Phoenix Area Highways

[Rothman]

Apparently Queen Creek has switched back to Clearview for its newest street blades, despite street blades not being an approved use in the 2023 MUTCD. I wonder if the town did it in protest of the new MUTCD. Clearview is only allowed for freeway guide signs in the 2023 MUTCD. Street blades are not a valid use of Clearview in the 2023 MUTCD.

$10 says they didn't consult the MUTCD at all.

Which is a good thing, IMHO. 

Since when does the Federal Gummint have the authority to control what any city or town does with its own street blades?  In fact, what authority do they have at all, other than on Interstates (maybe)?  As long as the signs are legible and first responders can read them, that's all that matters.  Washington should have no say-so.

They don't, but they can withhold Federal Aid funds.

Which is nothing more than extortion. 

I remember the debacle that was the nationwide 55 MPH speed limit 40-50 years ago.  The Feds had no Constitutional authority to do that, but the states caved in anyway.  Even taking into account that it was supposed to save gas after the Arab oil embargo of 1973, it was beyond the authority of the Federal Government.

There were court cases over the NMSL.  One example was when Nevada was threatened to have their federal funding taken away and they sued and lost. 

I mean, the federal government's authority over its own funding is pretty clear in the Constitution.