For too long, I have just complained about government services and attitudes. My New Year’s Resolution is to make suggestions, instead of just complain. I am trying to be a positive contributor.
I tried to do this last year with the city of St Louis Park, MN. The“pedestrian bridge to nowhere” was already started by the time I contacted the city with my WTF? question. (This was the bridge that was built over Highway 7, near Highway 100, so that unknown walkers could walk over the highway.) I am not kidding when I say the State could have hired a full time limo and driver to personally drive anyone from one side to the other instead of spending millions on this bridge. Alaska has their bridge to nowhere, and so do we. Yesterday, I noticed people were walking across the street instead of taking the bridge. Good planning.
Here is my newest suggestion, er, complaint. The airport in Minneapolis is located on the main beltway road around Minneapolis-St Paul, 494-694. There are two terminals, one for charters and one for no frills airlines like AirTran and Crash. The airports are about a mile apart and each has its own exit off the highway. The big airport, the one with most of the airlines, is called Charles Lindbergh Frustration Terminal and the other is called Hubert Humphrey, Our First Vice President Terminal.
Imagine you are a business person visiting our Cities. You are in a rental car, a bit late and hauling ass it as fast as you can back for your flight home. You are coming from the west and see the first airport sign: Hubert Humphrey Terminal. Is it THE one? Quick decide. Nope, it isn’t. Doncha’know that Lindbergh Terminal is THE one you need?
We — actually the state employees in charge of sign writing— simply need to make up a sign that says Main Airport. And one that says Cheap Flights Airport. I am sure they could come up with words that are somewhat better, but as long as they put MAIN on the sign somewhere, my work here is done.
Talk amongst yourselves.





1 user commented in " Doing My Part: Airport Signage Ideas for Minneapolis "
The signage fiasco reminds me of an econometric analysis…completely accurate and totally worthless!
Your comments is the true sign (yes it was intended) of an entrepreneur …
How long was the English language around before you increased its impact by creating Varitronics…electronic letter machines with keyboards (before the PC boom) and
Insignia Systems…point of sale promotional systems for the grocery industry… and made your investors a ton of money?!
Is there another service business in the works…?
Creating effective signage descriptions for the Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Department of Economic Development and Tourism?
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