The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Richard Bowden. Asst. Director Signals. BNSF Railway Kansas Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas 66106

Transcription

1 The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices Richard Bowden Asst. Director Signals BNSF Railway 4515 Kansas Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas Fax: and 2000 U.S. MUTCD Manuals

2 ABSTRACT In the past Stop signs were yellow in some States and red in others, center lines of streets where white in some States and yellow in others, crossbucks had black backgrounds in some locations and white in others, and gates had black and white stripes instead of red and white stripes. The US and Canadian Highway Administrations standardized the size, height, color, placement, etc. for various traffic control devices with their individual manuals on uniform traffic control devices (MUTCD). The text describes some of the items in the Millennium MUTCD, that AREMA members attend the National Council for Uniform Traffic Control Devices (NCUTCD) Technical Meetings, that AREMA is a sponsor of the NCUTCD, some of the changes (such as crossbuck and post reflectorization) in the MUTCD that affect railroads, and an entire new section on Traffic Controls for Highway-Light Rail Transit Grade Crossings. An overview of the experimentation and change processes that are involved in proposing alternate traffic control devices, approval for experimentation, evaluation, and reporting requirements are discussed. The recent Technical Committee topic concerning the proposed mandatory use of Stop or Yield signs on the same post as crossbucks on all crossings that have only crossbucks is discussed. The Millennium MUTCD, Revision 1 and the Federal Register Notice of Proposed Amendments for MUTCD Revision 2 are online. Revision 2 was open to public comment for 90 days ending August 19, The MUTCD text can be found at Key Words: MUTCD, NCUTCD, crossing, crossbuck

3 INTRODUCTION Perhaps you remember when Stop signs were yellow, when center lines of streets where white, when crossbucks had black backgrounds, or when gates had black and white stripes. No? Well, maybe I m dating myself. The US and Canadian Highway Administrations standardized the size, height, color, placement, and other items for various traffic control devices with their respective Manuals on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, which is abbreviated MUTCD. The MUTCD covers signs, markings, temporary traffic control, traffic signals, Highway-Rail signals and placement of these devices. There have been numerous changes to the Manual recently, so many that AREMA assigned a representative and is a sponsor of the National Council for Uniform Traffic Control Devices (NCUTCD). The Millennium edition of the Manual was issued in 2000 and is already on its second revision, which has over 100 changes to the Highway-Rail and Highway Light-Rail sections, some of which are covered herein. The Manual and revisions are available online and the Manual is available in a printed version. Comments to the FHWA on items in the Manual can be submitted online and through the mail. WHAT IS IN THE MANUAL The USDOT MUTCD contains standards for traffic control devices that regulate, warn, and guide road users along the highways and byways in all 50 States. Traffic control devices in the manual cover traffic control signals, markings (striping on streets), signs, delineators, barricades, islands, temporary traffic control, traffic controls for highway-rail grade crossings, and traffic controls for bicycle facilities. Two of the ten MUTCD Parts are devoted to Traffic

4 Controls for Highway-Rail Grade Crossings and Traffic Controls for Highway- Light Rail Transit Grade Crossings. RAIL REPRESENTATIVES ON THE NCUTCD There is a non-profit national committee that supplies guidance to the USDOT Federal Highway Administration for changes to the Manual. I am AREMA s representative and Tom Zeinz from the CNIC is the AAR representative on the National Committee for Uniform Traffic Control Devices. The NCUTCD consists of representatives of State and Local officials, traffic engineers, human factors groups, and others. The NCUTCD has Technical Committees that review and recommend changes to the Manual. There are a number of AREMA Committee 36 and 37 members that attend the NCUTCD Railroad/Light Rail Technical Meetings. These AREMA representatives help guide the Railroad/Light Rail Technical Group on railroad issues.

5 Changes Made to the Manual Over the years there have been a number of changes to the Manual. Since 1927, there have been 33 revisions including 9 revisions since the 1988 manual was issued. Since it was difficult to insert revisions the hard bound manual, the 2000 manual was developed in an 8 ½ x 11 format. Changes in the MUTCD 2000 In the millennium edition, the manual was reformatted with addition of guidance, standards, options, and support portions under each Section. Definitions were added to the manual. As an example, Temporary Traffic Control was expanded to 215 pages with major additions and changes.

