We’ve written before that Texas and California are considering whether to have their state transportation agencies to sell advertising on their own traffic safety signs.  A career Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) employee speaks against the proposals in “Highway traffic signs are for public purposes, not for commercial advertising.”  Any proposal to put commercials in federal freeway rights of way will require FHWA approval.  The FHWA has denied requests to put advertising in the public right of way for decades.

The Petroleum Marketers association of America has sent a letter to the FHWA opposing the commercialization of the public rights of way.  You can read a copy of the letter here.

Insider’s take: The purpose of highway traffic signs is to guide, warn and regulate traffic and to deliver emergency information. Anything which gets in the way of accomplishing this purpose needs to be opposed.

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