Speaking of signs. it seems Florence has run into issues with ALDOT and we all know ALDOT are the experts in directional signs.
This from late last year Florence Times Daily article
State transportation officials have determined that navigational signs meant to help visitors in their travels through Florence do not meet state code and cannot be used on state-owned roads.
The city has spent $136,000 for construction and installation of 24 navigational signs over the past seven years.
Fourteen signs already installed must be removed from state roads, based on a letter sent to Florence Mayor Bobby Irons from the state transportation department.
The city previously asked that the signs be exempted from meeting state standards because of the negative effect it could have on the planned navigational system. The state denied that request.
"We're disappointed that we don't have any flexibility here, especially since the plan has been in effect for so long," Irons said.
The ruling states that the signs do not meet federal and state regulations, including a lack of reflective background, misplaced arrows, and incorrect color and type font, said James Brown, division engineer for the state transportation department.
In the letter dated Tuesday, transportation officials also said the city's gateway signs, which have been installed at several entrances to the city, are too large. The signs are more than five times larger than the maximum size allowed by the state.
In addition to the 14 signs that have already been installed, city officials said 10 more are stored at Mid-South Signs in Sheffield. The ruling requires that signs installed on state-owned property must be removed, but the ruling does not affect navigational signs on city-owned property.
City leaders say they will try to make needed corrections that would put the signs in compliance with state standards or they will try to find city-owned property to install them.
Brown said the state will request removal of the signs, and he said he's unsure if the city could fix the signs to meet state requirements.
The sign requirements are part of the state's effort to keep directional signs uniform across the state, Brown said.
"They know how to interpret (the sign), and it isn't different in a different city, town or county," he said.
The signs are part of the city's plan to revamp its street navigation. The program started seven years ago with the city's former administration and was meant to point motorists to tourist attractions and points of interest in the city, such as Veterans Park, the historic downtown and the Indian Mounds.
The planning group from 2000 included the then city planner, mayor, city council, planning commission and a 14-member steering committee. The committee included a representative from the Alabama Department of Transportation.
"I'm disappointed with the ruling; the highway department was involved in our initial planning and signed off on it," Irons said.
The transportation department's representative on the steering committee, Lance Taylor, said he attended only one meeting with the city.
"They had done some preliminary work," said Taylor, who now works at the state transportation's office in Birmingham. "I don't recall us talking about specifics of the signs."
Members of the way-finding committee met Wednesday and discussed possible options for the signs.
Scott Carrier, way-finding chairman and city councilman, suggested that city officials visit Montgomery to defend the city sign program.
"We need to tell our own story of Florence, and we may need to go to Montgomery to do this," Carrier said. "Otherwise, it's going to be 'no,' and 'no' is not a good answer."
Another option discussed was to install the signs on city property, thus avoiding state regulations. City Planner Melissa Bailey said the ultimate goal is to finish the project, "If that means we need to find alternative locations for these signs, then so be it.
"It wasn't about aesthetics. It was truly about way-finding."
Bud Price, one of the original members from the steering committee, suggested that way-finding committee members look at the feasibility of alternative sites to place the signs.
The committee is also trying to determine if the gateway signs can be reclassified as billboards, which fall under different regulations.
"It's very disappointing, especially with the amount of money that we spent and to find out that we weren't in compliance when we thought we were in compliance," Irons said.
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