What is the meaning and purpose of the new numbered highway signs?

Question

In Califiornia (and prehaps nationally) there is a move to replace
traditional highway signs with dual placename / numeric signs .
In some places the have taken away the place name ( ie. Turner
Ave. ) and replaced it with Exit 554 . Obviously this is NOT for the
convienence of the driver . If you don't live in the area and know where you are , you haven't a clue what exit it is. I 've
checked Caltrans website and the only real justification it can give is that it saves $ 200.00 per sign. Any info. on this?

Answer 1

The federal law requiring numbered highways was earlier satisfied by other less obvious signage on California highways. These markers stand about 2 feet off the ground with a white sign (about 5" x 18" high) attached to a 6" stake. These signs marked every tenth of a mile or thereabouts, thus satisfying this old law.

Finally, for reasons noted above, essentially offering drivers distance to destination, the exit number signs are now being added. Note in the exit 25, 100 example, one can quickly get a new ETA whenever passing a new exit sign. Simply take the difference of current sign and destination exit; then divide by your current MPH. That formula yields your updated ETA in # hours.
Check the cool website below for Exit project info

Answer 2

It is to allow 'foreigners' (visitors from the other 49 states) to be able to drive more easily in California.

The State was getting too many complaints about all of the Spanish-named roads (eg San Francisco, San Mateo, San Jose, San Juan Bautista, Tujunga, Cajon Pass, Ft Tejon, San Diego, San Clamente, etc) and road abbreviations (eg Cyn for canyon, Pkwy for parkway, etc) that visitors were getting confused where to exit from the freeway. Visitors were accustomed to numbered exits in their home states, but just couldn't cope with the randomness in California.

So, the powers-that-be in Sacramento (another Spanish name) finally relented and somebody wrote a law to change the signs. Soon thereafter, Caltrans starting adding exit numbers on new signs. I recall seeing some of the first numbered-exit signs being installed on I-80 between Colfax and Truckee (name of a Native American Indian chief.) Now, number signs are going up everywhere, and I'm sure that adhesive signs will be retrofitted on existing signs if possible.

Take it with a grain of salt during the transition. In a few years, it will seem 'natural' and you'll wonder why it wasn't done sooner.

Just pray that they don't decide to change all the distances to the metric system - they would have to replace tens of thousands of signs across the State.

Answer 3

It puzzles me the the most "cultured & advanced" state in the union, would be the LAST friggin state to do this.

As a local, you can get around just fine. People from out of town do not have a clue what to do when you say take the I-5 to Lyons Av. Is it north or south of where they got on?

Is it 2 or 25 miles away. If its 25 miles, and the guy doesn't know...GUESS what..he rides the right lane for 25 miles at a snails pace looking for the ^%#$ exit.

Do you as a resident, know where Lyons Avenue exit is?? Answer that question......is it in LA, San Fran, or Encino?

However, if I tell you that you need to go to exit 167 (proposed 2004) on I-5 you'll know it's in Santa Clarita.

GUESS what, even in the deep woods south, they no longer tell you to go down past that dead tree on the side of the road and turn left at the store that burned down 20 years ago. They actually have signs...and had them YEARS before California.

Answer 4

It's to bring CA in compliance with the rest of the counrty. In most of the country, exit numbers are tied to the mile marker so it's easy to tell how far your exit is from wherever you are at the moment.

The old CA way was a no-brainer for CA natives but frustrating beyond imagination for visitors. I lived in So Cal for 2 years and never got the hang of it. I travel to CA several times a year on business and now that the CHP pulls you over for using a GPS (stupid beyond all reason, IMHO) we're left scratching our heads in the middle of a high-speed freeway. I can't imagine anything more dangerous!

Answer 5

California was the only state that did not have # highways, they are being #ed now..They are #ed south to North and I think west to east. They are so much easier to find where you are going if you are @ exit 25 going north and need to get off @ exit 100 you know you have 75 more miles to go If you are @ exit 200 going south and want exit 100 you know you have 100 more miles to go. Names of exits don't tell you how much farther you have to go to get off on the right exit.

Answer 6

because we it is cheaper, a convenience, and we are the only state around that doesnt do it till now its easier because you can read it easier and it will be on directions like on mapquest