MAC Clear Signage Manager Ole Svenson
It’s the little things.
I was on a tear sometime back, here and here, about the stoopid signage at the Minneapolis-St Paul Airport. Basically, my issue was that infrequent visitors simply did not know which terminal…there are two…was which. The Airport Commission cleverly named them Humphrey Terminal and Lindbergh Terminal. So, the highway signs say that…no “Main” terminal thisaway, or even airline symbols. Stoopid. I have lived here 30 years and I still cannot remember which is which and I can confirm that I have a triple digit IQ.
So, after reading WWDS, and having copy after copy of my original complaint circulated, I am happy to report that they are “fixing” the problem by making the signs more clear.
Here is the news release:
Officials at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport are deciding whether to simplify the names of its two terminals. A committee for the Metropolitan Airports Commission is meeting Wednesday. It will decide whether to rename Lindbergh “Terminal 1” and make Humphrey “Terminal 2.” The group says more than 20,000 travelers end up at the wrong terminal each year out of confusion.
The names Lindbergh and Humphrey would remain, but 40 highway signs would be updated at a cost of $2.2 million. The signs would show which airlines are at which terminal.
$2.2 million seems like a lot during these times, and frankly, if I had known it was going to cost so much, I would have mobilized my graffiti street teams to do the job. One night, six gallons I figure.
So, all you airport travelers next time you are going to the airport, please say a quiet thank you for WWDS for the clearer signage.
Quick note: If you are coming from the west…the first terminal you see is NOT Terminal Number One, it is actually Terminal Number Two, even though it is ‘first’ to you, it really isn’t. You folks coming from the east and south, the first terminal YOU see WILL be Terminal Number One, so you will be ok. Just remember this…east and south is ONE, west is TWO.
That should clear things up.
Why do I feel there is a bureaucrat somewhere who was given the job of ‘Clear Signage Manager” and thinks to himself…”How can I continue to screw with people?”
Do you anything in your area even remotely as stoopid, signage-wise?





5 users commented in " WWDS Helps Solve Minneapolis Airport Problem W/Signage "
[...] WWDS Helps Solve Minneapolis Airport Problem W/Signage 09.07.2009 | Posted in Computer World MAC Clear Signage Manager Ole Svenson It’s the little things. I was on a tear sometime back, here and here, about the stoopid signage at the Minneapolis-St Paul Airport. Basically, my issue was that infrequent visitors simply did not know which terminal…there are two…was which. The Airport Commission cleverly named them Humphrey Terminal and Lindbergh Terminal. So, the highway signs say that…no “Main” terminal thisaway, or even airline symbols. Stoopid. I have lived here 30 years a See original here: WWDS Helps Solve Minneapolis Airport Problem W/Signage [...]
Couldn’t they do “South Terminal” and “North Terminal” – that’d simplify the confusion if you’re coming from the wrong direction, and be equally easy to remember.
Apparently a great way to tick off city officials is to take fixing street signs into your own hands (like on http://blogs.carpoint.ca/2009/06/mystery-sign-maker-literally-stops-traffic.html) – even if it would save $2,199,800 dollars.
Good point, Eric….nice referral site, too, btw.
We Indians can teach you guys a trick or two. For instance, we have this penchant for naming even highways after famous personalities. The problem is that when the project is started, one political party is in power and by the time the project is finished and ready for commissioning, another party has come into power. Both want to name the same road after their favourites and so we can have ONE Road, with two names! Ask courier service delivery personnel and postmen here. They will tell you hilarious stories.
About the bureaucrats, the less said the better. There will be usually two bureaucrats one beholden to each party, and each will be determined to screw the public as well as the other bureaucrat.
Perfectly said, Rummy. The two bureaucrats comment is spot on…hilarious.
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