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City of Seattle
Gregory J. Nickels, Mayor
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NEWS ADVISORY
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| SUBJECT: Sign of the Times: Mayor Unveils Improved Street Signs for Seattle
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
7/11/2007 11:00:00 AM |
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Alex Fryer (206) 684-8358
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Sign of the Times: Mayor Unveils Improved Street Signs for Seattle
City plans to sell old street name signs to anyone looking for a slice of Seattle history
SEATTLE - Mayor Greg Nickels today unveiled the larger, easier-to-read street name signs that will be installed at every intersection across the city. Nickels also announced a program to offer Seattle's used street name signs for sale to anyone looking to get their hands on a thin slice of city history.
The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) street sign program will make it easier for motorists and bicyclists to find their way around on dark, rainy nights. The new signs are about one-third larger than current streets signs, many of which are long past their useful life.
"When it comes to street signs, age is not a virtue," Nickels said. "Old, faded signs are more than a safety issue; they are a big frustration for anyone trying to navigate around our city. Just like potholes, we are going to take on this nuisance by installing larger and brighter signs at 17,000 intersections around Seattle."
Letters on the new signs are now six inches tall, rather than four inches. The signs also meet new federal standards and have better retro-reflectivity, meaning they reflect back to the light source, such as a moving vehicle.
Built to last about a decade, the current city street name signs are 15 years old on average, with many greatly exceeding that age.
The street sign replacement effort is part of the Bridging the Gap transportation levy. SDOT plans to replace signs at 1,020 intersections this year and complete the program within nine years.
The city is also making the old street name signs available for purchase. People looking for a unique or humorous gift or wall decoration can visit the city's Web site to see which street names signs have been replaced. The signs will sell for $5 to $15, depending on the condition. Some iconic street signs will be auctioned off to the highest bidder via eBay.
Proceeds from the sales will support other transportation improvements in the city.
For more information about the sign sale program, or to find the list of available signs, go to http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/buy_a_sign.htm, call the city warehouse at (206)684-0827, or send e-mail to: ffd.warehouse@seattle.gov.
Visit the mayor's web site at www.seattle.gov/mayor. Get the mayor's inside view on efforts to promote transportation, public safety, economic opportunity and healthy communities by signing up for The Nickels Newsletter at www.seattle.gov/mayor/newsletter_signup.htm
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