Control Cities

[msubulldog]

In 1999 and 2000 in the southern part of Virginia (south of Petersburg), mileage signs on US 1 south listed "Raleigh"--where no such mention was made on mileage signs on I-85.

[amroad17]

In 1999 and 2000 in the southern part of Virginia (south of Petersburg), mileage signs on US 1 south listed "Raleigh"--where no such mention was made on mileage signs on I-85.

That is because US 1 does go to Raleigh--I-85 does not.  That goes to Durham. 

[ET21]

I-294 has a mixed bag of control cities going north it's either Wisconsin or Milwaukee. Both are correct, but I think Milwaukee would be the better of the two

[Brandon]

I-294 has a mixed bag of control cities going north it's either Wisconsin or Milwaukee. Both are correct, but I think Milwaukee would be the better of the two

"Wisconsin" is the more dominant of the two until the Rosemont Interchange.  After that, "Milwaukee" shows up more.  My guess is that "Wisconsin" is used south of there as one can take either the Tri-State or Northwest Tollways to Wisconsin.

[architect77]

A few years ago I posted this NC overhead gantry to a worldwide audience on skyscrapercity, because I thought it was quite handsome.

Then last year I was disappointed how they mutilated it with their compulsive switching of control cities, removing the great city of Raleigh (which was a new and most-southward-yet first mention) (now gone).
Sanford, who cares, and it's 60 miles south of I-85 anyway.

Then on this same new bypass of Greensboro, they list Raleigh first though its further than Durham

[amroad17]

Sanford is now listed because US 421 goes there.  As far as the last photo, Raleigh may be listed first because of I-40.  Here in the Cincinnati area when approaching the Brent Spence Bridge on I-75 south, a BGS (in Ohio) shows this:

                   I-71 I-75 SOUTH
                        Louisville
                       Lexington

From this point, Louisville is further away than Lexington (by 17 miles).  Ohio does this on all the BGS's on I-71 and I-75.  Once entering Kentucky, the control cities switch spots with Lexington on top.

[PurdueBill]

Sanford is now listed because US 421 goes there.  As far as the last photo, Raleigh may be listed first because of I-40.  Here in the Cincinnati area when approaching the Brent Spence Bridge on I-75 south, a BGS (in Ohio) shows this:

                   I-71 I-75 SOUTH
                        Louisville
                       Lexington

From this point, Louisville is further away than Lexington (by 17 miles).  Ohio does this on all the BGS's on I-71 and I-75.  Once entering Kentucky, the control cities switch spots with Lexington on top.

I could see that being reasonable as far as reading in order though--71 before 75, Louisville before Lexington, so the routes and control cities are read in the same order.

[deathtopumpkins]

I'd think the "Raleigh Durham" sign may have them in that order because many people refer to the area as "Raleigh-Durham"? Saying Durham before Raleigh sounds weird.

I agree though, the closer city should definitely come first.

[aerules]

I know the Garden State Parkway has the Cape May Ferry listed as a Control City

[jfs1988]

https://www.aaroads.com/california/images014/ca-014_ca-058b_nb_mojave_09.jpg

CA-14 has a few trailblazer destination signs that show Reno, NV in Mojave, CA. Its the only mention of Reno along CA-14.

CA-14 ends near the border of Kern County & Inyo County at its junction with US 395. US 395 continues north into Bishop, the Sierra Nevada, & Reno, NV.

[TXtoNJ]

Resurrecting this thread...

What do you think should be the overall logic for control city designations?

Personally, I'd like to see there be three control cities on most long-distance Interstate signs, with the following hierarchy:

1. City with local/regional/state/national importance in close proximity
2. City with regional/state/national importance in medium range
3. City with state/national importance (top 50 Combined Statistical Area, superseded by top 20 within 500 miles) in longer range

1 will change often, 2 less often, and 3 only when the previous city draws into medium range.

Let's take I-35 in Texas for example, starting from Laredo:

Pearsall (largest county seat between Laredo and San Antonio)
San Antonio
Dallas/Fort Worth

Past Pearsall:

San Antonio
Austin
Dallas/Fort Worth

Past San Antonio:

New Braunfels
Austin
Dallas/Fort Worth

Past New Braunfels:

Austin
Waco
Dallas/Fort Worth

Past Austin:

Temple
Waco
Dallas/Fort Worth

Past Temple:

Waco
Hillsboro
Dallas/Fort Worth

Past Waco:

Hillsboro
Dallas/Fort Worth
Oklahoma City

and so on.

Your thoughts?

[TravelingBethelite]

I like the idea. Here's an example near me for my idea: I-84 West
                                                                              Newburgh
                                                                              Port Jervis
                                                                               Scranton
Port Jervis is not currently used as a control city on either direction of I-84, but I think it sohuld, especially Newburgh and wesr, and Scranton and east.

[kkt]

What about where the obvious control city, where most of the traffic is bound, is served indirectly from the highway you're on?  For example, at the Wheeler Ridge split where I-5 northbound goes to Sacramento but most traffic turns on I-580 for San Francisco Bay Area, is the third control city Sacramento or San Francisco?

[2Co5_14]

Resurrecting this thread...

What do you think should be the overall logic for control city designations?

Personally, I'd like to see there be three control cities on most long-distance Interstate signs, with the following hierarchy:

1. City with local/regional/state/national importance in close proximity
2. City with regional/state/national importance in medium range
3. City with state/national importance (top 50 Combined Statistical Area, superseded by top 20 within 500 miles) in longer range

1 will change often, 2 less often, and 3 only when the previous city draws into medium range.

I think the following would be the right balance of showing both smaller and larger cities en-route:

1. Next local city with services available (gas/food/lodging, min. pop. 1k, typical 5-10k)
2. Next city of regional/statewide importance (county seat or other city, min. pop. 10k, typical 25-100k)
3. Next city of statewide/national importance (a city people have actually heard of, min pop. 100k, typical 500k+)

The populations listed would be the metropolitan area, not just the city.

[TravelingBethelite]

Resurrecting this thread...

What do you think should be the overall logic for control city designations?

Personally, I'd like to see there be three control cities on most long-distance Interstate signs, with the following hierarchy:

1. City with local/regional/state/national importance in close proximity
2. City with regional/state/national importance in medium range
3. City with state/national importance (top 50 Combined Statistical Area, superseded by top 20 within 500 miles) in longer range

1 will change often, 2 less often, and 3 only when the previous city draws into medium range.

I think the following would be the right balance of showing both smaller and larger cities en-route:

1. Next local city with services available (gas/food/lodging, min. pop. 1k, typical 5-10k)
2. Next city of regional/statewide importance (county seat or other city, min. pop. 10k, typical 25-100k)
3. Next city of statewide/national importance (a city people have actually heard of, min pop. 100k, typical 500k+)

The populations listed would be the metropolitan area, not just the city.

Only 1 problem-1 that would be common here in the metropolis: The first 2 would be right after each other, and in a few cases, all 3 would be in quick succesion. My solution in more heavily-populated areas would be, either: ONLY 1 & 3, or ONLY 2 & 3, at one time. People generally know where they are and where they're going. However, many besides the local population would not know the smaller, more local municipalities, but they would know the larger, more distant cities.

[freebrickproductions]

Here in Alabama, I-565 has Scottsboro and Decatur listed as control cities, despite never actually reaching the former and just barely entering the latter.

[roadman65]

I would like know why the NJ Turnpike Authority changed "Camden" for "Pemberton" when NJ 72 does not go to the past and present control cities for Parkway Exit 63.

If they did that because NJ 72 does not serve Camden directly, think again as also NJ 72 serves Pemberton the same way.  Camden is just the same and more of a logical choice being most NJ 72 traffic heads west on NJ 70.  NJ 70, even though terminates two routes early, heads to Camden and ultimately Philadelphia, so that is the obvious choice IMO

[noelbotevera]

I'm gonna do something for Maryland and here's some control cities that I like:
I-68 WV line to Grantsville
Grantsville
Cumberland
Hagerstown

Grantsville to Cumberland
Cumberland
Hancock
Hagerstown

Cumberland to Hancock
Hagerstown
Washington DC
Baltimore



I-70 - PA State Line to I-68
Hagerstown
Washington DC
Winchester VA

I-68 to MD 17
Hagerstown
Washington DC
New York

MD 17 to I-270
Frederick
Baltimore
New York

I-270 to I-695
New York
Washington DC
Richmond

Some are a little unlogical.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

I-35 in Minnesota sort of fluctuates a bit north of the Twin Cities on the second line between Hinckley, Sandstone, and Pine City. I'd probably make Hinckley the full-time second-line city because it's a popular stopping point between Duluth and MSP, as well as being a popular destination overall because of its casino.

