Design Your Own MARTA Expansion (Douglas, Clayton: systems, ride, about)

[bu2]

Originally Posted by sedimenjerry

I do agree with this. It's not just on the connector, it's every single exit only lane in existence. I see so many people sit in a lane for a mile or 2 that warns them it's exit only and by the time the exit comes up it's swerve left to stay on.

Which freeways in Atlanta do you drive on?

I can't think of any with a two mile notice. Sometimes they tell you it will happen, but they don't tell you which lanes until the last minute.

Atlanta has the worst freeway signage of any city I've ever been in.

[Gulch]

Originally Posted by bu2

Which freeways in Atlanta do you drive on?

I can't think of any with a two mile notice. Sometimes they tell you it will happen, but they don't tell you which lanes until the last minute.

Atlanta has the worst freeway signage of any city I've ever been in.

GDOT follows the MUTCD like every other state is required to.

[sedimenjerry]

Originally Posted by bu2

Which freeways in Atlanta do you drive on?

I can't think of any with a two mile notice. Sometimes they tell you it will happen, but they don't tell you which lanes until the last minute.

Atlanta has the worst freeway signage of any city I've ever been in.

Maybe not 2 miles, but pretty far. Mainly 85 for the mall of GA and 316 for Sugarloaf Pkwy. It's ample time to know it's exit only. There are signs on the right, signs overhead, repeated signs, exit only painted on the roadway, etc.

Signage design is pretty much shared across the country (or at least the region), implementation can vary. The new signs I hate are the ones where the ramp has 2 lanes but only one is an exit only lane from the freeway. Couple of exits on 285 are like this. The problem is they put the "exit only" on the bottom of the sign with two arrows before the ramp splits off. This makes it look like both right lanes are exit only when it's just one. If I can remember right, EB 285 it's like this for New Northside and Ashford Dunwoody. I was riding with a friend and he nearly got over because he thought it was exit only but I corrected him. The other bad one is for Peachtree Industrial (also EB). They make it look like the far right lane is exit only for 141 SB so a lot of people don't get in the lane thinking NB will cut off later. The lane is actually exit only for NB, SB cuts off from there. Why did I mention that? Cause I've seen the same exact double arrow pointing down and to the right in other states. I know I've seen it recently in Alabama.

I like the new signs they've been putting up on 285 at 85. It shows the lanes a little clearer. Still, the old signs showed the designations in plenty of time to get over. I just drove through North Carolina and Charlotte has many of those same sign designs. Oh, and those little interstate crests they have on the pavement. I know 285 WB at 75 has them. Charlotte also has those in a lot of places.

Other than the misleading double exit only, I have no problem with the signage, just takes paying attention.

[sedimenjerry]

Originally Posted by Gulch

GDOT follows the MUTCD like every other state is required to.

This is basically what I was trying to say. I figured there was some national standard.
There are some differences but I'm not sure when they're allowed or suggested. Virginia has the "no left turn" at the end of every entrance ramp. South Carolina has a lot of yield signs at the end of their ramps.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by sedimenjerry

Maybe not 2 miles, but pretty far. Mainly 85 for the mall of GA and 316 for Sugarloaf Pkwy. It's ample time to know it's exit only. There are signs on the right, signs overhead, repeated signs, exit only painted on the roadway, etc.

Signage design is pretty much shared across the country (or at least the region), implementation can vary. The new signs I hate are the ones where the ramp has 2 lanes but only one is an exit only lane from the freeway. Couple of exits on 285 are like this. The problem is they put the "exit only" on the bottom of the sign with two arrows before the ramp splits off. This makes it look like both right lanes are exit only when it's just one. If I can remember right, EB 285 it's like this for New Northside and Ashford Dunwoody. I was riding with a friend and he nearly got over because he thought it was exit only but I corrected him. The other bad one is for Peachtree Industrial (also EB). They make it look like the far right lane is exit only for 141 SB so a lot of people don't get in the lane thinking NB will cut off later. The lane is actually exit only for NB, SB cuts off from there. Why did I mention that? Cause I've seen the same exact double arrow pointing down and to the right in other states. I know I've seen it recently in Alabama.

