DCR Signage

[deathtopumpkins]

So I'm scrolling through Universal Hub over breakfast, and find this: http://www.universalhub.com/2013/rte-9-scenic-byway-next-left

Was quite surprised that a non-roadgeek was complaining about a sign being brown rather than green. Though that got me thinking: the National Park service uses brown signs as guide signs (Balt-Wash Pkwy, Colonial Parkway, etc.), so under the same idea should all the DCR signage be brown, considering it is a park agency?

[J N Winkler]

Was quite surprised that a non-roadgeek was complaining about a sign being brown rather than green. Though that got me thinking: the National Park service uses brown signs as guide signs (Balt-Wash Pkwy, Colonial Parkway, etc.), so under the same idea should all the DCR signage be brown, considering it is a park agency?

It really depends on whether the DCR signing classifies as regular guide signing, in which case I contend green background should be used (reserving the use of brown on regular guide signing to National Park Service facilities), or wayfinding signing, for which MUTCD standards are currently much more relaxed.  I suspect the DCR signing actually classifies as the latter given that the sign shown in the picture breaks other rules that apply to regular guide signing, such as not spelling out "EAST."

[deathtopumpkins]

DCR signage is most definitely guide signage rather than wayfinding. All of the Boston-area parkways (and roads like Storrow Drive) have only DCR signage.

Is brown signage really limited to ONLY the NPS?

[J N Winkler]

Is brown signage really limited to ONLY the NPS?

In practice, no.  The MUTCD allows it for tourist signing on all roadways and the Adirondacks have long used yellow on brown for general guide signing.

[cpzilliacus]

Was quite surprised that a non-roadgeek was complaining about a sign being brown rather than green. Though that got me thinking: the National Park service uses brown signs as guide signs (Balt-Wash Pkwy, Colonial Parkway, etc.), so under the same idea should all the DCR signage be brown, considering it is a park agency?

All signs along the NPS-maintained parkways and other motor roads in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia (including the Baltimore-Washington; Clara Barton; Suitland; Skyline Drive/Blue Ridge Parkway; Colonial; George Washington Memorial; Rock Creek and Potomac (and its continuation, Beach Drive))  have big brown signs (and sometimes little brown signs) installed - the older panels with Clarendon font, the  newer ones with the NPS Rawlinson font. 

Only exception is where these parkways have direct interchanges with Interstate highways, in which case BGS panels (often much smaller than what would be used elsewhere) with the "FHWA" fonts are used.

[vdeane]

Is brown signage really limited to ONLY the NPS?

In practice, no.  The MUTCD allows it for tourist signing on all roadways and the Adirondacks have long used yellow on brown for general guide signing.

As do the Catskills, though it's worth noting that both I-87 and NY 17 use white on green for exit signage (and yellow on brown is rare on NY 17 as it skirts the park boundary, as does the Thruway).

[Alps]

So the DCR sucks at signage

[deathtopumpkins]

So the DCR sucks at signage

Yeah, everyone knows this. Doesn't make my question any less valid.

I still say that DCR signage is acceptable as brown in the same vein as NPS signage, since they are technically 'park roads', though some consistency would be nice.

[agentsteel53]

to add another error: I thought logos of that size and prominence were banned by the 1961 or 1970 MUTCD?

[NE2]

to add another error: I thought logos of that size and prominence were banned by the 1961 or 1970 MUTCD?

If the NPS can do it, so can the MDCR.
http://www.google.com/search?q=national park service sign&tbm=isch