News & Views: August 16, 2012

DOT: Up to 280 Jobs Created with $20 Million Paving Project
New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Joan McDonald recently announced that construction is under way on $19.8 million in work to resurface nearly 78 miles of state roads in Oneida, Oswego, Hamilton, Herkimer, Fulton and Montgomery counties through Governor Andrew M. Cuomo's NY Works program. It's expected that up to 280 jobs will be created.
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A New Generation of Street Signs
Mixed-case signs, mandated by the Federal Highway Administration, are the wave of the future. To date, about 11,000 street name signs have been installed around all five boroughs (NYC) to meet national standards in typography and surface reflectivity. Often, the new signs replace those that were scheduled to be swapped out as a matter of routine maintenance. They are also installed when streets themselves are under repair or reconstruction. But sometimes, the new signs appear to have replaced perfectly serviceable older signs with all-uppercase lettering. In any case, there is no telling when all 250,000 street name signs in New York City will have been changed. 
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Massachusetts: Transportation Bill Earmarks Upgrades to Commonwealth's Roads, Bridges
Gov. Deval Patrick called the $1.5 billion transportation bond bill he signed Thursday what the state needs to strengthen its economy and "quality of life for the long term.”

Every Day Counts Initiative: High Friction Surface Treatment
Maintaining the appropriate amount of pavement friction is critical for safe driving. In locations where drivers may brake excessively; for example, when going around curves, down hills or steep grades, or when approaching an intersection; the road surface can become prematurely polished, reducing the pavement friction and allowing vehicles to skid when the drivers brake. Drivers may also be speeding or distracted, contributing to the high-crash rates in critical locations. Wet road surfaces can also reduce pavement friction and cause skidding or hydroplaning. 
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