NJ Turnpike VMS Signs

[J Route Z]

They are replacing old VMS signs, however, I still see the old ones on the highway, not even shoulder work performed to install the concrete bases. Does anyone know when they will replace all of them? Also, what are your opinions on the new signs?

[dgolub]

They are replacing old VMS signs, however, I still see the old ones on the highway, not even shoulder work performed to install the concrete bases. Does anyone know when they will replace all of them? Also, what are your opinions on the new signs?

I think the new signs are a good idea.  I assume that the old ones you're referring to are the ones that could only say "REDUCE SPEED - _______ - AHEAD" for a small number of possibilities in the blank.  Being able to put up any message definitely seems like an improvement.

[Alps]

Take photos now, because they should all be gone by the end of the year.

[cpzilliacus]

Take photos now, because they should all be gone by the end of the year.

Kind of sad to see signs so closely identified with the N.J. Turnpike finally nearing their end.

Rather like the "Keep Awake" signs that were once installed in the median of the Pike and discussed in this thread.

[jeffandnicole]

They are replacing old VMS signs, however, I still see the old ones on the highway, not even shoulder work performed to install the concrete bases. Does anyone know when they will replace all of them? Also, what are your opinions on the new signs?

The contracts don't require the signs to be replaced from South to North, or North to South.  Heck, they don't even require them to replace the older signs that aren't working first.  Instead, the signs are replaced seemingly randomly (but I'm sure there's something behind the order they are being placed).  And due to the number of signs that need to be installed, it doesn't really make sense to do every sign at one time.

I like the signs - although the speed limit number is actually smaller than the previous signs.  I like the various messages the signs display.  I dislike the people that must take their foot off the gas, or even worse, hit the brakes, to read the damn signs, which quickly forms a delay as one approaches the sign.

Most of the messages displayed are in the proper coloring and format, which is a nice touch.  The only messages I haven't seen with any real format are for travel times. 

And rather than "Accident Ahead, Slow Down", or something to that affect, I would rather like to see "Accident 3 Miles Ahead, Left Lane Closed/On Shoulder/All Lanes Closed" or something a bit more specific.

[Alps]

And rather than "Accident Ahead, Slow Down", or something to that affect, I would rather like to see "Accident 3 Miles Ahead, Left Lane Closed/On Shoulder/All Lanes Closed" or something a bit more specific.

If you say "Accident 3 miles ahead" and the delays start 2 miles ahead, I guarantee you someone is going to be unprepared and hit the back of the queue. I think that's why they won't give numbers, only "delays ahead"

[cpzilliacus]

And rather than "Accident Ahead, Slow Down", or something to that affect, I would rather like to see "Accident 3 Miles Ahead, Left Lane Closed/On Shoulder/All Lanes Closed" or something a bit more specific.

If you say "Accident 3 miles ahead" and the delays start 2 miles ahead, I guarantee you someone is going to be unprepared and hit the back of the queue. I think that's why they won't give numbers, only "delays ahead"

Agreed.  And the tail of that queue is going to grow (and shrink).

IMO, perhaps the only things that should be quantified on VMS units are travel time estimates to destinations on (or very close to) the freeway.

First time I saw that displayed I was a little incredulous as to the reliability of what was displayed, but having worked with Inrix data quite a lot, I have become a believer.

[jeffandnicole]

But similiarly, every road construction sign I've seen states "Road Work 2 Miles", "Road Work 1 Mile".  This alerts one to the road work up ahead.  Has nothing to do with related (or unrelated) congestion.

[Flyer78]

Highways around Pittsburgh also seem to display an estimate of when to Be Prepared to Stop -- but never thought about that being an issue if it occurs sooner (not ready) or later (not trusting data) than the estimate displayed on the sign.

Of course, the old signs did (when functioning correctly) have the ability to show "Congestion  2 Miles" or similar message, though it seems like the distance portion of the matrix was given even less maintenance the last decade or so...

[roadman65]

In Florida we also display the distance of the slowdown once in the slowdown, or should I say at least I-4.  We do the others as well, but I do not think that someone will really take the distance for congestion sake like jeffandnicole pointed out.  Heck, I am surprised that people even pay attention to the signs anymore just like the EXIT ONLY at lane drops or more popular the speed limits signs.

If you are a wise driver you should be paying close attention at all times  to what is in front of you anyway.  Traffic conditions change much more periodically than the people changing the signs. 

