Project Description A regional safety and elderly mobility project which will provide funding for local jurisdictions to implement a street sign project according to the FHWA Guidelines and Recommendations To Accommodate Older Drivers and Pedestrians. Funding MAG has $400,000 in the 2007 MAG Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) to fund an Elderly Mobility Sign Program. The funding has been allocated proportionately to jurisdictions based on the percentage of elderly residents (60+ years of age) as per the 2000 Census. Clearview Font This project will promote the use of Clearview font. Clearview font was developed jointly by the Pennsylvania Transportation Institute (PPI) and Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) through a decade of research starting in the 1990’s. The goal of the Clearview font is to increase legibility and reduce halation of sign legends in comparison to that of other FHWA Standard Alphabets for Traffic Control Devices (E-Modified and Series D). The research development effort resulted in final design of Clearview font letters in 2003. Clearview font letters were developed to specifically address four issues with the legibility of other alphabets: - Accommodate the needs of older drivers
- Improve word pattern recognition by using mixed case words
- Improve the speed and accuracy of destination recognition
- Control or minimize the halation of words
The Arizona Department Of Transportation (ADOT) is developing templates for nearly all standard guide signs for: - Freeways
- Conventional roadways
- Ramps and freeway crossroads
The Federal Highway Administration has approved interim use of the Clearview Font and it is commonly believed that Interim Approvals will be included in the next version of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). The Arizona Department Of Transportation has requested interim approval for the Clearview font on behalf of the State of Arizona; therefore, each jurisdiction would not have to make separate requests. Process - Jurisdictions will be asked to reply to the Notice of Intent to Apply. Funding for each jurisdiction’s project is based on the percentage of senior residents (per the 2000 Census) in their jurisdiction with a minimum allocation of $3,000. This will provide the smaller jurisdictions with adequate funding for a program. (Please see Attachment Two).
- Jurisdictions not responding to the Notice of Intent to Apply by the deadline will have their funds reallocated to those jurisdictions that submitted an Intent to Apply.
- MAG member agencies will submit a street-signing project that will be implemented according to the FHWA Guidelines and Recommendations To Accommodate Older Drivers and Pedestrians.
- MAG Regional Council will approve the final list of projects.
Eligible Projects
The MAG Transportation Safety Committee and the MAG Elderly Mobility Stakeholders Group have recommended that the Sign Project provide funds to upgrade street signs or provide advanced street name signs: - Street name signs with six-inch letters on post mounted signs or all six-inch capital letters on roadways intersecting with major arterials or eight-inch letters on overhead signs on roadways with multi-lanes and speed of 45mph or greater.
- Clearview font (initial cap/lower case) is recommended though not required.
- Internally illuminated signs are recommended though not required.
- Advanced street name signs with six-inch or eight-inch Clearview font also on major arterials.
Funding is available for the production costs of the sign, including materials, extra posts, mounting brackets, and costs for Clearview software. Funds are not provided for any installation costs. Labor and installation will be considered as in-kind contribution. Member agencies will be asked to: - Identify the specific locations of the proposed signs on a map.
- Identify the number of signs to be installed.
- Indicate whether the signs are those with larger fonts at intersections or advance street name signs.
- Indicate estimated time to install all signs.
- Describe the jurisdiction’s plan to publicize the intent of the new signs for improving road safety for the seniors.
- Assist MAG/FHWA in performing an evaluation of this safety improvement project.
- Provide MAG with any feedback and public comments received.
- Describe future plans for installing signs.
There will be a two-year timeframe for jurisdictions to complete the installation of the signs and participate in an evaluation. Reimbursement Jurisdictions will be reimbursed upon completion of the project. Evaluation MAG will conduct a regional evaluation of the safety impact of the project in conjunction with the cities and towns that may include focus groups, a survey, and an analysis of crash data. Safety and Elderly Mobility Sign Project Funding Allocation Total Funds Available: $400,000 | | | JURISDICTION | FUNDS | Avondale | $3,221 | Chandler | $12,677 | Fountain Hills | $4,594 | Gilbert | $5,420 | Glendale | $19,404 | Goodyear | $3,232 | Litchfield Park | $3,084 | Mesa | $56,921 | Paradise Valley | $3,252 | Peoria* | $16,853 | Phoenix | $125,206 | Scottsdale | $38,545 | Surprise | $9,235 | Tempe | $13,561 | Tolleson | $3,055 | Maricopa County | $81,738 |
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