HIGHWAY SIGNAGE MUTCD http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov National Standard - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

HIGHWAY SIGNAGE

MUTCD

http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov National Standard for all Traffic Control Devices

MUTCD

• Compliance on All Public Roads
• Covers

− Signs − Pavement Marking − Traffic Signals − Work Zones

• Shall, Should, May Statements
• Other Definitions

− Rail / Light Rail − Bike Paths − School Areas

SHALL

• Standard—a statement of required, mandatory,
• r specifically prohibitive practice regarding a

traffic control device. All standards are labeled, and the text appears in bold type. The verb shal hall is typically used. Standards are sometimes modified by Options.

SHOULD

• Guidance—a statement of recommended, but

not mandatory, practice in typical situations, with deviations allowed if engineering judgment

• r engineering study indicates the deviation to

be appropriate. All Guidance statements are labeled, and the text appears in unbold type. The verb should ld is typically used. Guidance statements are sometimes modified by Options.

MAY

• Option—a statement of practice that is a

permissive condition and carries no requirement or recommendation. Options may contain allowable modifications to a Standard

• r Guidance. All Option statements are labeled,

and the text appears in unbold type. The verb may is typically used.

MUTCD PART 2A - GENERAL

• Design
• Retroreflectivity
• Shapes
• Colors
• Dimensions
• Symbols
• Word Messages
• Sign Borders
• Enhanced Conspicuity
• Sign Placement

− Location − Mounting Height − Lateral Offset

• Maintenance

2A.06 DESIGN OF SIGNS

• Uniformity Shall Include Shape, Color, Dimensions,

Legends, Borders, and Retroreflectivity

• Symbols Shall Be in MUTCD
• Use Standard Word Messages

− Unless other message required

• No E-Mail or URLs Listed (Except for Carpool)
• Pictograph

− Political Jurisdiction: Official Designation − University: Official Seal

MUTCD 2A.09 SHAPES

MUTCD 2A.10 SIGN COLORS

MUTCD 2A.11 DIMENSIONS

• Dimensions in MUTCD Tables Shall Be Used:

− Unless engineering judgment determines otherwise

• Dimensions Shall Not Be Less Than Minimums

− Maintain shape and color − Standard proportions shall be retained

MUTCD 2A.12

• Shown in MUTCD and

Standard Highway Signs and Markings Book

• FHWA Adopts New

Symbols thru Research

• Symbol for Given

Category Shall Not Be Used for Different Category

MUTCD 2A.13 WORD MESSAGES

• Shall Use Standard Wording and Letters except as

provided in Section 2A.06

• Should Be Brief and Provide the Necessary

Legibility Distance

− 1 inch of letter height per 30 feet of legibility distance

• Should minimize abbreviations (See Section

1A.15)

• Should Not Contain Punctuation or Characters

That Are Not Letters

MUTCD 2A.13 WORD MESSAGES

• Fractions Shall Use Solidus (slanted line):

− ½ not

1 2

• Lettering Shall Be UPPER-CASE except:

− Unless otherwise provided − Names of places, streets, and highways shall be

lower-case with initial upper-case

• Unique Letter Forms Shall Not Be Stretched,

Compressed, Warped or Otherwise Manipulated

MUTCD 2A.14 SIGN BORDERS

• Shall Have the Same Color as the Legend

− Unless otherwise provided

• Corners Shall be Rounded

− Except Stop Signs

• Dark Border on Light Background Should Be

Set In from Edge

• Light Border on Dark Background Should

Extend to the Edge of the Sign

MUTCD 2A.15 ENHANCED CONSPICUITY

• Shall Not Use Strobe Lights
• May

− Increase Size − Double Up − Adding Solid Yellow or FY Rectangular Header Panel − Adding New Plaque for Period of Time − Adding Red or Orange Flags − Adding Solid Yellow, FY, or Diagonal Y/B Border − Adding Warning Beacon − Adding Speed Limit Sign Beacon − Adding Stop Beacon − Adding LED within Symbol or Legend − Adding Strip of Reflective Material to Sign Support

