Could FHWA Enhanced Series E-Modified become the new Clearview?

[Pink Jazz]

With the FHWA likely to rescind the interim approval for Clearview, in a Texas A&M experiment there was a variation of FHWA Series E-Modified known as Enhanced E-Modified.  Basically, Enhanced E-Modified was the regular FHWA Series E, but with Series E-Modified spacing.  Enhanced E-Modified was found to have comparable performance to Clearview 5-W, although neither had much better performance than Series E-Modified.

I was thinking, could the FHWA consider adding Enhanced Series E-Modified to its family of fonts?  I am pretty sure the states that currently use Clearview would prefer it over going back to Series E-Modified.

[Brandon]

I don't see why not.  Unlike Clearview, Enhanced E requires no new templates.  It relies on off-the-shelf existing letters and templates.  Any DOT or toll agency could use Enhanced E today with no problem and no special licenses.

[SignGeek101]

I think so, but it seems like the FHWA is taking its time when it comes to rescinding Clearview. I guess there's a long process when it comes to that. Not sure what places like Texas and Michigan are going to do though, when Clearview is considered to be an "inappropriate font".

[jbnv]

Not sure what places like Texas and Michigan are going to do though, when Clearview is considered to be an "inappropriate font".

Hopefully call for a repeal of FHWA's authority to dictate which fonts states must use. Or extend the middle finger.

[Brandon]

Not sure what places like Texas and Michigan are going to do though, when Clearview is considered to be an "inappropriate font".

Hopefully call for a repeal of FHWA's authority to dictate which fonts states must use. Or extend the middle finger.

Hell, CalTrans has done the latter for decades.

[hotdogPi]

The point of Clearview was for it to look ugly.  E-Modified is not.

[myosh_tino]

Not sure what places like Texas and Michigan are going to do though, when Clearview is considered to be an "inappropriate font".

Hopefully call for a repeal of FHWA's authority to dictate which fonts states must use. Or extend the middle finger.

Hell, CalTrans has done the latter for decades.

Not when it comes to typefaces.

[codyg1985]

Does anyone have an example of what FHWA Enhanced E-Modified looks like? I don't think I've seen it.

[Pink Jazz]

Does anyone have an example of what FHWA Enhanced E-Modified looks like? I don't think I've seen it.

I haven't seen any pictures, but it is basically plain Series E with Series E Modified spacing width between letters. 

[jakeroot]

Does anyone have an example of what FHWA Enhanced E-Modified looks like? I don't think I've seen it.

Hardly scientific, but something I threw together:

Clearview 5WR -- Series E(M) -- Series E Enhanced Modified E(M) Enhanced FHWA Series E Highway Gothic Advanced (or whatever it's called)

[myosh_tino]

Does anyone have an example of what FHWA Enhanced E-Modified looks like? I don't think I've seen it.

Looks like Jakeroot beat me to it but here's my illustration...

...and then there is this on northbound I-680 near Sunol...



I'm pretty sure the typeface used is not E-modified but possibly Series E but with E-modified inter-character spacing.

[codyg1985]

I have seen a few signs in Missouri that look similar to this.

[Brandon]

Does anyone have an example of what FHWA Enhanced E-Modified looks like? I don't think I've seen it.

Hardly scientific, but something I threw together:

Clearview 5WR -- Series E(M) -- Series E Enhanced Modified E(M) Enhanced FHWA Series E Highway Gothic Advanced (or whatever it's called)

At a glance, the one on the right is easiest, IMHO, to read.  It's Series E, but nice and thin with good spaces between letters and number, and within the letters and numbers.  I find it better than the Clearview one to the far left for legibility.

Nice to see a side-by-side-by-side comparison though.

[roadfro]

We had a discussion several years ago on this board where someone proposed this very idea of using Series E with Series E(M) spacing in place of Clearview. (I think it was somewhere in the old Road-Related Illustrations thread, before that became its own board). If I recall, the membership here seemed to like that mockup the best as well.

[mjb2002]

Does anyone have an example of what FHWA Enhanced E-Modified looks like? I don't think I've seen it.

Looks like Jakeroot beat me to it but here's my illustration…

…and then there is this on northbound I-680 near Sunol…



I'm pretty sure the typeface used is not E-modified but possibly Series E but with E-modified inter-character spacing.

You're correct. That's Series E with E-Modified spacing.