We have a lot of great ideas here. Plus I am sure at one time or another we wrote an email to our local road agencies to have issues resolved at times, but do we ever share our suggestions with local, regional, or state engineers?
Some of us go all out on here to impress each other with our ideas with even some of us becoming obsessed with our own plans on what roads should be. However, I was wondering do we even talk our ideas out with those who really matter? Not to say our thoughts are not welcome here, but just wondering if anyone ever took their concerns to the proper agencies.
I've never written to my DOT (Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation). However, since I myself am a training civil engineering student, perhaps in the future I may be able to share my ideas with them. I'm applying for a summer position with them, so who knows.
I've never written or even e-mailed them, but I have posted on Facebook pages of at least 3 of INDOT's 6 regions.
I have, though I don't do so very regularly. I generally annoy them with my observations of signing problems that I notice while I am traveling.
I call them (Maryland SHA, MdTA and VDOT) when I find problems on highways that they maintain (at least in Maryland and Virginia).
Not usually elsewhere.
I report potholes all the time via VDOT's website and I've exchanged tweets with their Northern Virginia office multiple times, again usually for purposes of reporting road problems.
When I found signage problems I reported them via e-mail. One time as a thank-you they sent me a VDOT pen, a beach ball, and some other stuff.
Yes, I've been doing it many many times, including to MUTCD. They have actually made some changes local towns, such as adding Yield signs at places that needed, and fixed other things such as repaving and adding crosswalks.
Quote from: AsphaltPlanet on December 10, 2015, 10:32:20 AM
I have, though I don't do so very regularly. I generally annoy them with my observations of signing problems that I notice while I am traveling.
Sounds like me :bigass: :sombrero: :pan:
Problem is they are lazy doing their jobs correctly...
I have emailed FDOT on a number of occasions over the years.
Got them to add the TO on Exit 28 signs for SR 546 that connects I-4 to US 92.
https://www.aaroads.com/southeast/florida004/i-004_eb_exit_028_04.jpg
Got them to add county line signs for Escambia/Santa Rosa on I-10:
https://www.aaroads.com/southeast/florida010/i-010_eb_exit_022_16.jpg
Got them to add "Rd" to Wilcox on this mileage sign posted west of the weigh station after Exit 5. They subsequently replaced the whole panel at some point afterwards with https://www.aaroads.com/southeast/florida010/i-010_wb_exit_000_04.jpg
Got them to add the missing e in Tallahassee on this sign on CR 89 back in 2009:
https://www.aaroads.com/southeast/florida085/cr-089_nb_at_old_hickory_hammock_rd.jpg
I also got County Road 399 signed from both FDOT on US 98 (https://www.aaroads.com/southeast/florida098/us-098_eb_at_cr-399_sb_03.jpg) and Santa Rosa County on the alignment through Navarre Beach (https://www.aaroads.com/guide.php?page=c0399fl).
ALDOT however was not receptive to me pointing out that the distance on this sign is off by 3/10th's of a mile: https://www.aaroads.com/southeast/alabama010/i-010_wb_exit_027_04.jpg
When I worked for Universal Map, I routinely queried DOT's about projects for map updates. Generally feedback was decent and I got some interchange renderings ahead of time.
When I first moved to VT in 2005, I did write to VTrans, and got a reply back. My questions, IIRC, centered around mile-based exits, removal of attraction signs from the interstates, and a vanished parking area. Mile-based exits were not a priority then, the attractions signs were removed since they were only good for X amount of years, and the parking area was removed and "returned to nature" since it was about 3/4 mile before an exit.
When I was in jr high school, I wrote to the Connecticut DOT with my plans to fix Route 9 in Middletown (traffic lights on the highway). It got me a tour of the ConnDOT facility in Newington and a few meetings with the commissioner of transportation at the time. 20+ years later, not one thing has been done to Route 9 - the traffic lights remain.
