The move to eliminate 46 deadlines mandated in the last update of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) is part of the USDOT's review of regulations that might be excessively burdensome or overly costly (see August 26 AASHTO Journal story). The sign deadlines were among the more than 40 comments submitted by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials during the USDOT regulatory review process (see April 8 AASHTO Journal story).

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

The deadlines requiring that certain street name signs be replaced by 2018 to meet minimum retroreflectivity standards and requiring larger lettering on those street name signs are among the series of deadlines eliminated under the amendment proposed today. The proposal would also eliminate deadlines for increasing the size of various traffic signs, such as 'Pass With Care' and 'One Way,' as well as warning signs, such as 'Low Clearance' and 'Advance Grade Crossing.' Instead, communities will be able to replace and upgrade these signs when they reach the end of their useful life.

President Obama in January called for a government-wide review of regulations already on the books to identify rules that needed to be changed or removed because they were unnecessary, out-of-date, excessively burdensome or overly costly.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has published the MUTCD, a compilation of national standards for all pavement markings, street signs, and traffic signals, since 1971. The manual is updated periodically to accommodate changing transportation needs and address new safety technologies, traffic control tools, and traffic management techniques.

FHWA this week issued a Notice of Proposed Amendments to eliminate 46 of the deadlines in the manual. Public comments for this proposed rule are being taken for the next 60 days; comments should be directed to http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/.