Things your state/province does and you like

[cl94]

Yes, it's true NYSDOT is using many more mast-arm mounted TSL's in recent years and I applaud them for that. So okay, can anyone tell me a reason why NYSDOT's backplates break and fall off after some years of use on span-wire hung signals. Maybe they use really poor quality backplates?

I don't know what you're talking about. Per GSV, R5 put some up on US 20 east of Buffalo no later than 2007 and they're still standing. They no longer remain facing the side street, but they still exist facing US 20.

[AsphaltPlanet]

Ontario does what we call continuity lines (the line striping between an exiting or ending lane and the mainline lanes) very well:


http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_407-409_images/407E/2015/12-Dec/407E_cl_113_east_EB_t_Dec15_24x16.jpg

[SignBridge]

Cl94, I was talking about backplates in Region-10 on Long Island. A lot were put up by NYS DOT in the 1990's that just fell apart piece-by-piece and disappeared over the years. Just don't exist anymore, unlike in say California where they seem to last forever..... That's why I assumed it was climate related.

[noelbotevera]

Ontario does what we call continuity lines (the line striping between an exiting or ending lane and the mainline lanes) very well:


http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_407-409_images/407E/2015/12-Dec/407E_cl_113_east_EB_t_Dec15_24x16.jpg

I'd put pavement arrows for the last hundred meters or so, to signify the lane ends. It would be more like extra insurance so that people get the message to change lanes or that the lane is ending.

[cl94]

Ontario does what we call continuity lines (the line striping between an exiting or ending lane and the mainline lanes) very well:


http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_407-409_images/407E/2015/12-Dec/407E_cl_113_east_EB_t_Dec15_24x16.jpg

I'd put pavement arrows for the last hundred meters or so, to signify the lane ends. It would be more like extra insurance so that people get the message to change lanes or that the lane is ending.

Unnecessary. Continuity lines mean the same thing in Canada and in the US. Continuity lines are for a lane ending or an exit only lane. Most people in places with them know what they mean and, in heavy traffic, you can actually see them.

[vdeane]

It can be hard to tell which lane is which in certain circumstances though.  For example, in Rochester there's a two lane exit ramp with an option lane branching off.  Region 4 put continuity lines in between the two lanes, and from pavement markings alone, it's hard to tell which lane is which.  The signage isn't great here either.

https://www.google.com/maps/@43.1441075,-77.5527718,3a,75y,136.65h,78.48t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s64C8XIzwmZgyoYXXGDdMMw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Alas, they're hard to see in the street view as NYSDOT and NYSTA tend to draw them over the existing pavement markings and they fade faster for some reason.

[noelbotevera]

Chiming in from a school computer:

PA Turnpike likes to put names on their exits. I prefer them over control cities, and if they aren't clear enough, they'll throw in control cities.

Distance signs have the same cities from control cities (for example, US 22/322 north of Harrisburg have the control cities of State College and Lewistown. A couple miles later, there's a sign with Lewistown 53 and State College 83).

[TheHighwayMan3561]

Minnesota:
Flashing Yellow Arrows at most new intersections
One signal per lane with one on each post on either side and all on masts.
Lighting at both entrances and exits at just about every rural interchange
Modern rest areas on major non-interstate routes

Large visible green guide signs on stoplight mast arms is another thing I realize I don't see many other places that I like here.

Stoplight mast flashers warning you of approaching emergency vehicles (and also approaching trains if the road is adjacent to a rail crossing).

[brycecordry]

If anyone else didn't say:

Missouri stating the state name if the city is in another state. Example: I-72 E, Springfield, IL.

[peterj920]

I like how Wisconsin has letters instead of numbers for their county highways. It makes it a lot easier to distinguish between state and county highways.  The letters also allow counties to name county highways after roads or things in the area. 

Examples: 
County CA in Appleton: College Ave
County HS in Howard-Suamico is named because it goes through both communities
County GV in Brown Co. connects County G and County V

[CNGL-Leudimin]

It also allows to get intersections like those :

[roadman]

Stoplight mast flashers warning you of approaching emergency vehicles.

Most emergency vehicle pre-emption systems have these confirmation beacons.  Although for some reason, the beacons in Massachusetts are clear instead of red.

[jeffandnicole]

It also allows to get intersections like those :

That one has been seen here once or twice before! LOL

[doorknob60]

Oregon's speed limits are both a blessing and a curse. The defaults on highways (for now, changing in some places in I believe March, thank goodness; not urban) are 65 for interstates and 55 for other highways. While yes, that is pretty slow, there is one good thing I've noticed. Highways are almost never posted below that. The entirety of I-84 from Troutdale to the Idaho border is 65. Despite many hilly and curvy sections, including the infamous Cabbage Hill. In many other states like Washington or Idaho, some of these would probably drop to 60 or 55.

