Deadlines to upgrade street signs eliminated

By Larry Copeland, USA TODAY - August 30, 2011

The federal government is scrapping deadlines requiring local governments to begin replacing street-name and road warning signs with more reflective, easier-to-read versions.

Instead of being required to replace signs as early as 2015, local governments will be allowed to switch them as they wear out, under a proposal to be announced Tuesday by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

The Department of Transportation is proposing the elimination of 46 deadlines on sign changes required in the national Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.

"A specific deadline for replacing street signs makes no sense and would have cost communities across America millions of dollars in unnecessary expenses," LaHood said. "After speaking with local and state officials across the country, we are proposing to eliminate these burdensome regulations. It's just plain common sense."

New street-name signs put up by cities, towns and counties still will be required to have larger lettering. New traffic signs such as "Pass with care" and "Low clearance" will have to be larger.

All new signs will have to be more visible at night — a reflection of the fading eyesight of the the nation's aging population.

Communities that failed to replace signs by the original deadlines that were imposed in 2007 faced the possible loss of federal funds.

"Boy, that's sure great news," Milwaukee Alderman Bob Donovan said. "To me that was just the federal government sticking their noses in where we sure . . . didn't want them. Hopefully, this may save us some money here in Milwaukee and other communities that desperately need the money."

The DOT is keeping a dozen deadlines for sign upgrades "critical to public safety." These include "One way" signs at intersections with divided highways and stop or yield signs required at railroad crossings that don't have train-activated, automatic gates or flashing lights.

"Local and state transportation agencies are best-equipped to determine when they need to replace signs and other items in the course of their daily work," said Federal Highway Administration head Victor Mendez.