El Monte residents may have noticed a slight, yet noticeable, change around the City recently that has helped them navigate around town a bit easier and maybe, even, a bit more pleasantly: new street signs.
The City of El Monte Public Works Maintenance staff has been hard at work installing more than 1,400 new street sign poles throughout the City to swap out existing signs that were in poor condition, not compliant with federal regulations, and in need of replacement.
“The installation of these new street signs will help police, ambulances and residents identify street names and block numbers a whole lot easier,” said El Monte Councilman Juventino “J” Gomez. “While the aesthetic qualities of the new signs are a plus, the greater issue behind this move is public safety and federal compliance.”
In January 2008, the Federal Rule on Sign Retroreflectivity went into effect to ensure city street-name signs were compliant with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). The MUTCD states that all new street signs must be made with retroreflective surfaces to reflect light emitted from automobile headlights off the signs and back to the automobile light, which makes it more visible to drivers.
In addition to improving retroreflective visibility, the new street name signs will feature larger lettering and will be held up by decorative poles. City maintenance staff also removed poles that were cylindrical, galvanized or made from wood and replaced with unistrut, which is formed from metal sheet and shaped in such a way to provide additional stiffness and allows for mounting.
“This project is intended to make the streets of El Monte safer and easier to navigate,” said El Monte City Councilwoman Norma Macias. “Installing more legible, retroreflective signs is more than just a facelift; it’s a necessity.”
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