New York

[seicer]

I generally think New York does a fine job in advanced interchange signage, but I found it really perplexing that some major interchanges are signed less than a mile from the actual exit gore. For example, the sign for I-99/US 15's exit in Corning is signed only a half mile from the actual exit (around a long curve, too) on I-86 westbound (https://goo.gl/maps/tJ57BryYKQpUPuuc6) and I think it's a half mile on I-86 eastbound as well. I-86 is only signed a half mile from I-99's terminus (https://goo.gl/maps/R3hyTdkKUTF4G3zAA).

In comparison, I-86's diversion from I-81 is signed one mile in advance (https://goo.gl/maps/p1CZXHAMximbZfQLA).

[SignBridge]

MUTCD Sec. 2E-33.02 recommends putting advance guide signs at 1 mile and 2 miles if spacing permits for major and intermediate interchanges.

[kalvado]

I generally think New York does a fine job in advanced interchange signage, but I found it really perplexing that some major interchanges are signed less than a mile from the actual exit gore. For example, the sign for I-99/US 15's exit in Corning is signed only a half mile from the actual exit (around a long curve, too) on I-86 westbound (https://goo.gl/maps/tJ57BryYKQpUPuuc6) and I think it's a half mile on I-86 eastbound as well. I-86 is only signed a half mile from I-99's terminus (https://goo.gl/maps/R3hyTdkKUTF4G3zAA).

In comparison, I-86's diversion from I-81 is signed one mile in advance (https://goo.gl/maps/p1CZXHAMximbZfQLA).

Generally fine, but most interchanges are lacking.
Another example - I-87 southbound -> Thruway in Albany.
First advance sign is than 3/4mile from the gore point:
https://www.google.com/maps/@42.7081159,-73.8291809,3a,75y,220.81h,81.27t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1svPNLL1PwmdDKlZRh4Vip6A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
However, it is not until much later that there is a vague message that only the right lane is going towards Thruway ("Thruway - keep right": https://www.google.com/maps/@42.7014804,-73.8348774,3a,75y,222.69h,76.33t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1spMnRx70hy1hwbGPBnYytZQ!2e0!5s20190901T000000!7i16384!8i8192)
The  option lane was removed decades ago. 

It is not an academic complain - I do see plenty of drivers getting into the wrong lane as a result. Being forced onto the eastbound road when one needs to go the other way, with no simple U-turn options must be interesting. Driving around a 18-wheeler which has to change a lane within 100 feet of a gore point - priceless! Happens every other week with me..

[machias]

I generally think New York does a fine job in advanced interchange signage, but I found it really perplexing that some major interchanges are signed less than a mile from the actual exit gore. For example, the sign for I-99/US 15's exit in Corning is signed only a half mile from the actual exit (around a long curve, too) on I-86 westbound (https://goo.gl/maps/tJ57BryYKQpUPuuc6) and I think it's a half mile on I-86 eastbound as well. I-86 is only signed a half mile from I-99's terminus (https://goo.gl/maps/R3hyTdkKUTF4G3zAA).

In comparison, I-86's diversion from I-81 is signed one mile in advance (https://goo.gl/maps/p1CZXHAMximbZfQLA).

Generally fine, but most interchanges are lacking.
Another example - I-87 southbound -> Thruway in Albany.
First advance sign is than 3/4mile from the gore point:
https://www.google.com/maps/@42.7081159,-73.8291809,3a,75y,220.81h,81.27t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1svPNLL1PwmdDKlZRh4Vip6A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
However, it is not until much later that there is a vague message that only the right lane is going towards Thruway ("Thruway - keep right": https://www.google.com/maps/@42.7014804,-73.8348774,3a,75y,222.69h,76.33t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1spMnRx70hy1hwbGPBnYytZQ!2e0!5s20190901T000000!7i16384!8i8192)
The  option lane was removed decades ago. 

It is not an academic complain - I do see plenty of drivers getting into the wrong lane as a result. Being forced onto the eastbound road when one needs to go the other way, with no simple U-turn options must be interesting. Driving around a 18-wheeler which has to change a lane within 100 feet of a gore point - priceless! Happens every other week with me..

Last time I was in New York State I noticed Region 3 has gone with a full implementation of 2 mile advance signs whenever possible, and reducing that to 1 1/2 miles if spacing requires it. I don't know if this is a NYSDOT effort or a Region 3 effort, but it's impressive.