[Interstatefan78]

I would say the new ones do display sliver alerts on them, and also there are old style vms signs left on the NJ turnpike Hudson county extension perhaps the NJ Turnpike commission should also replace the old style vms signs on the I-78 portion of the NJ Turnpike with the new led based ones. The old style VMS do have an attached speed limit sign to them found on exit 8A-18E/W

[mc78andrew]

And rather than "Accident Ahead, Slow Down", or something to that affect, I would rather like to see "Accident 3 Miles Ahead, Left Lane Closed/On Shoulder/All Lanes Closed" or something a bit more specific.

If you say "Accident 3 miles ahead" and the delays start 2 miles ahead, I guarantee you someone is going to be unprepared and hit the back of the queue. I think that's why they won't give numbers, only "delays ahead"

Agreed.  And the tail of that queue is going to grow (and shrink).

IMO, perhaps the only things that should be quantified on VMS units are travel time estimates to destinations on (or very close to) the freeway.

First time I saw that displayed I was a little incredulous as to the reliability of what was displayed, but having worked with Inrix data quite a lot, I have become a believer.

I feel like I am already preconditioned to ignore even good real time information from VMS.  Our whole lives it seems like they have either stated the obvious (fog) completely misrepresented the facts (Tavel times) or not given me any useful info such as which lane is blocked or any alternate routes.

Clearly I am generalizing, but that's been my experience to date.  It sounds like that is changing with new technology.  I rented an infinity QX56 last December in LA and its nav system was deadly accurate with delay information.  A section of freeway was green, yellow, orange, red or flashing red.  That helped me choose the 605 over the 710 for instance.  This after I once choose to ignore the warning and learned of its accuracy the hard way. 

[roadman65]

Its called progress! 

[mc78andrew]

Its called progress! 

I'll believe it when I see it.  Most of the VMS on the NYS thruway say "testing" or nothing at all.  At least in westchester county.

Something tells me vehicle nav systems that charge users will always be better.  I am bais though and will be patiently waiting for DOTs and various authorities to get this right.  Waiting patiently with a state of the art nav system that is! 

[MTH]

Do those expensive navigation systems that show traffic conditions use the traffic.com info or from the DOTs?

I always thought the NJTP VMS boards should. Say 'speed up' instead of 'slow down' when they are displaying the congestion warning.

[jeffandnicole]

One NJ Turnpike VMS showed the other day congestion nearly 15 miles away (The sign was north of Exit 4; the congestion existed south of Exit 3.

No problems with that...except it appeared by default the Turnpike also reduced the speed limit next to the sign to 55 mph...even though, again, the congestion wasn't for another 15 miles.  The next few speed limit signs were at the normal 65 mph.

[MrDisco99]

What about the one on the PA side of the exit 6 bridge?  Is that getting a new VMS, too?

[J Route Z]

Does anyone know if they also replacing the blue and yellow "highway advisory" signs which give the 1610 am station for motorists when flashing? Also, those flashing lights should be LED. I believe they are the old halogen lights. Like some traffic signals in the state still use them.   

[Flyer78]

What about the one on the PA side of the exit 6 bridge?  Is that getting a new VMS, too?

As of last week, that was still neon format; with a blank split-vane speed limit sign. A few months ago I saw an employee testing the Neon lights, to where most phases actually seemed to work. There is not really room post-merge from the existing toll plaza to put an overhead gantry, perhaps when reconstruction work takes place.

Also, towards PA, there is a high-mounted VMS, looks to be more PA Turnpike spec, before the bridge. Not sure if it is all color or not.

[Pete from Boston]

Many unmounted huge VMS gantries line the GSP currently.  I'm not sure how coordinated the two roads' work is, but on the GSP side many are erected, and many in progress.  The displays are really sharp -- I like seeing FHWA fonts on them in realistic sign layouts.

[jeffandnicole]

Does anyone know if they also replacing the blue and yellow "highway advisory" signs which give the 1610 am station for motorists when flashing? Also, those flashing lights should be LED. I believe they are the old halogen lights. Like some traffic signals in the state still use them.   

Does the HAR system still work??

Generally, the lights will be replaced with LEDs on an as-needed basis.  I think the lights inside are just regular, shock-resistant light bulbs, and since the signs aren't used much (if at all), there's no reason to spend the money to convert them to LEDs without reason.

[Flyer78]

I have seen the lights flash, but not sure how often. Come to think of it, last time I saw it was before the widespread installation of the new signs...

[cpzilliacus]

Drove the New Jersey Turnpike from 1 to 18 (northbound) and from 10 to 1 (southbound) this past weekend.  Also drove the Garden State Parkway from the  New York border to 129 (Turnpike). 

There were several new VMS units deployed and in use - the color and sharpness is impressive, especially the two I saw on the GSP that were promoting E-ZPass transponder availability at the service plazas.

Also saw at least one of the old, red neon units lit on the southbound side south of 6 in my mirrors as I drove north.