Impact Assessment of Revised Retroreflectivity Requirements for Highway Signs in Montana: Phase I \u2013 Final Report

https://doi.org/10.21949/15182161995PDFResearch PaperFHWA/MT-95/8117-18117-1RetroreflectivityReflective signsTraffic signsData managementGuides to the literatureImpact studiesInformation processingInspection equipmentMontanaMontana. Department of TransportationMounce, John M.Ulberg, Matthew A.Western Transportation InstituteMontana. Dept. of TransportationUnited States. Federal Highway AdministrationUS Transportation CollectionThe objective of this report is to give a preliminary assessment of the impact that revised retroreflectivity requirements will have on the State of Montana. Conclusions and recommendations are made for Montana's future management and handling of sign inventory data. This objective is addressed through the following tasks: Task A: Review, assimilation and analyses of current literature available on a nationwide basis; Task B: Discussion of results from a multi-state phone solicitation regarding state sign management practices and policies; Task C: An assessment of sign reflectivity inspection equipment and sampling methodology; and Task D: Evaluation of Montana's sign inventory on the basis of current practices and condition of a limited sampling of signs. Recommendations of this report include upgrading of, or improvements to Montana Department of Transportation's sign management system and multi-district statewide retroreflective sampling to better determine the impacts revised standards may have.90