Control Cities

[Dirt Roads]

All the signs that have Washington, DC as a control city just say Washington on them. For a sign to say Washington in that part of the country most people are going to think it's Washington, DC so I would agree that a PA should be put on that sign saying Washington, PA instead of Washington. The sign should say Pittsburgh anyway.

Except that Washington DC is behind you headed back east on I-68.  Of course, if you are not following a map or GPS and make the mistake of getting on I-68 west out of Morgantown, you might actually follow I-79 north all the way to Washington PA (where you would then catch I-70 to go east to get to Washington DC).  It wouldn't surprise me if somebody has actually made this mistake before.

[Roadgeekteen]

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.3863927,-82.1796537,3a,25.8y,78.9h,90.39t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sURwmtdkMiwwkHHgfdB421w!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DURwmtdkMiwwkHHgfdB421w%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D146.32225%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656

I... I... can't even

[SkyPesos]

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.3863927,-82.1796537,3a,25.8y,78.9h,90.39t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sURwmtdkMiwwkHHgfdB421w!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DURwmtdkMiwwkHHgfdB421w%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D146.32225%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656

I... I... can't even

Only on the Ohio Turnpike
At least they sign Chicago on the WB direction instead of "Indiana" .

[Flint1979]

All the signs that have Washington, DC as a control city just say Washington on them. For a sign to say Washington in that part of the country most people are going to think it's Washington, DC so I would agree that a PA should be put on that sign saying Washington, PA instead of Washington. The sign should say Pittsburgh anyway.

Except that Washington DC is behind you headed back east on I-68.  Of course, if you are not following a map or GPS and make the mistake of getting on I-68 west out of Morgantown, you might actually follow I-79 north all the way to Washington PA (where you would then catch I-70 to go east to get to Washington DC).  It wouldn't surprise me if somebody has actually made this mistake before.

I think that it would confuse you into thinking your headed the wrong direction. A lot of times control cities that are in another state will have the states initials. I can think on I-69 Lansing is the control city north of Fort Wayne and I know a few signs that have Lansing, MI on them but there is a Lansing, IL as well that's right across the border from Indiana on I-80/94. In Michigan for Fort Wayne it just says Fort Wayne not Fort Wayne, IN since I suppose you wouldn't confuse Fort Wayne with a city in another state.

[Flint1979]

On the part of I-275 in Indiana in the city of Greendale they have the control cities on I-275 as Ohio and Kentucky but it makes sense at that point. Then there's the sign that has Cincinnati, Louisville and Lexington all on the same sign.

[Roadgeekteen]

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.3863927,-82.1796537,3a,25.8y,78.9h,90.39t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sURwmtdkMiwwkHHgfdB421w!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DURwmtdkMiwwkHHgfdB421w%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D146.32225%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656

I... I... can't even

Only on the Ohio Turnpike
At least they sign Chicago on the WB direction instead of "Indiana" .

Not sure what city they should sign. Probably Pittsburgh.

[Flint1979]

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.3863927,-82.1796537,3a,25.8y,78.9h,90.39t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sURwmtdkMiwwkHHgfdB421w!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DURwmtdkMiwwkHHgfdB421w%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D146.32225%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656

I... I... can't even

Only on the Ohio Turnpike
At least they sign Chicago on the WB direction instead of "Indiana" .

Not sure what city they should sign. Probably Pittsburgh.

Youngstown

[SkyPesos]

Could do Other Mountain Cities or Other Coastal Cities 

[Roadgeekteen]

Could do Other Mountain Cities or Other Coastal Cities 

"other rust belt cities"

[kkt]

The Office of Management and Budget is considering increasing the threshold for a metropolitan area from 50,000 to 100,000. It would be interesting to see how this would be reflected on signs across the USA if this happens.

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/01/19/2021-00988/recommendations-from-the-metropolitan-and-micropolitan-statistical-area-standards-review-committee

I wonder if the signs for 95 southbound in Richmond down to the NC line will change from "Rocky Mount NC"  to "Emporia"  and later "Roanoke Rapids"  as a result of this new system if it is implemented. Honestly that would be fine as I don't think the typical BosWash traveler has any familiarity with Rocky Mount other than it being signed so much in the area. Fayetteville is another possibility but it's rather far away and not that major of a city. Maybe they should just use "Miami"  on 95 South signing. I'm kidding.

I'd be very surprised if there was any great wave of changes to control cities based on the OMB's definition of a MSA.

[Flint1979]

I think on I-77 northbound coming out of Charlotte that Statesville should be the control city it's not too close to Charlotte either it's 60 miles north of it and at the crossroads with I-40.

