Frequently Asked Questions
How many votes for the Welcome to Virginia Sign designs were cast?
56,401 votes were cast. Of those:
53,648 were cast online. These included most of the ballots cast at the Welcome
Centers.
2,223 votes were cast through a toll-free number.
530 votes were logged in from Welcome Center ballots that were not entered
online and from a few calls and e-mails casting votes.
How did the votes break down for each design?
Cardinal - 17,792 votes or 31.5% of the total
Existing - 13,060 votes - 23.2%
Ship - 9,120 votes - 16.2%
Mountains - 8,799 - 15.6%
Dogwood - 6,678 - 11.8%
Traditional (text only) - 952 - 1.7%
When will the current signs be replaced?
The first new sign will be installed before April 22, 2006, the start of Historic Garden Week in Virginia. The remaining signs will be replaced during the months that follow.
What’s so important about a state’s welcome sign?
Welcome signs let travelers know they’ve crossed a state line, which is important because many laws differ from state to state. Knowing which state you’ve entered is also important if you need to call for emergency or roadside assistance. They also convey a first impression about the state.
Why are Virginia’s welcoming signs being redesigned?
Most of the current signs are about 14 years old. Their reflectivity and readability have deteriorated, and they need to be replaced. It’s the perfect time to update them as well.
Will the new signs last longer?
The sign material now used by VDOT is the best we can buy, and it has a 12-year warranty. We expect the new signs to perform very well, lasting long after the warranty has expired.
How many Welcome to Virginia signs are there?
There are approximately 90 signs, in three sizes, distributed along Virginia’s interstate, primary and secondary highways at the state’s borders and some of its airports. The signs’ size and content are determined by the adjacent highways’ speed limits and traffic volume.
How did the new designs being offered come about?
Earlier this year, Jimmy Barrett of Newsradio WRVA 1140 AM in Richmond, Va., said Virginia’s current Welcome to Virginia signs were “embarrassing! They’ve got that ‘built in 1972 polyester’ look about them…” and much more. Actually, the original design goes back to the 1950s. That design was changed slightly in the early 1980s.
VDOT’s Welcome to Virginia signs need replacing, so we’re including Mr. Barrett and the public in the effort. Mr. Barrett joined a small team of representatives of VDOT, the Virginia Tourism Corporation, the Federal Highway Administration and the Virginia Department of Treasury (which carried out the Virginia Quarter design public selection in 2000). The team brainstormed on Virginia’s many fine qualities and how to convey them graphically. A VDOT graphics duo turned the ideas into several design concepts that the team narrowed down to the five new designs offered for your vote, with the existing design as an option.
What were some of the factors in developing the new designs?
The welcoming signs can create a visitor’s first impression of the state. They need to convey a positive, attractive image.
The signs’ design must be clear and easily understood by motorists passing by at highway speeds.
No phone numbers, Web URLs, long messages or multiple messages can be included; they are difficult to take in at higher speeds.
The final design must meet the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) approval. The FHWA is represented on the team.
The 400th anniversary of the founding of America’s first permanent English settlement, at Jamestown, will be commemorated in 2007. However, the Virginia welcome signs’ design must mean something to visitors long after the commemoration.
How were the colors for the new designs selected?
The colors are those available for the sign sheeting material having the best warranty - 12 years - and they are colors prescribed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Using those colors assures a long life for the signs and acceptance by the FHWA.
Why do the new designs say "Virginia Welcomes You" instead of "Welcome to Virginia"?
Two reasons: It makes the state name more prominent, and the team felt the revised message would be more inviting and personal since it speaks directly to "you."
Can you use different designs on signs in different areas of the state?
The team considered that option. But it’s more cost-efficient to produce one design for use throughout the state and to produce all of the signs at one time.
How much will new signs cost?
The final cost depends on the design and the signs’ size. The average estimated costs to fabricate the proposed designs are: $375 per small sign, $1,155 per medium sign, and $2,285 per large sign. This translates to a yearly cost over the signs’ life of $31, $96 and $190 for the small, medium and large signs, respectively. The total cost is estimated at less than $100,000, which is less than $8,400 a year for 12 years. Even if the existing design is selected, there will be costs involved in replacing the old signs.
Can VDOT afford to replace the signs?
Yes. A combination of federal and state funds would be used from VDOT’s sign budget.
New signs are nice, but what are you doing about improving the state's welcome centers and rest areas?
Improvements to several state Welcome Centers and rest area facilities are also in the works. The 2005 Virginia General Assembly allocated $20 million toward rest area improvements. VDOT plans to spend approximately $17 million to rebuild facilities in the Clear Brook/Winchester and New Kent westbound areas, and one in either Fredericksburg or Caroline County, based on the sites' feasibility. The work will begin in early 2006.
The remaining $3 million will be spent for improvements and repairs to a dozen rest areas along I-64, I-66 and I-81, also beginning in early 2006. Those rest areas include:
- On I-64 - westbound at Jerry's Run (milepost 2); eastbound and westbound at Albemarle (mileposts 105 and 113)
- On I-66 - eastbound and westbound at Manassas (milepost 48)
- On I-81 - northbound at Bristol (milepost 1); southbound at Atkins (milepost 53); northbound at Rural Retreat (milepost 61); southbound at Troutville (milepost 158); southbound at Fairfield (milepost 195); and northbound and southbound at New Market (milepost 262)
