U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
400 Seventh St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590

Refer to: HOTO-1

October 6, 2000

Mr. David Vieth
Wisconsin Department of Transportation
Division of Transportation Infrastructure Development
4802 Sheboygan Avenue, Room 120B
Madison, WI 53707-7910

Dear Mr. Vieth:

Thank you for your September 5 letter to the Office of Transportation Operations (HOTO-1) concerning your response to our letter of June 27 regarding experimentation with Wisconsin Enhanced Highway Reference Signs.

We approve your request to experiment. However, be aware that when we go forward with a proposed addition to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for enhanced reference markers, we anticipate proposing that cardinal directions be spelled out. We do agree with you now that the cardinal direction should be on top similar to other installations. Please add a question to your evaluation on whether motorists comprehend the acronym for the cardinal direction and does it matter.

Please contact Mr. Harold Lunenfeld if you have questions. His address is: Federal Highway Administration, Office of Transportation Operations (HOTO-1), 400 7th Street, SW, Room 3408, Washington, DC 20590. His telephone number is 202-366-6598.

For recordkeeping purposes, the Federal Highway Administration has assigned an official ruling number to your request. The number and title of your request is II-248(Expr.)–"Wisconsin Enhanced Highway Reference Signs."

Sincerely yours,

Shelley J. Row, P.E.
Director, Office of Transportation Operations