2009 revision to MUTCD issued
2009 revision to MUTCD issued
(OP)
For those of you in the highway and site development fields, the long awaited revision to the MUTCD has been issued.
For site designers, note that the second paragraph states:
This means all traffic control devices on roadways within shopping center, office parks, etc. must comply.
For site designers, note that the second paragraph states:
http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.govQuote:
The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) ... shall be recognized as the national standard for all traffic control devices installed on any street, highway, bikeway, or private road open to public travel.
This means all traffic control devices on roadways within shopping center, office parks, etc. must comply.
"...students of traffic are beginning to realize the false economy of mechanically controlled traffic, and hand work by trained officers will again prevail." - Wm. Phelps Eno, ca. 1928
"I'm searching for the questions, so my answers will make sense." - Stephen Brust





RE: 2009 revision to MUTCD issued
RE: 2009 revision to MUTCD issued
Had not seen this as of yet. Quickly rifling thru it...what sticks out mostly is the "upside down" signage.
As to your comment about shopping centers and office parks....how about city streets and utility companies? I guess cities must have a no liability clause, what I see of their work zone set-ups appear to be an attorneys moist nap.
RE: 2009 revision to MUTCD issued
RE: 2009 revision to MUTCD issued
Some shopping centers have realy screwed up traffic control. I suppose in practice, all this really does make it clear that the property owner could be held liable if their beautiful green stop sign gets someone hurt.
On the other hand, all FHWA can do to state and local governments is withhold federal aid, and I've never heard of a case where they have done so.
Big H, only if you allow the public to drive on it!
"...students of traffic are beginning to realize the false economy of mechanically controlled traffic, and hand work by trained officers will again prevail." - Wm. Phelps Eno, ca. 1928
"I'm searching for the questions, so my answers will make sense." - Stephen Brust
RE: 2009 revision to MUTCD issued
For example statute (which does not control traffic on private streets, just highways):
28-641. Traffic control device manual and specifications
The director shall adopt a manual and specifications for a uniform system of traffic control devices for use on highways in this state. The uniform system shall correlate with and as far as possible conform to the system set forth in the most recent edition of the manual on uniform traffic control devices for streets and highways prepared by the national joint committee on uniform traffic control devices.
RE: 2009 revision to MUTCD issued
Section 1680 of the NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law states, in part:
Also, FHWA requires states to either adopt the manual 9with or without a supplement), or write their own manual that is in compliance with the national manual. With the exception of cities of more than 1,000,000 population in NY (i.e., NY City), I've never heard of a statute that allows local control of traffic control device standards.
"...students of traffic are beginning to realize the false economy of mechanically controlled traffic, and hand work by trained officers will again prevail." - Wm. Phelps Eno, ca. 1928
"I'm searching for the questions, so my answers will make sense." - Stephen Brust
RE: 2009 revision to MUTCD issued
RE: 2009 revision to MUTCD issued
Some reading info along the same lines of this discussion in the NY Times yesterday, if you have not seen it......any thoughts?
www.nytimes.com/2009/12/22/us/22workzone.html
RE: 2009 revision to MUTCD issued
Of course, you could read some hyperbolic articles from the UK which would make us sound like some neo-Stalinist 'elf 'n' safety' obsessed regime, where every move is controlled and risk is anathema.
I would hope that our approach is simply a redressing of the balance, which consistently saw construction as the most dangerous job to be in.
RE: 2009 revision to MUTCD issued
When a roadway is currently beyond its capacity, design criteria are outdated, and the individuals actually positioning devices are the "low men on the totem pole", lane closure installation and maintenance can be lethal.
I would hope the author of the op-ed piece in the times has witnessed a lane closure set-up on an expressway/interstate highway....and observe how a good percentage of the drivers react to properly placed signs and devices. My wild speculation is he has not.
That being said, there is room to improve in almost every situation and hopefully folks will be empowered to do just that.
RE: 2009 revision to MUTCD issued
In fact one of the commentators on the NYT article refers to Chapter 8 of the Traffic Signs Manual. This covers everything required to be in place before personnel can work on the highway. It is currently undergoing its third revision in about five years, I presume in an attempt to keep up with the state-of-the-art.
http:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_6M42c2SLQ
Unfortunately, we're nowhere near perfect.
http://www