Rick ButnerTraffic Division StaffPierce County Public Works & Utilities; Traffic Division

November 8, 2011 Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

ASSET MANAGEMENT FOR SIGNS AND MARKINGSELEMENTS OF ASSET MANAGEMENTTRAFFIC SIGNS

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

Region

Pierce County Washington• 1,679 Square Miles – land• 128 Square Miles – water• 795,225 Population • 382,115 Population – Unincorporated• Major Cities

– Tacoma– Lakewood– Puyallup

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

Region

Pierce County Washington

• Produces 50% of Rhubarb for U.S.

• Named after President Franklin Pierce

• Home of Mt. Rainier, tallest in the Cascades

• Elevation changes from 0’ to 14,410’

• Second most populous county in Washington

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

• Level of Service• Inventory• Condition Assessment• Usage Data• Cost Data• Replacement Model• Risk Assessment• Performance Measures

8 Elements of Asset Management

What is the best use of my very limited budget?

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

• MUTCD Regulates– Requirements for type, size, location– Requirements for retroreflectivity

• Perform regular inspections – Fulfilling the need for which intended– Proper placement, cleanliness, visibility, and that the

sign commands attention

• Expectations of the Stakeholders

Level of Service

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

• 1 - Traffic Operations Supervisor• 2 - Office Support Staff• 1 - Sign & Markings Supervisor• 1 - Seasonal Lead Sign Technician• 12 - Traffic Sign Technicians• 8 - Seasonal Temporary

Level of Service – Sign & Markings Staff

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

Inventory

24,908 Total Traffic Signs (county only)

• 2,947 Stop and Yield

• 6,745 Warning

• 3,160 Speed limit

• 8,506 Street name (34%)

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

• Home Grown Software Program – “Rubble”

• System Divided into Areas and Sub Areas

• Sign Work is Documented by Function Code

• Signs are tracked by Route and Position Number

• Track by Sign Code

• Track by Serial Number

Inventory

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

Inventory - Rubble

• Sign Inspection Route

• Listed by Route and Position Number

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

Inventory – Standard Inspection Route

• Sign Inspection Route Map

• Ensure that all signs are inspected in the most efficient manner

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

Inventory - Traffic Sign Serial Numbers

Inventory - Street Sign Serial Numbers

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

• Regular Sign Inspections– Fulfilling a need; have the conditions changed– Does the Sign Command Attention– Does the Sign meet Federal Requirements

• Regular Sign Retroreflectity Testing

Condition Assessment

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

Condition Assessment - Retroreflectivity Testing

• “… shall use an assessment or management method that is designed to maintain traffic sign retroreflectivity at or above the minimum levels …”.

• The approach that Pierce County is using to meet the retroreflectivity requirements is a combination of methods– Measured Retroreflectivity– Control Sample– Expected Life

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

• 2007 Pierce County began the retroreflectivity assessment

• Use retroreflectivity program as an asset management tool?

• Using this method found that signs due for replacement, did not need to be replaced

• Began using the system as a decision making tool for traffic sign replacement

Condition Assessment - Retroreflectivity Testing

Condition Assessment - Retroreflectivity Testing

Signs outside warranty

Measured Retroreflectivity

Not TestedMonitor age

with Inventory

Add to Control Sample Group for

Measured Retroreflectivity

Testing

Monitor Control Sample and

schedule sign replacement based

on data models

Within warranty

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

Condition Assessment – Charting the dataSize Code VAR Serial # Sequence 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

