway symbol.

• PA: I-99 now shown as complete and also shown in the College State inset

Apparently, it also became a French enclave since the 2009 edition .

• PA: For all you I-279 fans, it is still intact and I-376 has not taken it over, nor PA 60, unlike the real world...

I'm not surprised they don't have the 376 designation extended, even with the PTC and District 1-0 still not acknowledging it existence.  Perhaps if they kept to releasing these editions on their original timetable, it would have been included.

[mightyace]

• PA: I-99 now shown as complete and also shown in the College State inset

Apparently, it also became a French enclave since the 2009 edition .

Huh?    I assume you referring to a map error but I haven't seen the atlas yet, so what does that mean?

[golden eagle]

Who actually buys maps these days? When I need to go somewhere and I don't already have a detailed map of the area I simply print out a screengrab of Google Maps.

I'll be damned if I know where to find "local" map(s) in Louisiana.  Therefore, I bought Rand McNallys of BR & NO.  In comparison, I know where to find local maps for 86 of the 88 counties in Ohio (Hamilton/Cincy & Cuyahoga/Cleveland the exceptions) so I don't need Rand McNallys here.  State maps from the various DOTs aren't a problem either.

The only ones I know of for Louisiana are the ones Rand McNally has. I've seen them in bookstores here in Jackson for New Orleans and Baton Rouge. I've even seen Shreveport and Monroe a few times.

[dave19]

PA question: Are they still showing a non-existent PA Route 3 in Lycoming County? They've been doing that for quite a long time...

[hbelkins]

• PA: I-99 now shown as complete and also shown in the College State inset

Apparently, it also became a French enclave since the 2009 edition .

Huh?    I assume you referring to a map error but I haven't seen the atlas yet, so what does that mean?

I take it that's a reference to the home of the Nittany Lions being called "College State" instead of "State College" but I don't get the joke.

[Hot Rod Hootenanny]

• PA: I-99 now shown as complete and also shown in the College State inset

Apparently, it also became a French enclave since the 2009 edition .

Huh?    I assume you referring to a map error but I haven't seen the atlas yet, so what does that mean?

I take it that's a reference to the home of the Nittany Lions being called "College State" instead of "State College" but I don't get the joke.

There are a lot of college/university campuses that are a state of to themselves.

[english si]

• PA: I-99 now shown as complete and also shown in the College State inset

Apparently, it also became a French enclave since the 2009 edition .

You mean EXclave of France, or is it now surrounded by France? </pedant>
I'm with the others on not understanding this comment.

[deathtopumpkins]

I was most curious about two things, and my I-376 question was already answered.

Has anyone told them that I-80 ends at I-95, not at the GWB?  Every edition I can remember (I'm looking at '10 right now) has an I-80/I-95 shield between exits 70 and 72 on both the Newark and New York City "insets".

Technically, doesn't 80 run concurrently with 95 to the bridge?

I'm pretty sure it's signed that way in the field as well, but the only time I ever traveled in that area was at night with a lot of traffic and I wasn't about to try to take photos. I guess I could check my videos, though. to see what they show. Or Street View...

A photo I took in late 2009 seems to confirm this...

I don't recall exactly where I took that, but it was somewhere north of where I-95 and I-80 meet.

[lamsalfl]

I'm mad about the whole deal.

They took off elevations for cities!!  

However, I am happy to see a more accurate depiction of urbanized areas as more land has that orange background.  Half of Connecticut is listed as urban.  Lol.  Also, I see on the Memphis inset the I-69 label just south of the border.

[Alex]

I'm mad about the whole deal.

They took off elevations for cities!!  

However, I am happy to see a more accurate depiction of urbanized areas as more land has that orange background.  Half of Connecticut is listed as urban.  Lol.  Also, I see on the Memphis inset the I-69 label just south of the border.

And scraped off shields where they were inconvenient. Note that the state shields for AL-158 north of Mobile, OH-420 south of Toledo, and CA-7 east of Calexico were simply removed...

[FLRoads]

They took off elevations for cities!!  

I did not even catch that the other night when I was looking over the atlas!! Those bastards!!

[FLRoads]

I'm mad about the whole deal.

They took off elevations for cities!! 

However, I am happy to see a more accurate depiction of urbanized areas as more land has that orange background.  Half of Connecticut is listed as urban.  Lol.  Also, I see on the Memphis inset the I-69 label just south of the border.

And scraped off shields where they were inconvenient. Note that the state shields for AL-158 north of Mobile, OH-420 south of Toledo, and CA-7 east of Calexico were simply removed...

Maybe they rehired "Mary had no brain" LOL

[akotchi]

I was most curious about two things, and my I-376 question was already answered.

Has anyone told them that I-80 ends at I-95, not at the GWB?  Every edition I can remember (I'm looking at '10 right now) has an I-80/I-95 shield between exits 70 and 72 on both the Newark and New York City "insets".

Technically, doesn't 80 run concurrently with 95 to the bridge?

I'm pretty sure it's signed that way in the field as well, but the only time I ever traveled in that area was at night with a lot of traffic and I wasn't about to try to take photos. I guess I could check my videos, though. to see what they show. Or Street View...

A photo I took in late 2009 seems to confirm this... (Original photo removed) I don't recall exactly where I took that, but it was somewhere north of where I-95 and I-80 meet.

I-80 ends at I-95 in Ridgefield Park, as noted by eastbound signing approaching I-95.  No northbound (I-95) signing approaching the GWB contains I-80 shields.

DTP's photo was taken (I think) just into New Jersey off of the GWB, upper deck, I believe.  Original DOT signage (prior to NJTA taking over this section) generally said I-95 to I-80.

[deathtopumpkins]

You're right. Upper deck, just into NJ. I could have sworn that was taken on the trip northbound.
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=128+River+Walk+Ct,+Hampton,+Virginia+23669&ll=40.854324,-73.966822&spn=0,0.006539&t=k&z=18&layer=c&cbll=40.854625,-73.967355&panoid=WtZ-OSPb0hl7_koIzSCHVA&cbp=12,296.26,,0,1.83

[hbelkins]

I checked my raw video. I remember seeing that sign when I merged onto I-95 south/I-80 west just after entering from Bridge Plaza North (off NJ 67). I ended up in the local lane.

[lamsalfl]

Looks like after comparing maps that the thickness of the lines of the roads in 2011 have been shrunk by micrometers.  I think this is how they were able to present a much cleaner look to the maps, and show more intricacies of road curves and turns.   Two thumbs up.

[ShawnP]

I-64 is complete and signed to I-70. Went thru last week and only minor landscaping work is left on the last exit. Rand McNally for being the gold standard so to speak has let itself slip these days.

[FLRoads]

Looks like after comparing maps that the thickness of the lines of the roads in 2011 have been shrunk by micrometers.  I think this is how they were able to present a much cleaner look to the maps, and show more intricacies of road curves and turns.   Two thumbs up.

Well, as I and a few others have said, it does appear that Rand also changed their map base, which would account for the more detailed road layout on the pages. And you are correct in that the thickness have been shrunk, though I did not do as thorough a research as you did

[lamsalfl]

Y'all are partially right and partially wrong.  I-64 is not shown as complete on the state map, but I-64 shields, blue freeway lines, and exit numbers are perfect on the STL inset.