New York

[Jim]

I have no problem promoting NY tourism, including to NY residents.  I assume that's why they're all over the place.  I'm no marketing or advertising expert, but I just don't think these signs will accomplish that in any significant way, at borders or anywhere else.

[kalvado]

I also have a problem with them being posted in the middle of the damn state...

That too, as well.

My favorite for this are the ones on the Thruway in Syracuse. No matter where you came from, you've already been in New York for 2 hours. With the ones on the SB Thruway in Albany, somebody passing them would have been in New York for at least 3-4 hours. At that point, a good portion of travelers are getting off at the Berkshire Spur and going straight to MA.

Well... some people traveling from Syracuse may be those who have flown to SYR, got a rental car and heading somewhere else. While those are likely a small minority, still the point is that could be the first time someone sees those signs! And I assume it can take less than 2 hours to rent a car at the airport and get on a highway.
but putting an extra set of signs over there is a must! sorry, I mean we can make sure rental agencies give out those leaflets...

[empirestate]

$25 million of my tax dollars could have been spent better.

Good heavens. What tax bracket are you in?

[cl94]

$25 million of my tax dollars could have been spent better.

Good heavens. What tax bracket are you in?

A higher one than I should be. Education grants are treated as taxable income.

[machias]

I also have a problem with them being posted in the middle of the damn state...

That too, as well.

My favorite for this are the ones on the Thruway in Syracuse. No matter where you came from, you've already been in New York for 2 hours. With the ones on the SB Thruway in Albany, somebody passing them would have been in New York for at least 3-4 hours. At that point, a good portion of travelers are getting off at the Berkshire Spur and going straight to MA.

Well... some people traveling from Syracuse may be those who have flown to SYR, got a rental car and heading somewhere else. While those are likely a small minority, still the point is that could be the first time someone sees those signs! And I assume it can take less than 2 hours to rent a car at the airport and get on a highway.
but putting an extra set of signs over there is a must! sorry, I mean we can make sure rental agencies give out those leaflets...

I would agree except that the Cuomo signs are now along the roadway leading out of Syracuse Airport.  

[roadman]

I have no problem promoting NY tourism, including to NY residents.  I assume that's why they're all over the place.  I'm no marketing or advertising expert, but I just don't think these signs will accomplish that in any significant way, at borders or anywhere else.

I have no problem with promoting NY tourism either.  However, I have a huge problem giving PRIVATE businesses highway signs at the taxpayer's expense.  It's nothing more than government sponsored advertising.

[roadman]

I am thinking that I can live with a Geico sign at the rest area if some of the cost of its maintenance is paid for by Geico instead of my tax dollars.

I respectfully disagree.  The public is already increasingly subjected to private advertising messages, we DO NOT need even more of them at PUBLIC facilities that the government is supposed to be responsible for providing and maintaining.  And of course Geico then will claim they lose money on the deal (which the probably do anyway) so they then can write the costs off on their taxes.  Who ultimately ends up paying for the 'private' sponsorship then?

And, with all due respect to your views on this matter, it is truly unfortunate that so many people in today's society are willing to accept the intrusion of even more advertising hawking products and services, the majority of which we DON'T need, into our lives.  Too bad that George Orwell got it wrong in 1984 - It's not excessive government intrusion into every aspect of our lives that's become the problem, it's excessive intrusion into every aspect of our lives by the marketing executives we should be concerned about.  Sadly, we are continually losing that battle.

[machias]

I am thinking that I can live with a Geico sign at the rest area if some of the cost of its maintenance is paid for by Geico instead of my tax dollars.

I respectfully disagree.  The public is already increasingly subjected to private advertising messages, we DO NOT need even more of them at PUBLIC facilities that the government is supposed to be responsible for providing and maintaining.  And of course Geico then will claim they lose money on the deal (which the probably do anyway) so they then can write the costs off on their taxes.  Who ultimately ends up paying for the 'private' sponsorship then?

And, with all due respect to your views on this matter, it is truly unfortunate that so many people in today's society are willing to accept the intrusion of even more advertising hawking products and services, the majority of which we DON'T need, into our lives.  Too bad that George Orwell got it wrong in 1984 - It's not excessive government intrusion into every aspect of our lives that's become the problem, it's excessive intrusion into every aspect of our lives by the marketing executives we should be concerned about.  Sadly, we are continually losing that battle.

Hear, hear! Couldn't have said it better myself.

[noelbotevera]

I am thinking that I can live with a Geico sign at the rest area if some of the cost of its maintenance is paid for by Geico instead of my tax dollars.

I respectfully disagree.  The public is already increasingly subjected to private advertising messages, we DO NOT need even more of them at PUBLIC facilities that the government is supposed to be responsible for providing and maintaining.  And of course Geico then will claim they lose money on the deal (which the probably do anyway) so they then can write the costs off on their taxes.  Who ultimately ends up paying for the 'private' sponsorship then?

