Available since late 2011 Download from TRB web site Provide airport operators updated resource on wayfinding and signing guidelines 1
Panel Broward County Aviation Dept. Port of Oakland Massachusetts Port Authority HNTB Corporation, Boston Valancourt International, Atlanta (wayfinding) MN Dept. of Employment and Economic Development FAA Liaison Kevin Sylvester, FHWA Liaison 2
Contractors Gresham, Smith and Partners (a/e firm) Sue Chrysler, TTI (research) Human Factors North, Inc. (human factors) Big Sky, Inc. (electronic security and IT communication) Society for Environmental Graphic Design (graphic design professional society) San José, CA Airport (civil engineer) 3
References to MUTCD 0. Foreword 1. Introduction 2. Signing and Wayfinding 3. Roadways 4. Parking 5. Curbside and Ground Transportation 6. Terminal 7. Technology 8. Code Required Regulatory and Information Signs 4
0. Foreword (MUTCD), while applicable to airports with respect to roadways, doesn t specifically speak to airports or the unique operating environment. this update ensures compliance with the MUTCD 5
2009 FHWA MUTCD Section 1A.11 Other Publications 6. AASHTO Guidelines for the Selection of Supplemental Guide Signs for Traffic Generators Adjacent to Freeways, Part II: Guidelines for Airport Guide Signing 6
2009 FHWA MUTCD Section 1A.13 Definitions 159. Private Road Open to Public Travel private toll roads and roads within shopping centers, airports, sports arenas, and other similar business and/or recreation facilities that are privately owned, but where the public is allowed to travel without access restrictions. 7
2009 FHWA MUTCD Section 2D.03 Color, Retroreflection and Illumination 8
Chapter 1. Introduction Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 Airport Signing and Graphics Task Force, 1982 Institute of Transportation Engineers Institute of Transportation Studies Society of Environmental Graphic Designers American Institute of Graphic Artists Federal Aviation Administration Civil Aeronautics Board (ended in 1984) Guidelines for Airport Signing and Graphics, 1984 1994 and 2001 updates FAA Advisory Circular 150/5360-12E, September 2008 Recommends use of Guidelines until an updated manual, currently being developed under the ACRP, is available signing for terminal related roadways should comply with the MUTCD 9
Chapter 1. Introduction Background The most recent edition of the MUTCD prescribes the design or color of airport roadway signs. Previous editions of the MUTCD did not address airports, and it is not clear to what extent the input of airport operators was sought during the preparation of the latest MUTCD. 10
Chapter 1. Introduction Purpose to facilitate the safe and efficient movement of passengers within each airport through the uniform application of wayfinding best practices and common design criteria. 11
Chapter 2. Signing and Wayfinding Goal signing system to ensure safe, convenient and efficient access for all users to and from nearby roadways and arterials to all areas within the airport terminals and parking facilities. 12
Chapter 3. Roadways Philosophy and Principles When designing airport wayfinding and signage, the designer is directed to reference the FHWA s most recent MUTCD for certain engineering design guidelines. Information regarding letter heights, panel sizes, vehicle speed, line-of-sight readability, highway shields, and symbols is to be referenced and considered. many airports have roadway signage systems that currently exist in varying degrees of non-compliance with the MUTCD. 13
Chapter 3. Roadways Philosophy and Principles earlier versions of the (2009) MUTCD were not explicit that the provisions of the Manual applied to airports this expectation was implicit in earlier language concerning authority to install traffic control devices. In the 2009 MUTCD, airport roadways are clearly included as private roads open to public travel and thus are subject to the MUTCD provisions. 14
Chapter 3. Roadways Philosophy and Principles Due to the ambiguity in the past concerning the need to comply with the MUTCD and the difficulty in designing systems that comply fully with the Manual s standards and guidance, many existing airport signing systems do not conform with the Manual. The challenge for both airport management and roadway sign design professional is to find a common ground that can satisfy both viewpoints under the current MUTCD guidelines. 15
