Sign changes submitted to DOT by roadgeeks that actually got changed

[jakeroot]

Years ago I advised NYSDOT of "State Speed Limit 65" signs on Interstate 81 in Oswego County. They were replaced within a week with standard "Speed Limit 65" signs.

What was the issue?

[hotdogPi]

Years ago I advised NYSDOT of "State Speed Limit 65" signs on Interstate 81 in Oswego County. They were replaced within a week with standard "Speed Limit 65" signs.

What was the issue?

New York's state speed limit is 55, not 65.

[jakeroot]

Years ago I advised NYSDOT of "State Speed Limit 65" signs on Interstate 81 in Oswego County. They were replaced within a week with standard "Speed Limit 65" signs.

What was the issue?

New York's state speed limit is 55, not 65.

Ahh, cheers.

We don't have a state speed limit in WA, so I'm not used to seeing a sign like that at all. I know NY has those special speed limit signs with like "village speed limit" or something that I don't see elsewhere. I just knew I had seen this one before but I guess the actual number didn't tip me off.

[mgk920]

Not a signage change, nor did I contact anyone at a DOT about it, but about 20 or so years ago while I was doing my 'Highway Features of the Week' thing (they're archived), I suggested a lane striping change on SB I-39 a bit south of its SW interchange with US 20 on the far south side of Rockford, IL (it was that week's 'feature').  About a month or so later, I received an e-mail from someone in the peanut gallery that informed me that IDOT had just restriped the highway in the exact manner that I had suggested.

I take a LOT of inspiration from an 'Average Joe' doing an 'Average Joe' job in Chicago a bit over a century ago - Edward P. Brennan worked as a bill collector who did house visits, was frustrated at the total mess that was the city at the time (it was so bad that the Post Office was having troubles doing their thing) and was determined to do something about it.  In 1901 he started taking action.

http://burnhamplan100.lib.uchicago.edu/node/2561/



Mike

[MCRoads]

I don't think I have seen this mentioned yet, but someone who was fed up with missing an exit in LA fixed the sign themselves! CalTrans even kept the fix when the sign was replaced!

[ilpt4u]

I don't think I have seen this mentioned yet, but someone who was fed up with missing an exit in LA fixed the sign themselves! CalTrans even kept the fix when the sign was replaced!

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_eye/2015/02/11/guerrilla_public_service_on_99_invisible_richard_ankrom_replaced_a_los_angeles.html

That is one of many stories on Richard Ankrom fixing this BGS himself

Youtube video: https://youtu.be/Clgl63CWOkM

[Scott5114]

Fascinating to see the amount of trouble he had to go through to make those signs. Just imagine how much easier doing it would be now that we have reflective sheeting. I have a home vinyl cutter, so given an aluminum blank of the proper size, I'd be able to make one of those in a day.

[webny99]

Do changes to traffic signals count as well as signs? 

If they do, I have a success story to share: the leftmost signal head at this intersection was updated from solid red/yellow/green to red arrow/yellow arrow/FYA thanks to an email I sent to NYSDOT yesterday. Here's my post about it in the thread I started about the issue several years ago:

Reviving this nearly four year old thread to give an unexpected update: thanks to an email I sent to NYSDOT yesterday, the issue with this signal head has been resolved!

The slightly longer version of the story: When passing through this intersection yesterday, I was once again bothered by the third green ball, so I decided on a whim to email NYSDOT about it (through their general feedback form online) and see if anything became of it. I left a short description of the problem and a Google Maps link to the signal, and sure enough, I heard back tonight with a very positive update: they acknowledged that the third green ball facing the left lane could be misinterpreted, and that it had been fixed to display red arrow, yellow arrow, and FYA - so basically an acknowledgment that it should have been an FYA all along. And they even sent a picture of each corrected phase! Needless to say, that made my day! I was giddy by the time I finished reading the email. I can't believe I didn't do this sooner!

I've asked permission to share part of the email along with the pictures, so hopefully I can add those here soon! And now I can add "Helped correct an erroneous signal head" to my very short list of notable roadgeek accomplishments! 

[behogie230]

Do changes to traffic signals count as well as signs? 

If they do, I have a success story to share: the leftmost signal head at this intersection was updated from solid red/yellow/green to red arrow/yellow arrow/FYA thanks to an email I sent to NYSDOT yesterday.

