Second phase of signing program announced
Legislators, community leaders, members of the region’s tourism community and the Southwestern Pennsylvania Sign Trust gathered recently at the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Latrobe to announce the implementation of Phase II of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Signing Trust’s Wayfinding Signing Program. The purpose of the program is to install a tourist wayfinding sign system in a designated signing region. The goal is to develop a systematic network of wayfinding signs to guide the traveling public from major highway gateways to key attractions within the signing region.
More than 60 new participants and infrastructure signs, representing 16 different businesses, are being installed as part of the second phase of this program.
These signs were added to the 230 signs that were installed in the program in September 2002. As the new signs are installed, the former Tourist Oriented Directional Sign (TODS) Program, which had been administered by PennDOT, is being eliminated.
Officials are urging local businesses with TODS signs to make plans to change over to the new wayfinding signs now because it takes one year for the new sign construction. In addition, only three businesses are allowed per sign and the number of signs may be restricted at busy intersections.
The second phase of construction included 13 infrastructure signs identifying the Laurel Highlands Scenic Byway.
An additional, 51 signs were installed for new participants and current participants.
Local businesses participating included Hazelbakers Canoe Rental, Perryopolis; Ohiopyle House Caf?, Ohiopyle; Rivers Edge Caf?, Confluence; Historic Stone House, Farmington; Laurel Business Institute, Uniontown; and Woodlands World, Farmington.
Approximately 230 signs were installed in the first phase of the program, including 25 attractions as well as infrastructure signs, bike trail, National Road and Lincoln Highway signs. The following local businesses also participated: Christian Clay Winery, Chalk Hill; Laurel Caverns, Farmington; Mountain Streams, Ohiopyle; Mystic Rock Golf, Farmington; Shooting Academy, Farmington; White Water Adventurers, Ohiopyle; Yogi Bear Jellystone Park, Mill Run; Fallingwater, Mill Run, Kentuck Knob, Chalk Hill; Laurel Highlands River Tours, Ohiopyle; Nemacolin Resort, Farmington; Summit Inn, Farmington; and Wilderness Voyageurs, Ohiopyle.
The Pennsylvania Tourism & Lodging Association was selected by the Southwestern Pennsylvania Signing Trust as the administrator of the trust and is responsible for the entire program from initial inventory to final construction.
The wayfinding signing system was developed as a partnership program between the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation in cooperation with the Department of Community and Economic Development, the Pennsylvania Tourism & Lodging Association, Fay-Penn Economic Development Corporation, and the Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau.
Anyone interested in participating in the program can contact the SPST office at 717-441-9009 or visit the Web site at www.spstonline.org
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