6 Portion of MUTCD Figure 6C-1 Portion of MUTCD Figure 6E-1 Several items that affect railroads that were added to Part 8 in the Millennium Manual. Dynamic Envelope delineation was added as an option. The dynamic envelope is the clearance for the train and its overhang due to any combination of loading, lateral motion, or suspension failure. Portion of MUTCD Figure 8A-1 Portion of MUTCD Figure 8B-9

7 Reflectorization strips were added to the front and back of crossbuck posts, and back of the crossbucks themselves. Portion of MUTCD Figure 8B-1

8 There were a number of warning signs added in the manual. These include Trains May Exceed 80 MPH sign, No Train Horn sign, No Signal Sign, Look sign, Low Ground Clearance sign, and storage space signs. Emergency notification signs were also added as typical sign messages. The sign colors conform to other regulatory (white), warning (yellow), or guide signs (blue, green, etc.). Portion of MUTCD Page 8B-10 Part of MUTCD Section 8B.09

9 Portion of MUTCD Figure 8D-2 A Section was also added for the option of four-quadrant (exit) gate systems. The Standards and Guidance in this section describes the operation of the exit gates and gives guidance on timed exit gate operating mode and dynamic exit gate operating mode. Much of the wording in this section was derived from AREMA manual parts, developed by Committee 36. These are just some of the items changed in Part 8 of the Millennium Manual.

10 NEW PART 10 Part 10 - Traffic controls for Highway-Light Rail Transit Grade Crossings was added in the Millennium Manual with 36 pages on Light Rail. While much of Part 10 uses the same wording and similar signage as Part 8, there are additional signs, light rail transit signals, and pedestrian crossings covered in this section to address special issues of light rail transit. Portion of MUTCD Page 10C-3 Regulatory Signs Portion of MUTCD Figure 10D-1 Typical Light Rail Transit Signals

11 Portion of Figure 10D-5 Typical Placement of Pedestrian Traffic Gates Portion of Figure 10D-5 Typical Pedestrian Barriers at an Offset Highway- Light Rail Transit Crossing LATEST PROPOSED CHANGES TO PART 8 The Notice of Proposed Amendments for MUTCD Revision 2 is online and was open to public comment for 90 days ending August 19, This was FHWA Docket No. FHWA There were over 100 changes that

12 effected Highway-Rail and Highway-Light Rail Grade Crossings in the manual. Some of the proposed changes were just editorial, such as spelling or preferred words. Other proposed changes were major in concept. In Part 4, 8 and 10, In-Roadway lighting was proposed with flashing red Stop Line Lights at grade crossings, and In-Roadway flashing yellow Warning Lights for approaches to crossings that would be interconnected with the active grade crossing warning. The Committee recommended that this be deferred until the in-roadway signals had gone through the experimentation process to prove or disprove their benefit. Five definitions were changed in Part 8. These are Advance Preemption, Advance Preemption Time, Clear Storage Distance, Minimum Track Clearance Distance, and Queue Clearance Time. Seven definitions were added in Part 8. These are Dynamic Exit Lane Gate Operating Mode, Exit Lane Gate Operating Mode, Exit Lane Gate Clearance Time, Flashing-Light Signals, Timed Exit Gate Operating Mode, Vehicle Intrusion Detection Devices, and Wayside Equipment. AREMA Committee 36 had developed the definitions that were to be included in the Manual. The Crossbuck Shield sign was proposed to be added with the changes. Since this was in conflict with the recommendations of National Cooperative Highway Research Program Report 470, the Railroad/Light Rail Technical Committee recommended the use of Stop or Yield signs in conjunction with Crossbucks for passive warning devices. The report detailed the reasoning for supplementing the Crossbuck, which was to convey exactly what the motorist must do based on view distance and speed at the crossing with signing familiar to the motorist.

