Obama Administration rescinds deadline for traffic sign changes

• The Obama Administration proposed that dozens of burdensome regulations on traffic signs be eliminated (see Sign Language from Nov. 24, 2010). The U.S. Department of Transportation is proposing that communities replace traffic signs when they are worn out rather than requiring signs to be replaced by a specific deadline as previously imposed. 

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review of regulations to identify rules that needed to be changed or removed because they were unnecessary, out-of-date, excessively burdensome or overly costly.

The deadlines requiring that certain street name signs be replaced by 2018 to meet minimum retroreflectivity standards and requiring larger lettering are among the series of deadlines eliminated under the amendment proposed by U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Aug. 30. 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.

• Cellcom announced that it will build a new fiber optic network in Door County. The network will deliver high-speed Internet access, increase capacity for data services, expand the wireless network and prepare the network for wireless 4G technology in the entire county, according to a Door County Economic Development Corporation announcement. Work on the first leg of the route, from Green Bay to Sturgeon Bay, began in March and will be completed by the end of 2011. The final stage of the project will extend the network to Gills Rock in 2012.