not BGS, but "Big Purple Signs" near new PA Turnpike exit - Exit 87: PA 903

[signsteelr]

I've seen mostly green, blue, brown, neon orange (on 476 leading up to this exit) guide signs - and now purple - definitely interesting looking.

PA Turnpike may have these installed around other EZ-Pass only exits, but I hadn't seen them myself or pics posted on here.

I wonder if other states/highway authorities have done something similar - made a guide sign an unprecedented color to match the color of the program - in this case "EZ-Pass's purple scheme"... unless purple was seen as attention-getting as well?

[NE2]

https://www.aaroads.com/texas/westpark.html

[jeffandnicole]

Purple is the new standard color for electronic toll road signage. It's usage is written in the MUTCD I believe.

[Revive 755]

^ I don't recall the MUTCD allowing purple for the whole guidesign though - think it's only in the area specifying the transponder accepted.  That said, I certainly like the look of the signs pictured, and would love to see the Illinois Tollway try a few out.

[MASTERNC]

Purple is the new standard color for electronic toll road signage. It's usage is written in the MUTCD I believe.

Yes, but I don't think the MUTCD calls for the entire sign being purple, just the part relating to ETC.  Look at what Maryland has done for the I-95 ETLs and ICC.

http://www.mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/htm/2009r1r2/part2/part2f.htm'

[Zeffy]

Yes, but I don't think the MUTCD calls for the entire sign being purple, just the part relating to ETC.  Look at what Maryland has done for the I-95 ETLs and ICC.

Correct. Here's what the ones on the I-95 Express Lanes look like:



And for the ICC coming from Columbia Pike / US 29:



The signs themselves should still be green, with only the ETC information in a purple background.

[jeffandnicole]

(Next time, I'll look at the MUTCD rather than guessing)   

[PHLBOS]

PTC has similar all-purple signage at the PA 29 entrance ramp to the East-West Turnpike (I-76); example still covered.  Unfortunately, the GSVs in this area predates the opening of this interchange.

However, the rest of the signage at this interchange are not the all-purple type.

[cpzilliacus]

The signs themselves should still be green, with only the ETC information in a purple background.

Unlike the BGS panels for Md. 200 (no penalty, only a higher toll if E-ZPass is not used), the Pennsylvania Turnpike is mandating that traffic entering its network use E-ZPass to enter or exit at this interchange (and some other E-ZPass ramps), and a hefty penalty of $60 is charged per violation.

[Pete from Boston]

This would be a much better choice than New Hampshire's use of a poorly-explained "Exit use restricted" or some such thing in a white-on-red banner beneath its signs.  The restriction is that only tagholders may use the exit during the specified hours, but that is far from evident, and the use of the necessarily-prohibitive red implies a more severe restriction.

[roadman]

This would be a much better choice than New Hampshire's use of a poorly-explained "Exit use restricted" or some such thing in a white-on-red banner beneath its signs.  The restriction is that only tagholders may use the exit during the specified hours, but that is far from evident, and the use of the necessarily-prohibitive red implies a more severe restriction.

I agree.  "E-Z Pass Only 9 PM to 5 AM" in white on purple would be far better for these tabs.

[machias]

PTC has similar all-purple signage at the PA 29 entrance ramp to the East-West Turnpike (I-76); example still covered.  Unfortunately, the GSVs in this area predates the opening of this interchange.

However, the rest of the signage at this interchange are not the all-purple type.

The Street Road E-ZPass Interchange on I-276 has the same white on purple signage leading to the Turnpike, but normal white on green leading off the Turnpike.

[storm2k]

This would be a much better choice than New Hampshire's use of a poorly-explained "Exit use restricted" or some such thing in a white-on-red banner beneath its signs.  The restriction is that only tagholders may use the exit during the specified hours, but that is far from evident, and the use of the necessarily-prohibitive red implies a more severe restriction.

I agree.  "E-Z Pass Only 9 PM to 5 AM" in white on purple would be far better for these tabs.

I feel like the PANYNJ does a god job with this at the GWB's Palisades approach: gsv

[cpzilliacus]

There's this (GSV) on Va. 606 (Old Ox Road) at the entrance to Va. 267 (Dulles Greenway) in Loudoun County, Virginia.

[Henry]

Those are some interesting signs!

[Sam]

Section 2F.03 Use of Purple Backgrounds and Underlay Panels with ETC Account Pictographs
"Purple shall not be used as a background color to display a destination, action message, or other legend that is not a display of the requirement for all vehicles to have a registered ETC account, lest you look like https://goo.gl/maps/uGveU."