FIGURE 2A-1 EXAMPLES OF ENHANCED CONSPICUITY FOR SIGNS

MUTCD 2A.16, 2A.18, & 2A.19 LOCATION, MOUNTING HEIGHT, LATERAL OFFSET

• Signs Requiring Separate Decisions Shall Be Sufficiently

Spaced

• Minimum Height (Post Mounted) Shall Be:

− 5 feet in Rural Area − 7 feet in Urban Area (or above pedestrian path)

• Post-mounted Sign Supports Shall Be Crashworthy if

within Clear Zone

• Lateral Offset (Post Mounted) Should Be:

− 12 feet from edge of traveled way − May be

• 2 ft if 12 ft is impractical
• 1 ft from face of curb in urban areas where sidewalk width is limited

SIGN PLACEMENT EXAMPLES

RETROREFLECTIVITY

2A.07 & 2A.08 RETROREFLECTIVITY

• Background
• Types
• Minimum Requirements
• How to Comply

DAYTIME VISUAL CUES

NIGHTTIME VISUAL CUES

TYPES OF REFLECTIVITY

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

• Light from source reflected back in a cone

shape

• Retroreflectivity decreases as angles increase
• Intensity of reflected light decreases with

distance from cone axis

IDOT TYPES & SPECIFICATIONS

• Prismatic Sheeting

− Type AA (High Intensity Prismatic) − Type AP − Type AZ − Type ZZ

• DO

DO NOT U USE Beaded Sheeting

− Old Type BB, B, C (Engineering or Super

Engineering)

− Old Type A (High Intensity)

MINIMUM RETROREFLECTIVITY LEVELS

Sign Color Sheeting Type (ASTM D4956-04) Beaded Sheeting Prismatic Sheeting I II III IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X White on Green X W ≥ 120; G ≥ 15 (Ground Mounted) Black on Yellow

• r

Black on Orange X Y ≥ 50; O ≥ 50 (≥ 48” or all bold symbol) X Y ≥ 75; O ≥ 75 (< 48”) White on Red W ≥ 35; R ≥ 7 (Contrast Ratio W3:R1) Black on White W ≥ 50

LIABILITY?

Guidance:

Compliance with the above Standard is achieved by having a method in place and using the method to maintain the minimum levels established in Table 2A-

• 3. Provided that an assessment or management

method is being used, an agency or official having jurisdiction would be in compliance with the above Standard even if there are some individual signs that do not meet the minimum retroreflectivity levels at a particular point in time.

ASSESSMENT OR MANAGEMENT METHODS

• Visual Nighttime Inspection (A)
• Measured Sign Retroreflectivity (A)
• Expected Sign Life (M)
• Blanket Replacement (M)
• Control Signs (MA)
• Other Methods (MA)
• Selected by July 2014

REGULATORY SIGNS

2B - REGULATORY SIGNS

• Inform Road Uses of

Select Traffic Laws or Regulations.

• Typically Red or White
• Shall Be Rectangular

Unless Otherwise Specified

• Table 2B-1 Regulatory Sign

Sizes

MUTCD 2B.05 STOP & ALL WAY

• 30” x 30” minimum
• All Way Plaque Shall be Used

When All Approaches Stop- Controlled

• Supplemental Warning Plaques

May Be Used Based on Engineering Judgment

• Street Name Sign May Be

Mounted Above

MUTCD 2B.06 STOP SIGN APPLICATION

• Where a Full Stop Is Not Necessary at All Times,

Yield Sign Should Be Considered

• Consideration of Stop Sign at Minor Street:

− ADT > 6,000 on through (major) street; − Restricted view; and/or − 3+ crashes in the last 12 months (or 5+ crashes in

the last 24 months)

MUTCD 2B.07 MULTI-WAY STOP APPLICATION

• Should Be Based on Engineering Judgment
• Should Consider Following:

− Temporary measure until traffic signals installed − 5+ crashes in the last 12 months − Minimum Traffic Volume

• Major Street 300 vehicles/hr for any 8 hours; and
• Minor Street 200 units/hr for same 8 hours; but
• If 85th percentile approach speed of major street exceeds 40

mph, 70% of the minimum volumes above

− 5+ crashes and 80% of the minimum volumes above

MUTCD 2B.08 & 2B.09 YIELD SIGN

• 36” x 36” x 36” on Conventional Road
• 30” x 30” x 30” minimum
• May Be Installed

