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January 14th, 1958,
<br />
<br />"Unde~ pyesent Virginia ~tat~ Highway IYepartment ~e~nlations, Portsmouth,
<br />Virginia does not quali~y for placement on-highway markets except on
<br />routes 17 and 58. In addition to being embarrassing to our citizenry,
<br />t~av.elers-an~ truckers, unfamiliar with our specific geographic location,
<br />have unnede~sary difficu~lty locating our City.
<br /> The Highway an~ Roads Committee of your Chamber of Commerce has tried to
<br /> have this matter corrected on numerous occasions in the pasz without suc-
<br /> cess.. Recently, the committee undertook this pro3ec~ anew.
<br /> A letter was sent to the Highway Departmenz on November 27, 1~57, request-
<br /> ing curren~ ruling regarding highway markers throughout the State. On De
<br /> cember 4, 1957, we received the requested information from J.P. ~ills.Jr.,
<br /> Traffic and Planning Engineer for the Department.
<br /> Mr. Mills explained there are two types of guide signs on which the names
<br /> of~ towns and cities appear. One is the "Advance Destination Sign" and the
<br /> other is the "Confirmatory Destination Sign".
<br />
<br />"The Advance Destination Sign is generally warranted:
<br /> (1) At the intersections of U.S. or State prmmary Routes with
<br /> U.S. or State Primary Routes.
<br /> (g) At points where they serve to direct traffic from U.S. or
<br /> State Primary Routes to the ~usiness section of towns, or
<br /> to other destinations reached by Secondary Routes.
<br /> The choice of advance destination names mu~st be somewhat flexible. The
<br /> destination shovm for each direction should ordinarily be the next prim -
<br /> cipal city or town~ rather than more distant destinations.
<br /> The ~onfirmatory Destination Sign Assembly is designed to assure travelers
<br /> that they are on the right road and to show them the distances to advanced
<br /> points.
<br /> The Confirmatory Destination Sign usually carries not more than three place
<br /> names, since more than three Lines of copy, at today's speeds, are not con-
<br /> sidered ~o be legible.
<br />
<br /> The three names used on this sign are:
<br /> (1) Top name -- the next place of importance; i.e., the next place
<br /> name shown on the official State Highway map.
<br /> (2) Middle name - the intermediate control point - i.e., a place
<br /> of recognized historical significance, or an industrial ~own of over
<br />.3,500 population.
<br /> (3) Bottom name - the control point; i.e.~ generally one of the
<br /> larger cities located at or near the terminus of the route within the
<br /> State.
<br />
<br />Names of towns and ci$ies nox lying directly on a rou~e are not usually
<br />carried on the Confirmatory Destination Sign.
<br />
<br /> At the direction of our Highway and Roads Committee Chairman, ~Lr. Gordon
<br /> Marsh, a sub- committee composed of Irvine Smith, Paul Dulaney, Milton Dorm,
<br /> Frank Mantz and William Eure was appointed to look into this problem and
<br /> make recommendations. A meeting of this sub-committee was held on November
<br /> 25, 1957, ar the. Chamber of Commerce office and the following recommendations
<br /> were made:
<br /> (1) Rave legislation enacted which would allow cities with populations
<br /> over 80,000 to have sufficbnt ~igkway markers, whether they were termi-
<br /> nus points or not.
<br /> (2) Obtain letters from the various military command heads, requesting
<br /> sufficient highway markers for Portsmouth.
<br /> (3) Have the S~ate place Portsmouth on .highway signs already existing
<br /> within a 100 mile radius.
<br />
<br /> Whereas a large segment of Naval history originated in Portsmouth, Virginia, we musz
<br />surely be historically significant. Whereas we have a compact population in the Greater Portsmouth Area of at
<br />least 150,000 we should not be subjected to legislation directed at small cities and towns. Whereas hundreds of
<br />travelers enter Portsmouth weekly, they should be shown more consideration with appropriate highway markers. V~ere-
<br />as our military commands receive countless truck loads of supplies daily, not to mention our private industry, ade-
<br />q~ identification on our State highways is essential.
<br /> Mr. Paul Dulaney has p~epared a map mangifying the differen~ highways leading to
<br />Portsmouth. The Highway and Roads Committee earnestly and snrongly recommends a resolution from City Council, to
<br />the State Highway Department requesting proper and s~f£icient highway markers for the City of Portsmouth,Virginia,I
<br />within a lO0 mile radius." (Signed) G~rdon F.Marsh, Chairman, Highway & Roads Committee."
<br />
<br /> Motion of Mr. Hinton to concur in the recommendation, and that proper resolution be
<br />prepared and sent ro the Legislators and the Highway Department, was adopted.
<br />
<br />D/~TINISHED BUS INESS
<br />
<br /> 57-445 - The following ordinance, placed on first reading at last meeting,
<br />
<br />,"AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND AE~ RE-ORDAIN SECTION 14 OF CHAPTER II OF TPLE
<br />LICENSE T3LX ORDINANCE OF THE C~Y ~F~Oi[~MOUTR, RELATING TO ~I~ENSE
<br />FEES FOR ITINERANT VEArDORS AND BANKRUPTCY, CLOSING OUT OR FIRE' SALES"
<br />
<br />was taken
<br />
<br />On motion of Mr. Kirby, said ordinance was adopted, and by the following vo~e:
<br />
<br /> Ayes: Bartlett, Baker, Hinton, Kirby, Smith, Scott, Weiseman
<br /> Nays: None
<br />
<br /> 57-448 - The following ordinance, placed on first reading at last meeting, was taken
<br />
<br />up and read:
<br />
<br />
<br />
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