Dear AHTD: What happens if FHWA rescinds Clearview interim approval?

[Scott5114]

Recently, FHWA declined a request by a county government in Washington to begin using the Clearview font on its road signs. Some language contained in the letter indicates that FHWA expects to rescind the interim approval for Clearview in the near future.

Considering that AHTD is a heavy user of Clearview, how are your sign folks preparing to handle the change back to the traditional FHWA Series fonts? Is it going to be as easy as flipping the "Clearview switch" off when designing a new sign? Will engineers need to be retrained on how to use the old fonts? Are there any plans to phase out Clearview signs on an accelerated schedule, or will they simply be replaced on a typical replacement cycle?

[AHTD]

Can you share a copy of the letter?

[getemngo]

April 17, 2014. Found it.

[bjrush]

Wow. Uh oh

Being progressive may bite AHTD in the ass this time

[Scott5114]

They wouldn't be the only ones. Sucks to be Texas and Michigan...

In any event, I doubt FHWA is going to require an accelerated replacement schedule for Clearview signs, but states are of course free to replace them early.

[seicer]

Add Kentucky and West Virginia aggressively resigning their roads with Clearview, and Ohio whenever it pleases.

[rickmastfan67]

Add Kentucky and West Virginia aggressively resigning their roads with Clearview, and Ohio whenever it pleases.

Add Pennsylvania to that list as well.

[bjrush]

really the feds should take the heat for this

[seicer]

Ahem, Pennsylvania.

[AHTD]

Recently, FHWA declined a request by a county government in Washington to begin using the Clearview font on its road signs. Some language contained in the letter indicates that FHWA expects to rescind the interim approval for Clearview in the near future.

Considering that AHTD is a heavy user of Clearview, how are your sign folks preparing to handle the change back to the traditional FHWA Series fonts? Is it going to be as easy as flipping the "Clearview switch" off when designing a new sign? Will engineers need to be retrained on how to use the old fonts? Are there any plans to phase out Clearview signs on an accelerated schedule, or will they simply be replaced on a typical replacement cycle?

Actually, yes - it is as easy as flipping a switch.  The software that we use to design our signs allows us to select the font we want to use on the sign.  If the IA for the usage of the Clearview font is rescinded, we will begin using the traditional highway fonts again.  The signs would not be replaced on an accelerated schedule - they will be replaced as they near the end of their service life, which is 15 years.

[getemngo]

I just love how there's a whole topic devoted to personal opinions on Clearview, and now everyone needs to express the same opinions here again.

[kkt]

their service life, which is 15 years.

Wait, what transportation department actually uses a 15 year service life for signs?  Caltrans keeps greening over signs from five service lifetimes ago!

[US71]

their service life, which is 15 years.

Wait, what transportation department actually uses a 15 year service life for signs?  Caltrans keeps greening over signs from five service lifetimes ago!

Arkansas does... if not longer.

[hbelkins]

Most of the guide signs on the Mountain Parkway in Kentucky date back to the mid-1970s. They are certainly showing their age. A few (mostly eastbound between I-64 and Exit 33) have been replaced in the last couple of years, with Clearview, along with signage at Exit 43 when it was rebuilt and at the eastern terminus when a tornado took them out a few years ago, but the rest are really ancient by guide sign standards.

Last time I was on I-75 south of London, there were quite a few older signs. You can also find a scattering of them along I-64 between Frankfort and I-65, and on I-65 south of Elizabethtown. They're probably 30 years old.

[Brandon]

Wow. Uh oh

Being progressive may bite AHTD in the ass this time

Even IDOT and ISTHA will get bit in the ass by this one.

[Scott5114]

I just love how there's a whole topic devoted to personal opinions on Clearview, and now everyone needs to express the same opinions here again.

Since this thread was meant to focus on the potential phase-out of Clearview from an agency standpoint, all of the general Clearview opinions and discussion has been moved to the general Clearview thread: https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=9886.0