Okay, I made that last part up, but I think the Clearview gives them a little class

[briantroutman]

Once the PA Turnpike goes to all-electronic tolling, won't the need to call special attention to the E-ZPass-only slip ramps be a non-issue anyway? At that point, all transactions will be either E-ZPass or toll-by-plate, and the PTC would need to have cameras at the current E-ZPass-only ramps to catch violators and dead transponders. I don't see any reason everyone couldn't use the ramp after cash handling is taken out of the equation.

[cpzilliacus]

Once the PA Turnpike goes to all-electronic tolling, won't the need to call special attention to the E-ZPass-only slip ramps be a non-issue anyway? At that point, all transactions will be either E-ZPass or toll-by-plate, and the PTC would need to have cameras at the current E-ZPass-only ramps to catch violators and dead transponders. I don't see any reason everyone couldn't use the ramp after cash handling is taken out of the equation.

Since they will presumably have to allow vehicles without transponders to use the Turnpike, will they need to change the signs to green with some sort of notification that no cash is accepted?

[PHLBOS]

Once the PA Turnpike goes to all-electronic tolling, won't the need to call special attention to the E-ZPass-only slip ramps be a non-issue anyway? At that point, all transactions will be either E-ZPass or toll-by-plate, and the PTC would need to have cameras at the current E-ZPass-only ramps to catch violators and dead transponders. I don't see any reason everyone couldn't use the ramp after cash handling is taken out of the equation.

Since they will presumably have to allow vehicles without transponders to use the Turnpike, will they need to change the signs to green with some sort of notification that no cash is accepted?

It should be noted that the entire PA Turnpike converting to AET is still a few years away.

[Alps]

Section 2F.03 Use of Purple Backgrounds and Underlay Panels with ETC Account Pictographs
"Purple shall not be used as a background color to display a destination, action message, or other legend that is not a display of the requirement for all vehicles to have a registered ETC account, lest you look like https://goo.gl/maps/uGveU."

Okay, I made that last part up, but I think the Clearview gives them a little class

I still like the look of the all-purple signs. It gets the point across.

[lepidopteran]

I think there were also some overhead purple signs as you approach Walt Disney World in FL, specifically on World Dr.   Of course this is private property, so they're not bound by the MUTCD.

[SignGeek101]

Section 2F.03 Use of Purple Backgrounds and Underlay Panels with ETC Account Pictographs
"Purple shall not be used as a background color to display a destination, action message, or other legend that is not a display of the requirement for all vehicles to have a registered ETC account, lest you look like https://goo.gl/maps/uGveU."

Okay, I made that last part up, but I think the Clearview gives them a little class

I still like the look of the all-purple signs. It gets the point across.

Same here. They look unique in their own way. I think it's actually clearer to motorists, if they learn that purple means toll, rather than green with a small "toll" text on it.

[Alps]

Section 2F.03 Use of Purple Backgrounds and Underlay Panels with ETC Account Pictographs
"Purple shall not be used as a background color to display a destination, action message, or other legend that is not a display of the requirement for all vehicles to have a registered ETC account, lest you look like https://goo.gl/maps/uGveU."

Okay, I made that last part up, but I think the Clearview gives them a little class

I still like the look of the all-purple signs. It gets the point across.

Same here. They look unique in their own way. I think it's actually clearer to motorists, if they learn that purple means toll, rather than green with a small "toll" text on it.

And don't get me started on the MUTCD HOV signs that are all green with a tiny diamond, instead of the black on white that CT used to differentiate.

[Pete from Boston]

Massachusetts recently did some switch over to the green HOV sign. It muddies things to have multiple standardsfor a single HOV facility, particularly when one is that indistinct green design.

[roadman]

Massachusetts recently did some switch over to the green HOV sign. It muddies things to have multiple standardsfor a single HOV facility, particularly when one is that indistinct green design.

New signs for the contraflow HOV lane on I-93 (Southeast Expressway) between Braintree and Savin Hill are white on green with the small HOV diamond, per 2009 MUTCD requirements.  However, the new NB advance sign on I-93 for the South Station/Logan Airport HOV lane is black on white, to match the existing signs within the facility.

New signs for the southbound HOV lane on I-93 between Somerville and the Zakim Bridge were designed while the 2003 MUTCD was still in effect, so they are black on white as well.

Personally, I prefer all black on white for HOV lane signing (like CT does on I-84 east of Hartford), even if the signs provide exit information.  Reminds other drivers that the lanes are a restricted facility.