Use the Blanket Replacement Method

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) requires public agencies to comply with minimum retroreflectivity requirements for their traffic signs. Agencies can meet these requirements by using a retroreflectivity assessment or management method to ensure signs are above minimum retroreflectivity levels. One method agencies can use is the Blanket Replacement method. The Blanket Replacement method replaces a group of signs when the shortest expected lifespan of a sign in the groups ends. Signs can be grouped many ways, including by location or sheeting type. For more information on sign retroreflectivity, see Maintaining Traffic Sign Retroreflectivity.

There is also a feature for the Control Group method. The method replaces signs based on control signs that. To use the Control Group method, see Use the Control Group Method. To use other retroreflectivity management methods in Roadsoft, see Retroreflectivity Management

Open the Retro Blanket Group Manager

Select the Asset Management option from the Main Menu Options.

Select the Sign Management option.

Select the Retro Blanket Group Manager… option.

Add a Blanket Group

With the Retro Blanket Group Manager window open:

Select the Create a new Blanket Group button.

Select the Description field to enter a description.

Select the Replacement Year field to enter the year the shortest sign life in the group ends.

Select the Memo field to enter a memo.

Select the Save button to save the group or select the Cancel button to discard it.

Add Signs to a Blanket Replacement Group Using Filters

With the Retro Blanket Group Manager window open:

Select the Drop-down menu to select a blanket group.

Select the Add Signs button.

Select the From Criteria option.

Only signs with a Pay Item Code appear in the selection window. To add a code, see Edit Sign Data.

Select the Open button to select a filter.

To add or remove filters, see Use the Filter Builder.

Select a filter name.

Select the OK button to use the filter or select the Cancel button to close the window.

Select the Apply as Filter button.

Select a button.

Append to Selection – Adds signs that meet the criteria to a list of any current selections.

Replace Selection – Selects only signs that meet the criteria.

Select the X button to close the window.

The Assign Signs to Retro Blanket Group window will open when the Sign Filter Builder window closes.

Select the Check Box button next to desired signs.

Selected signs have checked boxes.

Right click anywhere on the sign list to access additional selection options.

Check All – Select this option to check all signs.

Uncheck All – Select this option to uncheck all signs.

Check Highlighted Signs – Select this option to check all selected signs.

Uncheck Highlighted Signs – Select this option to uncheck all selected signs.

Select the Assign button to add selected signs to the blanket group or select the Cancel button to close the window.

Select the Yes button to confirm the selection or select the No button to return to the Assign Signs to Retro Blanket Group window.

Add Signs to a Blanket Replacement Group Using Selections

With the Retro Blanket Group Manager window open:

Select the Sign layer from the main Roadsoft window.

Select supports from the Map module.

Select the Retro Blanket Group Manager window.

Select the Drop-down menu to select a blanket group.

Select the Add Signs button.

Select the From Selection option.

Only signs with a Pay Item Code appear in the selection window. To add a code, see Edit Sign Data.

Select the Check Box button next to desired signs.

Selected signs have checked boxes.

Right click anywhere on the sign list to access additional selection options.

Check All – Select this option to check all signs.

Uncheck All – Select this option to uncheck all signs.

Check Highlighted Signs – Select this option to check all selected signs.

Uncheck Highlighted Signs – Select this option to uncheck all selected signs.

Select the Assign button to add the signs to the blanket group, or select the Cancel button to close the window

Select the Yes button to confirm the signs or select the No button to return to the Assign Signs to Retro Blanket Group window.

Remove Signs from a Blanket Method Group

With the Retro Blanket Group Manager window open:

Select the Drop-down menu to select a blanket group.

Select the Check Box button next to desired signs.

Selected signs have checked boxes.

Right click anywhere on the sign list to access additional selection options.

Check All – Select this option to check all signs.

Uncheck All – Select this option to uncheck all signs.

Check Highlighted Signs – Select this option to check all selected signs.

Uncheck Highlighted Signs – Select this option to uncheck all selected signs.

Signs – Select this option to uncheck all selected signs.

Select the Remove button.

Select the Yes button to remove signs from the blanket group or select the No button to close the window.

Edit a Blanket Group

With the Retro Blanket Group Manager window open:

Select the Drop-down menu to select a blanket group.

Select the Edit the current Blanket Group information button.

Select the Description field to enter a description.

Select the Replacement Year field to enter the year the shortest sign life in the blanket group ends.

Select the Memo field to enter a memo.

Select the Save button to save any changes made, or select the Cancel button to discard them.

Delete a Blanket Group

With the Retro Blanket Group Manager window open:

Select the Drop-down menu to select a blanket group.

Select the Delete the Current Blanket Group button.

Select the Yes button to delete the blanket group, or select the No button to close the window.

Edit a Sign’s Blanket Method Group Information

Select the Sign layer.

Select the desired sign from the Map module.

Select the View Module button.

If there are multiple supports selected:

Select the road with the desired sign on it from the Roads with Selected Supports section.

Select the desired support from the Selected Supports section.

The Selected Support section’s full name is “Selected Supports on [Name of selected road]”.

Select the desired sign from the sign list.

Select the Retroreflectivity tab.

Manage the amount of tabs onscreen by “pinning” and “unpinning” them. For help pining windows, see Pin & Unpin Windows.

Select the Check Box button to indicate if this sign uses a blanket group.

Select the Edit button from the Blanket Group field.

Select the Plus button next to the Blanket Group field to see more information about the blanket group.

Choose an action.

Select a different blanket Group.

Select a blanket group.

Select the OK button to use the new group, or select the Cancel button to close the window.

Add a blanket group.

Select the New button.

Select the Description field to enter a description.

Select the Replacement Year field to enter the year the shortest sign life in the group ends.

Select the Memo field to enter a memo.

Select the Save button to save any changes, or select the Cancel button to discard them.

To add signs to the new blanket group, see the Add Signs to a Blanket Group Using Filters or Add Signs to a Blanket Group Using Selections sections above.

Select the OK button.

Edit a blanket group.

Select a blanket group.

Select the Edit button.

Select the Description field to edit the description.

Use the Drop-down list to select the group’s current condition.

Select the Memo field to edit it.

Select the Save button to save any changes, or select the Cancel button to discard them.

Select the OK button.

Delete a blanket group.

Select a blanket group.

Select the Delete button.

Select the Yes button to delete the group, or select the No button to close the window.

Select the OK button.

Select the Save button to save any changes, or select the Undo button to discard them.

To edit blue text fields under the Plus button in the blanket Group field, see the Edit a Blanket Group section above.