I emailed NJDOT about the application of Clearview on I-195/295 in Mercer/Burlington Counties and found out that it was just a test phase and that they did not plan to move forward with any switch to Clearview (thankfully).
Personally I would rather laugh at sign goofs than attempt to get them fixed.
And I don't bother reporting potholes since there are bajillions of them in New York City, and the patches aren't really much of an improvement over the holes they replace.
So... no.
I've been in touch with a number of agencies for the purpose of requesting information, but not to encourage them to do work somewhere.
Quote from: NJ on December 10, 2015, 02:01:52 PM
Yes, I've been doing it many many times, including to MUTCD.
Did the Manual write back?
I occasionally keep in touch with ADOT on their Facebook page.
In my previous life, I contacted various KYTC personnel about a few things. One email in particular went to someone in the Pikeville office with whom I later became very good friends as well as a co-worker. I got a very detailed answer to my questions from her.
In my present job, I actually write letters, email messages and social media replies to queries that come in. Often those letters are for the signature of the chief district engineer, state highway engineer or cabinet secretary. I maintain our district's Facebook and Twitter accounts and answer every legitimate message.
Yes, there are a few crackpots out there, including one guy who kept asking all the district public information officers to go out and take pictures of backhoes, dozers, tractors and dump trucks. I think he had a fetish or something.
I've contacted AHTD a number of times. I've e-mailed MODOT a couple times, as well.
I did a couple times to NDOR and once to the Iowa DOT, all about inconsistent and/or missing signage. I have written to the local public works department a couple times as well.
It can be difficult to get contact information for the right party about a particular issue. This, combined with the relative inanity of a lot of my inquiries, make me unlikely to pursue these contacts more rigorously than I might.
I occasionally write to MnDOT, and to VTrans to a lesser extent.
I have written to NJDOT many times, and participated in various public meetings. However, they generally tend to be very anti-public. In the past, I used to receive answers all the time...sometimes form letter-type mailings; other times responses specific to my inquiries. Lately though, I won't hear a thing from them. At the public meetings, they assume everyone is a dumbass that doesn't understand the project or the need. If you're not directly affect, they really won't even talk with you. During the recent public comment period for the TIP, my suggestions received generic responses.
I wrote to FDOT about missing shields in Tallahassee on US 90 at US 27 as there were none at all, as well as on US 27 at the State Capitol where US 27 turns right onto Monroe Street from Apalachee Parkway which was also missing signs.
They responded back and said they replaced them, however only with US 27 shields as they left out the FL 61 shields at both places as FL 61 is aligned on Monroe Street as well.
I also once complained about US 41 not being signed along its former concurrency with US 1 in Miami which ended up getting the END EAST sign at Brickell Avenue truncating the route. Apparently FDOT made the move already to truncate it and thought I was crazy thinking US 41 ended in Miami Beach when I pointed it out to them. They argued that it ends at US 1 and went no further east.
I had to further point out that if it did not, then why was US 41 signed east from US 1 at the MacArthur Causeway ramp as well as some US 41 shields along the Causeway that were scattered I had asked. They actually did a study and removed them including the overhead on NB US 1 at MacArthur Causeway which when later that year I saw the FL A1A NORTH shield was added to replace it.
I also got US 17, 92, and 441 shields back in the paper letter days in the 90's as no confirmation shields existed between US 192 and FL 528 along the then developing Southchase and Hunters Creek areas which is why there were none due to it once being rural between those two points having no junctions then to warrant shields. The ones at FL 417, Osceola and Central Florida Parkways were added after I wrote to FDOT about it, and after they studied my concerns, they found that I was correct on my observations and it then needed the shields.
Quote from: jeffandnicole on December 11, 2015, 10:48:50 AM
I have written to NJDOT many times, and participated in various public meetings. However, they generally tend to be very anti-public. In the past, I used to receive answers all the time...sometimes form letter-type mailings; other times responses specific to my inquiries. Lately though, I won't hear a thing from them. At the public meetings, they assume everyone is a dumbass that doesn't understand the project or the need. If you're not directly affect, they really won't even talk with you. During the recent public comment period for the TIP, my suggestions received generic responses.
