The RTD "Everything" Sign

Traditionally, the RTD (and predecessor MTA) had different headsigns for different parts of the systems and each sign included the routes for one or more divisions.  When a bus was reassigned to a different division, the headsign and shortsign (the smaller sign with the line number) would need to be pulled out and replaced with sign rolls for the new division.  

Around 1983, RTD had already received shipments of RTS and Grumman 870 buses with electronic destination signs.  RTD already had many coaches slated for disposal.  This included old looks and new looks.  Some new look coaches and the AMG buses would remain with the system for awhile and were not slated for disposal, yet.  The fleet disposal was also timed around the conclusion of the 1984 Olympic Games for which RTD was operating an extensive service.  

In order to make it easier to move coaches between divisions, especially since the buses with the electronic signs could easily be transferred, RTD replaced the individual headsigns for each division with a single "everything" sign that was designed to be used in any division.  The sign also needed to be able to accommodate the additional readings related to the Olympic service.  The Everything Signs went into all of the buses that were slated for disposal around or after the Olympics and therefore not being retrofitted to electronic signs.

In the deployment of the everything sign, the shortsign was completely removed.  In most buses, RTD took a piece of blank short sign mylar and put that on the roll.. so there were no line numbers.  The line number would be displayed by both a dash card and the three digit line number sign curbside.  

Destination names would also change.  For example, the old line 243 (formerly line 153) was a U-shaped line and had destinations Mason-Devonshire, Winnetka-Ventura, DeSoto-Devonshire, DeSoto-Ventura.  With the new sign, the only valid destination names were Chatsworth and Woodland Hills. 

A headsign roll can only handle about 160 exposures (different signs).  The Everything Sign had 151 exposures:

  1. CANOGA PARK
  2. CHATSWORTH
  3. ENCINO
  4. GRANADA HILLS
  5. LOS ANGELES
  6. NORTH HOLLYWOOD
  7. NORTHRIDGE
  8. PACOIMA
  9. PANORAMA CITY
  10. RESEDA
  11. SAN FERNANDO
  12. SHERMAN OAKS
  13. STUDIO CITY
  14. SUNLAND
  15. SUN VALLEY
  16. SYLMAR
  17. UNIVERSAL CITY
  18. VAN NUYS
  19. WESTLAKE VILLAGE
  20. WOODLAND HILLS
  21. BURBANK
  22. BURBANK AIRPORT
  23. EAGLE ROCK
  24. GLENDALE
  25. OBSERVATORY
  26. HIGHLAND PARK
  27. L.A. ZOO
  28. MONTROSE
  29. NOT IN SERVICE
  30. GLASSELL PARK
  31. BEVERLY HILLS
  32. CENTURY CITY
  33. FOX HILLS MALL
  34. HOLLYWOOD
  35. LOS ANGELES
  36. MALIBU
  37. MARINA DEL REY
  38. PACIFIC PALISADES
  39. SANTA MONICA
  40. UCLA
  41. VENICE
  42. W. LOS ANGELES
  43. WESTWOOD
  44. W.L.A. TRANS. CTR.
  45. VERMONT AV.
  46. WESTERN AV.
  47. WILTON PLACE
  48. CRENSHAW
  49. RIMPAU BLVD.
  50. LA BREA AV.
  51. FAIRFAX
  52. SUNSET BLVD.
  53. COMPTON
  54. HUNTINGTON PARK
  55. RANCHO LOS AMIGOS
  56. SO. LOS ANGELES
  57. WATTS
  58. SLAUSON AV.
  59. FLORENCE AV.
  60. MANCHESTER
  61. IMPERIAL HWY.
  62. ROSECRANS
  63. CARSON MALL
  64. EL SEGUNDO
  65. HAWTHORNE
  66. HERMOSA BCH.
  67. IMPERIAL TERM.
  68. INGLEWOOD
  69. LAX
  70. LOS ANGELES
  71. MANHATTAN BEACH
  72. PALOS VERDES
  73. PLAYA DEL REY
  74. REDONDO BCH
  75. SAN PEDRO
  76. SOUTH BAY CTR
  77. WESTCHESTER
  78. WILMINGTON
  79. NOT IN SERVICE
  80. BOYLE HEIGHTS
  81. CAL-STATE L.A.
  82. LOS ANGELES
  83. E. LOS ANGELES
  84. COUNTY HOSPITAL
  85. SYBIL BRAND INST.
  86. UNION STATION
  87. GARFIELD AV.
  88. ATLANTIC
  89. ROWAN AV.
  90. BELL
  91. BELLFLOWER
  92. BELL GARDENS
  93. BREA MALL
  94. CERRITOS CENTER
  95. CUDAHY
  96. DOWNEY
  97. FULLERTON
  98. LAKEWOOD
  99. LA MIRADA
  100. LONG BEACH
  101. LYNWOOD
  102. NORWALK
  103. SANTA ANA
  104. L. B. MARINA
  105. SOUTH GATE
  106. WHITTIER
  107. WHITWOOD CTR.
  108. ALHAMBRA
  109. ALTADENA
  110. ARCADIA
  111. AZUSA
  112. DIAMOND BAR
  113. DUARTE
  114. EASTLAND
  115. EL MONTE
  116. GLENDORA
  117. HACIENDA HEIGHTS
  118. PUENTE HILLS MALL
  119. LOS ANGELES
  120. MONROVIA
  121. MONTCLAIR
  122. ONTARIO AIRPORT
  123. PASADENA
  124. POMONA
  125. RACE TRACK
  126. ROSEMEAD
  127. SAN DIMAS
  128. SAN GABRIEL
  129. SIERRA MADRE
  130. TEMPLE CITY
  131. WEST COVINA
  132. NOT IN SERVICE
  133. AIRPORT
  134. DISNEYLAND
  135. DODGER STADIUM
  136. GREEK THEATRE
  137. HOLLYWOOD BOWL
  138. KNOTTS BERRY FARM
  139. FAIR GROUNDS
  140. RACE TRACK
  141. ROSE BOWL
  142. SPECIAL
  143. CAL-STATE UNIV.
  144. DOMINGUEZ HILLS
  145. E.L.A. COLLEGE
  146. EXPOSITION PARK
  147. HOLLYWOOD PARK
  148. LOYOLA UNIV.
  149. SANTA ANITA RACE TRACK
  150. U.C.L.A./WESTWOOD
  151. (Olympic rings) - The only time I can ever remember a graphic image as opposed to letters and numbers being used on an RTD destination sign. 

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