A summary of the new rule and methods to be in compliance

Sign Reflectivity Maintenance Standards

Final Rule

2003 MUTCD Revision #2

Effective Jan 22, 2008

MUTCD

National standard for all traffic control devices installed on any street, highway, or bicycle trail open to public travel

Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices

New MUTCD LanguageSection 2A.09 Maintaining Minimum Retroreflectivity

“Standard:

Public agencies or officials having jurisdiction shall use an assessment or management method that is designed to maintain sign retroreflectivity at or above the minimum levels in Table 2A-3”

Sign Color

Sheeting Type (ASTM D4956-04)

Additional

Criteria

Beaded SheetingPrismatic Sheeting

I II IIIIII, IV, VI, VII,

VIII, IX, X

White on Green

W*G ≥ 7

W* G ≥ 15

W*G ≥ 25

W ≥ 250; G ≥ 25Overhea

d

W*G ≥ 7

W ≥ 120; G ≥ 15Ground-mounted

Black on Yellow orBlack on Orange

Y*; O*

Y ≥ 50; O ≥ 50

Y*; O*

Y ≥ 75; O ≥ 75

White on Red

W ≥ 35; R ≥ 7

Black on White

W ≥ 50

* This sheeting type should not be used for this color for this application.

New MUTCD Table 2A.3Minimum Maintained Retroreflectivity Levels

Sign Color

Sheeting Type (ASTM D4956-04)

Beaded Sheeting Prismatic Sheeting

I II IIIIII, IV, VI, VII, VIII, IX,

X

White on Green

W*G ≥ 7

(9)

W* G ≥ 15

(30)

W*G ≥ 25

(45)

W ≥ 250 (250 – 700); G ≥ 25 (38 – 75)

W*G ≥ 7

(9)

W ≥ 120 (140 – 700); G ≥ 15 (30 – 75)

Black on Yellow orBlack on Orange

Y*; O*Y ≥ 50 (100 – 525); O ≥ 50 (60 – 265)

Y*; O*Y ≥ 75 (100 – 525); O ≥ 75 (60 – 265)

White on Red

W ≥ 35 (70 – 700); R ≥ 7 (14 – 105)

Black on White

W ≥ 50 (70 – 700)

New MUTCD Table with Specifications for New Sheeting

New MUTCD LanguageSection 2A.09 Maintaining Minimum Retroreflectivity

“Support:

Compliance… is achieved by having a method in place and using the method to maintain the minimum levels established in Table 2A-3. Provided that… a method is being used, an agency would be in compliance… even if there are some individual signs that do not meet the… levels at a particular point in time.

New MUTCD Language

“…One or more of the following assessment or management methods should be used…”

Visual Nighttime Inspection/AssessmentCalibration SignsComparison PanelsConsistent

Parameters Measured Sign Retro

Expected Sign Life Blanket Replacement Control Signs Future Method Based

On Engr. Study Combination Of Any

MUTCD Methods

Visual assessmentMeasured retroreflectivity Expected sign lifeBlanket replacementControl signsFuture methodsCombination of methods

www.fhwa.dot.gov/retro

Method 1: Visual Assessment

Trained inspectorVisual inspection at nightNeed to tie to minimum values

by usingCalibration signs procedure, orComparison panels procedure, orConsistent parameters procedure

Method 1: Visual Assessment

Common elements of all visual assessment proceduresAim inspection vehicle headlampsTwo-person crew works bestUse low-beam headlampsHave evaluation form and criteriaConduct evaluations at roadway speed

“Calibrate” eyes with calibration signs

Calibration signs are near minimum retro

Evaluate signs compared to calibration signs

Method 1: Visual AssessmentCalibration Procedure

Method 1: Visual AssessmentComparison Panels Procedure

Tie to minimum values with comparison panelsPanels are near desired retroClipped to sign - viewed from distanceEvaluate signs compared to panels

Method 1: Visual AssessmentConsistent Parameters Procedure

Tie to minimum values by using consistent parameters as used to develop the minimum levels Inspector – older driver (60+)SUV type vehicleCutoff headlamps

(properly aimed)

Advantages / DisadvantagesMethod 1: Visual Assessments

Advantages: Signs are viewed in their natural surroundings Low level of sign replacement and sign waste.