I like the new signs they've been putting up on 285 at 85. It shows the lanes a little clearer. Still, the old signs showed the designations in plenty of time to get over. I just drove through North Carolina and Charlotte has many of those same sign designs. Oh, and those little interstate crests they have on the pavement. I know 285 WB at 75 has them. Charlotte also has those in a lot of places.

Other than the misleading double exit only, I have no problem with the signage, just takes paying attention.

I don't drive 85 in Gwinnett that often. I drive 285 a lot.

Perhaps part of the problem in Atlanta is that the freeways are very curvy. You can't see the signs very far in advance in a number of cases.

[sedimenjerry]

Originally Posted by bu2

I don't drive 85 in Gwinnett that often. I drive 285 a lot.

Perhaps part of the problem in Atlanta is that the freeways are very curvy. You can't see the signs very far in advance in a number of cases.

I'm only really familiar with the top end of 285. The curves, hills and trees definitely hurt. Nothing worse than coming over the crest of a hill and then seeing a sign.

[skbl17]

GDOT makes a lot of mistakes with their signs, especially the new ones put up since 2009. Also, with regards to the MUTCD, GDOT's not putting up their arrow-per-lane signs correctly in some places (exit only tabs not signed correctly, mostly; the worst offenders are on I-285 east near I-85 in DeKalb, and the Downtown Connector north as you approach 17th Street).

On another forum, user Tom958 has taken plenty of pictures describing the poor job GDOT does with its new signs:

- In Athens, there are three issues with this sign gantry. The US 78 shield is too small, the distance to exit 8 is not shown, and the arrow on the exit 9 sign is wrong.

- On this sign gantry, the shields are too small (again!), and the "To" in "To Elberton" should probably be removed.

- Back in Atlanta, this is the approach to I-85 on I-285 in DeKalb. Last I checked, two lanes of traffic do not lead to Chamblee-Tucker Road.

- I don't know what GDOT was thinking with this one.

- Not from Tom958, but look at all the empty space on this exit 29 sign on I-285. Same thing happens near exit 44. Why does GDOT make signs that have unnecessary heights, as if there's a shield to add to the sign (which there isn't)?

- Margins, GDOT! Have you ever heard of them?

I could do this all day. There were also all of those old I-85 access road signs that were rusted, peeling, and covered in wear and tear; there was a C-D user that brought that to GDOT's attention, and the signs in question have been fixed (although they're still a bit small).

- skbl17

[sedimenjerry]

Originally Posted by skbl17

GDOT makes a lot of mistakes with their signs, especially the new ones put up since 2009. Also, with regards to the MUTCD, GDOT's not putting up their arrow-per-lane signs correctly in some places (exit only tabs not signed correctly, mostly; the worst offenders are on I-285 east near I-85 in DeKalb, and the Downtown Connector north as you approach 17th Street).

On another forum, user Tom958 has taken plenty of pictures describing the poor job GDOT does with its new signs:

- In Athens, there are three issues with this sign gantry. The US 78 shield is too small, the distance to exit 8 is not shown, and the arrow on the exit 9 sign is wrong.

- On this sign gantry, the shields are too small (again!), and the "To" in "To Elberton" should probably be removed.

- Back in Atlanta, this is the approach to I-85 on I-285 in DeKalb. Last I checked, two lanes of traffic do not lead to Chamblee-Tucker Road.

- I don't know what GDOT was thinking with this one.

- Not from Tom958, but look at all the empty space on this exit 29 sign on I-285. Same thing happens near exit 44. Why does GDOT make signs that have unnecessary heights, as if there's a shield to add to the sign (which there isn't)?

- Margins, GDOT! Have you ever heard of them?

I could do this all day. There were also all of those old I-85 access road signs that were rusted, peeling, and covered in wear and tear; there was a C-D user that brought that to GDOT's attention, and the signs in question have been fixed (although they're still a bit small).

- skbl17

Those US route and state route shields look like the task was given to an intern who couldn't figure out the correct size

[toll_booth]

Originally Posted by sedimenjerry

I do agree with this. It's not just on the connector, it's every single exit only lane in existence. I see so many people sit in a lane for a mile or 2 that warns them it's exit only and by the time the exit comes up it's swerve left to stay on.

Really really really wish this were a ticketable offense...

[philly76miami96]