[Roadgeekteen]

I think on I-77 northbound coming out of Charlotte that Statesville should be the control city it's not too close to Charlotte either it's 60 miles north of it and at the crossroads with I-40.

Not the biggest fan, but there really aren't that many better options.

[Flint1979]

I think on I-77 northbound coming out of Charlotte that Statesville should be the control city it's not too close to Charlotte either it's 60 miles north of it and at the crossroads with I-40.

Not the biggest fan, but there really aren't that many better options.

It's not like Statesville is in the Charlotte Metro area. It's as far from Charlotte as Flint is from Detroit.

[Roadgeekteen]

I think on I-77 northbound coming out of Charlotte that Statesville should be the control city it's not too close to Charlotte either it's 60 miles north of it and at the crossroads with I-40.

Not the biggest fan, but there really aren't that many better options.

It's not like Statesville is in the Charlotte Metro area. It's as far from Charlotte as Flint is from Detroit.

Statesville isn't all that big but I-77 goes through a whole lot of nothing north of that and signing Charleston WV in North Carolina would be a bit of a stretch.

[ran4sh]

All the signs that have Washington, DC as a control city just say Washington on them. For a sign to say Washington in that part of the country most people are going to think it's Washington, DC so I would agree that a PA should be put on that sign saying Washington, PA instead of Washington. The sign should say Pittsburgh anyway.

Except that Washington DC is behind you headed back east on I-68.  Of course, if you are not following a map or GPS and make the mistake of getting on I-68 west out of Morgantown, you might actually follow I-79 north all the way to Washington PA (where you would then catch I-70 to go east to get to Washington DC).  It wouldn't surprise me if somebody has actually made this mistake before.

I think that it would confuse you into thinking your headed the wrong direction. A lot of times control cities that are in another state will have the states initials. I can think on I-69 Lansing is the control city north of Fort Wayne and I know a few signs that have Lansing, MI on them but there is a Lansing, IL as well that's right across the border from Indiana on I-80/94. In Michigan for Fort Wayne it just says Fort Wayne not Fort Wayne, IN since I suppose you wouldn't confuse Fort Wayne with a city in another state.

Lansing IL is too close to Chicago to be a control city. I'm not sure that anyone actually gets confused by that.

[Flint1979]

All the signs that have Washington, DC as a control city just say Washington on them. For a sign to say Washington in that part of the country most people are going to think it's Washington, DC so I would agree that a PA should be put on that sign saying Washington, PA instead of Washington. The sign should say Pittsburgh anyway.

Except that Washington DC is behind you headed back east on I-68.  Of course, if you are not following a map or GPS and make the mistake of getting on I-68 west out of Morgantown, you might actually follow I-79 north all the way to Washington PA (where you would then catch I-70 to go east to get to Washington DC).  It wouldn't surprise me if somebody has actually made this mistake before.

I think that it would confuse you into thinking your headed the wrong direction. A lot of times control cities that are in another state will have the states initials. I can think on I-69 Lansing is the control city north of Fort Wayne and I know a few signs that have Lansing, MI on them but there is a Lansing, IL as well that's right across the border from Indiana on I-80/94. In Michigan for Fort Wayne it just says Fort Wayne not Fort Wayne, IN since I suppose you wouldn't confuse Fort Wayne with a city in another state.

Lansing IL is too close to Chicago to be a control city. I'm not sure that anyone actually gets confused by that.

I know it is. But it's on the state line and isn't a tiny place.

[OldDominion75]

I think on I-77 northbound coming out of Charlotte that Statesville should be the control city it's not too close to Charlotte either it's 60 miles north of it and at the crossroads with I-40.

It is the northbound control city for 77 isn't it? The last time I drove through the Charlotte area (several years ago), at the 77/85 junction, the control cities for 77 were Statesville and Columbia while 85's control cities were Spartanburg and Greensboro.

[Flint1979]

I think on I-77 northbound coming out of Charlotte that Statesville should be the control city it's not too close to Charlotte either it's 60 miles north of it and at the crossroads with I-40.

It is the northbound control city for 77 isn't it? The last time I drove through the Charlotte area (several years ago), at the 77/85 junction, the control cities for 77 were Statesville and Columbia while 85's control cities were Spartanburg and Greensboro.

Yeah it is the control city north of Charlotte on 77. North of Statesville it has both Statesville and Charlotte for SB and Elkin for NB.

[ilpt4u]

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.3863927,-82.1796537,3a,25.8y,78.9h,90.39t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sURwmtdkMiwwkHHgfdB421w!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DURwmtdkMiwwkHHgfdB421w%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D146.32225%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656

I... I... can't even

Only on the Ohio Turnpike
At least they sign Chicago on the WB direction instead of "Indiana" .

