Here is a quick tip when doing sign changes on a large scale.  Our agency was faced with putting 800 new signs up for a completely new route structure (going from radial to grid-like).  Since all of the new signs would have route information on them (route names changing from numbers to letters) we did not want to have the new signs facing the public until the weekend before the launch.  Putting up 800 signs, even on posts already in place, would be daunting, but more so because every sign is unique, having a stop code for use on a next-by-text system (SME0281, for example, as seen on the image below). 

Among the options we considered were hiring extra crews for installation or bagging the stops.  The possibility for mistakes was very high with the former and the latter was unsuitable because the signs and bags would be in place—and unsightly-for months.  (It ultimately took five months to get all the new poles and signs up).

The solution was to use a moderately sticky vinyl that is designed to be relatively easy to remove.  We printed the regular signs and mounted them on blades and then put the sticky vinyl on top printed either to say “ACTIVE” or “NOT AN ACTIVE” stop.  The only problem here was the text code that made each stop unique was covered by the second piece of vinyl.  We could have written the text code on the back of the blade but the text codes were designed to be like addresses with even numbered signs on the west and north sides of the street and odd numbered on the east and south. 

Since the signs would be placed by a public works crew on loan to us we wanted a simpler numbering system, so we simply put a second, three-character stop code in small, gray letters on the face of the sign (like E12).  These numbers were sequential, numbered from the start of the route from west to east or north to south so the crew would just install them in order.  We hand wrote that number on a lip of the sticky vinyl that was already there to wrap around the back for easy removal and put the sticky vinyl over the front of the real sign. 

Days before the new system began just two teams of two people (one-drive, one pull) were able to remove all 800 stickers in fewer than two 8-hour workdays.  It worked perfectly.