By: borowatcher on 12/18/10
Of course Joe Frank Jernigan is going to defend the Highway Department. If I'm not mistaken, he works there. However, I agree with him. I don't think they will waste the money (no money).

By: cmac on 12/18/10
It is amusing that the left-wing press continues to use the expression "Bush-era".

One wonders if, when Obama is at last put out to pasture, the press will continuously harp about the "Obama-nation"?

By: jimmychurch on 12/20/10
Actually, I am not sure what the money will be spent to do as far as improving signs. I can only comment on the current Murfreesboro street signs. I was looking for a street Saturday night that is off of Bradyville Pike. While the signs may be visible in the day-time, I found I had to be almost beside the street sign to read it. At night, the street signs are almost useless. As a suggestion, why doesn't the city put street signs next to traffic signals with the names of the cross street? It is very dangerous to have to try to see either the left or right side of the road looking for the street name. Just a suggestion.

By: SocEtTuem on 12/20/10
cmac writes: "It is amusing that the left-wing press continues to use the expression 'Bush-era'.
One wonders if, when Obama is at last put out to pasture, the press will continuously harp about the 'Obama-nation'?"

I would not count on it. The press clearly has a political agenda and that agenda is clearly left of center. It was the reason I dumped the DNJ and now it rears its head here. It's all GWB's fault.

By: coastie on 1/4/11
A study was done to determine whether changing the lettering and reflective taping would be beneficial to drivers, especially at night time. I agree with "jimmychurch" in that sometimes you have to be right next to the street in order to see it. With this new regulation, it would give drivers a bit more time to read the sign.

It should be noted that the government is providing some funding. According to the American Traffic Safety Services Association website (http://www.atssa.com/cs/root/news_pr/retroreflectivity_media), the funding comes in the from of:

Funding
Surface Transportation Program (STP)
o Used for a variety of transportation purposes, including:
 Improvement of signing and pavement markings
These funds can be used on all public roads except those
functionally classified as local or rural minor collectors.

Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP)
o $1.25 billion annually goes to states
o Twenty-one (21) states transferred money from HSIP to other programs when it could have been used for these vital safety improvements. Eight states have used only 50 percent of their funding to date.

There are specific requirements to be able to use Highway Safety Improvement Program
Funds for sign upgrades. To be eligible for HSIP funds, the improvement of highway signage must be:
o Identified as a priority in the State’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan, AND
o Correct or improve a hazardous road location or feature or address a highway safety problem, AND
o Locations for potential safety improvement must be identified through a datadriven process

I thin it's a good idea if it means the roads will be safer and give drivers more time to respond than they previously have.