One of the goals of the Pocono Mountains Vacation Bureau is to improve the level of service provided to the traveling public in our Region (click here for map of the region and a current listing of resources). We are in the initial stages of exploring the creation of a Signing Region, in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Tourism and Lodging Association and PENNDOT. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has been working to standardize directional tourism signing in the state and has been disseminating information to its Engineering District Offices as the various regions in the Commonwealth undertake efforts to become Signing Regions. To assist the Region with this project, HRG Consultants of Harrisburg has been retained as the technical consultant for this project. HRG has excellent experience in Wayfinding Sign Systems. In addition, Delta Development Group, Inc., of Mechanicsburg will provide guidance in securing community input for this project. The Pocono Mountain Vacation Bureau, working with the consultants, formed a Steering Committee of individuals whom represent the many interests in the region. The Committee has been meeting on a monthly basis with the consultants in the development of a comprehensive wayfinding program.
Wayfinding Wayfinding Signing is an alternative to Tourist Oriented Destination Signs (TODS). Its purpose is to provide a systematic network of directional signs to guide the traveling public from major highway gateways to key civic, cultural, regional and commercial destinations using the minimum number of signs. It is designed to coincide with regional tourism marketing.
The Need for Wayfinding A short drive in the Commonwealth presents ample evidence of the need for improved signing for resources. The challenges to current resource signing include: lack of uniformity; message overload; sign redundancy; poor image for state tourists; lack of effectiveness/prioritization; lack of program documentation; lack of program maintenance. These challenges have been recognized in the Governor’s Strategic Tourism Master Plan – Goal # 9: “Install tourist-friendly signage.”
Purpose: to improve state’s signage system and related mapping to make signs more customer-friendly since the vast majority of Pennsylvania’s tourists arrive by car.
Mission: to improve quality of and apply uniform standards to the state signage system and related mapping.
Key Elements: signage partnership; new statewide signage system.
General The Attraction shall be open to all persons regardless of race, color, religion, ancestry, sex, age or handicap; be clean and pleasing in appearance, maintained in good repair; and comply with all Federal, State and local regulations and statutes for public accommodations; be open to the General Public a minimum of 30 days per calendar year; provide sufficient parking and an on-premise sign readily visible from the highway. Certain categories of attractions may require specific information to determine eligibility.
Eligible Attractions
Commercial Attractions, such as amusement parks, caverns, breweries, commerce parks, racetracks, roadside markets, specialty shopping center, wineries, zoos. Cultural/Institutional Attractions, such as arenas, business districts, colleges/universities, courthouses, fairgrounds, libraries, military bases, museum, observatories, schools, theaters. Historical/Architectural Attractions, such as historic sites (forts, farms, mills, furnaces) and historic districts (canals, railroad lines, residential streets). Recreational Attractions, such as: campgrounds, golf courses, hiking & biking trails, horseback riding areas, ski areas, sports facilities, water skiing areas. Tourist Services, such as bed & breakfasts, country inns, hospitals, resorts, rural restaurants, visitor information centers. Transportation Related, such as airports, bus stations, heritage roads/routes, water tours, waterfronts.
1. Identify major travel routes in region.
2. Identify “guideways” (Examples: Mountain Recreation Route, Technology Corridor).
3. Identify major resources (Example: Lighthouses).
4. Identify resource groupings.
5. Identify signing for individual resources.
Key Program Elements
PENNDOT
Administration and maintenance performed by statewide non-profit Signing Trust
No new TODs installed once region is approved by PENNDOT.
Existing TODs signs removed after 5 years
Must follow PENNDOT's “toolbox” process to become region
Establishment of a local steering committee
General organization template
Planning meeting/consensus building
Preliminary plan process
Regional Requirements
Final Plan Process
Final Report
Program Fee Structure
Initial Participation Fees
Annual Fee
Steering Committee
Members of the Steering Committee include individuals whom represent the many interests that should be represented in discussions that will take place on this very important issue. The purpose of the Steering Committee is to:
Assist HRG and Delta Development Group
Identification and Consensus on Resources
Design Standards
Preliminary and Final Plan Process
Budget and Pro-Forma Review
Project Implementation
Role of the Stakeholders in the Pocono Region
The consultant team has suggested a communications process that will entail a set of meetings in each of the four counties to explain the Wayfinding Signage program and collect data from Stakeholders on resources and to hear what is or has been done, and by whom, in the way of signage. When the team has completed this work, it will meet with the Steering Committee and review its findings.
Monroe County
Carbon County
Pike County
Wayne County
Stakeholders represent tourism and resource interests
Assist in the identification of resources
This Site Continues to be a Work in Progress As the work of the Steering Committee and the Consultants continue, additional information will be added to this site. Please check back from time-to-time for information pertaining to definitions, resources, designation of routes, and other important information.
Click the links below to view the minutes of the
Steering Committee Meetings (PDF files)
