New York

TexasTowelie

(116,761 posts) Sun Feb 4, 2018, 05:42 AM Feb 2018

New York to remove highway signs after feds threaten to pull $14M

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) New York state will replace hundreds of tourism signs along its highways after officials in Washington said the state would lose $14 million in federal funding if the signs weren't removed.

State officials announced Friday evening that they will install new signs this summer and will consult with the federal government on the signs' designs.

New York spent more than $8 million on the "I Love NY" signs in recent years. Federal officials told Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo to remove them because they were unsafe, but he refused. The federal officials warned the state Thursday that it would lose $14 million unless it complies with the sign regulations by June 30.

State officials stopped short of admitting defeat, saying the new signs are needed anyway for a new tourism campaign.

http://www.wcax.com/content/news/NY-to-remove-highway-signs-after-feds-threaten-to-pull-14M-472410493.html
(shprt article)

8 replies

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New York to remove highway signs after feds threaten to pull $14M (Original Post) TexasTowelie Feb 2018 OP

Signs are a ridiculous waste of money and are plastered all along the Interstate Highways. democratisphere Feb 2018 #1

Strange story PJMcK Feb 2018 #2

I believe that portions of that Thruway include federal interstates (e.g., I-91, I-87, I-95 etc) BumRushDaShow Feb 2018 #3

Interesting PJMcK Feb 2018 #4

Not my OP BumRushDaShow Feb 2018 #6

It's interesting that in other matters gopers push "states rights" groundloop Feb 2018 #5

They love to cherry-pick BumRushDaShow Feb 2018 #7

Signs are located near the shoulders and they are done in a Burma Shave format with democratisphere Feb 2018 #8

democratisphere

(17,235 posts)

1. Signs are a ridiculous waste of money and are plastered all along the Interstate Highways.

Reply to TexasTowelie (Original post)

Sun Feb 4, 2018, 05:56 AM

Feb 2018

Now the signs are scrap metal. New York State sure knows how to blow money by replacing the signs and doing it all over again! Insane!

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2018/02/02/i-love-ny-signs-coming-down/

PJMcK

(22,886 posts)

2. Strange story

Reply to TexasTowelie (Original post)

Sun Feb 4, 2018, 07:14 AM

Feb 2018

I wonder why the federal highway officials deem the NY signs "unsafe." They're mounted on steel supports just as many other signs on highways. Given some of the dangerous and stupid stuff I've seen on interstate highways across our country, I'm surprised this is an issue.

Every state has tourism industries that benefit their economies. Signs and advertisements help to encourage tourism. What's up with this story?

BumRushDaShow

(142,278 posts)

3. I believe that portions of that Thruway include federal interstates (e.g., I-91, I-87, I-95 etc)

Reply to PJMcK (Reply #2)

Sun Feb 4, 2018, 07:30 AM

Feb 2018

and they apparently require standardized signage on and along the interstates. So it might not have to do with the "physical" installations but what they probably consider "clutter" on the signs.

Edit to add - FHWA site info - https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/ser-shs_millennium.htm

PJMcK

(22,886 posts)

4. Interesting

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Reply #3)

Sun Feb 4, 2018, 07:38 AM

Feb 2018

Thanks for the OP and the follow-up.

BumRushDaShow

(142,278 posts)

6. Not my OP

Reply to PJMcK (Reply #4)

Sun Feb 4, 2018, 08:37 AM

Feb 2018

but I have driven along there and know other states have tourism signs and was wondering if this was more a political dig at NY vs maybe revising the type and amount of signage.

groundloop

(12,262 posts)

5. It's interesting that in other matters gopers push "states rights"

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Reply #3)

Sun Feb 4, 2018, 08:27 AM

Feb 2018

During healthcare discussions, for instance, gopers have pushed the concept that states should be allowed to decide what is available within their borders. Yet when it comes to highway signs (at least in regards to New York) the federal government knows best.

BumRushDaShow

(142,278 posts)

7. They love to cherry-pick

Reply to groundloop (Reply #5)

Sun Feb 4, 2018, 08:39 AM

Feb 2018

"States Rights for me but not for thee".

democratisphere

(17,235 posts)

8. Signs are located near the shoulders and they are done in a Burma Shave format with

Reply to PJMcK (Reply #2)

Sun Feb 4, 2018, 10:01 AM

Feb 2018

one right after another in close proximity to each other. There also may be a jab by drumpf at Cuomo; the signs are one of Cuomo's pet projects.

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