news

Late last year, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration sent a letter to the county engineer saying the blue lines painted on the road to encourage traffic enforcement did not comply with federal standards and could pose a safety risk to drivers.
Dozens of New Jersey cities began painting blue lines in October after receiving permission from county officials. Officials in at least one county recommended the police chief remove the blue lines after the FHA letter, and other officials said they would follow federal guidelines for road markings.
The federal Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices on Streets and Highways states that blue paint may only be used to mark areas designated for people with disabilities.
An NJ.com article about the FHA letter received more than 220 reader comments in just two hours. Here are some of the responses:
In the states I’ve encountered, many drivers simply don’t understand (or intentionally disobey) the lane rules, and the mere presence of a blue line means little to them. But not safe? That’s ridiculous.
I travel through Union County frequently. Many streets that were recently repaved, and one street that was paved four years ago, have not had their markings restored. How can a blue line between double yellow lines be less safe than an unmarked blue line?
And use our tax dollars to pay for paint, labor, materials, and equipment. Spending our money on this must be a big part of their story. It certainly doesn’t fall into the category of citizen benefits.