The Schneider Corporation is currently working with communities to help avoid the pitfalls of the Sign Program that The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has mandated. Highway agencies must comply with new sign retroreflectivity requirements as outlined in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Sevices (MUTCD). Important deadlines are approaching. The deadline to establish a sign maintenance program is 2012. The deadline for complying with the retroreflectivity requirements is 2015 for most signs and 2018 for street name signs.
To stay compliant, agencies must act today and it’s important to know there maybe funding to help with the inventory and replacement of signs in your community. Currently in Indiana there is a resource that has $50,000 for inventory and $100,000 for replacement of signs but not every State has access to these resources.
Below are ways our Engineers have shared that can ensure your agency meets the deadlines:
1. Know the MUTCD. This manual details all the requirements for traffic signals, pavement markings and highway signs. Certain states have produced supplements with additional requirements above and beyond the FHWA version. The MUTCD is updated every few years with changes based on highway research.
2. Don’t ignore MUTCD requirements. As announced in a 2007 addendum to the 2003 FHWA MUTCD, highway agencies must comply with new sign retroreflectivity requirements as outlined in the manual. Penalties for non-compliance are unknown; however, government agencies leave themselves open for litigation in the event of a crash in areas that are non-compliant.
3. Don’t think that this is not your problem. Any agency that maintains roads and road signs for the traveling public is responsible for complying with the MUTCD. This includes cities, towns, counties, state departments of transportation, and even owners of shopping malls or other large developments with roadways that are open to the public.
4. Make a sign inventory. Without an inventory, it is impossible to keep track of whether or not signs meet FHWA requirements. In addition, without an inventory an agency does not know the number and types of signs that they own. That makes budgeting for the required sign upgrades difficult. Also make sure you know how the inventory has to be completed. We have spoken with communities that will have to re-inventory signs because of missing data.
5. Use all sources of funding to upgrade your signs. In addition to local funding sources, federal funding may be available to help defray the costs of meeting the new requirements. Availability varies by state.
6. Don’t update signs without first evaluating whether the signs are placed appropriately. Regulatory signs are subject to certain requirements, such as an ordinance establishing a posted speed limit, or an engineering study to justify a four-way stop. Warning signs also have certain guidelines for appropriate use. Some signs have been researched and found not to affect driver behavior. Such signs need not be replaced, saving money. A qualified engineer with experience in traffic or roadway design can evaluate signs for appropriateness.
7. Don’t wait to get started. Even though it may appear that you have plenty of time to meet the sign program requirements, you need to get started today! There are many time-consuming tasks at hand that you won’t be able to be put off till the last minute.
8. Don’t always buy the cheapest sign materials available. While everyone’s budgets are tight, studies have shown that higher-grade sheeting, which is more expensive up-front, can be more cost-effective in the long run.
9. Continue your sign program after you have your plan in place. Retroreflectivity levels are an ongoing requirement, and signs will have to be replaced regularly, about every 10-12 years, to keep up with the standard. Plan your budget now to accommodate future sign replacements.
10. Be sure to ask for help. The Schneider Corporation has experience with all aspects of a sign program, from funding application completion, cost estimates, inventory, contract documents, and more. Contact me to see how we can help with your program.
To learn more:
Please let me know if you would like a learn more and I’ll send you a registration link to our
online seminar or if you like I can connect you directly with our engineers to answer your questions.