This is why I wouldn't bother to write in to NYSDOT, NYSTA, or ECDOT about anything.
If I had to, I would suggest they try a pilot program of putting up county shields on some heavily trafficked roads. But that's such an extraneous request.
I've written to both the municipality and DOT about erroneous signs, but so far none of them have been replaced. Most of them are minor errors though.
Quote from: jeffandnicole on December 11, 2015, 10:48:50 AM
I have written to NJDOT many times, and participated in various public meetings. However, they generally tend to be very anti-public. In the past, I used to receive answers all the time...sometimes form letter-type mailings; other times responses specific to my inquiries. Lately though, I won't hear a thing from them. At the public meetings, they assume everyone is a dumbass that doesn't understand the project or the need. If you're not directly affect, they really won't even talk with you. During the recent public comment period for the TIP, my suggestions received generic responses.
I've written to them many times and always get the same BS respond back that I must contact the local town first before making any changes. They added "Entering Mahwah" sign on Route 17 N once though after emailing both Mahwah DPW and NJDOT.
NYSDOT always reply back to me actually. I contacted them regarding metric and bilingual signs near Canada border as well as welcome signs and other things.
I wrote to Region 4 a couple times when I was young. I'm going to be sending something to Region 1 traffic next week based on my experiences walking on NY 7 near the SPUI... but does it really count since I work here?
NYSDOT is generally pretty good, though if something's political you might get a form letter. I've actually handled a few requests before over the past couple years. It probably depends on the mood of the person tasked with responding.
Quote from: NJ on December 11, 2015, 12:35:47 PM
I've written to them many times and always get the same BS respond back that I must contact the local town first before making any changes.
We get a lot of inquiries about county or city road/street issues. People don't seem to realize that the state -- even the governor -- has no control over what a city or county government or street/road department does. Folks think that if they don't get the answer they're looking for from the mayor or county judge-executive, they can write the governor and he can force changes to be made.
Meanwhile in Albany, residents are asking the Village of Menands to change a speed limit on a road that is owned by NYSDOT.
Following up on my earlier comment, earlier this week I tweeted VDOT about a paving job where globs of asphalt were left all over the road and turned it into a washboard. They shared it with the City of Alexandria, who told me today they've instructed the paving company to fix it.
I've contacted WisDOT for both personal and professional inquiries. I was able to get some interchange layouts for mapping projects at a previous job. And I was curious as to some renumberings upon the then future completion of the US 53 freeway in Eau Claire.
In my current job, I've showed off the company's collection vehicles to DOT personnel several times. UDOT has a cool 3d model in their lobby of the I-70 bridges over Eagle Canyon, by the way.
I really don't think they want 11 year olds contacting PennDOT. Unfortunately, I do not contact my DOT. I could try though.
Quote from: noelbotevera on December 11, 2015, 10:15:42 PM
I really don't think they want 11 year olds contacting PennDOT. Unfortunately, I do not contact my DOT. I could try though.
I don't think you would have to leave your age. If you can point something helpful out... why not?
I've written NYSDOT over the years for nearly two decades and they have always been pleasant and quite responsive. I sometimes think that Region 2 must hate me but they've always been polite. I usually contact them when I see something in the field that could compromise motorist safety. I've chatted in person with quite a few NYSDOT folks over the years and sometimes they don't know there's something wrong in the field when a contractor does a job and they appreciate the feedback.
I've also participated in public meetings.
My suggestions and such have been well received and many have been implemented, for example "Albany Buffalo" appearing on interchange signs approaching the Thruway from I-81, 481 and 690 in the Syracuse area.
Quite often, and about multiple issues. Both in New York and Florida, and I've even written to neighboring State DOTs.
