[i-215]

Why don't more states use backlit street name signs?

I'm in Utah, and it seems like only one city uses backlit street name signs, and that's Murray City, a suburb south of Salt Lake.

You can see an example in the photo. At night the "6400 South" sign is (idealy) illuminated. It's also double-sided. That, and the big font, make it really easy to see which street you're coming up on, so you can prepare to make a turn.

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l183/utradioguide/RobsSchoolProject10-07025.jpg

However the rest of the state uses a tiny piece of tin that you can't read until you are practically in the intersection. An example of this is the "WINCHESTER" sign which the County added later.

Can anyone explain to me why some places like California and Las Vegas use the illuminated signs so freely, while other places like Utah, Idaho, and Oregon practically never use them?

[Dr. Taco]

^ I'm sorry, but that's an easy answer. Illuminated signs cost much more to design, install, and maintain. Non-illuminated typically work well enough that state will focus on other problems

[mersar]

Yep. Maintenance is probably the largest issue, especially with older signs that would be using traditional bulbs. The tin signs would last for decades, and in many cases probably outlast the structure they are mounted on.

Most places that are experimenting with newer lit signs are typically starting with things such as left turn only signs, and replacing them with LED based signs. Especially when the older signs had multiple states, and were controlled by a motor to change.

[brickell]

They're slowly replacing them with backlit signs here in Dade. It's nicer at night, but doesn't make that much of a difference in my opinion. It'd be interesting to see the cost difference. I'm sure that's why most places don't and won't use them.

[Rail Claimore]

Of all places in Chicagoland, the place they're most prominent in is the suburb of Bolingbrook. Why this middle-class suburb located along what is mainly an industrial corridor has these while more prominent suburbs such as Oak Brook and Schaumburg do not is beyond me. But they sure do know how to pay for them with all those red-light cameras.

[orulz]

I agree that lighted signs are a nice touch, but there are a dozen things that I would rather the city / state spend their money on related to road design before they start worrying about backlighting the signs. Make the sidewalks a foot wider, for example. Or install curb and gutter in a few places where it doesn't exist yet.

[MayDay]

I haven't seen a lot of those in Cleveland - I think it's like jstush04 said, they're cost-prohibitive in a lot of cases. In some cases, Cleveland and Cuyahoga County will place a smaller sign reading "XYZ Road 500 Feet Ahead" near major intersections - achieves similar results with less expense. One place I know that has them in abundance is downtown Cincinnati.

[Abner]

Of all places in Chicagoland, the place they're most prominent in is the suburb of Bolingbrook. Why this middle-class suburb located along what is mainly an industrial corridor has these while more prominent suburbs such as Oak Brook and Schaumburg do not is beyond me. But they sure do know how to pay for them with all those red-light cameras.

Then it will really knock your socks off to hear that they also have them in Cicero.

[Rail Claimore]

Then it will really knock your socks off to hear that they also have them in Cicero.

So ChicagoShawn was telling me last night. That's also a surprise. Any other places I'm missing?

[Busy Bee]

Thank You Betty Loren-Maltese!http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[ThisSideofSteinway]

There's a few here too, but only a handful - the only ones I can think of off the top of my head are at 42nd and Madison and on a few places on 34th Street.

[mr jones]

They're slowly replacing them with backlit signs here in Dade. It's nicer at night, but doesn't make that much of a difference in my opinion. It'd be interesting to see the cost difference. I'm sure that's why most places don't and won't use them.

Same with Fort Lauderdale. With all the street lights around, seems kind of a waste...

[seaskyfan]

I noticed them around Palm Springs - I just figured it was because of all the older folks driving.

[strongbad635]

Most of the cities around Denver use backlit signs, especially Lakewood, Littleton, Aurora, Boulder, Wesminster, and Broomfield. Many of Denver city's signs are, and even those that aren't lighted are double sided, and include the city's logo. The only street signs that don't have a city logo on them are the ones in unincorporated areas of Arapahoe Co. and Jefferson Co. I like this idea, because when driving along an avenue that crosses town lines, you always know exactly when you cross from one town into another.