− Where full stop is not always required − At second crossroad of divided highway − Channelized turn lane separated by island − At intersection where a special problem exists − Facing entering roadway for a merge movement

• Shall Be Used at Entrance to Roundabout

− Except for roundabout, shall not be placed on

all approaches to an intersection

MUTCD 2B.10 STOP & YIELD SIGN PLACEMENT

• Shall Be Installed Near Side of Intersection

− If sign visibility is restricted, Stop/Yield Ahead sign

shall be installed

• Sign Mounted Back-to-Back with Stop/Yield

Sign Should Stay within Edges of Stop/Yield Sign

• More Than One Stop/Yield Sign Shall Not Be

Placed on the Same Support

MUTCD 2B.11 STOP HERE FOR PEDESTRIANS

• 625 ILCS 5/11-1002

Requires Vehicles to Stop for Pedestrians at Crosswalks

• Therefore, Stop for

Pedestrian Sign Shall be Used

X X X X

WARNING SIGNS

2C – WARNING SIGNS

• Call Attention to Unexpected

Conditions

• Use Shall Be Based on

Engineering Study/Judgment

• Shall Be Yellow with Black

Border/Legend

• Shall Be Diamond Unless

Otherwise Specified

• Table 2C-2 Warning Sign Sizes

MUTCD TABLE 2C-4 GUIDELINES FOR ADVANCE PLACEMENT OF WARNING SIGNS

MUTCD 2C.06 & 2C.07 HORIZONTAL ALIGNMENT WARNING SIGNS

• Shall Be Used According

to Table 2C-5

• If Advisory Speed 30

mph or less, Use Turn Sign (W1-1)

MUTCD TABLE 2C-5 HORIZONTAL ALIGNMENT SELECTION

MUTCD 2C.09 CHEVRON ALIGNMENT

• Shall Be Used According to Table 2C-5
• Shall Be

− Installed on the outside of curve − In line with and at right angle to traffic − Installed at a minimum height of 4 ft

• Shall Not Be Placed on Far Side of T-

Intersection

• Shall Not Be Used to Mark Obstructions

MUTCD TABLE 2C-6 TYPICAL SPACING OF CHEVRON ALIGNMENT SIGNS

MUTCD FIGURE 2-C EXAMPLE OF WARNING SIGNS FOR A TURN

SLOW CHILDREN AT PLAY SIGN

• Not Approved by MUTCD
• Other Word Message Signs Not

Recommended:

− Do not describe where the child might be − Do no attract the attention of motorists − Have no legal meaning − Provide a false sense of security − Left in place after the child is gone − Lack established procedures for

engineering judgment or study

− Have proven ineffective

GUIDE SIGNS

2D - GUIDE SIGNS – CONVENTIONAL ROADS

• Direct Road Uses Along Streets and Highways
• Typically Green with White Lettering
• Shall Be Rectangular Unless Otherwise

Specified (Route Signs)

• Table 2D-1 Sign Sizes

MUTCD 2D.05 LETTERING STYLE

• Lettering for Names of Places, Streets, and

Highways Shall Be Lower-case with Initial Upper-case

• Other Word Legends Shall Be Upper-case
• Letter Forms Shall Not Be Stretched,

Compressed, Warped, or Otherwise Manipulated

MUTCD 2D.11 ROUTE SIGNS

• Standard Highway Signs Book

Shall Be Used for Designing

• Statewide Policy Required for

County Route Sign

• The County Route (M1-6) sign

shall consist of a pentagon shape with a yellow county name and route number and border on a blue background.

• Route signs shall be

retroreflective

STREET NAME SIGNS

2D.43 STREET NAME SIGNS - LETTERING

2D.43 STREET NAME SIGNS - COLORS

• Street name signs must have a

green, blue, or brown background (white letters) or white background (black letters).

• No deadline for this requirement, so

existing street name signs using

• ther colors can remain in place until

they need to be replaced due to end

• f service life or some other reason.

2D.43 STREET NAME SIGNS - RETROREFLECTIVITY

• Street name signs must be

maintained to a minimum level of retroreflectivity.

• No deadline by which signs

determined to be non-compliant based on an agency’s method have to be replaced.