[TXtoNJ]

What about where the obvious control city, where most of the traffic is bound, is served indirectly from the highway you're on?  For example, at the Wheeler Ridge split where I-5 northbound goes to Sacramento but most traffic turns on I-580 for San Francisco Bay Area, is the third control city Sacramento or San Francisco?

That's the nice thing - the large city can remain on the third line, since that's more of a "you're headed in the general direction of" control city.

[PHLBOS]

Personally, I'd like to see there be three control cities on most long-distance Interstate signs

In some areas, one's lucky if they see two control cities/destinations (for one direction) on signs never mind three.

I've personally been in favor of 2-control city listings for through-signage; especially in more densely-populated regions.

[hbelkins]

I like the idea. Here's an example near me for my idea: I-84 West
                                                                              Newburgh
                                                                              Port Jervis
                                                                               Scranton
Port Jervis is not currently used as a control city on either direction of I-84, but I think it sohuld, especially Newburgh and wesr, and Scranton and east.

Pennsylvania would use Milford instead of Port Jervis. 

Actually, I-84's control cities should be Scranton and Hartford.

I'm gonna do something for Maryland and here's some control cities that I like:
I-68 WV line to Grantsville
Grantsville
Cumberland
Hagerstown

Grantsville to Cumberland
Cumberland
Hancock
Hagerstown

Cumberland to Hancock
Hagerstown
Washington DC
Baltimore
Some are a little unlogical.

Yep.

I-68's should really be Cumberland and then Baltimore/Washington DC going east, and Cumberland/Morgantown going west. I don't know that I'm a fan of using smaller towns that are interstate junctions (Hancock, Hagerstown, Frederick) as control cities.

[TXtoNJ]

Personally, I'd like to see there be three control cities on most long-distance Interstate signs

In some areas, one's lucky if they see two control cities/destinations (for one direction) on signs never mind three.

I've personally been in favor of 2-control city listings for through-signage; especially in more densely-populated regions.

Agreed - I like three because it satisfies local concerns for recognition, while still providing a place for cities that most travelers care about orienting themselves toward.

[roadman65]

I like Illinois using next exit route number or connecting city, the next large regional city, and then the next major US city that the interstate travels to.  I think that covers everything from local, to regional, to national.

Even the ramps are signed with regional cities from local, county, and state routes; and the first major US city on interstate to interstate connections.  Hence why Memphis, TN is used as control city from all interstates connecting to I-57 S Bound even though from I-80 its almost 500 miles away with two states in between.

I think that in NJ on the start of I-80 it should also include in addition to Paterson which is only less than 10 miles away should either include the Delaware Water Gap or Stroudsburg, PA.  In addition Baltimore should be added with Newark on the SB NJT & I-95 on the Turnpike pull through signs at the I-80 split as well. 

Of course if IDOT had jurisdiction there "Cleveland" would be only the control city for I-80 and "Baltimore" would be for I-95 South, but mine would suffice as it is also as good as Illinois.

[jp the roadgeek]

I like the idea. Here's an example near me for my idea: I-84 West
                                                                              Newburgh
                                                                              Port Jervis
                                                                               Scranton
Port Jervis is not currently used as a control city on either direction of I-84, but I think it sohuld, especially Newburgh and wesr, and Scranton and east.

Pennsylvania would use Milford instead of Port Jervis. 

Actually, I-84's control cities should be Scranton and Hartford.

NYSTA uses Newburgh and Scranton at Exit 17 with Danbury as a secondary on an LGS.
West from Newburgh, I'd use Middletown then Scranton. Middletown is where I-86 will eventually cross. East from Newburgh, there's Danbury, Waterbury, Hartford, and (though it ends 50 miles west), Boston. I'm just glad CONNDOT replaced NY State with Newburgh in Danbury westbound .