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3M Signing Systems
Safety Solutions for the FHWA Minimum Levels of Retroreflectivity
Visibility & Safety for the Life of the Road
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Congressional Legislation
1993 DOT Appropriations Act –
“The Secretary of Transportation shall revise the MUTCD to include a standard for a minimum level of retroreflectivity that must be maintained for traffic signs and pavement markings which apply to all roads open to public travel.”
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Why The Ruling?
Night Safety Older Drivers Visual Cues
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0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
Year
Fat
al C
rash
es
Daylight
Dark
Dark/Lighted
Dawn & Dusk
Fatal Crashes By Light Condition (FARS)
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Crash Data: Non-Daylight
0
10
20
30
40
50
Perc
ent
DistanceTraveled
FatalCrashes
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FHWA Older Driver Recommendations:
Larger Signs
Larger Letters on Signs
Brighter Signs
Incorporate Signs with Larger Observation Angle Performance
Use of Florescent Orange in Work Zone
Use of Fluorescent Yellow for “NO PASSING ZONE” Pennants (and chevrons)
Recommendations (2001)
FHWA-RD-01-051
Older Driver Handbook (2001)
FHWA-RD-01-103
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The Needs of The Older Driver20 Year-Old
40 Year-Old 60 Year-Old
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USA Today October 5th, 2000
But the study suggests that older drivers have trouble navigating the roads, which were not designed with them in mind. For many aging motorists, signs are hard to read, lanes are too narrow and left-hand turns are very difficult. Intersections are a particular problem. According to the study... Half of all fatal accidents involving older drivers occur at intersections, compared with about 25% for other drivers.
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Retroreflectivity Degrades
Over TimeRetroreflectivity
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The Final Ruling
Section 1A.11‘Minimum Level of Retroreflectivity’ guidance document and reflectivity table.
Section 2A.09Assessment or Management Method
Section 2A.22Sign Maintenance
Additional Info. - http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
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Table: Minimum Reflectivity LevelsTable: Minimum Reflectivity Levels
* This Sheeting Type should NOT be used for this color for this application
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Summary – Major Impacts
Overhead Guide Signs (white) must be Prismaticmust be Prismatic Ground Mounted Street Name Signs (white) can not be EG (Type I)can not be EG (Type I) Warning Signs (Yellow &/or Orange) can not be EG (Type I)can not be EG (Type I) Regulatory Signs (Black on White), white ≥ 50 cd/lx/m2 (EG initial values
are 70 cd/lx/m2, life of EG signs will be shortlife of EG signs will be short) Minimum Sign Contrast Ratio ≥ 3:1 for Stop Signs (white refl. ÷ red refl.)
(A lot of older stop signs will be noncompliant due to ink fadingolder stop signs will be noncompliant due to ink fading – especially if those signs are south facing)
How will you determine which of your signs fail these criteria?
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Ruling Section 2A.09
Standard:Public agencies or officials having jurisdiction shall use an assessment or management method that is designed to maintain sign retroreflectivity at or above the minimum levels in Table 2A-3.
FHWA uses the verb ‘shall’ in STANDARD statements which means ‘required’ or ‘mandatory’
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Assessment/Management Methods
Assessment Methods: Determine what you have
• Visual Nighttime Inspections• Measured retroreflectivity
Management Methods: Manage what you have
• Expected Life• Blanket Replacement• Control Signs
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Ruling Section 2A.22
Guidance:
Maintenance activities should consider proper position, cleanliness, legibility and daytime and nighttime visibility (see section 2A.09) Damaged or deteriorated signs should be replaced… a schedule for inspecting (both day and night), cleaning and replacing sign should be established.
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Compliance Date from January 22, 2008
4 years - (1/22/12)Select and begin implementing Assessment/Management Method to maintain traffic sign retroreflectivity at or above the established minimum levels
7 years - (1/22/15)Replace regulatory, warning, and post mounted guide signs that are identified using the assessment or management method as failing to meet the established minimum levels
10 years - (1/22/18)Replace overhead guide signs and street name signs that are identified using the assessment or management method as failing to meet the established minimum levels.
