Federally mandated changes to the design of local/state governments’ corner road signs — requiring mixed capital/lower-case type treatment with more reflective lettering, in effect a complete overhaul of existing signs the nation over by 2018 — have been in the spotlight over the last couple days as a prime example of a wasteful culture in action.
Seems that the lynchpin of short-term change here is not in the capitals, though, but rather the height of the letters, which should be boosted from the previous standard of 4 inches to 6, increasing sign size and — it can be assumed — cost by 50 percent and sending compliant local governments into overdrive, no pun intended, as they attempt to finish sign overhaul programs by January of 2012. Mixed capitals/lowercase letters are only required when signs are replaced for other reasons, for now.
The pictured signs, at a Nashville corner up the street from me, are good to go, with letters closing in on 8 inches high, begging the question: Much ado about nothing?
Not come 2018, when new ultra-reflective letters will be required for most all signs. Facing continuing economic hardship for the immediately forseeable future, local governments are crying foul. Ray LaHood, in response, yesterday called for a 45-day public comment period, opened up via www.regulations.gov — a site truckers are well familiar with. If you have thoughts on the coming sign-overhaul mandate, make them known.
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