Don't be so sure of that. Standards change all the time. By the time the
Government has the courage to change to metric again the Standards will
be outdated several times over. Many States that reverted never fully
converted in the first place.

The first time we did it, industry didn't really take notice until it
was too late and many States had converted and the laws were passed.
Once they found out though it didn't take too much lobbying to get the
law rescinded. The lesson to learn is that we can not do this piecemeal.
Its all or nothing. Every industry needs to convert and the Government
has to have the courage to say we are doing so despite those who object
(like that will ever happen in our present system).  

As far as DOT's I don't think we will see any national attempt to go
metric again until this generation is gone and the memory of the great
failure of ISTEA and TEA-21 (metrically speaking) is long gone.

With no US plan, not even a long term one, to convert I hope that we in
NY can maintain our present footing and withstand the pressure to
revert.

Sorry to be so pessimistic, perhaps its more just realistic. 

Howard Bessel,
Metric Manger
New York State Department of Transportation, Region 4

Howard Ressel
Project Design Engineer, Region 4
(585) 272-3372

>>> "Phil Chernack" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 08/23/04 03:04PM >>>
Unfortunately that document is 6 years old.  Since then, most state
DOT's
bowing to pressure from their local construction companies have
reverted
back.  States like California have mandated local agencies submit plans
and
use SI on their projects so there is consistency for all contractors. 


I'm sure states that have reverted will not discard their metric
standards
(like they did their USC ones) as they are probably keeping an eye open
on
when the feds change course and require SI once again. You know it's
bound
to happen.

Phil

-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf
Of David King
Sent: Monday, August 23, 2004 2:31 PM
To: U.S. Metric Association
Subject: [USMA:30838] US road map

http://www.tfhrc.gov/pubrds/septoct98/metric.htm 

Progress in metricating US roads

-- 
David King

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