The 2009 Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices

(MUTCD)

Arizona Department of Transportation

(Brief) Highlights for Arizona

Practitioners

New 2009 MUTCD• 9 Parts

• (down from 10 in 2003)• 816 pages

• (up 10% from 2003)• Substantial amount of

new & revised material• Adopted in Arizona (as

modified by state Supplement) on January 13, 2012

23 CFR 655.603 Substantial Conformance

• State supplements or MUTCDs shall conform to all Standard statements in the Federal MUTCD• unless state law applies

• All changes to Guidance needed written justification

• FHWA Division Office made determination if variance was allowed

Applicability of MUTCD• MUTCD now applies to ALL roads open

to public travel• even if owned & operated by a private

entity (developer, association, etc.)• Exception: Parking lots & aisles

• No enforcement mechanism by ADOT

Compliance• Older MUTCDs (1930s-2003):

• All new and existing devices must be in compliance by a specific date

• 2009 MUTCD:• Only new & reconstructed devices must be

compliant with new MUTCD• unless a specific compliance date is specified

Compliance Dates• 2009 MUTCD As Published:• 58 separate specific compliance dates• Summer 2011 Rulemaking:• Proposed reduction to 12 compliance

dates• Not yet approved – still in review

MUTCD Formatting

• All paragraphs are now numbered in 2009 MUTCD• Standards: Bold• Guidance: Italicized• Option / Support: plain text

Part 1 - GeneralStandards & Engineering

Judgment• New MUTCD:

• Definition of “standard” changed• Ability to apply engineering judgment

changed• Arizona Supplement: returns MUTCD to

2003 definitions & meanings

Part 1 - GeneralDefinitions

• If discrepancy between state law (ARS) & MUTCD, state law applies

• Definitions changed in AZ Supplement:• Bicycle• Crosswalk• Crosswalk Lines• Highway• Intersection• Pedestrian

• Roadway• Sidewalk • Traffic• Traffic Control Signal • Vehicle

“85th Percentile”• New requirements to evaluate 85th percentile speeds

in addition to posted or statutory speeds• Written into many new Standards:

• Sign spacing• Sign placement• No-passing zones• Traffic signals• Work zones

• May need to document on traffic plans which speedwas used for design, & why it was selected

• ADOT: Will be addressed in PGPs• Local agencies: may have to modify policies

Part 2 - SignsMinimum Retroreflectivity

• New minimum retroreflectivity standards• Based on sheeting types• Minimum contrast levels required

• Compliance procedures -• Can use one or more of:

• Visual nighttime inspection• Measure with reflectometer• Replace at end of expected life• Replace all signs in area/corridor• Test “control signs” in lieu of all signs

Part 2 - SignsSign Sizes

• New categories for single lane & multi-lane roadways• Larger sign sizes for many applications• New minimum size tables for guide signs

Part 2 - SignsONE WAY Signs

• New Standards for ONE WAY signs on divided roadways

• Compliance date December 2019

Part 2 - SignsWarning Signs – Table 2C-4

• Condition A (speed reduction or lane change) modified in Arizona Supplement

Part 2 - SignsCurve Signing – Table 2C-5

• Significant change in signing practice• Signs, large arrows, chevrons now required in many situations• Revised PGP may change posted advisory speeds

Part 2 - SignsChevrons – Table 2C-6

• New specifications on chevron spacing• Based on speed and radius• May require closer spacing in new & replacement

installations

Part 2 - SignsUpper / Lower Case Lettering

• New guide signs: must use upper & lower case lettering for destinations• (no “all-caps”)

Part 2 - SignsRoundabout Signing

• New standard designs for roundabout signs

• Map signs• Directional signs• Regulatory signs• Warning signs

Part 2 - SignsSigns At Option-Lane Exits

• Will require much wider & taller signs• 40-50% taller, up to 300% wider

• Signs require new larger support structures

• No technical guidance issued yet

Part 2 - SignsServices Signing

• New & revised D9 series symbol signs

Part 2 - SignsRecreational & Cultural Signing

• Completely new system of symbols• Symbols are not consistent with ones

used on other sign types• Do not use R&C signing if a standard

sign will work

Part 3 – MarkingsDotted Lines

• Dotted lines now required in advance of:• Mandatory exits• Mandatory (“trap”) turn lanes• Deceleration or acceleration lanes

