This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.

New Signage in the Works for Madison

In an effort to draw more people into town, Madison officials are currently designing new way-finding signage for town. With many signs around town falling into disrepair, the new signs will welcome people as they cross the town line into Madison, and help direct visitors in the downtown area.

Design for the signage is made possible thanks to a recently acquired $20,000 grant through the Regional Planning Organization. Town Engineer Mike Ott said the money will allow the town to hire a consultant to help chose locations for the signs, select designs, and estimate total costs.

“It [the grant] will provide us, when the study is complete, with a map showing the location of all of the proposed signage and alternatives for the designs of the signs—what they would look like, what they would say, colors, fonts, all those details,” he said.

The plan is to replace the current “Welcome to Madison” signs, as well as provide new signage at the highway exits, signage along the Hammonasset Connector, signage on Route 1 identifying the way to downtown, and signage within the downtown area identifying facilities including the library, local businesses, the train station, and municipal parking.

A committee of town officials and community members, including members of the Economic Development Commission (EDC) and the Chamber of Commerce will be assembled to help choose and approve the design for the new signs, according to First Selectman Tom Banisch.

“I am trying to put in people other than government because it brings a different perspective,” he said.

Banisch said the new signs will be a big departure from what is currently seen in town.

“Instead of just having a sign that says downtown and an arrow, [the consultants] do a lot of icons and nice-looking fonts and all different things to attract peoples’ attention,” he said.

The $20,000 grant only covers the mapping and design for the signs, not the actual manufacturing costs. Banisch said he’s unsure of the total costs of the signs because they will be custom made.

“Money will have to be found in this year’s budget,” he said. “Public works does have line items for signs, but we might put together the entire way-finding plan and then we might fund it as much as we can to get the most important things for year one.”

Currently, the line item for street and traffic signs in the Public Works Department budget is $18,000, with only $6,000 having been spent so far this fiscal year. Banisch said this could be a possible source of funding for the project.

At a Board of Selectmen meeting on Nov. 28, Banisch said the plan is to place the order for the signs by March 1, 2017 and actually install the signs some time that May, just before the summer season.

The timeline is aggressive and drew a few laughs from fellow selectmen, including Al Goldberg.

“You, my friend, may prove to be an optimist,” he said.