[Mr. Matté]

I generally think New York does a fine job in advanced interchange signage, but I found it really perplexing that some major interchanges are signed less than a mile from the actual exit gore. For example, the sign for I-99/US 15's exit in Corning is signed only a half mile from the actual exit (around a long curve, too) on I-86 westbound (https://goo.gl/maps/tJ57BryYKQpUPuuc6) and I think it's a half mile on I-86 eastbound as well. I-86 is only signed a half mile from I-99's terminus (https://goo.gl/maps/R3hyTdkKUTF4G3zAA).

In comparison, I-86's diversion from I-81 is signed one mile in advance (https://goo.gl/maps/p1CZXHAMximbZfQLA).

Generally fine, but most interchanges are lacking.
Another example - I-87 southbound -> Thruway in Albany.
First advance sign is than 3/4mile from the gore point:
https://www.google.com/maps/@42.7081159,-73.8291809,3a,75y,220.81h,81.27t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1svPNLL1PwmdDKlZRh4Vip6A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
However, it is not until much later that there is a vague message that only the right lane is going towards Thruway ("Thruway - keep right": https://www.google.com/maps/@42.7014804,-73.8348774,3a,75y,222.69h,76.33t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1spMnRx70hy1hwbGPBnYytZQ!2e0!5s20190901T000000!7i16384!8i8192)
The  option lane was removed decades ago. 

It is not an academic complain - I do see plenty of drivers getting into the wrong lane as a result. Being forced onto the eastbound road when one needs to go the other way, with no simple U-turn options must be interesting. Driving around a 18-wheeler which has to change a lane within 100 feet of a gore point - priceless! Happens every other week with me..

Another biggie that I would have experienced missed had I not had Waze open the first time I drove it is I-287 east approaching I-684, first sign is for it (after a million other interchanges through White Plains) is 1/2 mile: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.0299446,-73.7411847,3a,39.5y,110.09h,89.38t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1swXT6ViOdyeNl7-RdKo61og!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

[Mccojm]

I generally think New York does a fine job in advanced interchange signage, but I found it really perplexing that some major interchanges are signed less than a mile from the actual exit gore. For example, the sign for I-99/US 15's exit in Corning is signed only a half mile from the actual exit (around a long curve, too) on I-86 westbound (https://goo.gl/maps/tJ57BryYKQpUPuuc6) and I think it's a half mile on I-86 eastbound as well. I-86 is only signed a half mile from I-99's terminus (https://goo.gl/maps/R3hyTdkKUTF4G3zAA).

In comparison, I-86's diversion from I-81 is signed one mile in advance (https://goo.gl/maps/p1CZXHAMximbZfQLA).

Generally fine, but most interchanges are lacking.
Another example - I-87 southbound -> Thruway in Albany.
First advance sign is than 3/4mile from the gore point:
https://www.google.com/maps/@42.7081159,-73.8291809,3a,75y,220.81h,81.27t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1svPNLL1PwmdDKlZRh4Vip6A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
However, it is not until much later that there is a vague message that only the right lane is going towards Thruway ("Thruway - keep right": https://www.google.com/maps/@42.7014804,-73.8348774,3a,75y,222.69h,76.33t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1spMnRx70hy1hwbGPBnYytZQ!2e0!5s20190901T000000!7i16384!8i8192)
The  option lane was removed decades ago. 

It is not an academic complain - I do see plenty of drivers getting into the wrong lane as a result. Being forced onto the eastbound road when one needs to go the other way, with no simple U-turn options must be interesting. Driving around a 18-wheeler which has to change a lane within 100 feet of a gore point - priceless! Happens every other week with me..

Last time I was in New York State I noticed Region 3 has gone with a full implementation of 2 mile advance signs whenever possible, and reducing that to 1 1/2 miles if spacing requires it. I don't know if this is a NYSDOT effort or a Region 3 effort, but it's impressive.

Region 10 doesn't sign anything more than 1 mile, if I remember correctly most of our signs are 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4 mile since everything is so close together. There's an oddity on ny-135 I believe the sign says 2/10 mile

[SignBridge]

Kalvado, have you ever contacted NYS DOT re: that signing situation on I-87 approaching the Thruway?

Mccojm, I believe that 2/10 mile sign is at NY 27, Sunrise Hwy correct? That's a holdover from the original late 1960's signing when that section of NY-135 was built. Back then it was standard NYSDOT practice to use tenths of a mile on exit signs and 2/10's was the standard for the second exit at a cloverleaf interchange.

[amroad17]

I generally think New York does a fine job in advanced interchange signage, but I found it really perplexing that some major interchanges are signed less than a mile from the actual exit gore. For example, the sign for I-99/US 15's exit in Corning is signed only a half mile from the actual exit (around a long curve, too) on I-86 westbound (https://goo.gl/maps/tJ57BryYKQpUPuuc6) and I think it's a half mile on I-86 eastbound as well. I-86 is only signed a half mile from I-99's terminus (https://goo.gl/maps/R3hyTdkKUTF4G3zAA).