Now this one is strange. Didn't think you could do a FYA with only three bulbs... I've only seen them with protected lefts.

[1995hoo]

There's a sign on the off-ramp designated Exit 54B on the Outer Loop of the Capital Beltway in Virginia directing traffic to "Queensberry Rd." Problem is, the street is an avenue, not a road. The sign has been incorrect since 2012 and I've reported it to VDOT multiple times; they disclaim responsibility and contend it's Transurban's responsibility because the sign was erected during the HO/T lane construction, but Transurban disclaims responsibility and says it's VDOT's bailiwick because the sign is on an off-ramp from the general-purpose lanes, not from the HO/T lanes. Makes me wish I could fabricate a greenout "Av" and go out there and stick it on the sign like that I-5 guy did. Plus, if I could do that, then I know VDOT would rush to change the sign because they insist on using "Ave" rather than "Av."

[webny99]

Do changes to traffic signals count as well as signs? 

If they do, I have a success story to share: the leftmost signal head at this intersection was updated from solid red/yellow/green to red arrow/yellow arrow/FYA thanks to an email I sent to NYSDOT yesterday.

Now this one is strange. Didn't think you could do a FYA with only three bulbs... I've only seen them with protected lefts.

Yep, FYA's are the new standard for NYSDOT at all intersections, even when there's no protected phase.  This one is a bit unique because there is a protected phase in the opposite direction (southbound), but apparently not enough volume to warrant it northbound.

[nexus73]

During a rework dealing with a pair of intersections in Coos Bay OR, the US 101 signs were incorrectly done as state 101 shields.  I sent an email to the local ODOT and was told at first that everything was fine.  I sent another email.  This time the responder said they would send someone to look the signage over.  That resulted in an email coming my way from them saying that I was right.  The incorrect signs were replaced soon afterwards.

Rick

[MoiraPrime]

I tweeted at the temporary director of MDOT once about some signs along Bethel Road in Saucier for US 49 and got an official response.
https://twitter.com/MoiraPrime/status/1380648764826865671


They responded with multiple tweets saying they'd fix it, and they did!

https://twitter.com/MoiraPrime/status/1426684408153743361

[ran4sh]

Do changes to traffic signals count as well as signs? 

If they do, I have a success story to share: the leftmost signal head at this intersection was updated from solid red/yellow/green to red arrow/yellow arrow/FYA thanks to an email I sent to NYSDOT yesterday.

Now this one is strange. Didn't think you could do a FYA with only three bulbs... I've only seen them with protected lefts.

Not only is such an FYA permitted, it's actually necessary in order to prevent yellow trap for an approach that does not get a protected left when the opposing approach does have a protected left.

[webny99]

Do changes to traffic signals count as well as signs? 

If they do, I have a success story to share: the leftmost signal head at this intersection was updated from solid red/yellow/green to red arrow/yellow arrow/FYA thanks to an email I sent to NYSDOT yesterday.

Now this one is strange. Didn't think you could do a FYA with only three bulbs... I've only seen them with protected lefts.

Not only is such an FYA permitted, it's actually necessary in order to prevent yellow trap for an approach that does not get a protected left when the opposing approach does have a protected left.

I can't believe I never thought of this before! So in addition to this now being fixed from an interpretation perspective, left turning traffic will have the FYA during the opposing green arrow phase, which will reduce wait times.

[ran4sh]

Do changes to traffic signals count as well as signs? 

If they do, I have a success story to share: the leftmost signal head at this intersection was updated from solid red/yellow/green to red arrow/yellow arrow/FYA thanks to an email I sent to NYSDOT yesterday.

Now this one is strange. Didn't think you could do a FYA with only three bulbs... I've only seen them with protected lefts.

Not only is such an FYA permitted, it's actually necessary in order to prevent yellow trap for an approach that does not get a protected left when the opposing approach does have a protected left.

I can't believe I never thought of this before! So in addition to this now being fixed from an interpretation perspective, left turning traffic will have the FYA during the opposing green arrow phase, which will reduce wait times.

... if programmed correctly. Some agencies are known to take shortcuts by programming the FYA to match the adjacent lane green, instead of the oncoming traffic green like it's supposed to. There would still be yellow trap if such a shortcut is done.

