Hi:
Back in 2015-November, I had sent a note to Caltrans (California Department Of
Transportation) about adding metric units to signs. There had been some dual
unit signs put up back in the 1980s but none since and new distance signs were
replaced with legacy miles only signs.
I didn't forward this right away due to my being busy with other tasks.
Anyway, I dug it up and here is their response.
....Parker Willey Jr.San Jose, CA
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: "Howe, Don E@DOT" <don.h...@dot.ca.gov>
To: "pawil...@pacbell.net" <pawil...@pacbell.net>
Cc: "Tong, Duper C@DOT" <duper.t...@dot.ca.gov>
Sent: Wednesday, November 25, 2015 2:41 PM
Subject: FW: Caltrans web feedback page
<!--#yiv7437808691 .yiv7437808691EmailQuote
{margin-left:1pt;padding-left:4pt;border-left:#800000 2px solid;}-->To: Parker
Willey jr.pawil...@pacbell.net Dear Mr. Willey: Thank you for your e-mail.
There have been various efforts to transition to the metric system over the
years. The US Department of Transportation is where Caltrans receives a goodly
majority of its highway funding. They have the following website
thatidentifies the Federal Highway Administration's position on going to the
metric system:
https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/publicroads/98septoct/metric.cfm Two key
sentences from this web article states: "The FHWA Metric Conversion Plan does
not require changing the legends on highway signs to metric units. In fact,
FHWA is currently prohibited from nationally mandating sign conversion."
Therefore, given this prohibition, before we at the California Department of
Transportation take any other initiatives to approach any changes from going
from how signs are presented only in English units (foot-pound) towards metric
units, it is importantto identify that Congress has removed all requirements
and funding support from this initiative, and we in California are moving
ahead, especially with signs, using English units. Thank you for your interest
in this matter. Sincerely, Don HoweChief, Traffic Signs BranchOffice of Traffic
EngineeringDivision of Traffic Operations, MS 36California Department of
Transportation(916) 654-2634 * don.h...@dot.ca.gov -----Original Message-----
From: Tong, Duper C@DOT
Sent: Wednesday, November 25, 2015 1:01 PM
To: Howe, Don E@DOT
Subject: Fw: Caltrans web feedback page Please respond this request. -----
Original Message -----From: Web Admin@DOTSent: Wednesday, November 25, 2015
12:38 PMTo: Tong, Duper C@DOT; Anderson, James R@DOTSubject: FW: Caltrans web
feedback page Can one of you route this to the right person for a response?
Please & thanks. -----Original Message-----From: pawil...@pacbell.net
[mailto:pawil...@pacbell.net] Sent: Wednesday, November 25, 2015 10:40 AMTo:
Web Admin@DOTSubject: Caltrans web feedback page Below is the result of your
feedback form. It was submitted by pawil...@pacbell.net on November 25th, 2015
at 10:39AM (PST). URL: http://message:
2015-11-25 Hi: I have been interested in our country
moving from legacy measures to the metric system. I was wondering about
highway distance signs. Some distance signs put up in the 1980's showed both
kilometers and legacy miles as distance to other locations. More recently, new
distance signs seem to omit kilometers. Can I ask why? If replacement signs
show both measures, then they don't have to be replaced when we go metric. Also
what can be done to expedite the change to modern metric highway signs in
California and the United States? The United States could greatly reduce the
trade deficit and barriers to trade by going metric. Thank youHappy
Thanksgiving...Parker Willey Jr.San Jose, CA email: pawil...@pacbell.net
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