In comparison, I-86's diversion from I-81 is signed one mile in advance (https://goo.gl/maps/p1CZXHAMximbZfQLA).

There is a 1 MILE advance sign for I-86 just past the gore for EXIT 11 on I-99 NB.

It would be nice to see a post interchange mileage sign north of EXIT 8 showing the distance to I-86 (4) and Corning (5)*.
      *-Corning is 6 miles from EXIT 8, not 8 miles as signs list.  Likewise, Mansfield is 24 miles away, not 22.

Yes, the advance signage for I-99/US 15 on I-86 is lacking.  1 MILE advance signage is needed, at least.

[kalvado]

Kalvado, have you ever contacted NYS DOT re: that signing situation on I-87 approaching the Thruway?

Local newspaper did. DOT responded with in-stock bullshit - compliant to regulations, no plans to modify.
That is one of very poorly designed local spots in  general, signage just makes it worse.
Upd. I missed the narrative, bottom line still the same
https://blog.timesunion.com/gettingthere/ramp-to-thruway-a-place-for-near-misses/1511/

[SignBridge]

Kalvado, have you ever contacted NYS DOT re: that signing situation on I-87 approaching the Thruway?

Local newspaper did. DOT responded with in-stock bullshit - compliant to regulations, no plans to modify.
That is one of very poorly designed local spots in  general, signage just makes it worse.
Upd. I missed the narrative, bottom line still the same
https://blog.timesunion.com/gettingthere/ramp-to-thruway-a-place-for-near-misses/1511/

This might be a case where even though the signing is technically correct, it does not convey the needed info in an intuitive form for the average driver and could be improved..............And just as I've often said about traffic signal installations, just because it meets minimum standards, that doesn't necessarily make it a good quality design.

[steviep24]

I received my new plates in the mail today.



I haven't seen any of the new plates in the Rochester area thus far so my set could be one of the first ones here.

[kalvado]

I received my new plates in the mail today.


I haven't seen any of the new plates in the Rochester area thus far so my set could be one of the first ones here.

New plates don't stand out of typical dark-on-white plates, but I bet there are more of them than we notice.
I even saw commercial and historic plates on a new base...

[machias]

I received my new plates in the mail today.



I haven't seen any of the new plates in the Rochester area thus far so my set could be one of the first ones here.

I guess I didn't realize the letters and numbers were black. For some reason I thought they were going to blue like the past two incarnations

[SignBridge]

I've seen quite a few on Long Island with later series letters such as KDB.

[froggie]

Can I be the first to say...."eww"?

[Sam]

I saw a couple around Rochester last week. I thought at first they were peeling Empire plates.

[DJStephens]

Some kind of homage to "Star Trek"??

[Alps]

Can I be the first to say...."eww"?

Looks like you are. I like it. Less busy than their recent designs.

[steviep24]

I received my new plates in the mail today.

[image clipped]

I haven't seen any of the new plates in the Rochester area thus far so my set could be one of the first ones here.

I guess I didn't realize the letters and numbers were black. For some reason I thought they were going to blue like the past two incarnations

I took a look at my new plates again and the letters and numbers are actually dark blue. They certainly do look black in my photo.

[cu2010]

I like them much better than the Empire Gold plates...

[PaulRAnderson]

Why did New York change their license plate design so quickly?  The Empire Gold plates have only been out a few years.  Is it because the letters peel off after a while?

[SignBridge]

The reason was supposedly that cameras (red light and toll I assume) could not read the numbers on the blue/orange plate as well as they could dark numbers on a white background. So now NY State in its infinite wisdom has three different plate designs on the road.

[vdeane]

Some kind of homage to "Star Trek"??

It was adopted as the state motto in 1778... so a bit earlier than Star Trek III.  But now I'm imagining people reacting like Scotty and Sulu to the plates.

The reason was supposedly that cameras (red light and toll I assume) could not read the numbers on the blue/orange plate as well as they could dark numbers on a white background. So now NY State in its infinite wisdom has three different plate designs on the road.

There was supposed to be a mandatory replacement for plates over 10 years old, which would have taken the white/blue plates out of service.  Of course, people in NY tend to react negatively to plate replacements because they cost $25, especially since the blue/gold plates were supposed to be a mandatory replacement for everyone with the rationale being to raise money.

[storm2k]

Some kind of homage to "Star Trek"??

It was adopted as the state motto in 1778... so a bit earlier than Star Trek III.  But now I'm imagining people reacting like Scotty and Sulu to the plates.

