Philadelphia

[PHLBOS]

PennDOT's new highway gothic APL sign on I-95 seems to be fully uncovered now, as the Blue Route exit now has an option lane. Has PennDOT been using the standard FHWA fonts on any other new signs?

Does PennDOT used SignCAD or GuidSIGN? There's a lack of spacing on either side of the Plymouth Mtg legend. Does an engineer have to make that happen or do the signing CAD programs just not put enough white space where they're suppose to?

IMHO, the oddball spacing of the 476 numerals is more of an issue than the minimal margins for the Plymouth Mtg. spacing.  It's quite possible that the BGS, APL & all, was originally sized for the 2-line Plymouth Meeting listing that's shown on surrounding BGS' in the area but was changed at the last minute (after the panel was fabricated).

[Alps]

PennDOT's new highway gothic APL sign on I-95 seems to be fully uncovered now, as the Blue Route exit now has an option lane. Has PennDOT been using the standard FHWA fonts on any other new signs?

Does PennDOT used SignCAD or GuidSIGN? There's a lack of spacing on either side of the Plymouth Mtg legend. Does an engineer have to make that happen or do the signing CAD programs just not put enough white space where they're suppose to?

GuidSIGN puts too much spacing around and generally scuffs up the MUTCD however it feels. It takes by-hand engineering with compromises to come up with crappy spacing. I can also tell you that at least for GuidSIGN, you won't find support for APL.

[jeffandnicole]

PennDOT's new highway gothic APL sign on I-95 seems to be fully uncovered now, as the Blue Route exit now has an option lane. Has PennDOT been using the standard FHWA fonts on any other new signs?

Still won't add Allentown or Scranton to the sign, will they?

At that point, no reason to.  Few people are heading to those two cities from 95. Plymouth Meeting is an appropriate destination.

[mariethefoxy]

this mean PennDOT has stopped using Clearview on new signs?

[ekt8750]

this mean PennDOT has stopped using Clearview on new signs?

No there's probably quite a few already produced that haven't been put yet. Case in point, there's some new signage going up in the 95/Betsy Ross Bridge interchange that uses Clearview.

[odditude]

this mean PennDOT has stopped using Clearview on new signs?

No there's probably quite a few already produced that haven't been put yet. Case in point, there's some new signage going up in the 95/Betsy Ross Bridge interchange that uses Clearview.

additionally, the new approach signs for I-95 Exit 30 SB (no more mention of Rhawn St, just PA 73 / Cottman Ave) are in Clearview. just like anywhere else that was using Clearview, any signs already in the pipeline will be manufactured and installed as originally ordered.

[jeffandnicole]

this mean PennDOT has stopped using Clearview on new signs?

The Feds discontinued all states from using Clearview.

[PHLBOS]

Saw some replacement D1 (LGS) assemblies along US 1 southbound at the PA 352 interchange near the former-Granite Run Mall.  No Clearview fonts at all; just mixed-cased Series C for 2 of the signs and mixed-case Series D for the other (Chester 5) sign above the SOUTH 352 trailblazer assembly.

[KEVIN_224]

http://www.philly.com/philly/business/20160925_Amtrak_s_slow_ride_to_Pittsburgh.html

Philly.com comparing why it takes Amtrak so long to get between Philadelphia towards Pittsburgh, comparing it to the Turnpike and a short flight.

[cl94]

http://www.philly.com/philly/business/20160925_Amtrak_s_slow_ride_to_Pittsburgh.html

Philly.com comparing why it takes Amtrak so long to get between Philadelphia towards Pittsburgh, comparing it to the Turnpike and a short flight.

It's true. Terrain through that area is a bitch and the train can rarely get much above 45-50.

[jemacedo9]

Schuylkill Expressway News:

PennDOT Plan Seeks To Improve Travel Between King of Prussia and Philadelphia by Road, Rail and Trail
http://www.penndot.gov/RegionalOffices/district-6/Pages/details.aspx?newsid=799

From Release:

Initially, PennDOT will advance an early-action project to install variable speed limits and queue detectors on I-76 between the Pennsylvania Turnpike Interchange at Valley Forge and U.S. 1 (City Avenue) to smooth traffic and enhance safety. Construction is expected to start in late 2017, with the systems becoming operational by late 2018. The construction estimate is $2.2 million.

In addition, PennDOT will start preliminary engineering this fall to transform the outside shoulders of I-76 into part-time travel lanes between the Pennsylvania Turnpike Interchange at Valley Forge and Interstate 476, and on I-76 west between U.S. 1/Roosevelt Boulevard and Belmont Avenue interchanges. 

PennDOT also will examine part-time shoulder use on I-76 east of the I-476 Interchange when more funds are identified in the future.

To complement part-time shoulder use on I-76, PennDOT may include these additional ATM strategies: 
- Ramp Metering: Red and green traffic signals to control the frequency with which vehicles enter the flow of traffic from entrance ramps to increase vehicle throughput during peak hours and increase expressway speeds;   
- Junction Control: The use of overhead electronic signs over travel lanes to regulate or close lanes at merge areas to improve traffic flow at high volume interchanges, including U.S. 202/U.S. 422, I-476 and U.S. 1 north and south. It establishes lane priority at interchanges and makes shoulders available for use. This strategy can change based on the relative demand on the mainline and ramps during different hours of the day;
- Dynamic Lane Assignments: Overhead electronic signs provide information for each travel lane on the expressway to identify open lanes and alert drivers of upcoming lane closures due to crashes or disabled vehicles;

[jeffandnicole]

Unfortunately, a key part of the shoulder opening:

Construction is expected to start in approximately five years.