Same could be said for non-freeways. While 55 can be painfully slow on many of them, I've seen plenty of 2 lane highways in Idaho and Washington that drop to 50 or 45 when the road becomes more windy. This is annoying to me, because I can still hit 55+ fine on the straightaways in these areas. In Oregon, it stays 55 even in places where people aren't going to hit those speeds (one good example is US-197 climbing out of Maupin on the south side).

I think a big reason it's like this is they have the Basic Speed Rule and trust the drivers to follow that to stay at an appropriate speed (I assume most states have rules somewhat like this though, but I'm only familiar with Oregon's). I do appreciate ODOT for not reducing speed limits from the defaults often, but it's ruined by the fact that the defaults are slow in the first place. We've made some progress on that front, but as of now the new law only applies to certain defined highways, and does not change the actual default speeds.

[Brandon]

Stoplight mast flashers warning you of approaching emergency vehicles.

Most emergency vehicle pre-emption systems have these confirmation beacons.  Although for some reason, the beacons in Massachusetts are clear instead of red.

The ones in Illinois are also clear, not red.

[Quillz]

Caltrans still using older, cutout-style shields. I fear the day when they switch to federal standard shields.

[Quillz]

If anyone else didn't say:

Missouri stating the state name if the city is in another state. Example: I-72 E, Springfield, IL.

I know I've seen this in a few other states. I think there are a few "Portland, OR" signs in California somewhere. I've also seen "Vancouver, WA" on some guide signs in Oregon. It is a nice practice, even if unnecessary most of the time.

[Zeffy]

If anyone else didn't say:

Missouri stating the state name if the city is in another state. Example: I-72 E, Springfield, IL.

I know I've seen this in a few other states. I think there are a few "Portland, OR" signs in California somewhere. I've also seen "Vancouver, WA" on some guide signs in Oregon. It is a nice practice, even if unnecessary most of the time.

New England has to do it, examples such as Albany NY, Hartford CT, etc. The way I see it is a lot of New England states have same-named municipalities.

[cl94]

If anyone else didn't say:

Missouri stating the state name if the city is in another state. Example: I-72 E, Springfield, IL.

I know I've seen this in a few other states. I think there are a few "Portland, OR" signs in California somewhere. I've also seen "Vancouver, WA" on some guide signs in Oregon. It is a nice practice, even if unnecessary most of the time.

New England has to do it, examples such as Albany NY, Hartford CT, etc. The way I see it is a lot of New England states have same-named municipalities.

Yeah. There are 5 Manchesters, 4 Burlingtons, 4 Springfields, 4 Concords, 4 Salems, it keeps going. Include eastern New York in the mess and you have a 4th Hartford, 5th Salem, 5th Cambridge, 4th Lebanon...

[Kacie Jane]

If anyone else didn't say:

Missouri stating the state name if the city is in another state. Example: I-72 E, Springfield, IL.

I know I've seen this in a few other states. I think there are a few "Portland, OR" signs in California somewhere. I've also seen "Vancouver, WA" on some guide signs in Oregon. It is a nice practice, even if unnecessary most of the time.

Washington labels BC a lot (and not just for the easily confused city at the north end of I-5), but I don't think it usually labels Oregon or Idaho.  (I think there are some US 97 signs that say "Bend, Ore." though.)

[noelbotevera]

I like the dots PennDOT uses sometimes. Pretty much in theory, it's a way to stop tailgating. I made a thread on those dots.

[roadman65]

I like the Left Turn on Reds for one way streets in Florida.  I say that cause in New Jersey it was not permitted. 

However, how many people are aware that some states allow this practice.  Most likely not too many.

[Kacie Jane]

However, how many people are aware that some states allow this practice.  Most likely not too many.

If you actually read other people's posts, you'd know that there are actually far more states that allow it than prohibit it.

Quick check of Wikipedia, while not necessarily 100% accurate, says SD, CT, MO, ME, NH, NJ, NC and RI are the only ones that prohibit it.

[1995hoo]

However, how many people are aware that some states allow this practice.  Most likely not too many.

If you actually read other people's posts, you'd know that there are actually far more states that allow it than prohibit it.

Quick check of Wikipedia, while not necessarily 100% accurate, says SD, CT, MO, ME, NH, NJ, NC and RI are the only ones that prohibit it.

But that's not what he said. He asked how many people are aware it's allowed. Based on my observation living in a state where it's legal and regularly driving through a couple of intersections where it's allowed, I tend to agree that most drivers have no idea it's permitted, even though one of those intersections has a "No Turn on Red When Pedestrians Are Present" sign. If lefts on red weren't allowed, the sign wouldn't be needed, though I recognize that logic is probably too subtle for the average driver.

[Kacie Jane]

My apologies. I did read that wrong. 

Though given how often the topic comes up on this board, readership here should be aware, even if generation driving public isn't.  (Not a defense of my misreading, just a follow up.)