2D.43 STREET NAME SIGNS – LETTER HEIGHTS

• Recommended Letter Heights
• 40 mph or less = 6” / 4.5”
• 25 mph or less may use 4” / 3”
• Multi-lane > 40 mph = 8” / 6” (post)
• All overhead mounted = 12” / 9”

2D.43 STREET NAME SIGNS – SIGN HEIGHTS

• Street name signs on conventional

roads should have at least 12” height.

• 8” height may be used for low-speed

roadways, alleys, and where physical conditions preclude the use of larger signs.

• Engineering judgment may be used to

decrease the sign height but not to a height lower than 8”.

WORK ZONE SIGNS

MUTCD 6F – TEMPORARY TRAFFIC CONTROL ZONE DEVICES

Warning Signs

 Diamond Shaped Panels  Orange with Black Legend  48”x48” Minimum for

Freeway or Expressway

 36”x36” Minimum for

Conventional Road

 Minimum 12” above

pavement (temporary)

 Sand bags should be used

to stabilize stand

 Flashers should be on the

side traffic is to pass

Warning Signs

 Diamond shaped panels  48” X 48” Minimum for Freeway or Expressway  36” X 36” Minimum for Conventional Road  Minimum 7’ above pavement – Urban

Warning Signs - Rural

 Minimum 5’ above pavement – Rural  Repeat last sign in series 500’ past major intersections or

interchanges outside urban areas

Work Zone Speed Lim it Sign

 New Work Zone Sign Array

“Photo Enforced” replaces

“Begins”, “Ends”, and “Resumes”

 New Work Zone Speed

Limit Law

ILCS 5/ 11-605.1 (c) Effective January 1, 2013 Can post existing speed limit

as work zone speed limit

 Cover all permanent speed limit signs within

limits of reduced speed limit

 Do not place Speed Limit signs on a vehicle  Resume to higher speed, once you are past the

workers in a lane closure

 Resume to normal speed, once you are out of the

lane closure

Work Zone Speed Lim it Sign (cont.)

A D V A N C E W A R N I N G

65

ADVANC NCE W WARNI NING S SIG IGNS NS

• Number of signs required varies (location and

duration of work, type of roadway)

• First Sign- Advises of work ahead
• Second Sign- What to expect
• Third Sign- Action to take
• The overall effect of signs:

− to make the driver aware of what they are

approaching and what action is required.

WOR ORK Z K ZONE ONE S SIG IGN S N SPACING

Road T Typ ype Speed peed ( (mph) Advanc ance Sig Sign Sp Spac acin ing ( (feet) A B C Urban Low Speed 20 100 100 100 25 100 100 100 30 100 100 100 35 100 100 100 40 100 100 100 Urban High Speed 45 350 350 350 50 350 350 350 Rural 55 500 500 500 Expressway/ Freeway 65 1,000 1,500 2,640

Locating Distances

*Cycles: 10 ft. dash/30 ft.’ skip

30 feet 10 feet

SCHOOL ZONE SIGNS

MUTCD 7B - SIGNS

• FYG color required for all school warning signs

(no compliance date)

MUTCD 7B - SIGNS

• New symbol sign to replace the S3-1 word

message sign

MUTCD 7B - SIGNS

If used, a School Crosswalk Warning assembly shall be installed at the marked crosswalk,

• r as close as possible; shall be

supplemented by diagonal downward arrow plaque (W16-7p) The school Crosswalk Warning assembly shall not be installed on approaches controlled by a STOP or YIELD sign

MUTCD 7B - SIGNS

In Advance of Crosswalk At the Crosswalk

MUTCD 7B - SIGNS

School Reduced Speed Ahead Warning Sign

MUTCD 7B - SIGNS

FINES HIGHER (R2-6) sign shall be installed as a supplement to the reduced school speed limit sign where increased fines are imposed for traffic violations within a school zone END SCHOOL ZONE (S5-2) sign shall be posted at the downstream end of a reduced school speed limit zone

QUESTIONS

DEAN MENTJES FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION DEAN.MENTJES@DOT.GOV KYLE ARMSTRONG ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION BUREAU OF OPERATIONS KYLE.ARMSTRONG@ILLINOIS.GOV