I-587 Thruway signs

[Snappyjack]

Most of you all are familiar with the very short I-587 here in my hometown. On I-87, 587 is not mentioned on the the guide signs for the exit. In fact, you don't even know it exists until you get past the toll booths. I was curious about the issue one day and I contacted the Thruway Authority about why there was no mention on the signs and if it will ever be corrected(using as an example in my email of what they've recently done to the Exit 18 signs further down the road: adding shields for the Mid Hudson Bridge which is about 10 miles away). Here is their response:

Dear Mr. Thomas,


Thank you for sharing with the New York State Thruway Authority your thoughts on sign selections and placement in the vicinity of Interchange 19 (Kingston, Rhinecliff Bridge, Route 28).


The primary reason for the standard guide sign is to provide directions to destinations, streets or highways that are directly accessible from a particular interchange. Factors considered include population, amount of traffic generated, distance from the route and the significance of the destination. The sign for Route 28 is the appropriate sign under those circumstances.

As a practical matter, adding extra shields would require the fabrication of an entirely new sign to comply with minimum size and spacing requirements.


Supplemental guide signs also present another set of problems, namely the possibility that increasing the clutter of signs might result in an decrease in effectiveness. The motorists might be overwhelmed by the number and variety of extra signage.


Your observations have been forwarded to the appropriate Thruway staff and will be considered when the Thruway Authority next re-evaluates the sign situation at this interchange.


Should you have further questions or comments relating to the Thruway, please do not hesitate to contact Public Information at http://www.thruway.ny.gov/about/contact.html .


Sincerely,
Office of Media Relations & Public Affairs

Now I don't know about you, but it seems their answer is a bit contradicting, if not a little ridiculous at times. An interstate designation, albeit a small one, has just as much significance as a state route, if not more. Just thought you all might like to get a gander at that, and share your thoughts and opinions about the matter.

[huskeroadgeek]

Why do they even designate it as I-587 if they don't think it's important enough to put on a sign from the main highway? Seems to me if they aren't even going to sign it from the route it spurs off of, then there's no point in signing it anywhere.

[Ian]

Why do they even designate it as I-587 if they don't think it's important enough to put on a sign from the main highway? Seems to me if they aren't even going to sign it from the route it spurs off of, then there's no point in signing it anywhere.

I'm going to have to agree with this. I mean, I-587 is hardly an interstate. It doesn't even have any interchanges, just a traffic signal on one end, and a rotary on the other.

[agentsteel53]

I think you need at least one interchange to be classified as a freeway.  Otherwise, what's preventing us from labeling any old divided road as "a sequence of short freeways, separated by traffic lights"?

[cu2010]

I also agree with leaving off of the sign. 587 is a useless designation (much like 790, which IS signed from the Thruway), simply existing as another number for the last mile of NY 28, hardly up to Interstate standards...I think 28 alone is fine. Besides, we don't need to give NYSTA an excuse to put up more ugly Clearview signs...

[Alex]

Perhaps Kingston does not want to be known as being on the Interstate highway system? No I-587 shields on the Thruway means most people would never know it was connected via an Interstate highway. 

[froggie]

To be fair, you're talking about two different jurisdictions here.  NYSDOT maintains I-587, and has seen fit to adequately sign it as such, including on both approaches.

It's NYSTA that has their head in the sand here...

[agentsteel53]

To be fair, you're talking about two different jurisdictions here.

that is in no way "fair".  highway numbering is a convenience to the driver, and should not be subject to the whims of administrivia.

[froggie]

Just pointing out that there are two different "administrivia" involved here, like it or not...

[agentsteel53]

Just pointing out that there are two different "administrivia" involved here, like it or not...

no, I do not like it in the slightest.  my bigger point is that if the two of them weren't inculcated bureaucrats, and sat down for an hour to get things sorted out, then we'd get a sensible signing solution.

I think you mentioned "head in sand".  I would locate the head inside ... something else.

[J N Winkler]

Now I don't know about you, but it seems their answer is a bit contradicting, if not a little ridiculous at times. An interstate designation, albeit a small one, has just as much significance as a state route, if not more. Just thought you all might like to get a gander at that, and share your thoughts and opinions about the matter.

Bedbug letter.

[Alps]

Now I don't know about you, but it seems their answer is a bit contradicting, if not a little ridiculous at times. An interstate designation, albeit a small one, has just as much significance as a state route, if not more. Just thought you all might like to get a gander at that, and share your thoughts and opinions about the matter.

Bedbug letter.

Meaning?

[Sykotyk]

Old tale of a person writing a complaint to a business regarding bedbugs he encountered. He receives a letter back detailing how sorry they are about the one time circumstance, and that this will not happen again and all appropriate actions will be taken.

Then, the receiver realizes his original letter is also in the envelope with a post-it attached that says "Send this guy the bug letter".