2009 revision to MUTCD issued

[ACtrafficengr]

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:

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.

http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov

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

 

[ishvaaag]

The only economy I have seen in traffic regulation is to see those working at it being financed by tickets, be now intelligent traffic lights or officers. I don't think governments thinking on any economics (trade) ways, they think mostly on control. Aristotle as a precedent of Machiavelli: "The source of wealth is in knowing where resides". Then only remains...

 

[Drumchaser]

Thanks AC

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.

 

[BigH]

Being recognized as the national "Standard" - is that enforceable by law?? Seems a bit overstepping. Might this include my driveway too??

 

[ACtrafficengr]

FHWA doesn't have any way of enforcing it off of public rights of way. It's really up to code enforcement in the municipality, and I wonder if anyone has bothered to tell them about it.

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

 

[cvg]

a "Standard" and a "Code" or "Ordinance" are not the same thing. Simply saying it is a national standard does not require that you post signage in your driveway unless there is a local code or ordinance requiring it by law. A standard simply means it is a recognized "standard" way of doing something. Most local codes and ordinance I have seen require MUTCD for traffic controls in public right of way but not in driveways or private streets.

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.

 

[ACtrafficengr]

It's not a standard, it is a regulation, part of 23 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 655, Subpart F.

Section 1680 of the NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law states, in part:

The manual and its specifications is adopted as the state standard for traffic control devices on any street, highway, or bicycle path open to public travel. No person shall install or maintain in any area of private property used by the public any sign, signal, marking or other device intended to regulate, warn or guide traffic unless it conforms with the state manual and specifications maintained under this section.

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

 

[cvg]

yes it is a regulation - in New York State. As you can see above for Arizona Revised Statute, a manual is required to be adopted which is similar to the MUTCD.

 

[Drumchaser]

Folks

Some reading info along the same lines of this discussion in the NY Times yesterday, if you have not seen it......any thoughts?

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/22/us/22workzone.html

 

[Debaser]

Well from a foreigners point of view, it makes it sound like highway Contractors in the US are a bunch of cowboys, with little regard for life (of either road workers or road users) and taking a slapdash approach to safety.

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.

 

[Drumchaser]

Never having had the pleasure of the UK experience, the only work zones I can comment on are in the states.

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.

 

[Debaser]

Fortunately, I'm not involved in planning Traffic Management, but I believe there are attempts underway in the UK and Europe to try to remove personnel from that initial danger phase of setting out the cones, etc., by use of special vehicles.

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://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=24005

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_6M42c2SLQ

Unfortunately, we're nowhere near perfect.

http://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/Article.aspx/1525360?UserKey=