If you are driving on an interstate highway and need a map to get where you are going, you must have taken the "picture" drivers license test.
Georgia officials are getting ready to release this year's state road map to rest stops. But with more people turning to GPS units and the Internet for directions, how much demand is there for the print version?
Some welcome center workers say you'd be surprised.
"We have a lot of people come to pick up the maps from here," said Kenny Davis, a worker at the welcome center in Augusta. "We always have to replenish them."
Cissy McNure, a spokeswoman for the Georgia Department of Transportation, said 1,099,300 regular maps are being ordered this year at a cost of 19.5 cents each, and 301,000 large-print versions are being ordered for 22.8 cents each.
She said that in the past five years the number of maps printed has been reduced from about 1.7 million to 1.4 million.
"Due to the continued popularity of both the regular and large-print maps, the cost to produce these map products appears to be worth the cost to the state of Georgia," she said.
This year's maps cost more than $282,000, and 80 percent is covered by federal funding. About $56,000 comes from the state.
Global positioning system devices continue to grow in popularity. Garmin, one of the major makers of GPS units for cars, saw a 56 percent increase in the number of devices sold in the first nine months of 2008, compared with the same time frame in 2007, according to spokesman Jake Jacobson. Garmin sold 10.6 million GPS devices from January through September, for $1.71 billion in revenue, he said.
Ms. McNure said the 2009 state map could be distributed as early as February.
Reach Preston Sparks at (706) 823-3338 or preston.sparks@augustachronicle.com.
NEED MAPS?
To request a 2009 Georgia map, visit the Department of Transportation Web site at www.dot.state.ga.us.
Click "Maps" at the top, then click "Order a Transportation Map" for an online request form. You can also call (770) 986-1436.
As many as two copies of the state map and one county map will be provided free.
Comments
If you are driving on an interstate highway and need a map to get where you are going, you must have taken the "picture" drivers license test.
Or perhaps your trip is not completely on the interstate or within 5 miles of where you have lived your entire life.
The thing is that city, street level maps are not on the state map. Every exit to reach a city/town is on road signs on the interstate. So I have to assume finding a city is easy enough. In my opinion state maps are usless and a waste of money.
You are entitled to your opinion. However, not everyone has memorized whereevery small town in the US is and maps showing the secondary roads help. Before GPS, I used them quite frequently to find locations when I traveled.
Try driving professionally in 48 and Canada and relieing on a computer programmer who has never driven in a particular area. I do use several routing software programs, but I keep my paper maps as a backup.
Here's a novel idea. Instead of taxpayers paying for the maps at gunpoint, have the people who actually WANT a map buy one at the service station or book store!
And while we're at it, the legislature should shut down the taxpayer-funded state "Welcome Center" on Hwy. 301 at the Savannah River. Do you know where Hwy. 301 is? Look on the map.
Great idea. Let's not do anything to encourage visitors to this state to get off the Interstate or major roads, get information on small town historical sites or anything else that migh get them to leave a few bucks behind. This town has some of the most short sighted individuals I've ever encountered.
I use GPS but you cannot get the detailed overview a papermap delivers. Good investment in GA tourism. My God, you folks are upset about map costs? I am happy so many of you are like me and have nothing more important to worry over. God bless.
If we are giving away maps to promote in state tourism, I suggest we would do better with tourist type brochures at the welcome stations. Again, the state maps are without street level city maps. Plus, they have been notoriously inaccurate in the past. Maps by private companies are much more useful, detailed and don't cost taxpayers a penny.
It sounds like some folks are perfectly able to get around without a map. Hmmm - those wouldn't be guys would they? Personally when I am crawling around the back roads I find a map pretty darn handy, and the ones I get on the interstate work just fine. Whether it's worth it to give them away for free, that is another matter, a fine map of the entire state sounds like overkill, but I don't know the business. It would be a surprise if Route 301 still had a welcome center. It must be 20 years since that road saw any long distance travel. Have to agree that sounds like some of our money leaking away there. Hello Sonny??
Anyone remember a few years ago when Augusta was left off the State DOT map?
I ride a motorcycle and don't have a GPS. I've been traveling all my life and love the paper maps. They have saved my butt numerous times and appreciate them being out there. I am actually in need of getting new maps and have been waiting for the new ones to come out. Thanks!!
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