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The 2009 Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
(MUTCD)
Arizona Department of Transportation
(Brief) Highlights for Arizona
Practitioners
New 2009 MUTCD• 9 Parts
• (down from 10 in 2003)• 816 pages
• (up 10% from 2003)• Substantial amount of
new & revised material• Adopted in Arizona (as
modified by state Supplement) on January 13, 2012
23 CFR 655.603 Substantial Conformance
• State supplements or MUTCDs shall conform to all Standard statements in the Federal MUTCD• unless state law applies
• All changes to Guidance needed written justification
• FHWA Division Office made determination if variance was allowed
Applicability of MUTCD• MUTCD now applies to ALL roads open
to public travel• even if owned & operated by a private
entity (developer, association, etc.)• Exception: Parking lots & aisles
• No enforcement mechanism by ADOT
Compliance• Older MUTCDs (1930s-2003):
• All new and existing devices must be in compliance by a specific date
• 2009 MUTCD:• Only new & reconstructed devices must be
compliant with new MUTCD• unless a specific compliance date is specified
Compliance Dates• 2009 MUTCD As Published:• 58 separate specific compliance dates• Summer 2011 Rulemaking:• Proposed reduction to 12 compliance
dates• Not yet approved – still in review
MUTCD Formatting
• All paragraphs are now numbered in 2009 MUTCD• Standards: Bold• Guidance: Italicized• Option / Support: plain text
Part 1 - GeneralStandards & Engineering
Judgment• New MUTCD:
• Definition of “standard” changed• Ability to apply engineering judgment
changed• Arizona Supplement: returns MUTCD to
2003 definitions & meanings
Part 1 - GeneralDefinitions
• If discrepancy between state law (ARS) & MUTCD, state law applies
• Definitions changed in AZ Supplement:• Bicycle• Crosswalk• Crosswalk Lines• Highway• Intersection• Pedestrian
• Roadway• Sidewalk • Traffic• Traffic Control Signal • Vehicle
“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 speedwas used for design, & why it was selected
• ADOT: Will be addressed in PGPs• Local agencies: may have to modify policies
Part 2 - SignsMinimum 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
Part 2 - SignsSign Sizes
• New categories for single lane & multi-lane roadways• Larger sign sizes for many applications• New minimum size tables for guide signs
Part 2 - SignsONE WAY Signs
• New Standards for ONE WAY signs on divided roadways
• Compliance date December 2019
Part 2 - SignsWarning Signs – Table 2C-4
• Condition A (speed reduction or lane change) modified in Arizona Supplement
Part 2 - SignsCurve 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
Part 2 - SignsChevrons – Table 2C-6
• New specifications on chevron spacing• Based on speed and radius• May require closer spacing in new & replacement
installations
Part 2 - SignsUpper / Lower Case Lettering
• New guide signs: must use upper & lower case lettering for destinations• (no “all-caps”)
Part 2 - SignsRoundabout Signing
• New standard designs for roundabout signs
• Map signs• Directional signs• Regulatory signs• Warning signs
Part 2 - SignsSigns 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 - SignsRecreational & 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 – MarkingsDotted Lines
• Dotted lines now required in advance of:• Mandatory exits• Mandatory (“trap”) turn lanes• Deceleration or acceleration lanes
• Short compliance date (Dec 2016)• Significant impacts:
• Added cost• Obliteration of existing markings• Driver expectation
Part 3 – MarkingsCrosswalk Markings
• New criteria for crosswalk markings• Based on extensive research
• Advance yield line recommended at midblock locations
Part 3 – MarkingsRoundabouts
• New recommended marking patterns for roundabouts• Single-lane• Multi-lane
• Many new figures depicting nearly all likely situations
Part 4 – SignalsSignal Warrants
• New warrants for intersections adjacent to rail crossings
• Pedestrian warrant volumes changed• easier to justify signals for pedestrian traffic
Part 4 – SignalsSignal Face Placement
• Protected left-turn signal faces must be over the left turn lane
• Protected-permissive left-turn signal faces must be between the left turn lane & left lane
• Speeds above 45 mph: 1 signal face for each lane
Part 4 – SignalsFlashing Yellow Arrow
• New optional flashing yellow arrow for protected-permissive operation
• Extensive research & experimentation
• Good driver understanding• Can solve some problems
(including “yellow trap”)
Part 4 – SignalsPedestrian Walking Speed
• New recommended pedestrian walking speed of 3.5 ft/s for clearance intervals• from near curb to far curb• or near curb to median
• Total walk + clearance time must be greater than 3 ft/s walking speed from detector to far curb (or median)
Part 4 – SignalsCountdown Pedestrian Signals• All new pedestrian
signals must be countdown type• existing non-countdown
ped signals can remain• ADOT project to
upgrade to countdown ped signals statewide
Part 4 – SignalsPedestrian Hybrid Beacon
• ADOT developing policy on use
• Can be placed at intersections• (per proposed
AZ Supplement)
Part 6 - Temporary Traffic Control
• No major changes• Continuing requirements for pedestrian
accommodation• Changeable message signs: Color must
match message• Regulatory = white• Warning = yellow
Part 6 - Temporary Traffic ControlHigh-Visibility Apparel
• Required for all workers within public right of way
• Many agencies already compliant
• Could create liability problems if compliance is inconsistent or not documented
Part 7 – SchoolsSchool Crossings
• AZ Supplement includes Arizona-specific devices in accordance with ARS 28-797
• Arizona Traffic Safety For School Areas Guidelines has additional details
Part 8 – Railroad & Light RailPassive Crossings
• STOP or YIELD sign (and Stop Ahead or Yield Ahead sign) is now required to be added if no gates or lights
• Devices may need approval by railroad
Part 9 – Bicycle Facilities
• New signs & markings for lanes too narrow for side-by-side travel
• New series of bicycle-specific guide signs
2009 MUTCD Availability• Electronic version available from:
• http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov• Free (27 MB download)
• Hardcopy version available from:• AASHTO, ITE, ATSSA• $100-$120 per copy
• Users are responsible for noting where Arizona Supplement replaces MUTCD content
2009 MUTCD Availability• Arizona Supplement now
available as an electronic PDF on ADOT Traffic Group website
• ADOT has created an electronic version of the MUTCD (with Arizona Supplement inserted) as a single PDF document• should be available soon on Traffic
website
Arizona MUTCD Supplement• Revisions:
• Unchanged text in black• Deletions in red strikeout• Insertions in blue underline• If even one word is
changed, the entire section is replaced
• Easy to see what exactly is modified
Arizona MUTCD Supplement
• Approved by FHWA January 11, 2012
• Implementation plan in process• Design plans &
specifications• Operations & maintenance