West Peoria Residents' Association

   By 2012 West Peoria’s stop and yield signs will be replaced by signs that will be more visible at night.  These replacements will be made possible by a $10,000 state grant that Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) helped to secure from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, according to West Peoria Mayor James Dillon.     First, the grant money will be used to provide about 200 new stop ($48 each) and yield signs (slightly less than $48).  Probably hundreds of street name signs must also be replaced.     The Federal Highway Administration has mandated that communities nationwide replace their street signs by 2012.  According to city officials, drivers--especially older drivers--find the old signs more difficult to read at night because the headlights of newer cars direct the light straight and down instead of spreading the light out.     Communities nationwide are being mandated by the Federal Highway Administration to replace their street signs by 2012 with signs that are more visible at night, city officials said.  Other grants to help in this effort may be available, according to Dillon.