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I of Report Number 14 -150 IrMBOGHTON Agenda Section VI -12 the city that works for you Council Meeting Date June 10, 2014 REQUEST FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION ITEM DESCRIPTION: CONSIDERATION OF SIGN RETROREFLECTIVITY POLICY DEPARTMENT HEAD'S APPROVAL: &AA CITY MANAGER'S APPROVAL: No comments to supplement this comments attached Recommendation: To approve the sign retroreflectivity policy. Legislative History: NA Financial Impact: Sign replacement materials as needed. Explanation: Due to Federal and State requirements the City must adopt a sign maintenance program by June 13, 2014, designed to maintain traffic sign retroreflectivity at or above specific levels. "Retroreflectivity" describes how light is reflected from a surface and returned to its original source. Traffic signs are made with retroreflective sign sheeting material that redirects headlamp illumination back toward the vehicle, thereby making the sign visible at nighttime to the vehicle driver. Improvements to nighttime visibility of traffic signs will help drivers better navigate roads at night and thus promote safety and mobility. Improvements in sign visibility will also help older drivers whose visual capabilities may be declining. However, some studies have shown that if signs are too bright there may be a loss of legibility or create a glare that limits the driver's ability to see potentially hazardous objects near or on the road. The city should recognize this potential problem when selecting sign sheeting materials. The retroreflective properties of all sign sheeting materials degrade over time making signs progressively less visible at night. As signs degrade and become less retroreflective, their effectiveness in communicating regulatory, warning, and guidance messages to road users at nighttime diminishes to the point that they cannot be seen or read in time for the driver to react properly. Thus, to maintain nighttime effectiveness, signs should be replaced before they reach the end of their useful life. Costs and Funding: Sign replacement will be paid from the General Fund — Streets Budget. "��b AJt---- - G r ant M. I W y Me A, .E. Director of Public Works Attachment — Sign Retroreflectivity Policy