Traffic Signs - Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)

Contents

• News Updates
• Introduction and History of MUTCD
• MUTCD in Washington State
• Other Authorized Traffic Related Signs
• Sample City and County Traffic Sign Policies
• Additional Information Resources
• Related MRSC Pages
  • Sign Control 

News Updates

• U. S. Department of Transportation Proposes to Eliminate Deadlines for Replacing Traffic Signs, U.S. Department of Transportation News Release, FHWA 43-11,  Tuesday, August 30, 2011
• The Federal Highway Administration August 31st issued a notice of proposed amendment in the Federal Register, proposing to revise compliance dates included in the MUTCD. The public comment period will close on October 31, 2011.
  
  The Federal Register notice, which provides detailed discussion of the FHWA's proposal, can be viewed in pdf at   http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-08-31/pdf/2011-22006.pdf or  html at, http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-08-31/html/2011-22006.htm.   To view the proposed revisions to the text of Table I-2 for this revision of the 2009 MUTCD and other related information, go to http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/knowledge/09mutcdproposedrev/compliance_dates/index.htm

Introduction and History of MUTCD

• Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) - Washington State Department of Transportation
  
  What is the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)? - The MUTCD contains the standards for traffic control devices that regulate, warn, and guide road users along highways, county roads, and city streets. The MUTCD functions as both a legal and an engineering document. The Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 47.36, Traffic Control Devices, requires the WSDOT to adopt uniform standards for traffic control devices installed along state highways. The law also requires that traffic control devices along county roads fully conform to these adopted standards, and those along city streets conform to the extent possible.
• Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD Knowledge- Federal Highway Administration - Includes Overview, The Evolution of MUTCD, Who Uses the MUTCD and How

MUTCD in Washington State

The MUTCD contains standards for traffic control devices that regulate, warn, and guide road users along highways, county roads, and city streets. The MUTCD functions as both a legal and an engineering document. The Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 47.36, Traffic Control Devices, requires the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to adopt uniform standards for traffic control devices installed along state highways. The law also requires that traffic control devices along county roads fully conform to these adopted standards, and those along city streets conform to the extent possible.  Also look at WAC 468-95.

WSDOT adopted the MUTCD 2003 on November 3, 2005. The MUTCD 2003 and Washington Modification were effective for use in Washington beginning December 4, 2005. A copy of the MUTCD and a list of modifications is on the WSDOT MUTCD Web page.    A MUTCD  Adoption Committee is reviewing the  MUTCD 2009 edition.  WSDOT has until January 15, 2012 to complete the adoption process. 

• Update on Washington State’s Process to Adopt the 2009 Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (), by Susan Bowe, Bowe, P.E., WSDOT Highways and Local Programs Division and Rick Mowlds, WSDOT Traffic Operations Division, Washington State LTAP News, Summer 2011
• Update on Washington State’s Process to Adopt the 2009 Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (), By Susan Bowe, P.E., Washington State LTAP News, Fall 2010 

Other Authorized Traffic Related Signs

• Motorist Information Sign Program - Washington State Department of Transportation

Headlights On

• RCW 47.04.180  - Twenty-four hour headlight policy - counties or cities can petition the department of transportation to create a "twenty-four hour headlight policy" on state highways in their respective jurisdictions
• WSDOT Policy for "Headlights On' Signs on the State Highway System()

Street Name Signs MUTCD Compliance 

• U. S. Department of Transportation Proposes to Eliminate Deadlines for Replacing Traffic Signs, U.S. Department of Transportation News Release, FHWA 43-11,  Tuesday, August 30, 2011
• Background 
  • Street Name Signs, Ask MRSC, Washington State Public Works, Winter 2010
  • Correspondence Re Street Signs () -  Email from Washington State Association of County Engineers (WSACE) Managing Director with attachments:  FHWA Administrator Letter to National Association of County Engineers (NACE), 10/20/10 and WSDOT Guidance
  • Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) Compliance Dates, 75 FR 229,  Pages 74128-31, November 30, 2010 - See Discussion of General Compliance Date Issues

Sample City and County Traffic Sign Policies

• Bellingham Traffic
• Des Moines - Children at Play / Deaf Child Signs
• King County
  • King County Road Services - Traffic Signs
  • King County Traffic Engineering -    Frequently Asked Questions: Signs, signals, crosswalks and streetlights
• Kitsap County Public Works Traffic Signs
• Olympia - Signs and Streetlights
• Pierce County Traffic Division - See Traffic Division Services at bottom of page 
• Seattle Traffic Control Manual for In-Street Work - See Sign Information
• Spokane Valley - Signs, Striping and Signals
• Yakima - Stop Signs in Neighborhoods 

Additional Information Resources

• Federal Highway Administration Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
• Institute of Traffic Engineers Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
• Washington State Department of Transportation Traffic Signs - Advertising
• Selected MRSC Library Holdings - Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)  -  Clicking on this link will take you to a list of documents available on loan through the MRSC library. Once the list appears, you can sort it alphabetically by selecting Sort and then Title from the drop-down menu