NJ Route 133 control cities

[J Route Z]

Route 133 is a very unpopulated highway. On several overhead sign structures, the control city for westbound traffic reads as Princeton, however, the road technically doesn't go there, though when it reaches CR 571, that does.

[roadman]

I suspect that Princeton was chosen for the same reason that signs on I-84 east of Waterbury say Boston, because the control destination is a major location that people are seeking, even though it's accessed by a connecting route.

Just before he retired in 1992, a MassDPW sign engineer told me how, in the late 1980s, AASHTO was proposing to change the official eastern-most control destination for I-84 from Boston to Sturbridge.  Both MA and CT strongly objected to the proposed change and successfully argued that, based on the established principles for posting control cities, Boston was the more logical destination to be placed on signs.

[NE2]

Dog bites man.

[roadman65]

In Florida we have the control city for FL 520 WB from Cocoa as "Orlando" yet FL 520 does not go there.  It is listed because most of the traffic heading west on SR 520 are heading for there and SR 520 does end at SR 50 which continues in the same direction as 520 was and actually goes to Orlando.

If AASHTO rules applied you could not have any control city for SR 520 then because its western terminus is in an unincorporated and unnamed area.  FL 528 has none for Exit 31 for its ramps to SR 520, but its because it would confuse motorists then because it would have to be Cocoa and Orlando that are two cities that SR 528 serves as well and if it were listed folks would prematurely exit when they do not have to.

However, in South Florida you had Miami as control city for US 27 exit on I-75 on the east end of Alligator Alley, in which is a city that also I-75 serves as well, though not directly, but it does.  Now FDOT D-4 changed those signs to read Hialeah instead, but I-75 actually ends very close to there as well.  Then in Woodbridge, NJ you have "Newark" as control city for the Garden State Parkway Southbound Exit 130 where motorists just came from there 15 miles ago, nor does anyone even look for that particular community when going that way either.  Plus you have many other places that are local in between that motorists are considering more so.

Control cities are more for aid of the people, and you have to consider what are those traveling that way looking for and their needs.  Sometimes, AASHTO and the other road agencies goes to far even if they mean well.

[dgolub]

Route 133 is a very unpopulated highway. On several overhead sign structures, the control city for westbound traffic reads as Princeton, however, the road technically doesn't go there, though when it reaches CR 571, that does.

I-295 does the same thing.  In the area north of Trenton, the control city is Princeton, although it ends and turns into I-95 a mile or two south of Princeton.  On top of that, the exit for US 1, where you'd get off to go to Princeton, has its control city as New Brunswick, so you'd better know where to get off if you're looking to go to Princeton.

[NE2]

If AASHTO rules applied

What rules are these?

you could not have any control city for SR 520 then because its western terminus is in an unincorporated and unnamed area.

You could use Wedgefield. It would be silly, but anally accurate. Bithlo would be a better choice.

[roadman65]

Route 133 is a very unpopulated highway. On several overhead sign structures, the control city for westbound traffic reads as Princeton, however, the road technically doesn't go there, though when it reaches CR 571, that does.

I-295 does the same thing.  In the area north of Trenton, the control city is Princeton, although it ends and turns into I-95 a mile or two south of Princeton.  On top of that, the exit for US 1, where you'd get off to go to Princeton, has its control city as New Brunswick, so you'd better know where to get off if you're looking to go to Princeton.

Yeah, but there is a fail safe though, US 206 (Exit 7B) on I-95 about two miles beyond I-295's end uses Princeton as NB US 206 control point.

True, you make an interesting point, that Princeton should also be used on US 1 Northbound because that is the better way to get to Princeton from that point.

The AASHTO rules I was referring to was those that were told to CT and MA for I-84 using Sturbridge instead of Boston.  Like you said, Wegefield would be silly to mention, but Bithlo could do it as it is unincorporated that means there are no official boundaries for its designation.  Even though 520 ends east of Bithlo proper, one could argue that it is part of being there is no official (at least none that I know of) border limits.

[Pete from Boston]

This is just like how I-95 South in New York uses Trenton as a control city.  It doesn't go there, but a few people using the road might be going there, on some days, by accident, despite their best efforts to the contrary...

[NJRoadfan]

This is just like how I-95 South in New York uses Trenton as a control city.  It doesn't go there, but a few people using the road might be going there, on some days, by accident, despite their best efforts to the contrary...

The new signs on the Cross Bronx say Newark, at least the NYCDOT ones do.

[roadman65]

This is just like how I-95 South in New York uses Trenton as a control city.  It doesn't go there, but a few people using the road might be going there, on some days, by accident, despite their best efforts to the contrary...

The new signs on the Cross Bronx say Newark, at least the NYCDOT ones do.

That may be why NJDOT uses Ewing as primary control city on I-295 Northbound mileage signs instead of Trenton lol!

[Alps]

Route 133 is a very unpopulated highway. On several overhead sign structures, the control city for westbound traffic reads as Princeton, however, the road technically doesn't go there, though when it reaches CR 571, that does.

I-295 does the same thing.  In the area north of Trenton, the control city is Princeton, although it ends and turns into I-95 a mile or two south of Princeton.  On top of that, the exit for US 1, where you'd get off to go to Princeton, has its control city as New Brunswick, so you'd better know where to get off if you're looking to go to Princeton.

Yeah, but there is a fail safe though, US 206 (Exit 7B) on I-95 about two miles beyond I-295's end uses Princeton as NB US 206 control point.

True, you make an interesting point, that Princeton should also be used on US 1 Northbound because that is the better way to get to Princeton from that point.

Err... Exit 8 begs to differ with both of you.