Exclusions: (1) Parking, Standing and Stopping Signs – R7 & R8 Series, (2) Walking/ Hitchhiking/ Crossing signs - R9 Series, R10-1 through R10-4b,
(3) Adopt-a-Highway Signs, (4) All signs with blue or brown backgrounds, (5) Bikeway signs that are
intended for bicyclists
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Retroreflective Sheeting
Visibility & Safety for the Life of the Road
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Minimums & Reflective Materials
Sheeting New CPL Performance Life % of New
End of life CPL
Engineer Grade Type I 70 7 years 50% 35
High Intensity Prismatic Type IV / X 360 / 560 10 years 70% 252 / 392
DG3Prismatic Type XI 570 12 years 70% 399
CPL Based on -.4 / 2.0
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3M Signing Systems Total Light Return EfficiencyTruncated Cube
30%
Tot
al R
etro
refl
ecti
ve
Eff
icie
ncy
10% to larger observation angles
20% to smaller observation angles
30%
Tot
al R
etro
refl
ecti
ve
Eff
icie
ncy
15% to larger observation angles
Cone of Retroreflection
Cone of Retroreflection
15% to smaller observation angles
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Total Light Return EfficiencyFull Cube
60%
Tot
al R
etro
refl
ecti
ve E
ffic
ienc
y
30% to larger observation angles
30% to smaller observation angles
Cone of Retroreflection
Increasing the overall total retroreflective efficiency ensures serving the greatest segment of nighttime driver population without the need of sign illumination.
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Proposed Type XIIII, IV, XIASTM Types
12 years10 yearsNoneExpress Warranty
2005
Full Cube Prismatic
2000s
Truncated Prismatic
1940s
Enclosed Glass BeadTechnology
UnsurpassedVery GoodInadequate*Overall
Performance
“Whiter” white, greater color uniformity
“Whiter” white, greater color uniformity
Less vivid daytime colorsColor
400 mcd200 mcd30 mcd0.5° Observation Angle Brightness(~350 ft from sign for sedan)
100%65%28%Optical Efficiency
3M DG33M HIPEGAttributes
Proposed Type XIIII, IV, XIASTM Types
12 years10 yearsNoneExpress Warranty
2005
Full Cube Prismatic
2000s
Truncated Prismatic
1940s
Enclosed Glass BeadTechnology
UnsurpassedVery GoodInadequate*Overall
Performance
“Whiter” white, greater color uniformity
“Whiter” white, greater color uniformity
Less vivid daytime colorsColor
400 mcd200 mcd30 mcd0.5° Observation Angle Brightness(~350 ft from sign for sedan)
100%65%28%Optical Efficiency
3M DG33M HIPEGAttributes
Higher Performance Sheeting
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FHWA Report - Maintaining Traffic Sign Retroreflectivity: Impact on State and Local Agencies (HRT-07-042) Using durable prismatic sheeting may be the more economic option
for agencies in the long run, although initial costs may be higher. Using higher retroreflectivity materials only increases total sign cost by
3% to 14% Engineer Grade Sheeting can be more costly than prismatic sheeting
with a longer life cycle when sign installation costs are considered (labor, hardware, administrative).
Although older drivers will particularly benefit from higher retroflectivity, all drivers will be better served by the improved nighttime performance.
The study can be accessed online at: http://www.tfhrc.gov/safety/pubs/07042/07042.pdf
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Life Cycle Cost Comparison
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Reduced Crash Rates(More visible signs resulted in crash reductions…)
Crash Reduction over
Time periodSavings Cost
Benefit-to-Cost Ratio
Mendocino County, CA
46% over
6 years
$12.5-$23.7 million
$79,300 159:1 – 299:1
Sioux City, IA30% over
3 years$4.92 million $145K 3395:1
Putnam County, NY
25% over
3 years$185K $160K 1.16:1
Source: Quantifying the Safety Benefits of Traffic Control Devices – Benefit-Cost Analysis of Traffic Sign Upgrades, Douglas A. Ripley
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3M Grant Program
3M Grant Material Upgrade Only (EG to Prismatic) 3M Sheeting Materials Required
• Type IV,X (High Intensity Prismatic)• Type XI (Proposed) (DG3)
Grant Applies To In-house or Fabricator Supplied Signs One Grant Per Agency (Redeem within 3 months) Offered During 2009 3M Grant Application Site: WWW.3Msigngrants.com
The Purpose:
To provide funding that assists local government agencies in upgrading their sign standards
to meet their safety goals.
