FHWA Briefing

# Status of Metric Conversion

**Background:** Section 1211(d) of TEA-21 (the 1998 Federal Surface
Transportation Act) removed the September 30, 2000, deadline for metric
PS&Es for Federal-aid highway projects; therefore, metric conversion is
now optional for the State DOTs. This change resulted in the following
legislative language:

> *The Secretary shall not require that any State use or plan to use the
> metric system with respect to designing or advertising, or preparing
> plans, specifications, estimates, or other documents, for a
> Federal-aid highway project eligible for assistance under title 23,
> United States Code.*

The conference report clearly States that Section 1211(d) does not
require any State to modify its current use of the metric system for
highways.

**Talking Points:**

-   An early 2001 informal poll by the FHWA Office of Program
    Administration found 13 State DOTs were using metric units in
    project development, 32 were using inch-pound units and 7 indicated
    they were using dual units. It is very likely that the States now
    using dual units will eventually revert to inch-pound units of
    measurement. The attached table summarizes the current status of
    each State DOT including Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.

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-   While the State DOTs now have the option to convert, FHWA will
    continue to support those states that have elected to stay with
    metric units of measurement. In addition, FHWA will remain metric in
    its internal operations due to the metric conversion requirements
    for Federal agencies contained in the 1988 Omnibus Trade and
    Competitiveness Act and Executive Order 12770.

-   Mr. Kanes May 6, 1999 memo to the field reiterated the FHWA position
    of requiring publications which are intended for a broad audience,
    such as a NEPA document, to be in dual units with the SI value first
    followed by the inch-pound value in parenthesis.

Point of Contact: Edwin Okonkwo, HIPA-30, 202-366-1558

/media/pszemraj/PeterTrove/project-files/DATA/ms-word-files/big-DOC/828731.doc

November 14, 2023

  ---------------------- --------- ----------------- ---------------------
                         SI or IP  Date of Decision  Reason

  Alabama                IP        Feb 1999          State DOT decision

  Alaska                 SI                          

  Arizona                IP        April 1997        State legislature

  Arkansas               IP        March 1999        State DOT decision

  California             SI        June 1998         

  Colorado               IP                          

  Connecticut            SI                          

  Delaware               Dual                        

  District of Columbia   IP                          

  Florida                IP        Oct 1998          State DOT decision

  Georgia                IP        Sept 1998         State DOT decision

  Hawaii                 IP                          

  Idaho                  SI                          

  Illinois               IP        March 1999        State DOT decision

  Indiana                SI                          

  Iowa                   IP        Feb 1999          

  Kansas                 SI                          

  Kentucky               IP        Sept 1998         State DOT decision

  Louisiana              Dual      June 1999         State DOT decision

  Maine                  SI                          

  Maryland               IP                          

  Massachusetts          SI                          

  Michigan               IP        Sept. 2000        State Trans. Comm.

  Minnesota              IP        Feb 1999          

  Mississippi            IP        Feb 1999          State DOT decision

  Missouri               IP        May 1, 1999       State DOT decision

  Montana                IP                          

  Nebraska               IP        Feb 1999          State DOT decision

  Nevada                 SI                          

  New Hampshire          SI                          

  New Jersey             Dual                        

  New Mexico             IP        July 2000         State DOT decision

  New York               SI                          

  North Carolina         IP        Jan 1999          State DOT Decision

  North Dakota           IP                          

  Ohio                   IP        Oct 1998          State DOT decision

  Oklahoma               IP                          

  Oregon                 SI                          

  Pennsylvania           Dual                        

  Puerto Rico            Dual                        

  Rhode Island           IP                          

  South Carolina         IP        May 1997          Highway Commission

  South Dakota           IP        June 1998         SD DOT Sec

  Tennessee              IP        Sept 1998         TNDOT Sec

  Texas                  IP        August 1998       TXDOT Sec

  Utah                   SI                          

  Vermont                Dual                        

  Virginia               IP        Feb 1999          State legislature

  Washington             Dual                        

  West Virginia          IP        Oct 1997          Highway Commission

  Wisconsin              IP        June 1998?        WIDOT Sec

  Wyoming                IP        Jan 1999          Trans Com.
  ---------------------- --------- ----------------- ---------------------