Sign Management October 30, 2013

1. Sign ManagementOctober 30, 2013 Call in number: 1-800-309-2350 Pass Code: 2369526#

2. Please mute your phone *6 To ask questions and open your line *6 This will help all of our friends! Your Cooperation is Needed

3. Webinars Traditional Classroom Sessions One-on-One Assistance PSAB’s Blended Training

4. Webinars Municipal Strom Water Management & Liability Oct. 31 Accessibility for All* Nov. 7 The Open Records Act Nov. 13 Stormwater Infrastructure Fees Nov. 14 Sinkhole Prevention Nov. 20 * Free to PSAB members Upcoming Training

5. The Course in Community Planning The Course in Zoning The Course in Subdivision & Land Development Review Municipal Officials Training & Update The Course in Zoning Administration Confined Space Training Newly Elected Officials Training Register now for 2014 Newly Elected Officials Training www.classes.boroughs.org Upcoming Classroom Training

6. Traffic Sign Inventory/Management and New Federal Requirements Presented by: Steve Rozyckie, P.E., PTOE PSABs Lunchtime Webinar – Oct 30, 2013

7. Overview • Learning Outcomes • Signs and the MUTCD • Sign Inventory and Liability • Common Deficiencies

8. Learning Outcomes • Identify general sign deficiencies that could result in a crash • List some common sign deficiencies • Understand the benefits of a sign inventory/management system

9. Signs and The MUTCD • National standard for traffic control devices • 2009 edition is the most current • Applies to public roads • Applies to private roads “open to public travel” http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/kno_2009r1r2.htm

10. Signs and The MUTCD • Primary purpose is to promote uniformity in design and application of traffic control devices • Uniformity: • Improves safety • Reduces driver frustration

11. Signs and The MUTCD • What if consistency was not promoted?

12. Signs and The MUTCD • Goal is for motorists to understand and interpret signs in the same way no matter where they are driving Use This and NOT

13. Signs and The MUTCD • MUTCD standard Pedestrian Crossing signs are shown below • What’s wrong with the signs at right? W16-7P W11-2

14. Signs and The MUTCD • MUTCD addresses general design and application of all traffic control devices • FHWA’s “Standard Highway Signs and Markings (SHSM)” book includes details for lettering and the dimensional layout of signs http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/ser-shs_millennium.htm

15. Signs and The MUTCD • 2009 MUTCD introduced many new requirements • Compliance dates initially associated with each • June 2013 ruling eliminated most dates • An important requirement that retains a compliance date is that a sign assessment or management method be in place • Date revised to June 13, 2014 • Applies to regulatory and warning signs only

16. Signs and The MUTCD • Does my municipality need to replace signs by June 2014? • Schedules for replacing signs are based on resources and relative priorities • As long as an agency has the sign assessment or management method in place by June 14, 2014, they are considered to be in compliance with this Standard.

17. Sign Inventory and Liability • Assessment or management method: • Retroreflectivity is important – approximately half of all fatalities occur at night yet one-quarter of travel takes place after dark

18. Sign Inventory and Liability • Just because you can see it in the daylight does not mean it has retroreflective properties

19. Sign Inventory and Liability • Much of recent media coverage has been new retroreflectivity requirements • Identifying deficiencies besides retroreflectivity is a major safety benefit to performing a sign inventory • In the long run this effort can save agencies money -- and even save lives -- down the road

20. Sign Inventory and Liability • Example of priority queries from ArcMap SMS with all layers turned on

21. Sign Inventory and Liability Why evaluate more than simply retroreflectivity condition?

22. Sign Inventory and Liability • SIGNAL AHEAD (text) sign is non-standard and could be replaced with an identical sign • A new sign may be retroreflective but still would not meet standards • Symbol sign is appropriate

23. Sign Inventory and Liability • Back-to-back installations are permitted with STOP signs but they MUST NOT obstruct the octagon shape of the sign • At dusk or dawn motorist may not recognize the octagon shape • In this example the DO NOT ENTER should be smaller such that it fits within octagon- • If not, sign should be installed on a separate post

24. Sign Inventory and Liability • A sign inventory can record those signs obstructed by vegetation and this data can be incorporated into a sign management system • Assists maintenance in easily identifying signs requiring trimming on a regular basis

25. Sign Inventory and Liability • Importance of signage for a public agency, as it relates to tort liability • If a crash were to occur because of inappropriate signing, an agency could be held liable for failure to comply with the MUTCD • Appropriate signage is critical for motorist safety and to minimize an agency’s tort liability

26. Sign Inventory and Liability • Inventory can identify deficiencies that may cause a crash • Should a crash be eliminated by addressing a signing deficiency, the associated cost savings could be quite significant • FHWA Crash Cost Values • $9.1 million per fatality • $428,000 per moderate injury • $27,000 per minor injury Source (2013): http://www.dot.gov/office-policy/transportation-policy/guidance-treatment-economic-value-statistical-life

27. Sign Inventory and Liability • Should a crash occur and it is found that the cause was a missing sign, an agency could be held liable • If the sign had been in place, it could be proven so from the sign inventory • The level of negligence, if any, would depend on when and how the sign became “missing” • Any unique signing condition is documented making replacement easier

28. Sign Inventory and Liability • ALL WAY supplemental STOP plaques required where all approaches stop

29. Sign Inventory and Liability

30. Sign Inventory and Liability

31. Common Deficiencies • Inappropriate use of supplemental STOP plaques • MUTCD prohibits the use of 2-WAY, 3-WAY, and 4‐WAY plaques • ALL WAY is now standard

32. Common Deficiencies • Lack of appropriate signing at intersections where one approach does not stop • Use one of the following signs per Section 2C.59 of the MUTCD

33. Common Deficiencies • Outdated signing – text instead of symbol

34. Common Deficiencies • Multiple, unrelated signs installed on a single post

35. Common Deficiencies • Vegetation obscuring the ability to read signs

36. Common Deficiencies • Incorrect curve warning signage • Regulatory instead of advisory speed used • Turn (W1‐1) sign shall be used instead of Curve (W1‐2) signs when advisory or posted speed is 30 mph or less W13-1

37. Common Deficiencies • Use appropriate colors • The preferred background color for Street Name signs is green, but the MUTCD does allow blue, brown, or white* colors. * A black legend shall be used if a white background is used, otherwise the legend color shall be white

38. “Not So” Common Deficiencies • Believe it or not, these are actual signs!

39. Sign Deficiencies on Private Property Parking lot with STOP sign shown and to left - confusing arrangement Speed bumps should only be used in parking lots. Sign too small, non-standard. If private property but for public use, MUST follow MUTCD. PA State Law is YIELD to Peds in Crosswalk

40. Wrap-Up • MUTCD still requires a sign assessment or management method (by June 13, 2014) • As long as the sign assessment or management method is in place by June 14, 2014, agency considered to be in compliance with this Standard • Consider an inventory and collect the attributes necessary to evaluate full MUTCD compliance • Safety benefits can be quite significant

41. Questions? Contact Info: Stephen P. Rozyckie Gannett Fleming, Inc. Email: srozyckie@gfnet.com Phone: 717-763-7211