Not sure what city they should sign. Probably Pittsburgh.

Take a cue from ISTHA and sign I-80 East "Pennsylvania"  - covers Thru I-80 and Thru OHTP also
Otherwise, if you want cities: Pittsburgh/New York City

[Bitmapped]

All the signs that have Washington, DC as a control city just say Washington on them. For a sign to say Washington in that part of the country most people are going to think it's Washington, DC so I would agree that a PA should be put on that sign saying Washington, PA instead of Washington. The sign should say Pittsburgh anyway.

Newer WV signage consistently uses the 2-character abbreviation for out-of-state destinations. Washington, PA is the junction with I-70, where traffic using I-68 as a shunpike or going to Wheeling will leave and is a reasonable control city. Fairmont should probably be replaced with Clarksburg, the next control city south.
Except that Washington DC is behind you headed back east on I-68.  Of course, if you are not following a map or GPS and make the mistake of getting on I-68 west out of Morgantown, you might actually follow I-79 north all the way to Washington PA (where you would then catch I-70 to go east to get to Washington DC).  It wouldn't surprise me if somebody has actually made this mistake before.

[Roadgeekteen]

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.3863927,-82.1796537,3a,25.8y,78.9h,90.39t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sURwmtdkMiwwkHHgfdB421w!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DURwmtdkMiwwkHHgfdB421w%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D146.32225%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656

I... I... can't even

Only on the Ohio Turnpike
At least they sign Chicago on the WB direction instead of "Indiana" .

Not sure what city they should sign. Probably Pittsburgh.

Take a cue from ISTHA and sign I-80 East "Pennsylvania"  - covers Thru I-80 and Thru OHTP also
Otherwise, if you want cities: Pittsburgh/New York City

Youngstown could work to as that's where I-80 leaves the turnpike.

[SkyPesos]

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.3863927,-82.1796537,3a,25.8y,78.9h,90.39t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sURwmtdkMiwwkHHgfdB421w!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DURwmtdkMiwwkHHgfdB421w%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D146.32225%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656

I... I... can't even

Only on the Ohio Turnpike
At least they sign Chicago on the WB direction instead of "Indiana" .

Not sure what city they should sign. Probably Pittsburgh.

Take a cue from ISTHA and sign I-80 East "Pennsylvania"  - covers Thru I-80 and Thru OHTP also
Otherwise, if you want cities: Pittsburgh/New York City

Youngstown could work to as that's where I-80 leaves the turnpike.

Youngstown is already signed as the control city for I-80 EB between the I-480/OH 10 and I-680 interchanges. East of I-680 is where I-80 switches to NYC.

[Flint1979]

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.3863927,-82.1796537,3a,25.8y,78.9h,90.39t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sURwmtdkMiwwkHHgfdB421w!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DURwmtdkMiwwkHHgfdB421w%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D146.32225%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656

I... I... can't even

Only on the Ohio Turnpike
At least they sign Chicago on the WB direction instead of "Indiana" .

Not sure what city they should sign. Probably Pittsburgh.

Take a cue from ISTHA and sign I-80 East "Pennsylvania"  - covers Thru I-80 and Thru OHTP also
Otherwise, if you want cities: Pittsburgh/New York City

Youngstown could work to as that's where I-80 leaves the turnpike.

Youngstown is already signed as the control city for I-80 EB between the I-480/OH 10 and I-680 interchanges. East of I-680 is where I-80 switches to NYC.

ODOT is the only one to mention NYC. PennDOT doesn't it's not mentioned again until New Jersey.

[LM117]

There's one in NC that really stands out to me. In Wilson, where I-795 splits from US-264, Kenly is used as one of the control cities (along with Goldsboro) for I-795 South. It doesn't make any sense to use Kenly because any traffic from I-95 that's headed to Kenly is gonna stay on I-95. Same with traffic coming in from US-264 East. They're also gonna hop on I-95 South, not get on I-795 just to immediately exit onto US-301 and detour through Lucama. I've been to Lucama. It ain't that special.

The obvious thing to do would be to replace Kenly with Wilmington, since I-795's purpose is to act as a shortcut to get there, especially now that it's future southward extension from Goldsboro to I-40 near Faison is officially on the books.

[JayhawkCO]

Saw a really gross one that's new (so new that GSV doesn't have it on its 2019 travels).  On Weld County Road 49 (a fairly important road), when heading south towards I-76, it says I-76 West goes to Hudson and I-76 East goes to Wiggins.  No Denver.  No Fort Morgan.  Ick.

Chris