NYCDOT Signage Standard Drawings

[JayWalker]

Hi all,

I've been browsing some of NYCDDC's street improvement bids. I certainly applaud some of the street beautification and design improvement projects the city has been undertaking. However, I've been seeing some signage (warning, regulatory, and street name) listed on the quantities tabs and in the sign tables.

The Standard Highway Specifications Vol. II (https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/ddc/downloads/publications/infrastructure/hwy_std_specs_101101_vol_2.pdf) references numerous "SG" designated drawings related to signage and associated components, but the drawings appear to be tightly held, and not available to the public.

Out of curiosity, I called the Maspeth sign shop and inquired about the drawings. The person who answered the phone was initially under the impression that I was a contractor, and told me that they could provide a quote for the signs I needed.  I explained the situation, and was told that they were privately held by the city. I then emailed a few random addresses I had associated with past lettings, but received no response.

This raised a few questions:

As a publicly funded project, isn't NYCDOT obliged to make all plans and standard drawings public?

Also, being that signs and components are listed as items for the installing contractor to furnish, shouldn't the installing contractor be able to seek competitive pricing for those items?

Am I mistake in my assumption that the city is effectively running a monopoly on furnishing signs to contractors on non-NYSDOT projects in the city by not offering standard drawings, but accepting solicitations for quotes to furnish these items? I would understand this if the city were furnishing and installing the signs on their own, but it seems that the city sort of forces contractors to purchase these items from NYCDOT.

Anyone else run into this?  Seems a little fishy to me.

[route17fan]

Hey,

I too have run into some sort of difficulty regarding NYCDOT sign drawings and even just a document showing some sort of inventory or catalog.

Nothing.

So, due to me having a stroke in 2024, my driving has halted (hopefully just for the time being and not permanently). To have something road related and the old expression "if you want something done properly, you have to do it yourself" I have begun utilizing Google Maps writing down SP- SR- SI- R- W- and others breaking it down by street/ave/interstate/state and by borough. All as of today, January 31, 2025, I have 1550 sign samples and counting. I began this back in 2010 and I have a long way to go.

Also, there is a place in the Northeast Roads page of Facebook where I had begun posting sign graphics where you all can add to the virtual catalog. Ultimately, I hope to print off the drawings and create a PDF compilation.

Now, having something available to reference is one thing - NYCDOT not wanting it or any info released is another. Until that, I am just gathering the information and not sure how to "distribute" the information.

I feel the frustration though.

[sharkyfour]

Have either of you tried a formal Freedom Of Information Act request for the drawings?  I'm not as familiar with New York's details, but I know in Connecticut they would be forced to release it, even if they were ignoring less formal requests.

[route17fan]

So far, no. But there are a few forum entries on this subject. Hopefully in time NYCDOT will be producing some sort of document. In the meantime, I continue to amass my own drawings.