• Short compliance date (Dec 2016)• Significant impacts:

• Added cost• Obliteration of existing markings• Driver expectation

Part 3 – MarkingsCrosswalk Markings

• New criteria for crosswalk markings• Based on extensive research

• Advance yield line recommended at midblock locations

Part 3 – MarkingsRoundabouts

• New recommended marking patterns for roundabouts• Single-lane• Multi-lane

• Many new figures depicting nearly all likely situations

Part 4 – SignalsSignal Warrants

• New warrants for intersections adjacent to rail crossings

• Pedestrian warrant volumes changed• easier to justify signals for pedestrian traffic

Part 4 – SignalsSignal Face Placement

• Protected left-turn signal faces must be over the left turn lane

• Protected-permissive left-turn signal faces must be between the left turn lane & left lane

• Speeds above 45 mph: 1 signal face for each lane

Part 4 – SignalsFlashing Yellow Arrow

• New optional flashing yellow arrow for protected-permissive operation

• Extensive research & experimentation

• Good driver understanding• Can solve some problems

(including “yellow trap”)

Part 4 – SignalsPedestrian Walking Speed

• New recommended pedestrian walking speed of 3.5 ft/s for clearance intervals• from near curb to far curb• or near curb to median

• Total walk + clearance time must be greater than 3 ft/s walking speed from detector to far curb (or median)

Part 4 – SignalsCountdown Pedestrian Signals• All new pedestrian

signals must be countdown type• existing non-countdown

ped signals can remain• ADOT project to

upgrade to countdown ped signals statewide

Part 4 – SignalsPedestrian Hybrid Beacon

• ADOT developing policy on use

• Can be placed at intersections• (per proposed

AZ Supplement)

Part 6 - Temporary Traffic Control

• No major changes• Continuing requirements for pedestrian

accommodation• Changeable message signs: Color must

match message• Regulatory = white• Warning = yellow

Part 6 - Temporary Traffic ControlHigh-Visibility Apparel

• Required for all workers within public right of way

• Many agencies already compliant

• Could create liability problems if compliance is inconsistent or not documented

Part 7 – SchoolsSign Color

• Fluorescent yellow-green now required for all school warning signs

Part 7 – SchoolsSchool Crossings

• AZ Supplement includes Arizona-specific devices in accordance with ARS 28-797

• Arizona Traffic Safety For School Areas Guidelines has additional details

Part 8 – Railroad & Light RailPassive Crossings

• STOP or YIELD sign (and Stop Ahead or Yield Ahead sign) is now required to be added if no gates or lights

• Devices may need approval by railroad

Part 9 – Bicycle Facilities

• New signs & markings for lanes too narrow for side-by-side travel

• New series of bicycle-specific guide signs

2009 MUTCD Availability• Electronic version available from:

• http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov• Free (27 MB download)

• Hardcopy version available from:• AASHTO, ITE, ATSSA• $100-$120 per copy

• Users are responsible for noting where Arizona Supplement replaces MUTCD content

2009 MUTCD Availability• Arizona Supplement now

available as an electronic PDF on ADOT Traffic Group website

• ADOT has created an electronic version of the MUTCD (with Arizona Supplement inserted) as a single PDF document• should be available soon on Traffic

website

Arizona MUTCD Supplement• Revisions:

• Unchanged text in black• Deletions in red strikeout• Insertions in blue underline• If even one word is

changed, the entire section is replaced

• Easy to see what exactly is modified

Arizona MUTCD Supplement

• Approved by FHWA January 11, 2012

• Implementation plan in process• Design plans &

specifications• Operations & maintenance

Questions?