Business owners press DOT about signs
By Steve Herring
Published in News on September 27, 2016 9:57 AM
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News-Argus/STEVE HERRING
Wayne County Chamber of Commerce President Kate Daniel, right, talks with state Department of Transportation official Paul Marak during a Monday morning meeting at the Goldsboro Event Center about business logo signs on the new U.S. 70 Bypass. In the background are DOT District 3 engineer Jiles Harrell, left, and Wayne County Development Alliance President Crystal Gettys.
Local business owners Monday morning pressed state Department of Transportation officials for prompt action on installing business logo signs near interchanges on the new U.S. 70 Bypass, saying they are suffering as traffic passes them by.
They, along with Wayne County officials, voiced concerns that there would be no logo signs on the east-bound lane at the N.C. 581 exit.
The reason there will be no logo sign is because of space requirements, the DOT officials said. However, there will be smaller logo signs on the off ramp, they said.
Local leaders also sought assurances that signs would direct motorists to shopping areas, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and the to-be-built Maxwell Regional Agricultural and Convention Center.
DOT officials said that would look into those requests, but that in some cases, their hands are tied by state policy and that March would be the earliest that the large blue logo signs will go up.
It is only then that the DOT will begin taking applications for logos on a first-come, first-serve basis, they said.
The process was outlined by DOT Division 4 traffic engineer Andy Brown, District 3 engineer Jiles Harrell and division Logo/Tourist Oriented Directional Signing coordinator Paul Marak.
The meeting was sponsored by the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce.
Several in the audience at the Goldsboro Event Center questioned why the signs had not been discussed earlier. They also wanted to know why signs were not erected during the time the highway was being built over the past five years.
The DOT officials said that state policy does not allow the signs to be erected until a project is completed.
Audience members shook their heads when they were told that they could not submit an application for a logo until they see the signs going up.
"Just as a process, I am not sure why they have to wait until you get all of this done to apply for a sign," Goldsboro Mayor Chuck Allen said. "Why can't they apply for the sign today. Have that paperwork out of the way. That would have to save some time and do that now.
"Why do you have to wait until you get the sign, the steel and all of that to let people apply and the sign go up. I don't get that."
Brown said that the rules have changed over the years and that the signs are now on a first-come, first-served basis.
"These people here would have an advantage if we just took applications today, instead of waiting for other businesses to be able to see logo signs going up," Brown said. "But you guys are going to have an advantage because you came, and you know you can anticipate seeing them.
"But if we started taking applications today, it wouldn't actually be fair to anyone else who didn't happen to attend this meeting."
Brown reiterated that applications would be taken as soon as the signs started going up.
Wayne County Manager George Wood questioned the lack of public notification about when applications would be accepted.
"You just count on people seeing the signs -- that's the notification to start the process, is that correct?" Wood said.
Brown told Wood that was correct and that would happen in March.
"Could we, and I guess Jiles I am directing this to you, if you and (Division IV engineer) Tim (Little) could look at, at our request, to change that policy, to make an exception to that policy if we were willing to do say public advertisement, things like that to put people on notice ahead of time," Wood said. "Then allow these people after that public notice, and have a cutoff date at that time, then say start your registration.
"I don't know why that wouldn't be as good a notice as putting the sign up. I know you can't make a decision today. We are just asking that you all take a look at that. I think it is obvious, we would be willing to pay for an ad or a series of ads to do that."
Wayne County Commission Chairman Joe Daughtery said businesses and the county are already behind the eight ball because of a lack of signs.
"We need to find a way to do this sooner than later," he said. "So if there is anyway that we can run an ad in order to put the public on notice -- to forestall just seeing somebody happening to dig a hole on the highway.
"How do we know that process of digging a hole is actually one of these signs? It just doesn't make sense."
The public wouldn't, and that is why people wait until they see a blue sign go up, Brown said.
The DOT does not build the signs. That work is outsourced, Marak said.
The initial cost to the business owner averages $250 to $300 per sign, Marak said.
Businesses within a three-mile radius of an interchange are automatic, he said. Business outside that area are placed on a provisional contract.
If a new business opens within the three-mile radius it would bump off the last business from outside that radius that had been added to the sign, he said.
Participating businesses pay an annual rental fee of $300 per each mainline, ramp, and trailblazer panel. Trailblazer panels are necessary when more than one turn is required to find the business.
Typically, two business panels are installed along the mainline (one in each direction) and two business panels are installed along the ramps resulting in total annual rental fees of $1,200.
A maximum of six business logo panels shall be installed on gas, food, lodging, camping and attraction service signs.
Marak said he could be contacted at 252-237-6164 or [email protected].