48x24 W1-6 R 95043065 new for

2008 June 18, 2008 April 30, 2009April 29,

2010Yellow Average 238 237 235

30x30 W1-1 R 97021547 new for

2008 June 18, 2008 April 30, 2009April 29,

2010April 20,

2011Yellow Average 219 231 217 196

18x18 W13-1 10 97021548 new for

2008 June 18, 2008 April 30, 2009April 29,

2010April 20,

2011Yellow Average 208 238 218 172

24x30 R2-1 25 98090711 new for

2008 June 18, 2008 April 30, 2009April 29,

2010April 20,

2011White Average 103 103 98 98

30x30 W1-1 L 97010425 new for

2008 June 18, 2008 April 30, 2009April 29,

2010April 20,

2011Yellow Average 218 210 214 204

12x36 W12-401 L 95040825 new for

2008 June 18, 2008 April 30, 2009April 29,

2010April 20,

2011Yellow Average 207 216 202 201

24x30 R2-1 25 97070011 new for

2008 June 18, 2008 April 30, 2009April 29,

2010April 20,

2011White Average 97 99 97 97

24x30 R2-1 25 20024978 new for

2008 June 18, 2008 April 30, 2009April 29,

2010April 20,

2011White Average 78 77 75 64

24x30 R2-1 25 98090718 new for

2008 June 18, 2008 April 30, 2009April 29,

2010April 20,

2011White Average 104 101 99 90

1 2 3 40

20

40

60

80

100

120

Retroreflectivity levels of white examples on chart

Years

Minimum level 50 for Black on White

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

Condition Assessment – A look back

STOP Signs

MUTCD Minimum

>3:1Contrast Ratio

MUTCD Minimum

35/7White/Red

White258 – 325

Red20 - 59

Contrast Ratio5:1 – 9:1

2007 Test Results

Blanket change-outto High Intensity

STOPsigns in 1995

Decision is madeto continue monitoring

control samplePASS PASS

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

Engineer Grade Street Name

Signs44/5 – 114/24White/Green

MUTCD Minimum

Engineer GradeNO EG/7

White/Green

MUTCD Minimum

High Intensity120/15

White/Green

Street Name Signs

High Intensity Street Name

Signs277/52 – 327/59

White/Green

FAILED

Decision made to replace over 6,000Engineer Grade street name signs

2007 Test Results

Condition Assessment – A look back

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

Condition Assessment – Stop Signs

Age of sign in years

Retr

orefl

ectiv

ity R

eadi

ngs

13 14 15 160.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

14.0

16.0

18.0

• Chart indicates contrast ratio for Stop and Yield signs

• Control sample will be expanded

• Testing to begin at 8 years old

Minimum 3:1 ratio

1995 stop signs

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

Condition Assessment – Black on White Results

8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 180

20

40

60

80

100

120

140Retro Readings

Retro Readings

7 Year WarrantyExpected Life

Minimum level of 50to meet retroreflectivity

requirements20

02

1995

Age of sign in years

Retr

orefl

ectiv

ity R

eadi

ngs

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

• Regular Inspection and cleaning of the signs

• Helps to provide a consistent retroreflectivity reading

• Data collected from inspection shows the value

Usage Data

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

• Monthly Stop and Yield sign inspections– Each inspection is date and time stamped– Documentation of work performed

• Quarterly full sign inspection– Each inspection is date and time stamped– Documentation of work performed

• Data from sign inspections– Used for documentation in legal matters

Usage Data - Sign Inspection

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

Cost Data – Cost of assets in field

12

Traffic Signs Less than10 years old

Traffic Signs 10 years & older

Value of Signs andSupports in Pierce CountyTraffic Sign Inventory$ 1,100,000.

Signs over 10 years old managedwith asset management program, using Retroreflectivity Standardsas condition assessment

Data based estimates; 2010 data usedMaterials only, no labor included

$ 250,000

$ 850,000

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

Cost Data – Cost to replace managed assets

$250,00

0

$135,00

0

12

Labor and Equipment

Materials

Cost to replace 10 yearand older assets$ 346,450

Resources are allocated to other assetsneeding replacement & to meet newstandards

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

Cost Data – Sign Maintenance – Major Contributors

$185,0

00

$470,000

$45,00

0

$115,0

00

$105,000

12345

Sign Repairs

Sign Inspection

Sign FabricationStreet Sign Replacement

Install & Remove

2010

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

Replacement Model

Technician determines sign

meets requirements

Replace Sign

Don’t Replace Sign

Schedule to Replace Signs in Control Group

Technician determines sign

fails to meet requirements

Control sample readings within

acceptable range

Control sample readings

approaching minimum

Is sign part of control sample?

Is sign within Manufacturer

warranty

Inspections by Sign Techs

Monitor using dataTraffic Sign

Replacement Model – Street sign project

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 160

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

450059

5

1252

1856

1569

1637

952

945 12

81

458

1310

991

650

601

364

1140

151

143337

4

2846 19

54

971

Red indicates signs replaced as part ofstreet name sign replacement program

Signs managed through Retroreflectivity Program

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

• Monitor control samples

• Data determines replacement implementation

• Some signs are replaced by normal maintenance

• Group replacements should be able to occur over the period of 2-3 years and not have as much of an impact on budget

Replacement Model – Retroreflectivity testing

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

• Perform routine sign inspections• Replace unstable support structures • Replace signs that are damaged by graffiti • Replace signs not conveying a clear message• Evaluate changing conditions and that the sign

continues to fulfill a need• Other vandalism and damage may require

replacement as determined by the sign technician

Replacement Model – Sign Inspection

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

• Stop and Yield signs are highest priority– Downed Stop and Yield sign are a high liability– Program is structured to have signs repaired within

one hour of notification; 24/7• Other Regulatory and Warning signs are

responded to generally the same business day• Street name signs are up within a couple of days

– It may take a day or two to have a new sign made

Risk Assessment – Sign Priority

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

Risk Assessment

Dispatch to Technician to

schedule repair

Dispatch to Technician for

immediate repair

All Other SignsNormal

Business Hours

After Normal Business

Hours

Stop or Yield

Traffic Sign Call Out

Stop or Yield

All Other Signs

Answering Service fax to Traffic Operations

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

Risk Assessment – Value of Inspection

Found During Inspection Stop/Yield All Other

Down Reset 32 705

Missing Replaced 16 279

Defaced / Replaced 87 236

Defaced / Cleaned 235 892

Post Broken / Replaced 33 155

Visibility Brushed 352 1,465

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

• Data shows less inspection will increase call outs

• Data also shows time saved eliminating one

inspection would be backfilled by call outs

• Estimates show, based on data, that our annual

Stop/Yield overtime calls could increase by 145

• Estimates show, based on data, that our monthly

overall sign calls could increase by 215

Risk Assessment – Sign Inspection

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

• Current inspections keep call outs to minimum

• Retroreflectivity program has allowed for maximum

use of asset in the field

• Repairs, found during inspection; 8 minutes average

• Repairs, by call out; 30 to 90 minutes average

• Reduced inspections would result in more call outs,

which could result in increased Tort Liability

Performance Measures

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

Performance Measures

DOWN RESET TOC 12:19 13:20

LEANING STRAIGHTENED SELF 13:36 13:41

QUESTIONS?Rick Butner(253)798-6836 or email rbutner@co.pierce.wa.us

November 8, 2011 Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs