ACRP Report 52

• Available since late 2011

• Download from TRB web site

• Provide airport operators updated resource on wayfinding and signing guidelines

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ACRP Report 52 Panel

• Broward County Aviation Dept.

• Port of Oakland

• Massachusetts Port Authority

• HNTB Corporation, Boston

• Valancourt International, Atlanta (wayfinding)

• MN Dept. of Employment and Economic Development

• FAA Liaison

• Kevin Sylvester, FHWA Liaison

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ACRP Report 52 Contractors

• Gresham, Smith and Partners (a/e firm)

• Sue Chrysler, TTI (research)

• Human Factors North, Inc. (human factors)

• Big Sky, Inc. (electronic security and IT communication)

• Society for Environmental Graphic Design (graphic design professional society)

• San José, CA Airport (civil engineer)

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ACRP Report 52 References to MUTCD

0. Foreword

1. Introduction

2. Signing and Wayfinding

3. Roadways

4. Parking

5. Curbside and Ground Transportation

6. Terminal

7. Technology

8. Code Required Regulatory and Information Signs

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ACRP Report 52 0. Foreword

“…(MUTCD), while applicable to airports with respect to roadways, doesn’t specifically speak

to airports or the unique operating environment.”

…this update ensures “compliance with the MUTCD”

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2009 FHWA MUTCD Section 1A.11

Other Publications

6. AASHTO “Guidelines for the Selection of Supplemental Guide Signs for Traffic Generators Adjacent to Freeways, Part II: Guidelines for Airport Guide Signing”

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2009 FHWA MUTCD Section 1A.13

Definitions

“159. Private Road Open to Public Travel—private toll roads and roads…within shopping centers, airports, sports arenas, and other similar business and/or recreation facilities that are privately owned, but where the public is allowed to travel without access restrictions.”

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2009 FHWA MUTCD Section 2D.03

Color, Retroreflection and Illumination

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ACRP Report 52 Chapter 1. Introduction

• Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 • Airport Signing and Graphics Task Force, 1982

– Institute of Transportation Engineers – Institute of Transportation Studies – Society of Environmental Graphic Designers – American Institute of Graphic Artists – Federal Aviation Administration – Civil Aeronautics Board (ended in 1984)

• “Guidelines for Airport Signing and Graphics,” 1984 – 1994 and 2001 updates

• FAA Advisory Circular 150/5360-12E, September 2008 – Recommends use of “Guidelines”…until an updated manual,

currently being developed under the ACRP, is available – “…signing for terminal related roadways…

should comply with the MUTCD”

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ACRP Report 52 Chapter 1. Introduction

Background

“The most recent edition of the…MUTCD prescribes the design or color of airport roadway signs. Previous editions of the MUTCD did not address airports, and it is not clear to what extent the input of airport operators…was sought during the preparation of the latest MUTCD.”

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ACRP Report 52 Chapter 1. Introduction

Purpose “…to facilitate the safe and efficient movement of passengers within each airport…through the uniform application of wayfinding best practices and common design criteria.”

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ACRP Report 52 Chapter 2. Signing and Wayfinding

Goal

“…signing system…to ensure safe, convenient and efficient access for all users to and from nearby roadways and arterials to all areas within the airport terminals and parking facilities.”

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ACRP Report 52 Chapter 3. Roadways

Philosophy and Principles • “When designing airport wayfinding and signage,

the designer…is directed to reference the FHWA’s most recent MUTCD for certain engineering design guidelines. Information regarding letter heights, panel sizes, vehicle speed, line-of-sight readability, highway shields, and symbols is to be referenced and considered.”

• “…many airports…have roadway…signage systems that currently exist in varying degrees of non-compliance with the MUTCD.”

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ACRP Report 52 Chapter 3. Roadways

Philosophy and Principles

• “…earlier versions of the (2009) MUTCD were not explicit that the provisions of the Manual applied to airports…this expectation was implicit in earlier language concerning authority to install traffic control devices.”

• In “the 2009 MUTCD, airport roadways are clearly included as “private roads open to public travel” and thus are subject to the MUTCD provisions.”

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ACRP Report 52 Chapter 3. Roadways

Philosophy and Principles • “Due to the ambiguity in the past concerning the

need to comply with the MUTCD and the difficulty in designing systems that comply fully with the Manual’s standards and guidance, many existing airport signing systems do not conform with the Manual.”

• “The challenge for both airport management and …roadway sign design professional is to find a common ground that can satisfy both viewpoints under the current MUTCD guidelines.”