[zaphod]

Ive noticed they are used in business corridors where they must stand out from brighter light spilling out from shopping centers and signs and such.

Same for lit freeway signs. Only usually see them at interchanges that have lots of lighting

[SpongeG]

the city i live in uses those lighted signs - they are great but once you cross into the next city its like dark and back to trying to figure out where things are

they are great - i wish more places around here would get some

[mhays]

Why not just make roads slower and narrower, so that people can see the basic signs more easily, and a single street light can cover the whole intersection?

Yes I know that's unrealistic in most of the US. But I can dream.

[Daquan13]

Las Vegas has these, and I think they look so cool!

Too bad Boston doesn't have them. I think that we stand a much better chance of seeing Jesus first! Haha!!:haha:

[combusean]

Most of the Phoenix suburbs use them, in addition to Phoenix itself in most cases--they still leave the metal ones if you're on a minor street approaching a major one but the minor street will have a backlit sign on the major.

Tempe has these enormous L-shaped green signal/light/etc deals that I have not seen in any other city... I think Long Beach sort of has them but just in the downtown from what I remember.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1425/1045430017_e3d94fbfc7.jpg
Courtesy of The Girl Who Ate Everything (http://www.roboppy.net/food/2007/08/phoenix_day_2.html)

Scottsdale, the metro's richest suburb only has backlit signs on a couple intersections in the southern stretch. Glendale, Surprise, Fountain Hills, Chandler, Gilbert, most of Mesa all have the backlit ones as well.

They're much easier to read at night. I like them.

[ThisSideofSteinway]

Tempe has these enormous L-shaped green signal/light/etc deals that I have not seen in any other city... I think Long Beach sort of has them but just in the downtown from what I remember.

There are a couple of those on 125th Street in Harlem, but that's the only place I've ever seen them.

[DJM19]

Los Angeles doesnt have em...too many streets I suppose...

http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/381068/2/istockphoto_381068_hollywood_blvd_sign.jpg

The ones we have can be hard to see..especially for me, who cant see that far ahead.

[ChunkyMonkey]

Wait a few years when all the bulbs blow out and the money is not there to change them, then everyone will start to curse the new signs ;)

Seems like a total waste of money and energy to me. Plus they are not practical for cold weather cities with the freeze thaw cycle and the snow.

[emathias]

Wait a few years when all the bulbs blow out and the money is not there to change them, then everyone will start to curse the new signs ;)

Seems like a total waste of money and energy to me. Plus they are not practical for cold weather cities with the freeze thaw cycle and the snow.

I'm not sure I agree on the freeze cycle thing - there are plenty of outdoor, backlit signs owned and operated by private businesses here in the frozen north. But I definitely agree that it's a waste of money - I don't know anyone who wouldn't have other priorities for tax dollars, whether it be more sidewalks, more roads, more buses, more trains - more functional infrastructure of any sort, rather than just a backlit street sign. Hell, spending the money on enforcing prominent display of your building number so it can be seen from the street should be a much higher priority in most areas of the suburbs. :-)

[theWatusi]

Here is what street signs look like around these parts. These are the "newer" type. The older ones are the same size, but white letters on an embossed black cast iron sign. They are next to impossible to see at night.

http://www.leezhairsalon.com/street_sign.jpg

[ikcyzrteip]

So ChicagoShawn was telling me last night. That's also a surprise. Any other places I'm missing?

Joliet

[kirjtc2]

Most standard road signs these days are made out of reflective material that stands out at night well enough for most purposes. Backlit signs would just be a waste of money.

[vid]

Backlit street signs?

I live in a city of 100,000 and we have more than 5,000 street identification signs. There is no way this kind of thing would be feasible!! :ahhh:

I've never had problems seeing them at night either. If worrying about whether or not street signs are lit up if a top priority, then we much have it pretty good, no?

[SpongeG]

our street signs also serve as lighting up the cross walks so people can see and cars can see the people in the cross walks

its not every sign but the major intersections

its good in a rainy climate