 |
Memorandum |
| U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration |
Subject: |
ACTION: Guidance to Florida Department of Transportation Outdoor Advertising Nonconforming Sign Upgrade Pilot Project |
Date:
|
May 13, 2010 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
From: |
Gloria M. Shepherd Associate Administrator for Planning, Environment and Realty |
Reply to: |
HEPR-20 |
|
To: |
Martin C. Knopp Division Administrator Tallahassee, FL |
||
Your December 7, 2009 email forwarded a modified version of a Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Pilot Project Proposal along with a summary of additional comments and FDOT responses as a result of an extension of the public comment period. The pilot is in reference to 23 CFR 750.707(d)(5) which pertains to maintenance and continuance of nonconforming signs and is approved for implementation. The initial pilot project proposal was developed in accordance with the August 30, 2005, Guidance on the Approval Process for Outdoor Advertising Control Pilots (see the Realty Web site: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/reale_estate/practitioners/oac.oacappilot.htm) and was approved by FHWA on June 18, 2009 for presentation at a public hearing.
The FDOT had extensive public involvement prior to developing the original proposal. The draft pilot project document was made available to all stakeholders and interested parties and the FDOT held three other public meetings to obtain comments on the proposed project. The FDOT has analyzed the public comments and made changes to the proposal as a result of the public input.
The pilot project corridor is Interstate 75 from the Georgia/Florida line to Wildwood and is approximately 144 miles in length. The proposal is an effort thru 2012 that will allow the upgrading of certain nonconforming signs along Interstate 75 in exchange for permanent removal of other nonconforming signs in high priority areas along the same Interstate. We appreciate the extensive effort by Mr. John Garner and his staff as well as your staff in finalizing the pilot project. We would request that the
FDOT provide an interim review of the pilot after one year and we would also suggest periodic conference calls to discuss the status of the project. We certainly look forward to any results that may occur as a result of the Florida initiative. If you have any questions, please contact Cathy O’Hara at 785-271-2448 Ext 216 or Ed Kosola at 202-493-0350.
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