Chapter 3. Roadways Airport Management Viewpoints Signs are an identity or branding an airport Signs should look different than freeway signs, as a means to slow down traffic Roadway Professional Viewpoints Signs should comply with all traffic sign regs and design criteria including the MUTCD Sign conformance will lead to a safer and less frustrating driver experience 16
Chapter 3. Roadways Limitations (Human Factors) Airports developed in unusual and unorthodox roadway layouts and design Airport users are unfamiliar with roadway and facilities Airport users experience stress due to tight schedules and security warnings Airport roadways transition in lower speed as they terminate in a high-density environment with vehicles and pedestrians 17
Chapter 3. Roadways the principles of the MUTCD can and should be applied to airport roadway signing using sound engineering judgment. MUTCD Sect 1A.02 Principles of Traffic Control Devices Basic Requirements Fulfill a need Command attention Convey a clear, simple meaning Command respect Give adequate time for proper response Basic Aspects Design Operation Maintenance Uniformity Placement 18
Chapter 3. Roadways Placement Closely spaced access points due to: Multiple terminals Multiple parking facilities Multiple rental car facilities Curbside loading and unloading Summary always start with MUTCD principles Only after MUTCD principles and guidance have been exhausted consider an alternate TCD design or placement. any deviations should be noted and justified during the design process. 19
MUTCD Organization Freeways and Expressways Conventional Roads Sign Classification Regulatory Warning Guide Headings Standard Guidance Option Support ACRP Report 52 Chapter 3. Roadways 20
Chapter 3. Roadways Typography - limited to FHWA Standard Alphabet - Clearview option - 30ft/in legibility Arrows - Specified in MUTCD - Experiments - NPS vs. FHWA study - Over center of lane Colors Placement Structures Illumination CMS Symbology - MUTCD colors and use - legibility study - cites MUTCD for guidance - cites MUTCD + AASHTO for guidance - cites MUTCD + AASHTO for guidance - cites MUTCD + FHWA for guidance 21
[Chapter 6. Terminals] Symbology Not approved in the MUTCD: Arrivals (plane descending) Departures (plane ascending) Rental Car (2008 study) No testing for legibility and comprehension; should include explanatory text Approved in the MUTCD: Terminal Identifiers (A B C or 1 2 3) Airport symbol sign (I-5) and supplemental plaque w/airport name Airport symbol sign and an arrow may be used as a trailblazer 22
Chapter 4. Parking Signing Checklist Vehicles Parking Designations Parking Entry and Exit Parking Rates Traffic Control Pedestrians Direction to terminals Pay machines MUTCD Vehicular and Pedestrian Regulatory signs shall conform to the latest edition of the MUTCD Pavement markings 23
Chapter 5. Curbside & Ground Transportation Vehicles Terminal and Airline verification Traffic control (pick-up vs. through lanes) Airport Exit Pedestrians Crosswalks Taxi and limo areas Shuttles: Rental car, Parking, Hotels MUTCD (Sign Design Elements) shall be referenced for colors on regulatory signs Letter height for static signs (Table 2D-2) and CMS (Sect. 2L.04) MUTCD can be a starting point for font and text size, the geometry and configuration of the curbside may require deviation 24
Chapter 6. Terminal Wayfinding Human Factors Sign Categories Informational Directional Regulatory (FAA requirements) Sign Design Elements Terminology Symbology (Aviation standards, Rental Car Study, Size, Color, Contrast) Typography (Typeface comparison, Spacing, Aging Population) Arrows Color (Coding, Ranked combinations) Location (Mounting heights, illumination, LED) Maintenance Accessibility (Fonts, ADAAG legibility chart, symbols) 25
Chapter 8. Code Required Regulatory & Information Signs FHWA MUTCD CFR Title 14: FAA regulations Dept. of Homeland Security ADAAG State and Local Building codes 26
Discussion Maurice Palumbo, P.E. Principal Planner Golden Gate Bridge, Highway & Transportation District 27