Florida Department of Transportation
JEB BUSH
GOVERNOR
DENVER J. STUTLER, JR.
SECRETARY

605 Suwannee Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0450
October 5, 2005

Federal Highway Administration
Office of Traffic Operations
Attention: Mr. Scott Weinwright
400 Seventh Street, SW, HOTO
Washington, DC 20590

RE: REQUEST FOR PERMISSION TO EXPERIMENT USING A "RECTANGULAR-SHAPED BEACON"

Dear Mr. Weinwright:

I have enclosed a copy of a booklet with a detailed letter from the City of Pinellas Park, Florida written to Mr. Gary Thompson, District Traffic Operations Engineer, of our District 7, located in Tampa. His District has agreed to allow this new "Rectangular-shaped beacon" for use in his District and is further encouraged of its prospects in notifying traffic of existing warning signs, in particular those used for Pedestrian and School Crosswalks.

It is the intent of the Department of Transportation, for the State of Florida to support and sponsor this request and participate in this application for a Federal "Experimental Permit" under the guidelines of Section 1A.10 - Interpretations, Experimentations, Changes and Interim Approvals.

It is further requested that the Florida, Department of Transportation, be granted additional "Site Locations" under this Experimental Permit within the State of Florida for other locations throughout our State where similar or new requests will certainly be generated.

Enclosed is the needed criteria for a request of an Experimental Permit from your office, it is in booklet form. The complete letter and booklet from Mr. Rick Eggers, Traffic Director of the Traffic Division for the City of Pinellas Park clearly outlines the need for a Federal Experimental Permit using this new device.

We look forward to your offices review, and hopefully your positive response to our agency's request. If there is anything that my office can further supply to you in hopes that we may streamline this process, please don't hesitate to just give me a call. It is the State of Florida's belief that this concept of change for an additional flashing beacon, yet rectangle in design, is sound, and that its potential benefits will allow many of our State's Municipalities a new cost effective and commanding traffic control device.

Sincerely

Mark C. Wilson, P.E.
Deputy State Traffic Operations Engineer
MCW/pk