Ardmore can keep small century-old signs

    Federal officials have decided that a tony Philadelphia suburb no longer has to replace the small green-and-gold signs that have marked its streets for almost a century.

    The Philadelphia Inquirer says the decision by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood came after lobbying by U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey and officials of Lower Merion Township.

    Toomey thanked LaHood in a statement Tuesday and said the decision would also save the township money.

    New Federal Highway Administration guidelines require street signs to be replaced by January 2018 with modern reflective signs that are easier to see, especially at night. The township said replacing the cast-iron signs, which date back to 1913, would cost $1.5 million.

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    Other suburban communities have complained about the requirements, and transportation officials are now weighing possible revisions.

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