Street Sign Maintenance Policy

City of Greenville
Roadway Sign Inspection and Maintenance Policy
Adopted January 25, 2012

Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to formalize and document inspection and operational procedures to maximize the effectiveness of city roadway signs and balance maximum sign effectiveness, public safety, and aesthetic performance while maintaining fiscal responsibility. This policy will conform with the current MUTCD Manual 2003 Edition with Revision Numbers 1 and 2 Incorporated, dated December 2007.  Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, or MUTCD

Goal
The goal of this policy is to confirm and formalize public works inspection, inventory, and maintenance procedures with respect to city roadway signs and to balance maximum sign effectiveness, public safety, and aesthetic performance with fiscal responsibility.

Introduction
1.  There are five different types of roadway signs.  These include:
     a.  Regulatory signs
     b. Warning signs
     c. Guide signs
     d. Miscellaneous signs
     e. Construction signs (generally temporary signs related to construction)

2)  There are currently 1750 permanent signs in Greenville.

3)  Sign priority based on Function and Classification
     a.  Priority One:  Regulatory
              Stop signs - 772 signs
              Yield signs    
              Crosswalk Pedestrian      
              Speed Limit   
              U Turns signs, No parking, Hourly Parking, Etc.
  
    b. Priority Two:  Warning
              Warning signs - 123 signs
              (includes: stop ahead signs,  deer crossing, curve ahead signs, etc.)

    c.  Priority Three:  Guide
              Information signs - 855 signs (includes: street name signs
              Miscellaneous signs - seat belt signs, Hospital, home own award signs,
              Snow routes, etc.)

INSPECTION AND INVENTORY
An inventory of all signs will be maintained by the city.  This inventory will include a history of inspection and condition of the signs.  All signs will be inspected on a rotational basis as follows:

 Priority One - Once every 12 months
 Priority Two - Once every 18 months
 Priority Three - Once every 24 months

Sign inspections will confirm that the sign is in place and will document the appearance, condition, and reflectivity of the sign as well as visibility of the sign with regard to obstructions (i.e.: trees that have grown in front of signs).  Inspections will also be done during night time hours to check reflectivity.

The person or persons conducting the sign inspection shall be trained to carry out the required duties in conformance with the city inspection procedures and shall be competent to carry out sign inspections by the Public Works Director or designee thereof.

OTHER INSPECTIONS

Public Concerns
In addition to formal inspections, citizen concerns related to city roadway signs will be documented in the city’s action form system and directed to the Public Works Director or a designee thereof.  Safety related concerns will be investigated promptly.  All concerns will be investigated in a timely manner as manpower and workload permit.

City Staff
In addition to formal inspections, city staff shall inform the Public Works Director of any concerns related to city roadway signs.  Safety related concerns will be investigated as promptly as is expedient and manpower is available.  All concerns will be investigated in a timely manner as manpower and workload permit.

Sign Cleaning
A weekly inspection of roadway signs on major arterial streets will be performed by Public Works staff to monitor the accumulation of dirt, snow, or other visual impairment.

Based on these inspections, when the  Public Works Director determines that the signs require cleaning because of accumulations of dirt or snow, a cleaning program will be initiated as resources allow.  Priority will be given to major arterials.

SIGN CONDITIONS
Signs are rated on appearance and reflectivity, and placed into one of the following four levels:

 Level One - New
 Level Two - Starting to fade and noticeable color change
 Level Three - Minor damage or very noticeable fading and color change
 Level Four - Damaged severely or badly faded and color almost gone

ACTION
When signs reach Level Three, they are replaced as workload and budget restraints warrant.  If there is a safety issue then, at the discretion of the Public Works Director or designee, the sign will be replaced as soon as is reasonable based on the availability of work force.

A sign replacement inventory shall be kept on hand to replace damaged or severely faded signs.

VISABILITY OF SIGNS
When the visibility of a sign is found to be impaired by other signs, trees, shrubs, etc. so that the effectiveness of the sign is significantly reduced, the Public Works Superintendent will dispatch crews to bring the sign back to a functional level, as manpower and workload permit. 

INTERPRETATION
The City of Greenville acknowledges that all signs cannot be maintained in perfect condition due to fiscal and practical constraints.  The timing of maintenance and inspection will be planned within the scope of this study at the discretion of the City Engineer or Public Works Director within the scope of the current operating budget, to balance safety and appearance.