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Roadway Maintenance Services (RMS)A new approach to supporting agency maintenance needs
Visibility & Safety for the Life of the Road
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3M Signing SystemsRoadway Maintenance Services (RMS)A new approach to supporting agency maintenance needs“Traditional Approach” to Sign Inventory & Replacement”
General Payment Requirements Pay for Design/Sign Inventory/GIS Pay for Plans/Specs/Reports Administration Costs to Implement Contracts Pay for Materials (3M) Pay for Fabrication (Fabricator) Pay for Installation (Sign Installer) Pay to Update Final Inventory
Multiple Channels for Payment results in inefficiencies and greater overall cost to the agency
3M “Turnkey” approach = Single Source = $ Savings
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3M RMS Signing Total Solution3M RMS Signing Total Solution
RMS can do the following to support you:
Sign Assessments Develop Replacement Plan Engineering Services Manage the Project to Deliver New Signs
- Materials, Fabrication, & Installation Provide the Agency with a Sign Inventory
- Web-based, no Software Deliver the updated data to the Agency’s existing system (if one exists) Provide ongoing support for future Sign
Upgrade or Replacement Needs
“Extension of your Staff”
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3M RMS Signing Total Solution3M RMS Signing Total Solution
Sign Assessments - The 3M Sign Assessments are broken out into differing levels of service to accommodate a wider variety of needs:
Silver PackageSilver Package
Location Attributes: GPS Location Sign Position Sign Location by Route/Street Sign Orientation
Sign Property Attributes: MUTCD Sign Type Sign Dimensions using Specs Video Still (low resolution) Night Viewing (Pass/Fail)
Other Info: Date of Inspection Name of Inspector
Deliverables: Web based Inventory System (minimal attributes) Complies with Minimum Reflectivity Requirements of visual
nighttime inspection Can generate replacements based on nighttime inspection Provides a track log for agencies
Advantages: Less expensive option ($2 - $4 / Sign) If 3M RMS does replacements, system can be updated w/
attributes that will transition agency to an ‘Expected Life’ Program.
Disadvantages: Does not generate enough
information about the sign for an immediate transition to the ‘Expected Life’ Method
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3M RMS Signing Total Solution3M RMS Signing Total Solution
Sign Assessments - The 3M Sign Assessments are broken out into differing levels of service to accommodate a wider variety of needs:
Deliverables: Web based Inventory System (many attributes) Complies with Minimum Reflectivity Requirements – will
have all of the information to us the ‘Expected Life’ Mgmt Can generate replacements based on Sheeting Life Provides a track log for agencies
Advantages: Easy development of Replacement Plans (have all sign info) Smooth transition to a “Management Method” of minimum
reflectivity maintenance. Eliminates the need for annual assessments.
Disadvantages: More Expensive Option
($4 - $10 / Sign)
Gold PackageGold Package
Location Attributes: GPS Location – ↑ Accuracy Sign Position Sign Location by Route/Street Sign Orientation Sign Offset from Road Edge Mounting Height
Sign Property Attributes: MUTCD Sign Type Sign Dimensions using Specs Digital Photo (high resolution) Sign Legend Sign Substrate Sheeting Type Sign Condition Sign Structure (post type) Post Structure Condition Sign Age (if available)
Other Info: Date of Inspection Name of Inspector
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3M RMS Signing Total Solution3M RMS Signing Total Solution
Development of Replacement Plans – Using the information captured from the 3M Sign Assessment, RMS utilizes the web-based inventory system to develop a comprehensive replacement plan for years to come…
With the information captured, we can utilize the ‘Expected Life’ management method for each sign to know when to replace…
And the inventory information to know what sign goes where for an efficient installation…
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3M RMS Signing Total Solution3M RMS Signing Total Solution
Delivery of New Signs – Typical Contracts
Corridor/Project Sign Contract 3M RMS responsible for all signs or signs defined by series/type/style in specific area/region/corridor Contract defined by upgrade activity
Contract ends when upgrade activity is complete Warranty provisions on materials apply Could be financed or pay up front Typically a “blanket” replacement or new construction installation of signs
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3M RMS Signing Total Solution3M RMS Signing Total Solution
Delivery of New Signs – Typical Contracts
Work Order/Sign Maintenance Contract 3M RMS under contract as extension of Agency staff
• Complete “Turnkey” sign replacement service Work orders issued for individual or groups of sign replacement activity Bid Schedule, with variety of sign types/styles
• Pay “per each” installed Annual contract, with option to renew (similar to supply contract) Typically two phases of each Work Order:
Phase One – Assessment Phase
Phase Two – Delivery Phase
Example Contracts:
Highlighted Work Order Contract
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3M RMS Signing Total Solution3M RMS Signing Total Solution
3M Inventory/Data Management System – a 3M hosted web-based system that allows agencies to track progress of projects, as well as have a final inventory of signs when project completed.
Added Benefit Interactive Web Site
• “real-time” update of project status• Agency Officials will track progress
of sign replacement• Data used to develop final inventory• No special software required• No IT support required, 3M RMS
manages the system• http://www.3mtrafficsafetynow.com/
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“Brand Name” Reliability Industry Leading Products with
the highest quality installation Commitment to Service and Quality Level Maintenance Costs – Project Financing Extension of Agency Staff – find the right fit for RMS Opportunity for cost reductions/efficiencies
Benefits Customers ValueBenefits Customers Value
3M Roadway Maintenance Services
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