York Region is piloting a new sign on Davis Drive in Newmarket to send more messages to road users.
The region announced that an enhanced portable variable message sign would be added to Davis Drive eastbound approaching Bathurst Street. The display is a step beyond the amber-only signs typically used, with a higher resolution and more colour options to display information for travellers.
“While multi-coloured overhead variable message signs have been used widely on expressways worldwide, York Region would be one of the first road authorities in North America to use multi-coloured portable variable message signs on regional roads for traffic operation,” the municipality said in a news release.
The enhanced signs can deploy text for more uses, including travel times, safety advertisements, transit promotion, upcoming construction and road conditions.
The region said the coloured messages are displayed faster and are “easier for road users to see and understand. This allows travellers to be better prepared and make quick travel divisions.
The municipality is placing another sign on Highway 7 westbound in Richmond Hill, west of Highway 404. The two signs will be in place until April 2023.
The region is asking residents for feedback on the signs.
“We are looking to test the effectiveness of the two signs at these locations to understand if these types of variable message signs will benefit road users in the future,” the region said.
An online survey is running while the signs are up. You can fill one out at york.ca/messagesigns.
