HIGHWAY SIGNAGE
MUTCD http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov National Standard for all Traffic Control Devices
MUTCD • Compliance on All Public Roads • Covers − Rail / Light Rail − Signs − Bike Paths − Pavement Marking − School Areas − Traffic Signals − Work Zones • Shall, Should, May Statements • Other Definitions
SHALL • Standard—a statement of required, mandatory, or 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 or 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 or Guidance. All Option statements are labeled, and the text appears in unbold type. The verb may is typically used.
MUTCD PART 2A - GENERAL • Design • Sign Borders • Retroreflectivity • Enhanced Conspicuity • Shapes • Sign Placement − Location • Colors − Mounting Height • Dimensions − Lateral Offset • Symbols • Maintenance • Word Messages
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): 1 − ½ not 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 Sheeting Type (ASTM D4956-04) Sign Color Beaded Sheeting Prismatic Sheeting I II III IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X W ≥ 120; G ≥ 15 (Ground Mounted) White on Green X Y ≥ 50; O ≥ 50 (≥ 48” or all bold symbol) Black on Yellow X or Y ≥ 75; O ≥ 75 (< 48”) X Black on Orange W ≥ 35; R ≥ 7 (Contrast Ratio W3:R1) White on Red W ≥ 50 Black on White
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 85 th 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 X X Stop for Pedestrians at Crosswalks X • Therefore, Stop for Pedestrian Sign Shall X be Used
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
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