Variable message signs - fixed character or full matrix?

[Pink Jazz]

I would like to know, what type of variable message signs do state transportation departments use - fixed character or full matrix?

I can think of three of them.  ADOT in Arizona uses fixed character signs, while NMDOT in New Mexico uses full matrix.  VDOT in Virginia seems to vary by district, with the Hampton Roads district preferring fixed character and the Richmond district preferring full matrix.  What about other states or districts?

Of course, the old flip-dot type signs are on their way out and being replaced by LED signs.  I wonder if soon amber LEDs will be replaced by white LEDs.  Some transit agencies are already using white LED destination signs on their buses.

[myosh_tino]

While all of California's VMSes are of the full matrix variety, all but the newest ones display messages as if they were fixed character (3 lines, 16 characters per line).

Caltrans is currently upgrading all CMSes to amber LED bulbs.  I hope they don't move to white LEDs because I think they would be too bright, especially at night (the amber LEDs are already bright enough).

[jeffandnicole]

There's also type #4: fixed message: The NJ Turnpike's neon signs would only light the words pre-written on the message board needed for the message.  The DRPA had what looked like VMS signs on the Walt Whitman Bridge, but looking closely, you could see there was only one possible message ("Left Lane Closed, 1000 Feet" for example.)  Such a system was useless when, say, the right lane had to be closed.

Both agencies have gotten rid, or mostly have gotten rid, of those signs and gone full matrix.

NJ in general was a bit late to the VMS game.  Their older signage (GSP as well) tended to be fixed line (actually, that's probably type #5).  Now, they're all full matrix.

[Pink Jazz]

NJ in general was a bit late to the VMS game.  Their older signage (GSP as well) tended to be fixed line (actually, that's probably type #5).  Now, they're all full matrix.

Actually, I stand corrected about the VDOT Hampton Roads district.  They are actually fixed line (3 rows), not fixed character, as the ones over the HOV lanes display segments of the HOV diamond during HOV hours.

[Pete from Boston]

There's also type #4: fixed message: The NJ Turnpike's neon signs would only light the words pre-written on the message board needed for the message.  The DRPA had what looked like VMS signs on the Walt Whitman Bridge, but looking closely, you could see there was only one possible message ("Left Lane Closed, 1000 Feet" for example.)  Such a system was useless when, say, the right lane had to be closed.

Both agencies have gotten rid, or mostly have gotten rid, of those signs and gone full matrix.

NJ in general was a bit late to the VMS game.  Their older signage (GSP as well) tended to be fixed line (actually, that's probably type #5).  Now, they're all full matrix.

For that matter, the rotating fixed-legend signs on the Turnpike are about the most limited VMS out there. 

[roadman]

Most of the newer CMSes that MassDOT has (both permanent and portable) are variable matrix.  Only a handful of the older signs installed in the mid-1990s (mostly the fiber-optic flip disc displays) are fixed character signs.  In addition, some of the portable CMSes that MassDOT's contractors use are still fixed-character units, but they are slowly being phased out in favor of variable matrix signs.

[Brian556]

Just recently, I've started to see portable message boards that can have varying letter height, which is good, because it allows longer words to be spelled out, and results in more functional message.

I certainly hope they do not go to white LED's. Those are hard on your eyes at night. Businesses are starting to use them around their windows, and they are obnoxiously bright.

Amber LED's are a lot easier on the eyes. I actually replaced the white LED in one of my flashlights with an amber one, because it is easier on my eyes. I use this flashlight indoors.

[roadfro]

Most of Nevada DOT's VMS displays are single-color matrix installations, typically operated in a 3-line display. There are large freeway signs, and smaller versions used along rural 2-lane roads (several along US 95 in central Nevada, for example) Most recent installs are amber LED, although there are still some older VMSs on a few Las Vegas area freeways that appear to have incandescent bulbs closer to white.

[Pink Jazz]

Looks like ADOT is actually now in the full matrix camp, as I saw a Skyline Products full matrix VMS on SR 260 today.  Doing a search on Google, Skyline Products is ADOT's current VMS vendor, with the contract renewed this past summer.  Prior to this year, ADOT had contracts with both Skyline and Daktronics, however, the Daktronics contract was apparently not renewed. However, most existing VMS in Arizona are still of the fixed character type and will remain in service for many years.

[connroadgeek]

Connecticut uses full matrix tri-color (red/amber/green) LED VMSes. I don't know if they still do this, but they used to be amber by day, red by night (and if you were driving at just the right time, you could see the color change). I think most of the flip discs have been replaced.

[UCFKnights]

I spotted this unique fixed character one in Orlando the other day:
https://www.google.com/maps/@28.4506926,-81.3413257,3a,33.4y,292.36h,89.83t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sOJweKsnLCMPd0cey7heN3A!2e0

It was just as hard to read driving by as the street view picture.

[txstateends]

I spotted this unique fixed character one in Orlando the other day:
https://www.google.com/maps/@28.4506926,-81.3413257,3a,33.4y,292.36h,89.83t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sOJweKsnLCMPd0cey7heN3A!2e0

It was just as hard to read driving by as the street view picture.

I'm not sure why they even bothered putting that sign up.

[roadman]

I spotted this unique fixed character one in Orlando the other day:
https://www.google.com/maps/@28.4506926,-81.3413257,3a,33.4y,292.36h,89.83t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sOJweKsnLCMPd0cey7heN3A!2e0

It was just as hard to read driving by as the street view picture.

Appears to be a very early fiber-optic flip disc panel that is long overdue for some basic maintenance - although I suspect parts are no longer avaliable.

[Pink Jazz]

Sorry to bump an old thread, but going back to the subject of Virginia, it appears that the VDOT Hampton Roads District has installed a few full matrix DMS in recent years.  Four Daktronics full matrix DMS have been installed on the I-64 High Rise Bridge, two (one in each direction) on the bridge itself and two (also one in each direction) on the approaches to the bridge.  This is also the case for the George P. Coleman Memorial Bridge on US 17 (also by Daktronics).  The James River Bridge I think also had its Daktronics row matrix signs replaced by full matrix signs fairly recently (not sure the manufacturer), since apparently VDOT did put out an RFP sometime ago to replace the existing Daktronics signs (The Google Maps Street View images are from 2012 and still show the Daktronics row matrix signs).

However, it will be many years before full matrix signs become common in Hampton Roads, since VDOT has actually refurbished many of its older flip-dot row matrix signs with SES America's LED retrofit package, which uses the existing housings but replaces the panels, thus extending the life of these signs about 15 years.  The Ledstar row matrix signs on the HRBT are showing their age; these I think are some of the oldest LED signs in Hampton Roads (installed in the mid/late 1990s); I wonder if VDOT will refurbish them or replace them. 

Also, while the MMMBT has Ledstar row matrix signs (with three rows) for the main travel directions (I think installed around 2000-2001), the signs for the reverse directions (which have two rows) used in emergency situations (such as when one span is closed requiring two-way traffic on the other) are very old flip-dot signs which I think date back to 1992 (the year the MMMBT opened).  I wonder why these signs were never replaced or refurbished.  The HRBT got Ledstar signs in both directions when they were installed (which have three rows on the main travel directions and two rows for the reverse directions); I know the HRBT originally had electromechanical rotating prism signs.  Perhaps if VDOT decides to buy new full matrix DMS for the MMMBT, they can install them on the main travel directions and recycle the existing Ledstar row matrix DMS for the reverse directions.