GSP Classic-Style Signage

[Brandon]

Why does the Garden State Parkway have large ONE WAY signs across  the road from all of its acceleration lanes when it is not needed?  If you cannot figure out that a freeway is in the direction the merge lane is going then you should not even be driving in the first place.   No other freeway in the US has it and I believe its not in the MUTCD either.

Indiana does this in places.

Indiana used to use it all over the place.  One on-way sign in the median, and one one-way sign on the right side of the entrance ramp.

[Alps]

Hmmm............Steve, if the Turnpike is changing to MUTCD standards, does that mean their signs will eventually have the separate exit number tag, instead of the current "top-line" configuration for the exit number and distance? As I mentioned earlier, that and the Turnpike's unique arrows have always been NJT's "signature" features.

What about the NJ Turnpike's way of striping the lanes with extra long and wide lines?  Will we see the usual way of striping then next paint job?

Nope, because the MUTCD does not require 30-10-30.

[roadman65]

I saw once on the old Trailblazer Newsletter that used to be published at the Turnpike Service areas back in the 80s saying at the time they could care less what the federal standards were and they stated their way was safest! 

I did not think that they would change that and I figure that Indiana won't change their paint style either as the Indiana E-W Toll Road stripes their lanes in the same manner.

The only drawback to this is that it makes you feel like you are driving slower than you actually are.

[roadman65]

https://www.google.com/search?q=garden+state+parkway+pictures&hl=en&client=firefox-a&sa=X&tbo=u&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&tbm=isch&source=univ&ei=N5IOUf_TDY-08AStxoH4Ag&ved=0CC0QsAQ&biw=1366&bih=664#imgrc=WuspEcTabiLYAM%3A%3Bct-Ar6OFpEn0vM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.mountconstruction.com%252Fimages%252Frt-88-89%252FIMG_0919.png%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.mountconstruction.com%252Fproject-gsp-88-89.php%3B800%3B598

A link to many different photos of the Garden State Parkway throughout the years.

[roadman]

Massachusetts does this as well, most noticeably on I-495. There's also a "NO TURNS" sign IIRC.

Correct.  MassDOT standard is to provide a "NO TURNS" sign at the entrance gore, with a One Way sign mounted above it.

[MrDisco99]

Hmmm............Steve, if the Turnpike is changing to MUTCD standards, does that mean their signs will eventually have the separate exit number tag, instead of the current "top-line" configuration for the exit number and distance? As I mentioned earlier, that and the Turnpike's unique arrows have always been NJT's "signature" features.

Correct - both the in-sign number and the arrows are going away.

With the neon signs going away and reverting to MUTCD signage, how will I know when I'm on the turnpike anymore!?

[jeffandnicole]

Hmmm............Steve, if the Turnpike is changing to MUTCD standards, does that mean their signs will eventually have the separate exit number tag, instead of the current "top-line" configuration for the exit number and distance? As I mentioned earlier, that and the Turnpike's unique arrows have always been NJT's "signature" features.

Correct - both the in-sign number and the arrows are going away.

With the neon signs going away and reverting to MUTCD signage, how will I know when I'm on the turnpike anymore!?

At least currently, you're not going to find many roads with full color LED VMS signs!

[OracleUsr]

Here's a screwy idea.  Render the neon signs and fonts in LCD VMS.

[Alps]

Hmmm............Steve, if the Turnpike is changing to MUTCD standards, does that mean their signs will eventually have the separate exit number tag, instead of the current "top-line" configuration for the exit number and distance? As I mentioned earlier, that and the Turnpike's unique arrows have always been NJT's "signature" features.

Correct - both the in-sign number and the arrows are going away.

With the neon signs going away and reverting to MUTCD signage, how will I know when I'm on the turnpike anymore!?

When you get to the tollbooth, you'll know.

[vdeane]

Hmmm............Steve, if the Turnpike is changing to MUTCD standards, does that mean their signs will eventually have the separate exit number tag, instead of the current "top-line" configuration for the exit number and distance? As I mentioned earlier, that and the Turnpike's unique arrows have always been NJT's "signature" features.

Correct - both the in-sign number and the arrows are going away.

With the neon signs going away and reverting to MUTCD signage, how will I know when I'm on the turnpike anymore!?

The length of the lines on the pavement?

[amroad17]

The sign that says      J
                             N     P   ?
                                 T


(was I close?)

[Alps]

The sign that says      J
                             N     P   ?
                                 T


(was I close?)

You'll now see those on pull-throughs, even though there have never been reassurance markers on the roadway. (I asked, but that's one more sign to have to maintain, and it's not necessary because every interchange will have the sign on entry signs or pull-throughs.)

[jeffandnicole]

Hmmm............Steve, if the Turnpike is changing to MUTCD standards, does that mean their signs will eventually have the separate exit number tag, instead of the current "top-line" configuration for the exit number and distance? As I mentioned earlier, that and the Turnpike's unique arrows have always been NJT's "signature" features.

Correct - both the in-sign number and the arrows are going away.

With the neon signs going away and reverting to MUTCD signage, how will I know when I'm on the turnpike anymore!?

When you get to the tollbooth, you'll know.

"Now what do I do?  Do I keep going?"

Yeah...that was mentioned to me a few times.  And I wanted to say "Yes, we have a huge building in the middle of the roadway for no reason whatsoever.  Absolutely, keep going."

[_Simon]

Why does the Garden State Parkway have large ONE WAY signs across  the road from all of its acceleration lanes when it is not needed?

Because it's a one way road.  The yellow merge warning or new lane warning sign does not have any regulatory authority to require users to drive in the direction the ramp is channelized in.  Many if not most of the exits on I-80 have a "NO TURNS" sign in the gore of every on-ramp.  I've also seen the one-way signs used on other interstates and on US-22. 

[roadman65]

Why does the Garden State Parkway have large ONE WAY signs across  the road from all of its acceleration lanes when it is not needed?

Because it's a one way road.  The yellow merge warning or new lane warning sign does not have any regulatory authority to require users to drive in the direction the ramp is channelized in.  Many if not most of the exits on I-80 have a "NO TURNS" sign in the gore of every on-ramp.  I've also seen the one-way signs used on other interstates and on US-22. 

Yeah, but it is quite obvious which way the road is going.  In many places the sign is not used like here in Florida.  There are plenty of freeway entrances that do not have them, and even with British Tourists who drive on the left, you do not see anyone "go the wrong way" here.  Heck, in many places we lack keep right signs at median beginnings and no one drifts to the left.  Only on new signing projects will you see a "KEEP RIGHT" picture assembly and on rural roadways median breaks have no traffic control devices at all!

[deathtopumpkins]

In many places the sign is not used like here in Florida.  There are plenty of freeway entrances that do not have them, and even with British Tourists who drive on the left, you do not see anyone "go the wrong way" here.  Heck, in many places we lack keep right signs at median beginnings and no one drifts to the left.  Only on new signing projects will you see a "KEEP RIGHT" picture assembly and on rural roadways median breaks have no traffic control devices at all!

Then they're poorly designed.