I've gotten a response every time I've contacted WSDOT in the past. Usually I dig until I can find the email of the person in charge, and email them directly. I wrote to one of the signing engineers awhile back about Clearview, and he basically said they'd only use it if the FHWA implemented it into the manual (nice closure there, though I have seen Clearview in the wild in Washington).
I wrote to Pierce County once about installing post-mounted signals along a stretch of road rife with trucks (lots of red light jumps because people can't see the signals). One of the engineers actually called me back, basically saying that they recognized the issue I presented, and that they'd present the idea to one of their superiors. Haven't heard back since, but it's only been like 5 or 6 weeks. I wouldn't expect an official response for a while.
Quote from: noelbotevera on December 11, 2015, 10:15:42 PM
I really don't think they want 11 year olds contacting PennDOT. Unfortunately, I do not contact my DOT. I could try though.
I was about that age when I first contacted NYSDOT. Got to visit the regional office and a construction zone.
I write to NYSDOT and other DOTs all the time in my job. :D
Actually, one fun one was when NCDOT posted a website for the detour around the landslide on...I-40, I think it was. They said you could travel the over 100 miles in some absurdly short time. Sent them a quick e-mail saying they were encouraging speeding. :D The website was changed pretty quickly.
I started writing to NYS DOT (Region-10), NYSTA, and Nassau County DPW when I was 12 years old back in the 1960's and have continued to do so until the last few years. Sometimes I received intelligent replies and got good results. Other times they just blew me off.
And BTW noelbotevera, that first letter I wrote at age 12 got a good letter back and wording was added to an exit sign. If you write an intelligent business-like letter you will usually get a reasonable response.
I've not written to any of them the last few years 'cause I've gotten kind of burned out from pointing out to these people what should be obvious to professional engineers. So nowadays I just sit back and laugh at all the errors and omissions re: BGS's and traffic lights and wait to see how long it takes for them to figure it out themselves. (chuckle!)
I wrote the SC DOT (yeah, I know I live in NC) and asked if they had any pictures of their old STOP AHEAD signs, but they had no idea what I was talking about.
Probably should contact NCDOT about widening NC 73 bridge along Coddle Creek Reservoir all the way to Meck county line
Quote from: OracleUsr on December 18, 2015, 09:38:18 PM
I wrote the SC DOT (yeah, I know I live in NC) and asked if they had any pictures of their old STOP AHEAD signs, but they had no idea what I was talking about.
AHTD has done that to me a couple times.
I have actually talked on the phone to the Assistant District Engineer for MoDOT about my ideas for the future of Missouri Roads. It was a good conversation and we exchanged a few ideas.
I also email DOTs about signage issues.
CADOT never replies back :banghead:
Quote from: NJ on December 28, 2015, 10:26:39 AM
CADOT never replies back :banghead:
Because it does not exist. Caltrans does.
Quote from: noelbotevera on December 28, 2015, 10:32:56 PM
Quote from: NJ on December 28, 2015, 10:26:39 AM
CADOT never replies back :banghead:
Because it does not exist. Caltrans does.
That's what I meant, but what's the difference?
Quote from: NJ on December 29, 2015, 11:22:31 AM
Quote from: noelbotevera on December 28, 2015, 10:32:56 PM
Quote from: NJ on December 28, 2015, 10:26:39 AM
CADOT never replies back :banghead:
Because it does not exist. Caltrans does.
That's what I meant, but what's the difference?
if your missives demonstrate the same lack of attention to detail, that might be the reason you don't receive responses.
NJDOT doesn't answer much and their online maintenance form is not effective. I reported several things the last few months and little to no action has been taken. I reported street light outage at an intersection a month ago and they still did not fix it.
Quote from: J Route Z on January 03, 2016, 01:11:05 PM
NJDOT doesn't answer much and their online maintenance form is not effective. I reported several things the last few months and little to no action has been taken. I reported street light outage at an intersection a month ago and they still did not fix it.
