Lighted street signs

[reednavy]

This is something I've been thinking about everytime I got Orlando and see their lit street signs. I find them quite appealing and better than the standard metal signs. They're even starting to pop up around here on Atlantic near Kernan, and most recently at Wells and Blanding.

What also comes to mind are the purple signs around downtown that are in serious need of replacement.

What are your takes on them?

[thelakelander]

Jacksonville is around 10 years behind the rest of country.  They've had these signs all over Central Florida for over 10 years (I remember DT Lakeland beginning to get them in the late 1990s/early 2000s).  In other word, Jax remains on its historical place.  Give us a couple of years and they'll be all over the place.

[Jason]

I don't see lighted signs as a necessity or being behind the curve.  They make sence at major intersections but can be excessive for every street.  More expensive to maintain and replace.

I do like them but I have no gripes over them not being used more often.

[fsujax]

I was just talking to someone about this the other day. Unfortunately the City of Jacksonville will not pay to maintain lighted street signs all over Jacksonville. FDOT will install them, but they will not maintain them, it is up to the municipality to do so. Orange Park has them along US 17. I also noticed along Atlantic Blvd near Kernan there are some new illuminated signs at the intersections. So maybe COJ is changing thier minds. It stinks that freaking Lake City and Tallahassee have them, but not Jacksonville.

[Cliffs_Daughter]

And just how many 'major intersections' does Jax have? 
Too many places where they would be useful, and no wonder they wouldn't want to pay for maintenance.
I think if it's within a certain area surrounding an Interstate ramp, it's plausible.

[fsujax]

alot! I think these signs would be well suited along major corridors like Atlantic Blvd, Normandy Blvd, Riverside Ave and Downtown streets....not all over the city.

[reednavy]

They're also easier to see at night than regular signs, which can have glare.

[Duke]

Blanding Boulevard into Orange Park is in the process of having them installed at each intersection w/a traffic signal.  I'm with Jason on this one, yea they're nice but I've managed to live this long without them. 

[Overstreet]

They are nice in Sarasota.

[stjr]

I was just talking to someone about this the other day. Unfortunately the City of Jacksonville will not pay to maintain lighted street signs all over Jacksonville. FDOT will install them, but they will not maintain them, it is up to the municipality to do so.

No problems.  We can use the bus shelter solution to solve all our problems.  Every lighted street sign will be accompanied by a commercial sign.  The ad money will pay for installation and maintenance.  You may not be able to find the street sign among all the commercial signs, but hey, how can we complain, we got them for free! 

[CS Foltz]

Lighted street signs or bus shelters.............gee whiz which will it be?

[Cliffs_Daughter]

No problems.  We can use the bus shelter solution to solve all our problems.  Every lighted street sign will be accompanied by a commercial sign.  The ad money will pay for installation and maintenance.  You may not be able to find the street sign among all the commercial signs, but hey, how can we complain, we got them for free! 

Why not? It'll mean they get a captive audience during red lights! 

[CS Foltz]

Street signs are one thing..........ad's are something else. No one has posted any info on just how effective commercial signage is.........I don't read any of that garbage, too busy trying to keep from getting run over by the people that are busy trying to read the sign's! If I had my way.........no signs's, commercialization is too wide spread as it is............so I will ask again, how effective is Advertising on bus shelters? Is there any verifiable information to prove that it does what supposedly  it does? tufsu1 I think this is more down your alley!

[stjr]

Was in OP and noted the lighted street signs on U.S. 17.  Are these city or FDOT paid for?  If FDOT, why can't we have them in Jax courtesy of the State?  Do we just need to ask?

It looks relatively simple.  Just extend a wire from an adjacent traffic light on the mast arm to a junction box - just a few short feet - bolt on the light box, and your in business.

It's definitely a great way to identify intersections at night. 

I don't see the big deal to getting it done.

I did see OP's light posts peeling paint just like Jax.  Where is FDOT on this? It's embarrassing and ugly that this has been going on for years and is still not fixed.  FDOT should have been able to hold the paint company accountable.

And, I all see that FDOT is replacing all the rusted "tall pole" lights at various interstate interchanges around town.  What's up with that?  Another poor choice of equipment?

Don't forget the already crumbling and poorly installed manholes on the "new" Hendricks Avenue in San Marco.

How much are all these screw ups costing us?  Why isn't FDOT more on top of these things?  Tufsu, any explanations?

[CS Foltz]

Manhole concrete issue I can not explain.........other than maybe they need to talk to Herb for better concrete! But the light poles are underdesigned with too much flex...........cantilevered design has to flex or it will break,the flexing breaks down the paint (which does not flex)and all of a sudden the paint is flaking off! Poles are also glavinized dipped and that does not flex either so its a two fold problem that should be correctable since it is an engineering problem............but FDOT has it under control right? Lights are a good idea but contribute to the flexing issue by adding weight and square area afffected by wind loads!