[KEVIN_224]

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/Report-Mayor-Kenney-plans-waterfront-park-over-capped-I-95.html

Meanwhile, Philadelphia's mayor wants to put a big park over I-95 to reconnect Center City with the Delaware River waterfront.

[jeffandnicole]

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/Report-Mayor-Kenney-plans-waterfront-park-over-capped-I-95.html

Meanwhile, Philadelphia's mayor wants to put a big park over I-95 to reconnect Center City with the Delaware River waterfront.

If it follows dreams from dreams past, this project will probably die a quick death by March.

[noelbotevera]

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/Report-Mayor-Kenney-plans-waterfront-park-over-capped-I-95.html

Meanwhile, Philadelphia's mayor wants to put a big park over I-95 to reconnect Center City with the Delaware River waterfront.

If it follows dreams from dreams past, this project will probably die a quick death by March.

I don't think it will this time. Since everyone is concerned with freeway removal or freeway capping, this could happen.

[PHLBOS]

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/Report-Mayor-Kenney-plans-waterfront-park-over-capped-I-95.html
Meanwhile, Philadelphia's mayor wants to put a big park over I-95 to reconnect Center City with the Delaware River waterfront.

If it follows dreams from dreams past, this project will probably die a quick death by March.

I don't think it will this time. Since everyone is concerned with freeway removal or freeway capping, this could happen.

A few things to note:

1.  The stretch of I-95 in question carries 120,000 vehicles per day (based on PennDOT's 2013 traffic counts).  That said, removal is not a viable option.  Like it or not, I-95 in this area does serve a purpose; especially from a commerce standpoint.  (I realize I'm mostly preaching to the choir with this one)

2.  Where's the money/funding to build this going to come from?  Since this project would involve working on I-95 itself, to build the support structure; a portion of the project would technically be eligible for federal funds (for the support structure only).

3.  Forgetting the politics & current political climate for the moment (that alone could make or break receiving federal funding); this project is basically a beautification project and not an infrastructure upgrade (i.e. I-95 is not being widened).  Such may not be viewed as a high-priority project unless the highway itself was crumbling and/or hopelessly gridlocked.

[odditude]

it should be noted that a similar project is currently under construction over I-676 (the Vine St Expressway), so it's not without precedent.

[PHLBOS]

it should be noted that a similar project is currently under construction over I-676 (the Vine St Expressway), so it's not without precedent.

If it's the project I'm thinking of; such involves a reconstruction/rehabilitation of the overpasses west of Broad St. (PA 611)... many of which were built during the 1950s as part of the original Vine Expressway construction.

[jemacedo9]

it should be noted that a similar project is currently under construction over I-676 (the Vine St Expressway), so it's not without precedent.

The I-676 project is replacing bridges (17th St through 23rd St bridges) which are at the end of their useful life...and as part of that project, is "filling in" spaces between some of those bridges...so the end results brings added park space in that area. 

The Penns' Landing project, I believe, is a brand new structure over I-95 and definitely a new structure over Columbus Blvd, so it's slightly different.  This has been discussed at least a decade now. I personally would like to see it...but funding of course is the question.

[74/171FAN]

Preliminary work has started on the first phase of widening US 322 from US 1 to I-95.
(from CBS Philly)

PennDOT's Gene Blaum says the first half of the project to widen it to four lanes stretches from Route 1 to just beyond the Featherbed Lane/Mattson Road intersection.

[jemacedo9]

Governor Wolf Joins Philadelphia Officials for Funding Announcement on I-95

http://www.penndot.gov/pages/all-news-details.aspx?newsid=344

Over the next decade, an upcoming phase of the reconstruction project is a $3 billion to $4 billion investment to rebuild the five-mile stretch, a portion already below ground but mostly on viaduct, between I-676 and Broad Street in South Philadelphia, but all of which impacts the city's connection to the Delaware River. On the north end of this section, at Penn's Landing, a new and expanded cap over I-95 will reconnect Penn's Landing to the city. On the south end of this section, the reconstruction project will improve access to the growing Philadelphia port complex.

The state, city, and foundation will partner on underwriting the $225 million cost of replacing and expanding the existing cap over I-95 and Christopher Columbus Boulevard. The project would extend the cap beyond the current boundaries between Chestnut and Walnut streets and extend it over Columbus Boulevard.

[Mergingtraffic]

I saw a post on FB that these signs were still there at the US-1/PA-132 interchange in Bensalem.


I'm hoping these are still there as well:
Original non-reflective button copy. US-1 at PA-320. Springfield, PA. Date on sign says 1975. by mergingtraffic, on Flickr

[PHLBOS]

I'm hoping these are still there as well:

Original non-reflective button copy. US-1 at PA-320. Springfield, PA. Date on sign says 1975. by mergingtraffic, on Flickr

Those are still there.  That structure's about 3 miles from where I reside.

[Mergingtraffic]

Those are still there.  That structure's about 3 miles from where I reside.

Looking at GSV, a lot of the non-reflective button copy has disappeared around Philly in the last couple of years.

[ekt8750]

Driving up the Blue Route this morning, I see PennDOT is installing new high visibility mile markers along the portion of the road that doesn't already have them (south of 76).