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ACRP Report 52 Chapter 3. Roadways

• Airport Management Viewpoints

– Signs are an identity or branding an airport

– Signs should look different than freeway signs, as a means to slow down traffic

• Roadway Professional Viewpoints

– Signs should comply with all traffic sign regs and design criteria including the MUTCD

– Sign conformance will lead to a safer and less frustrating driver experience

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ACRP Report 52 Chapter 3. Roadways

Limitations (Human Factors)

– Airports developed in unusual and unorthodox roadway layouts and design

– Airport users are unfamiliar with roadway and facilities

– Airport users experience stress due to tight schedules and security warnings

– Airport roadways transition in lower speed as they terminate in a high-density environment with vehicles and pedestrians

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ACRP Report 52 Chapter 3. Roadways

• “…the principles of the MUTCD can and should be applied to airport roadway signing using sound engineering judgment.”

• MUTCD Sect 1A.02 Principles of Traffic Control Devices – Basic Requirements

• Fulfill a need • Command attention • Convey a clear, simple meaning • Command respect • Give adequate time for proper response

– Basic Aspects • Design • Operation • Maintenance • Uniformity • Placement

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ACRP Report 52 Chapter 3. Roadways

Placement • Closely spaced access points due to:

– Multiple terminals – Multiple parking facilities – Multiple rental car facilities – Curbside loading and unloading

• Summary – …“always start with…MUTCD…principles…” – “Only after MUTCD principles and guidance have been

exhausted…consider an alternate TCD design or placement.” – “…any deviations should be noted and justified…

during the design process.”

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ACRP Report 52 Chapter 3. Roadways

MUTCD • Organization

– Freeways and Expressways – Conventional Roads

• Sign Classification – Regulatory – Warning – Guide

• Headings – Standard – Guidance – Option – Support

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ACRP Report 52 Chapter 3. Roadways

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Typography - limited to FHWA Standard Alphabet - Clearview™ option - 30ft/in legibility

Arrows - Specified in MUTCD - Experiments - NPS vs. FHWA study - Over center of lane

Colors - MUTCD colors and use - legibility study

Placement - cites MUTCD for guidance

Structures - cites MUTCD + AASHTO for guidance

Illumination - cites MUTCD + AASHTO for guidance

CMS - cites MUTCD + FHWA for guidance

Symbology

ACRP Report 52 [Chapter 6. Terminals]

Symbology • Not approved in the MUTCD:

– Arrivals (plane descending) – Departures (plane ascending) – Rental Car (2008 study)

No testing for legibility and comprehension; should include explanatory text • Approved in the MUTCD:

– Terminal Identifiers (A B C or 1 2 3) – Airport symbol sign (I-5) and

supplemental plaque w/airport name – Airport symbol sign and an arrow

may be used as a trailblazer

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ACRP Report 52 Chapter 4. Parking Signing Checklist

• Vehicles – Parking Designations – Parking Entry and Exit – Parking Rates – Traffic Control

• Pedestrians – Direction to terminals – Pay machines

• MUTCD – Vehicular and Pedestrian Regulatory signs

“shall conform to the latest edition of the MUTCD” – Pavement markings

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ACRP Report 52 Chapter 5. Curbside & Ground Transportation

• Vehicles

– Terminal and Airline verification

– Traffic control (pick-up vs. through lanes)

– Airport Exit

• Pedestrians

– Crosswalks

– Taxi and limo areas

– Shuttles: Rental car, Parking, Hotels

• MUTCD (Sign Design Elements)

– “shall be referenced for colors on regulatory signs”

– Letter height for static signs (Table 2D-2) and CMS (Sect. 2L.04)

– “MUTCD can be a starting point for font and text size, the geometry and configuration of the curbside may require deviation”

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ACRP Report 52 Chapter 6. Terminal

• Wayfinding • Human Factors • Sign Categories

– Informational – Directional – Regulatory (FAA requirements)

• Sign Design Elements – Terminology – Symbology (Aviation standards, Rental Car Study, Size, Color, Contrast) – Typography (Typeface comparison, Spacing, Aging Population) – Arrows – Color (Coding, Ranked combinations)

• Location (Mounting heights, illumination, LED) • Maintenance • Accessibility (Fonts, ADAAG legibility chart, symbols)

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ACRP Report 52 Chapter 8.

Code Required Regulatory & Information Signs

• FHWA MUTCD

• CFR Title 14: FAA regulations

• Dept. of Homeland Security

• ADAAG

• State and Local

• Building codes

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ACRP Report 52

Discussion

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Maurice Palumbo, P.E.

Principal Planner

Golden Gate Bridge, Highway & Transportation District