Signing and Pavement Marking

Changes in the 2009 Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices

(MUTCD)

Arizona Department of Transportation

Adoption of 2009 MUTCD • Adopted by FHWA

December 2009 (nationwide)

• Adopted by ADOT January 13, 2012 (state of Arizona)

Arizona MUTCD Supplement • Modifies MUTCD for

Arizona practice • Applies to all Arizona

roadways open to publiic travel

• Available on ADOT website (combined MUTCD + Supp)

• http://www.azdot.gov/docs/default-source/business/manual-on-uniform-traffic-control-devices-(mutcd)---2009-edition.pdf

2009 MUTCD + AZ Supplement • New project plans developed

under new MUTCD + Supplement

• Policies, specifications, standard drawings update well underway

• New 2009-compliant ADOT Manual of Approved Signs nearly complete

Manual of Approved Signs (MOAS)

• Includes standard signs approved for use in Arizona

• Includes unique Arizona-specific signs

• Applies statewide

• http://www.azdot.gov/business/engineering-and-construction/traffic/manual-of-approved-signs

Part 2 - Signs Arizona-Specific Sign Codes

• All Arizona-specific signs (ones not in Federal MUTCD, but are in MOAS) are given new codes • 2009 MUTCD added so many new signs

that the added signs duplicated existing AZ sign codes

• All AZ-specific signs changed to "100-series" codes

Part 2 - Signs Arizona-Specific Sign Codes

Old code

R9-11

S4-5

New code

R9-101

S4-101

“85th Percentile” • New requirements to evaluate 85th percentile speeds

in addition to posted or statutory speeds • Written into many new Standards:

• Sign spacing • Sign placement • No-passing zones • Traffic signals • Work zones

• May need to document on traffic plans which speed was used for design, & why it was selected

• Agencies may have to modify policies

Part 2 - Signs Minimum Retroreflectivity

• New minimum retroreflectivity standards • Based on sheeting types • Minimum contrast levels required

• Compliance procedures - can use one or more of: • Visual nighttime inspection • Measure with reflectometer • Replace at end of expected life • Replace all signs in area/corridor • Test “control signs” in lieu of all signs

• FHWA: agencies need to develop program to upgrade signs

Part 2 - Signs Sign Sizes

• New mandatory minimum sizes for guide signs (conventional & freeway)

• Larger mandatory minimum sizes for signs: • On multi-lane streets • At intersections with higher-speed streets

Part 2 - Signs Sign Sizes

• New categories for single lane & multi-lane roadways • Larger sign sizes for many applications • New minimum size tables for guide signs

Part 2 - Signs Turn Lane Signs

• Where used, supplemental plaques are now required to be mounted above post-mounted turn lane signs

Part 2 - Signs New Signs

• Many new signs added in 2009 edition • Almost 30 new signs in R3 series

alone • ADOT MOAS not including all signs -

some not used in Arizona (toll roads, managed lanes, jughandles)

Summary of MUTCD Requirements

R3-

R3-

R3-

R3-

Mounting

Fewer than 3 Thru Lanes 3 or More Thru Lanes

1 Turn Lane 2 Turn Lanes 1 Turn Lane 2 Turn Lanes

Overhead Structure

R3-5 [1] R3-6 [1]

R3-5 [1] R3-6 [1] R3-8 [1]

R3-5 [3] R3-6 [4]

R3-5 [3] R3-6 [4]

Post-Mounted

R3-5 [1] R3-6 [1] R3-7 [2]

R3-6 [1] R3-8 [1]

R3-7 [2]

R3-8 [5]

[1] – Sec. 2B.19, ¶ 07 [2] – Sec. 2B.20, ¶ 03 [3] – Sec. 2B.20, ¶ 04

OTHER REFERENCES Sec. 2B.19, ¶ 07 & 08 Sec. 2B.22, ¶ 03 & 04

[4] – Sec. 2B.21, ¶ 05 [5] – Sec. 2B.22, ¶ 05

R3-7 R3-7 R3-8

R3-5

R3-6

R3-5

R3-6

R3-8

R3-7 R3-7

(slide courtesy of Barbara Schwab)

