EVANS CITY — Motorists will notice more reflectivity in the street signs here as a result of a new state Department of Transportation requirement.

Public works director Norm Nelson said PennDOT in February sent letters to municipalities regarding updated standards to make street signs more reflective.

Nelson said the only way to increase reflectivity is to replace dulling signs. He and the street crew have canvassed two streets so far and found 12 signs that must be replaced to meet the new standards. He said the majority of them are on Main Street, but he expects to find several more throughout the borough in the months to come.

Police Chief Joe McCombs said at the March council meeting that as a result of the new state standards, all eight crosswalk signs must be replaced.

McCombs said the old green crosswalk signs must be replaced by the new orange models, according to PennDOT guidelines.

Nelson said the state mandate likely will be costly because parking, speed limit, stop and all other signs must be checked for the proper reflectivity and be replaced if they are too dull.

However, the mandate does not have a deadline to when the signs need to be upgraded, he noted.

He told council in March that signs also are needed at the water plant to warn trucks to slow down on Route 528. The plant has been selling water to shale gas drillers for several months.

“The crosswalk signs alone are going to cost about $120 apiece, and the other signs maybe from $30 to $60 each,” Nelson said.

No total sign count will be available until borough workers canvas all the signs, Nelson said.

He plans to contact the officials at the Seneca Valley School District to discuss who will pay for signs needed at the Evans City Elementary/Middle School.

Deborah Casadei, spokesman for PennDOT District 10, said PennDOT will not provide funds to municipalities for the sign upgrade mandate.

But she pointed out all municipalities received funds through the state’s new transportation law, Act 89.

That law will provide millions in funding to various governments over the next few years. Act 89 is funded through increases in fuel taxes, motorist fines and motorist fees.

Casadei said paying for the signs will be eased for municipalities because there is no deadline for the project.

“Its not a mandate to go out and replace them right away,” Casadei said. “No one can do that.”