“This was specifically designed to make the signs more visible to see not only in the day but being reflective at night as well,” said Oakwood Public Safety Captain Alan Hill.
The requirements, from the Federal Highway Administration, required all entities that maintain roads to have a replacement plan in place by 2012. Road signs like stop signs were to be replaced by 2015; street name signs were required to comply by 2018.
Those deadlines were eliminated in 2012 as part of a directive from the Obama administration to reduce the cost burden on communities. The highway administration then said communities must install compliant signs once current signs reach the end of their useful life.
Oakwood already had a plan in place.
“Oakwood’s replacement schedule was developed by the city engineer in late 2011,” said the city’s law director Robert Jacques.
The city just completed a $30,000 street name sign replacement project.
“This was done as a three year project in order to spread out the cost and do the work with our own in-house labor. This saved money and allowed us to perform maintenance on our sign poles at the same time,” said Jacques.
The city also eliminated duplicate signs on Shafor Boulevard, saving $2,000, according to a release from the city.
The department has seen crashes over the years as a result of people trying to read signs and abruptly stopping, Hill said.
“Now any street greater than 35 miles an hour switched from four inch to six inch letters,” Hill added.
The City of Vandalia is “probably 95% done” with its replacement project according to Rob Cron, the city’s director of public service.
“We start with most critical – stop signs, speed limit signs, warning signs, street name signs,” Cron explained.
He said the city makes its own signs which cuts down on costs.
Huber Heights also makes its own signs and has been installing signs that meet the requirements, according to assistant city manager Scott Falkowski.
“We are a little bit less than halfway done with this. We’ve been doing it for about two years. We plan to beat (the now eliminated) deadline (of 2018),” Falkowski explained.
The City of Dayton does not have a specific plan or deadline in place. Rather it replaces signs with signs made in-house as they wear down, according to public works assistant director of operations Steve Finke.
The City of Centerville finished replacing signs back in 2010, according to public works operations manager Mary Lou Pence.
Oakwood is selling the old street name signs that were installed in 1999.
“It’s a unique item,” Hill said. “I think a lot of people take pride in the community and living here in Oakwood and that’s their way to get a little piece of the city they live in.”
The signs will be available for $10 each from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Foell Public Works Center, 210 Shafor Blvd. Cash or check payments will be accepted. Call 937-298-0600 for more information.
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