Mysterious NYC Street Markings Explained

Countless street-gazing tourists and residents of New York have wondered what the mysterious markings - one that looks like a blue poker chip, the other a yellow E - embedded in New York's streets signify. Kate Hinds has the answer.

1 minute read

August 6, 2012, 7:00 AM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


Although the answer to the markings mystery isn't as scintillating as we had hoped, it'll definitely make for interesting small talk at your next dinner party.

"According to [utility company Con Edison] spokesman Robert McGee, the blue plastic disk is a Con
Ed calling card. It's placed on streets that the utility was responsible
for repaving. In some cases, they have numbers in the center; these
designate the year Con Ed did the work."

"One of the things that has been attempted over the years is to get
the various city agencies...to coordinate on street openings," McGee said.
"By getting everyone on the same page, the city can try to minimize the
amount of times a street is ripped up," notes Hinds.

"And those yellow letter E's that can be found on city streets and sidewalks? Also Con Ed. E7 means the road was paved in 2007."

Friday, August 3, 2012 in Transportation Nation

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 28, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A car drives through a puddle, making a large splash. Rain pours down.

California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour

If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.

October 28, 2026 - Grist

Lake Powell with much of the water evaporated.

Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River

Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.

October 30, 2026 - Yale Environment 360

People vote in Chicago behind blue privacy screens

Chicago voters approve permanent festival grounds, penalty for vacant property owners

Currently, major summer and fall festivals take over public parks for weeks at a time, drawing criticism from nearby residents

November 5 - Block Club Chicago

Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks into a microphone. He wears a gray suit.

NYC votes to cut outdoor dining red tape, speed up permitting

New York City also voted to allow the Department of Transportation to begin work on urgent projects before notifying elected officials.

November 5 - The City Reporter

People in Los Angeles going to the polls, following a sign with an "I Voted" design

California appears to reject Prop. 45

The proposition would have expanded the projects that qualify for a streamlined environmental review, effectively paring down the California Environmental Quality Act.

November 5 - Cal Matters