About

State Regulators Meet in St. Louis

State Regulators Meet in St. Louis

OAAA staff and member companies joined state officials at the American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials (AASHTO) meeting in St. Louis, MO, last week.
Numerous issues affecting outdoor advertising controls were on the agenda. Of significance, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) reported that its long-awaited traffic safety study is still undergoing internal review. No date has been set for release of the research report (it was originally due mid-2010).

On April 8 FHWA released a memorandum concerning alternative energy devices on billboards, including banning such devices on nonconforming signs. OAAA sent an objection to FHWA on May 3. Due to state DOT objections and other stakeholder concerns raised at the AASHTO meeting, FHWA officials said a "clarifying" memo to allow solar panels and wind turbines to be placed on billboards, including certain nonconforming signs, will be sent.

FHWA announced that the purpose of the memo was to support renewable energy efforts by the Obama Administration and offer a reminder that new lighting devices cannot be added to an unlit nonconforming billboard.

Michigan DOT's Matt DeLong gave a report concerning the findings from FHWA's 2010 International Outdoor Advertising Scan, which is expected to be available soon. The focus of findings and conclusions centers on new research projects, including a cost allocation study of billboard permit fees. Approximately $110,000 has been approved for this project.