13 Portion of Figure 8B-2 Portion of NCHRP Report 470 Crossbuck Shield Sign Figure 6 Portion of Figure 8B-1 Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Crossbuck Signs As we discussed, striping was added on the back of crossbucks and on the front and back of crossbuck posts in the Millennium edition. In the proposed revision, the length of striping on front and back of crossbuck posts was specified

14 to come within 1 foot of the roadway level in the figure and 1 foot of the ground level in the text. The Committee recommended that the dimension be changed to 2 foot from roadway level to keep snow, grass, and dirt from blocking the view of the stripe and to make the stripe more maintainable. The UP has already started installing the striping using a standard length stripe, this change in the Manual impacts their installations where the ground level is lower than roadway level. Another change was that the Tracks Out of Service sign was proposed to be changed to four lines instead of three to standardize the sign size. Also No Gates or Lights and Skewed Crossing signs were proposed for addition to the Manual. There were a few dimensions (cantilever clearance, gate length arrow, asterisk location) that were not shown correctly on the composite drawing of active traffic control devices for highway-rail grade crossings. These were recommended to be changed by the Committee. Changes in the text specified that 24 backgrounds were to be used on 12 flashing lights and 20 backgrounds on 10 flashing lights. While this may be a good practice, much of the installed base of 12 lights do not have 24 backgrounds, and the text was requested to be changed by the Committee.

15 Portion of MUTCD Figure 8D-1 Language regarding Dynamic and Timed Exit Gate Operating Modes for Four-Quadrant Gates, standby power for interconnected traffic signals, and installation of pre-signals (signals in approach of the crossing) where a grade crossing was within of a crossing was added to the Manual. These were just some of the changes made with the Notice of Proposed Amendment. Since changes can impact the railroads, such as the crossbuck striping changes, flasher background size, etc., it is imperative we have representatives on the National Committee, attending the Technical Committees, and sending comments to the FHWA.

16 COMMENTS TO THE FHWA Changes are made in the Manual by the FHWA receiving proposed changes. If the FHWA foresees a benefit, they will include the change in the Federal Register. If you wish to review the actual material that was posted in the register you may do so by going to After being posted, comments are received for a specified period of time. The National Committee sent comments to the FHWA on these proposed changes. Comments are also received by the FHWA from other government agencies, organizations, businesses, and individuals. Comments that have been already received in the docket can be viewed by going to then selecting simple search, and placing in the search box. These comments are considered by the FHWA and then a revision of the manual is issued. Like comments help weigh FHWA s decisions. EXPERIMENTATION If someone comes up with a new idea for a traffic control device, marking, sign, signal, or other device that is not in the Manual, there is a very specific process that must be followed for approval of request to experiment, the experimentation process, evaluation, and reporting requirements. Experimentation and change processes are defined Part 1 of the Manual. If you are planning to experiment with new devices (signs, signals, striping, etc.), read through Part 1, contact the road authority, and contact the FHWA. One thing to keep in mind, you wouldn t need any experimentation to close the crossing.

17 MUTCD AVAILABILITY The electronic version posted on the MUTCD website is the official FHWA publication. FHWA is not printing copies of the millennium MUTCD because of the costs involved. The effective date of the Federal Register final rule for the 2000 MUTCD was January 17, States have 2 years to adopt the MUTCD changes. The adoption date is January 17, Several national organizations (ATSSA, ITE, and AASHTO) have printed copies of the previous revision available; or better yet, the MUTCD can be found at CONCLUSION While the MUTCD covers signs, markings, temporary traffic control, and signals, it is not a static document. Changes made in the MUTCD can have a significant impact on railroads. With more railroad representation on the NCUTCD, AREMA members gain a bigger voice in what gets recommended for inclusion in the Manual. There were many changes in the Millennium edition of the Manual. There were also many proposed changes to the MUTCD affecting railroads, such as the crossbuck striping, in-roadway lights, and crossbuck shield/stop or yield signs. If you are planning to experiment with new devices read through Part 1 and contact the road authority and the FHWA. Comments to the Manual can be made directly to the FHWA and uploaded to their website. Most importantly the Manual is available on the FHWA website at If you have any questions regarding the Manual contact your Public Projects Personnel, one of the AREMA Committee 36 members or myself.

18 REFERENCES 1. Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways Millennium Edition, U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, June 14, Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways, U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways Millennium Edition, Proposed Revision No. 2, U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, May 21, National Cooperative Highway Research Program Report 470 Traffic-Control Devices for Passive Railroad-Highway Grade Crossings, Transportation Research Board, 2002, ISBN AREMA Communication and Signal Manual, American Railway Engineering and Maintenance of Way Association, May 21, 2002 Federal Register - Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices Revision 2, Notice of Proposed Amendment [FHWA Docket Number FHWA ] RIN number 2125-AE93