[abduhl]

Most items installed on a transportation project must meet the standard specifications for the state which generally incorporates federal requirements as needed. Anything installed must be "per spec" and manufacturers or contractors installed items that are not per spec can be grounds for a refusal of payment or refusal of acceptance.

Specifications compliance is solely the responsibility of the contractor (who generally passes it on to the manufacturer).

In order to install your lighting the contractor would have to prove specification compliance, include the additional cost of the lights, and still win the low-bid process that almost all state and federal transportation projects are subject to. Alternatively, the contractor could win the project without the new lights and then come back with a value-added change order and these are not uncommon in my experience.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that it's a good idea, it just isn't feasible in the field in my opinion.

[wwosik]

Well, what if specifications included something like minimum heat output? If government / society wants it, why wouldn't they include it in the specs?

[tghw]

Contractors don't spec roadway lighting, engineers do. The engineers provide guidelines that are (or should be) easy for the contractors to follow. Likewise, the DOT asking for bids could require certain types of lighting.

It's not always a quick process, but we do get innovations with some regularity.

[waterlesscloud]

So we'll never have any new lights?

[SwellJoe]

Nope. No new technology of any sort is allowed in government ever. No smartphones or tablets, because they don't meet the specifications for a computer. No electric vehicles because they don't meet the existing specification for automobiles that run on gas or diesel. Internet will never meet the specifications for a telephone system being installed into a government office...obviously that'll never fly.

Give up on anything new. Right now.