The reason was supposedly that cameras (red light and toll I assume) could not read the numbers on the blue/orange plate as well as they could dark numbers on a white background. So now NY State in its infinite wisdom has three different plate designs on the road.

There was supposed to be a mandatory replacement for plates over 10 years old, which would have taken the white/blue plates out of service.  Of course, people in NY tend to react negatively to plate replacements because they cost $25, especially since the blue/gold plates were supposed to be a mandatory replacement for everyone with the rationale being to raise money.

Meanwhile, while it's getting less common, you still see plenty of cream on blue and even a few lingering black on cream plates in NJ happily puttering along since plate transfers are still allowed in some situations. Mind you, NJMVC really needs to do some sort of plate reissue at this point for the older stamped plates (a lot of them have peeling problems that make NY's plates look pristine in comparison). I'm almost surprised that NJ hasn't done a new plate design. The runny eggs are almost 30 years old at this point.

[Michael]

On the 15th, I saw my first new NY license plate at Wegmans here in Auburn.  At first, I thought it was an old Liberty plate since it had dark text on a white background and I couldn't see the top or bottom of it.  If I remember right, there was a plate frame that covered the top and bottom.  Once I got a closer look at it, I thought it kind of looked like Texas plates do.

After that first sighting, I didn't see any more until last week.  I saw maybe a half dozen plates total last week.  One of my neighbors now has one.  I don't hate them like I did the Empire Gold ones at first.  I'm still not a fan of the Empire Gold ones but have gotten used to them.  I think the new plates kind of look like an updated version of the white and blue Empire plates.  I still have to say the Liberty plates are my favorite, even though they look dated.  The Empire Blue plates are a close second since they don't look as dated.



On Saturday, I drove to Syracuse, and the lane closure that was on the NY 695 north to I-690 east ramp is no longer there.  A new lane was being added for the new ramp from the bridge from the Orange Lot and the existing lanes were shifted to the right.

I don't like the setup since if you're in the right lane on the ramp, you now have to move over two lanes to the left.  The old setup was an added lane on I-690 for the left lane and a lane drop to the NY 297 exit for the right lane.  The new setup makes the ramp from the Orange Lot the added lane on I-690, the left lane from NY 695 the lane drop for NY 297, and the right lane ends.

On NY 695 north, I usually use the center lane (sometimes the left lane if I'm passing) and if I'm not already there, I like to move to the left lane around where the ramp to I-690 west leaves NY 695.  I do this because I know what becomes the right lane is a lane drop.  This time though, I stayed in the right lane after the I-690 west ramp because the left lane has been closed.  Once I saw the left lane was no longer closed, I started looking for a gap and was able to move over a lane at the end of the ramp as the lanes merge into I-690.  This happened to be the same spot where the first of the new painted merge arrows are.

Since traffic was light, I was able to quickly move over a second lane.  Even without cars behind me I didn't like it.  With the old setup, there's been a few times I thought I was going to be forced to exit onto NY 297 because there wasn't a gap, and now there's two lanes to change.  I think it will be worse with more traffic.  I wonder why they made a lane that will only get use a few times through the year and during the State Fair the new through lane, but my best guess is not being able to fit in an acceleration lane since I-690 is so close and/or not wanting a left lane drop.

Ideally, I'd like to see ramp braiding, but that would be super expensive since the ramp from I-690 east would have to go over the existing bridges at the I-690/NY 695 interchange.  Tunneling wouldn't work since this portion of I-690 is built on industrial waste beds.  A realistic option would be to make the ramp from the Orange Lot bridge the lane that ends, but like I mentioned above, the acceleration lane might not be able to be long enough since it's already pretty close to where the ramp from NY 695 merges onto I-690.

On a side note, when the left lane was closed, I didn't like the lane shift on the curve of the ramp.  The curve is already fairly tight and has an advisory speed of 55 MPH.  This is one of those times they actually mean it.  It's possible to do the curve at 60 MPH, but going that fast makes me uncomfortable.  During the construction, they made the curve even tighter and used tall Jersey barriers on the second half of the curve that made the lane super narrow.  The first time I went through the construction, I was surprised that the curve kept getting tighter and the road kept getting narrower.  I ended up slowing down to 45 MPH and felt comfortable with that.  There was no work zone speed limit or advisory speed but I think the curve should have been signed for 45 MPH.  I had a car pretty close behind me, and since the curve was so uncomfortable, I thought to myself "they'll just have to deal with it" as I went through it.  Thankfully, the final curve isn't really different than it was before.  When I first saw the plans for the project, I was worried that shifting the lanes to the right by a lane would make the curve too tight, but 55 MPH was fine.