Part 2 - Signs ONE WAY Signs

• New Standards for ONE WAY signs on divided roadways

• Compliance date December 2019

Part 2 - Signs ONE WAY Sign Sizes

• MUTCD is ambiguous on sign sizes

• ADOT resolution: sign size defined by roadway viewing the ONE WAY sign, not the one-way roadway

Part 2 - Signs Warning Signs – Table 2C-4

• Condition A (speed reduction or lane change) modified in Arizona Supplement

Part 2 - Signs Curve Signing – Table 2C-5

• Significant change in signing practice • Signs, large arrows, chevrons now required in many situations • Revised PGP may change posted advisory speeds • Compliance date: December 2019

Part 2 - Signs Chevrons – Table 2C-6

• New specifications on chevron spacing • Based on speed and radius • May require closer spacing in new & replacement

installations

Part 2 - Signs Upper / Lower Case Lettering

• 2009 MUTCD: Guide sign destinations (including street names) MUST be upper/lower case

• Requires taller sign panel • Not a big impact for some agencies • Will impact agencies that own large

numbers of residential / collector streets

Part 2 - Signs Street Name Signs

• New street name signs: must use upper & lower case lettering (no “all-caps”)

Part 2 - Signs Sign Arrows

• Loop arrows no longer allowed • Curved-stem arrows: Only at roundabouts

• New designations for arrows • Type A & B (still the same)

• for freeways • Type C – now angled arrow

• Type D – for conventional signs

Part 2 - Signs Roundabout Signing

• New standard designs for roundabout signs

• Map signs • Directional signs • Regulatory signs • Warning signs

Part 2 - Signs Freeway Signing

• Now two major types of freeway guide signs for multiple-lane exits and major interchanges

Part 2 - Signs Signs At Option-Lane Exits

• Will require much wider & taller signs • 40-50% taller, up to 300% wider

• Signs require new larger support structures

• No technical guidance issued yet

Part 2 - Signs HOV & Left Exit Signing

• New requirements for added HOV signing

• Left exits shall have yellow LEFT EXIT tab - 2014 compliance date

• HOV guide signing shall be predominantly green with black/white HOV info

Part 2 - Signs Services Signing

• New & revised D9 series symbol signs

Part 2 - Signs Recreational & Cultural Signing

• Completely new system of symbols • Symbols are not consistent with ones

used on other sign types • Do not use R&C signing if a standard

sign will work

Part 3 – Markings Dotted Lines

• Dotted lines now required in advance of: • Mandatory exits • Mandatory (“trap”) turn lanes • Deceleration or acceleration lanes

Part 3 – Markings Passing Lanes

• Buffer required for “oncoming” passing lanes

Part 3 – Markings Crosswalk Markings

• New criteria for crosswalk markings • Based on extensive research

• Advance yield line recommended at midblock locations

Part 3 – Markings Roundabouts

• New recommended marking patterns for roundabouts • Single-lane • Multi-lane

• Many new figures depicting nearly all likely situations

Part 3 – Markings Delineators

• 2003 MUTCD: • top of reflector should be at least 4 ft above the

roadway edge • 2009 MUTCD:

• bottom of reflector should be at least 4 ft above the roadway edge

• Can make a big difference in height • Height can affect durability of flexible delineators

• FHWA: OKd statewide exception • 4 ft tall flexible delineators - durable & visible

Next MUTCD • FHWA announced they're moving

forward with new edition of MUTCD • Rulemaking and draft anticipated fall

2014 • 6 month public review & comment • 18 month FHWA review (typ. 10,000+

comments) • new MUTCD edition in late 2016?

Next MUTCD • Possible new content:

• Splitting chapters into sub-chapters • More restrictions on phone numbers on signs • Changing existing Guidance statements to

Standard • Adding acknowledgement signs • new changeable message signs must be full-color • Removing recreational and cultural signs

(prohibited outside of parks) • More restrictions on memorial signs • Greatly expanded content on colored pavement

ADOT Technical Issues Meeting

• Held monthly at ADOT HRDC • Third or fourth Tuesday at 10:00

• ADOT, local agency, consultant staff • Discuss traffic issues and concerns • Large e-mail distribution list • Want to be on the list? Contact me

Questions?