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FOX POINT -- The pressure is off for local communities to meet a federal deadline on street signs. The mandate to upgrade signs to meet new height and reflective requirements recently changed, and now, it's allowing some city officials to breathe a little easier.
By 2018, all street name signs are supposed to meet certain requirements, including height, upper and lower case font and reflectivity, or they would have to be replaced.
However, earlier this month, the Federal Highway Administration lifted that deadline.
“For a city like Milwaukee that has 108,000 to 110,000 traffic signs out on the streets, it could be something that could be overwhelming and costly to communities. We have started steps in our budget to accommodate for some sign replacement program and it's kind of hard,” Milwaukee City Engineer Jeff Polenske said.
The city of Milwaukee has already begun phasing in the new signs, but other communities now have the flexibility to replace them when they're worn out, which is usually between seven and 12 years, rather than replacing them by a specific date.
In Fox Point, the relaxed deadline is key, as none of their street signs are in compliance.
“These are our Fox Point street name signs with the brackets on them. They’re unique to our village. It's anticipated we'll have to replace all the street name signs in the village," Scott Brandmeier, Fox Point’s Director of Public Works said.
The cost to replace all of Fox Point's street signs could reach the millions, with the money coming from local taxes, but now, there's no need to rush.
“These are costs we can potentially spread out over a slightly longer period of time,” Brandmeier said.
While the street signs don't have to be replaced by any specific time, under the new rules, an action plan must at least be drafted by 2014.
In addition to lifting the deadline, the Federal Highway Administration will now allow communities to retain historic street-name signs in historic districts. The Village of Fox Point says it is unclear whether its street signs apply to this exception.
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