John Figlar/ New Jersey Local News ServiceAn example (top) of the all uppercase type of street sign and the upper-and-lower case version both appear on Main Street in Somerville.
TRENTON — New Jersey towns breathed a sigh of relief Wednesday after the U.S. Transportation secretary blasted a proposal that would have required municipalities nationwide to change street signs to meet new federal standards.
Amid confusion and a nationwide uproar over the plan, which many believed mandated all street signs be changed from all capital letters to mixed-case lettering, it now appears unlikely to move forward.
“I believe that this regulation makes no sense. It does not properly take into account the high costs that local governments would have to bear. States, cities, and towns should not be required to spend money that they don’t have to replace perfectly good traffic signs,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement Tuesday.
Officials in some New Jersey towns, like Bernards in Somerset County, had already started surveying their signs. North Plainfield was crunching budget numbers to plan for replacing about 250 decades-old street signs made of wood and concrete. Others, like Elizabeth Mayor Chris Bollwage, were incredulous after hearing about the proposed mandate.
“Unless the federal government wants to send us the money to redo all of that, the city of Elizabeth will not do it,” Bollwage said. “They’ll have to send out the sign police to stop us…If they send out at the sign police, then we’ll change it.”
Bernards Township Administrator Bruce McArthur said a decision must be made on the regulations, because towns can become liable if their signs are known to be deficient.
“An accident occurs, and we get sued because the claimant who ran the stop (sign) says we knew it was sub-standard, and chose to negligently leave it standing. Do you think our courts would rule in the township’s favor because of Secretary LaHood’s statement?” McArthur said.
LaHood’s statements were prompted by widespread confusion over the policy.
“We are delighted that finally these kind of regulations are being scrutinized,” Bill Dressel, director of the New Jersey League of Municipalities, said Wednesday. “These are the kinds of mandates that drive up property taxes in New Jersey and we are very much sensitive to these issues.”
Related coverage:
• Atlantic City begins effort to beautify boardwalk by taking down old signs
• Harding police seek public help to find out who is drawing swastikas on street signs
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