Color-coding gets pale reception

The Quincy City Council voted unanimously last night to try to color-code the Southeast Expressway so motorists in emergencies know where they are.

But state officials are flashing a yellow caution light to the idea.

It is ''probably something we would take a pretty dim view of," Massachusetts Highway Department spokesman Jon Carlisle said yesterday.

''There's a reason that a stretch of interstate highway in Massachusetts looks like a stretch of state highway in Montana," he said. ''People expect consistency when they drive on roadways and to present any kind of color-coding system could be a distraction and a safety issue in itself."

Quincy Mayor William J. Phelan said, ''Anything that could help quicken the response time of our emergency personnel is a good thing. So I think the council's home-rule petition is something the state should look seriously upon and consider implementing." To go into effect, the plan would also need the Legislature's blessing and probably that of the Federal Highway Administration since Interstate 93 is a federal highway.

Responding to Mass. Highway's criticism of the proposal, Phelan said, ''I think it's up to the state Legislature . . . . I think even if it doesn't pass at the state level, I think it clearly defines an issue -- better clearly marked highways often quicken response times. It does call to attention to Mass. Highway the need to improve highway signage."

Carlisle said Mass. Highway has a pending contract to reinstall damaged or missing mile markers on certain roadways, the Southeast Expressway among them. The agency also recently replaced the cross-street signs on overpasses that not only identify the street but also the name of the town or city. State Police and other emergency workers have said the move helps better locate those in distress.

The Quincy Fire Department, however, says mile markers are not enough because they are too far apart.

Firefighters proposed the color-coded highway scheme earlier this month and won the unanimous blessing of a City Council subcommittee on Dec. 15.

Under the plan, which apparently would be the state's first highway emergency color code, the city would paint Jersey barriers, guardrails and light poles a variety of colors to allow motorists or others to better specify their location amid Quincy's three exits, three onramps, splits and cloverleafs. Quincy firefighters believe the system would require eight colors.

Firefighters have said that motorists often don't know where they are when calling for help. The colors would help, firefighters have said.

''If you're not from Quincy, you're not really sure where you are," said firefighter William Arienti. ''Unfortunately, the information is not always reliable."

As for illuminating the colors at night, Arienti said solar-powered lights could be put on light poles and use colored lenses to broadcast that section of road's assigned color. ''If it does work and if a life is saved by it, then it's worth everything that you put into it," Arienti said.

David Abel of the Globe staff contributed to this report.Mac Daniel can be reached at mdaniel@globe.com.