And, with all due respect to your views on this matter, it is truly unfortunate that so many people in today's society are willing to accept the intrusion of even more advertising hawking products and services, the majority of which we DON'T need, into our lives.  Too bad that George Orwell got it wrong in 1984 - It's not excessive government intrusion into every aspect of our lives that's become the problem, it's excessive intrusion into every aspect of our lives by the marketing executives we should be concerned about.  Sadly, we are continually losing that battle.

It's because of how advertising got to us. It worked at first, but at some point, people began to become reserved, accept that advertising is everywhere, and ignore each and every ad. That's why software such as adblockers exist.

[mariethefoxy]

dont know if it was mentioned but theres one of those new Welcome to NY signs on the approach to the Lower Level of the Verezano, just before the bridge and it curves under the upper level roadway.

[cl94]

The new FYAs on Central Avenue in Colonie just west of NY 155 are active. Unlike most in the area, these appear to be operating protected-only during the day. They likely revert to permissive at night or if traffic is light. Definitely an improvement over having it protected 24/7 as before.

[RestrictOnTheHanger]

Just drove by a new set of Cuomo signs Westbound on the LIE in between exit 40E and 40W. What a wierd spot for those to go

[mariethefoxy]

its past Exit 40W, its right by the onramp from NY 25 West, just before the curve at the Old Westbury Village line. Unless they moved it AGAIN

That set used to be by Route 135

[Snappyjack]

There are a new set of tourism signs on the southbound Thruway between exits 21B and 21. The weirdest spot for these yet, and put up within the last week. They are posted almost right on top of each other. How many more of these installations are really needed? It's starting to become a joke.

[kalvado]

There are a new set of tourism signs on the southbound Thruway between exits 21B and 21. The weirdest spot for these yet, and put up within the last week. They are posted almost right on top of each other. How many more of these installations are really needed? It's starting to become a joke.

It was a joke 2 weeks ago. By now it evolved to farce.

[dgolub]

its past Exit 40W, its right by the onramp from NY 25 West, just before the curve at the Old Westbury Village line. Unless they moved it AGAIN

That set used to be by Route 135

What the heck?  Why?  That's such a weird place for them.  I could see coming across the Queens-Nassau border or over one of the bridges somewhere, but why there?

[cl94]

There are a new set of tourism signs on the southbound Thruway between exits 21B and 21. The weirdest spot for these yet, and put up within the last week. They are posted almost right on top of each other. How many more of these installations are really needed? It's starting to become a joke.

It was a joke 2 weeks ago. By now it evolved to farce.

They put them THERE? There's another set 20 miles north of there.

[kalvado]

There are a new set of tourism signs on the southbound Thruway between exits 21B and 21. The weirdest spot for these yet, and put up within the last week. They are posted almost right on top of each other. How many more of these installations are really needed? It's starting to become a joke.

It was a joke 2 weeks ago. By now it evolved to farce.

They put them THERE? There's another set 20 miles north of there.

I bet this is for those coming from Masspike. Or is there another set at state  border?

[cl94]

There are a new set of tourism signs on the southbound Thruway between exits 21B and 21. The weirdest spot for these yet, and put up within the last week. They are posted almost right on top of each other. How many more of these installations are really needed? It's starting to become a joke.

It was a joke 2 weeks ago. By now it evolved to farce.

They put them THERE? There's another set 20 miles north of there.

I bet this is for those coming from Masspike. Or is there another set at state  border?

There is a set at the border. Those were the first NYSTA put up years ago.

[vdeane]

I can understand the LIE ones between exits 39 and 40.  It's really the only major gap between exits until near Riverhead.  The Thruway ones are probably for the Catskills or something; is there another set further south somewhere, perhaps south of exits 19 or 20?

[D-Dey65]

I can understand the LIE ones between exits 39 and 40.  It's really the only major gap between exits until near Riverhead.

Personally, I'd rather see them spend the money on reviving the Wantagh State Parkway extension to the LIE.

[froggie]

The money spent on these signs wouldn't even get you through project planning, D-Dey.  Let alone utility relocation or beyond...

[dgolub]

I can understand the LIE ones between exits 39 and 40.  It's really the only major gap between exits until near Riverhead.

Personally, I'd rather see them spend the money on reviving the Wantagh State Parkway extension to the LIE.

Yeah, good luck with getting any new highway built on Long Island.  If only...

[okc1]

For the amount of money they've been spending on this, they could probably have converted the state to mileage-based exit numbers.  I hope someone at FHWA is reading this thread.  Should make life interesting the next time the state claims it has no money for a conversion.

vdeane,  Are you involved with the Tupper Lake - Lake Placid rail to trail conversion?  The money spent on the signs could easily have covered this cost.

[cl94]

For the amount of money they've been spending on this, they could probably have converted the state to mileage-based exit numbers.  I hope someone at FHWA is reading this thread.  Should make life interesting the next time the state claims it has no money for a conversion.

vdeane,  Are you involved with the Tupper Lake - Lake Placid rail to trail conversion?  The money spent on the signs could easily have covered this cost.

Don't get me started on how much of a waste that is. A trail nobody would use, while they could try and restart rail service.