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

[TexasTowelie]

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)

[democratisphere]

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

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]

2. Strange story

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]

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

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]

4. Interesting

Thanks for the OP and the follow-up.

[BumRushDaShow]

6. Not my OP

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]

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

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]

7. They love to cherry-pick

"States Rights for me but not for thee".

[democratisphere]

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

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.