[webny99]

Do changes to traffic signals count as well as signs? 

If they do, I have a success story to share: the leftmost signal head at this intersection was updated from solid red/yellow/green to red arrow/yellow arrow/FYA thanks to an email I sent to NYSDOT yesterday.

Now this one is strange. Didn't think you could do a FYA with only three bulbs... I've only seen them with protected lefts.

Not only is such an FYA permitted, it's actually necessary in order to prevent yellow trap for an approach that does not get a protected left when the opposing approach does have a protected left.

I can't believe I never thought of this before! So in addition to this now being fixed from an interpretation perspective, left turning traffic will have the FYA during the opposing green arrow phase, which will reduce wait times.

... if programmed correctly. Some agencies are known to take shortcuts by programming the FYA to match the adjacent lane green, instead of the oncoming traffic green like it's supposed to. There would still be yellow trap if such a shortcut is done.

Yes, but to make sure I'm understanding correctly... that's only true if the protected phase is lagging, right?

At this particular intersection, the opposing green arrow is always leading, so there wasn't a yellow trap even before this was fixed, and there won't be now since NY's FYA's are always (at least in my experience) properly programmed to go solid yellow>solid red>return to FYA at the end of the opposing protected phase.

[ran4sh]

The yellow trap hazard is commonly encountered with lagging phases, but can also occur with leading left turn phases if phase skip is allowed. I.e. if there's no cross street traffic, so its phase gets skipped and the oncoming straight through light remains green. So it's not a major issue but it is something to be aware of.

[behogie230]

Interesting. PennDOT only uses FYA when the approach has a protected left. If there's a potential for yellow trap, there is a sign on the mast arm that says "opposing traffic has extended green" .

[jakeroot]

Interesting. PennDOT only uses FYA when the approach has a protected left. If there's a potential for yellow trap, there is a sign on the mast arm that says "opposing traffic has extended green" .

Does Pennsylvania use flashing yellow arrows anywhere else? Or just at lead-lag intersections or those with one fully protected approach?

[behogie230]

Interesting. PennDOT only uses FYA when the approach has a protected left. If there's a potential for yellow trap, there is a sign on the mast arm that says "opposing traffic has extended green" .

Does Pennsylvania use flashing yellow arrows anywhere else? Or just at lead-lag intersections or those with one fully protected approach?

As far as I'm aware, the state has only used it for protected/permissive lefts.

[Roadsguy]

Interesting. PennDOT only uses FYA when the approach has a protected left. If there's a potential for yellow trap, there is a sign on the mast arm that says "opposing traffic has extended green" .

PennDOT definitely does use three-section permissive-only FYAs, albeit rarely. One I can remember is at the intersection of US 422 and Locust St in Myerstown. I know I've seen at least one or two more, but I can't remember where exactly.

[NoGoodNamesAvailable]

 

Do changes to traffic signals count as well as signs? 

If they do, I have a success story to share: the leftmost signal head at this intersection was updated from solid red/yellow/green to red arrow/yellow arrow/FYA thanks to an email I sent to NYSDOT yesterday. Here's my post about it in the thread I started about the issue several years ago:

...

It sounds like NYSDOT likes you. You should show them NJDOT's signal placement guidelines.

[Mr. Matté]

A pothole report I made to Mercer County, NJ earlier this month to note a bunch of potholes along westbound CR 632 (Pennington-Lawrenceville Road) had a little aside about how the road itself was incorrectly signed as "CR 640." The error probably dated back to when Mercer first started posting shields on the 600 routes, Alps caught the original version on his page, later another older style replaced that by 2011, and was replaced two more times with retroreflective signs (first with a thick solid yellow outer edge, then a thin yellow edge inset a little bit). I can't vouch for the potholes being fixed (the ones I complained about on eastbound 546 weren't fixed as of this afternoon) but the shields were fixed:


(the second pic's CR 632 arrow is partially incorrect since the route continues ahead of the intersection)

[michravera]

I got Caltrans to fix the US 101 entrance shield that was missing it's numbers at SFO once. At least I think it was me that brought it's attention to them.

I got CalTrans to cut back some bushes from the exit distance signs on I-880 near SJC. I also reported the "Two  Exit 1D" problem on I-880. The got tp the first one in a week or two. The second took almost two years.