Write your state legislator(s) like I did one time.
Ironically, on the work-rather-than-roadgeeking side of getting in contact with them, I recently needed to write an email regarding jurisdiction maps to someone there whose address was in one obscure file per a Google search. I got a response the next day much to everyone in my department's surprise.
Right before Christmas, I sent 3 letters to 3 separate PennDOT districts, inspired by this thread.
1) Noted the inaccuracy of US 322 mile markers in Dauphin County (response received, see below) along with US 22. At I-81, US 22-322 begins at "mile 200.0" and has signs alternating US 22 W - 200.0, US 322 W - 199.9, US 22 W - 199.8. (This has been discussed elsewhere on this board)
2) Noted the inaccuracy of US 30 mile markers -- York County has mile markers which seem correct -- Mile 252 is just before the Susquehanna River. After the PA 10 junction, at the start of the Coatesville Bypass in Chester County, US 30 picks up at mile 269, which is off by approximately 20 miles.
3) Using NE2's find from an earlier post about US 422 being internally designated between Ebensburg and Hershey, asked what route US 422 would theoretically follow between the two. I'm more curious what it does at the junction with I-81... assuming it follows US 322 and not US 22 between there and Colonial Park.
Response for #1 from PennDOT District 8:
"Dear [sbeaver44]:
This is in response to your recent letter, requesting information about reference location signs (formerly known as mile markers) on US 22 and US 322 in Dauphin County.
You are correct that the mileage is incorrect on these two routes. Even though it does not compromise the main function of the signs which is to assist emergency responders in locating incidents, we will review the locations and make the necessary corrections when the signs are scheduled for replacement.
We appreciate your concerns for safety on our state roads..." etc.
We'll see what I get (if anything) for the other two.
Quote from: sbeaver44 on January 15, 2016, 04:48:21 PM
Right before Christmas, I sent 3 letters to 3 separate PennDOT districts, inspired by this thread.
1) Noted the inaccuracy of US 322 mile markers in Dauphin County (response received, see below) along with US 22. At I-81, US 22-322 begins at "mile 200.0" and has signs alternating US 22 W - 200.0, US 322 W - 199.9, US 22 W - 199.8. (This has been discussed elsewhere on this board)
Response for #1 from PennDOT District 8:
"Dear [sbeaver44]:
This is in response to your recent letter, requesting information about reference location signs (formerly known as mile markers) on US 22 and US 322 in Dauphin County.
You are correct that the mileage is incorrect on these two routes. Even though it does not compromise the main function of the signs which is to assist emergency responders in locating incidents, we will review the locations and make the necessary corrections when the signs are scheduled for replacement.
We appreciate your concerns for safety on our state roads..." etc.
We'll see what I get (if anything) for the other two.
They were still there when I went up that way to state college. I have no idea why they did that when they can stack the shields on top of each other.
For anybody who wants to find it, the milemarkers last from the I-81 junction to the PA 39 junction (a little before crossing the Susquehanna River).
Yep. I mean, it would not have been so obvious if 1) it didn't start magically at exactly 200.0 and 2) they didn't use the same mileage for US 22 and US 322.
I also neglected to mention in my post (but not in my letter) than US 322 also magically starts again at mile 221 from the Eisenhower interchange, which is only about 7 miles away.
Quote from: sbeaver44 on January 15, 2016, 05:47:37 PM
Yep. I mean, it would not have been so obvious if 1) it didn't start magically at exactly 200.0 and 2) they didn't use the same mileage for US 22 and US 322.
I also neglected to mention in my post (but not in my letter) than US 322 also magically starts again at mile 221 from the Eisenhower interchange, which is only about 7 miles away.
Yup. That should be 253 or something. The fail here is that they used US 22's mileage, which I can't blame them, because US 322 is a newbie to this area compared to other highways of Harrisburg.