Disadvantages: Subjective: but research has shown that trained

observers can detect signs with marginal retroreflectivity.

Exposure of conducting nighttime inspections Paying overtime

MUTCD Methods

Visual assessmentMeasured retroreflectivity Expected sign lifeBlanket replacementControl signsFuture methodsCombination of methods

www.fhwa.dot.gov/retro

Method 2: Measure Sign Retro

TrainingPortable instrumentCompare readings to minimum values

Information on Hand-Held Devices

Delta Retrosign GR3 http://www.tapcostore.com/

RoadVista 922 http://www.roadvista.com

Zehntner ZRS (Available in Europe) http://www.zehntner.com/html/download/prospekt_zrs5060_d_e.pdf

Mechatronic RC200 (Available in Europe) http://www.mechatronic.de/04traffic/en/01/rc2000.html

As of May 2008

Advantages / DisadvantagesMethod 2: Measured Retro

Advantages:Most direct means of monitoring

retroreflectivity levels Removes subjectivity

Disadvantages:Cost of instruments (approx $12,000)Time consuming / resource intensiveMay neglect other attributes of the sign's

overall appearance.

Advantages / DisadvantagesMethod 2: Measured Retro

Advantages:Most direct means of monitoring

retroreflectivity levels Removes subjectivity

Disadvantages:Cost of instruments (approx $12,000)Time consuming / resource intensiveMay neglect other attributes of the sign's

overall appearance.

MUTCD Methods

Visual assessmentMeasured retroreflectivity Expected sign lifeBlanket replacementControl signsFuture methodsCombination of methods

www.fhwa.dot.gov/retro

Method 3: Expected Sign Life

Find the life of the sheeting type in your area Replacement based on expected life for

individual signs

Determining Sign Life

• Use a weathering rack • Use AASHTO-NTPEP

data• Use warranty information

from sheeting company• Measure existing signs

with known install date• Use nearby jurisdiction’s

weathering data

Advantages / DisadvantagesMethod 3, Expected Sign Life

Advantages: Can use a date sticker, bar code, or computerized

sign management system Agencies can develop or copy local service life

levels

Disadvantages: Requires tracking installation date of all signs. May be time consuming to inspect date stickers if

the stickers are not easily viewable or computer inventory is not used

MUTCD Methods

Visual assessmentMeasured retroreflectivity Expected sign lifeBlanket replacementControl signsFuture methodsCombination of methods

www.fhwa.dot.gov/retro

Method 4: Blanket Replacement

All signs in an area/corridor are replaced at the same time at specified intervals

Specified intervals could be set based on expected sign life

Blanket Replacement

Divide agency into areas/corridors or zones

Relate number of areas to replacement cycle

Replace all signs in an area/ corridor each replacement cycle 10 yr life, 10 areas Annual replacement in each

area

Replace Replace all signs all signs in this in this area area

during during 1st year1st year3rd 3rd

yearyear

5th5thyearyear

7th7thyearyear

Example

Advantages / DisadvantagesMethod 4, Blanket Replacement

Advantages: Low likelihood of a given sign being skipped over or

not being replaced. This ensures that all replaced signs are visible and meet minimum retroreflectivity levels.

Disadvantages: Waste if signs that are relatively new are removed

during a normal replacement cycle.

MUTCD Methods

Visual assessmentMeasured retroreflectivity Expected sign lifeBlanket replacementControl signsFuture methodsCombination of methods

www.fhwa.dot.gov/retro

Method 5: Control Signs

Sign life is estimated using a subset of signs representing an agency’s inventory. Subset of signs is the “control signs”

Control signs can be in-service signs or signs in a maintenance yard.

Agency monitors control

signs to estimate condition

of all their signs. Periodically measure

retroreflectivity of control

signs.

Example of Control Signs

Advantages / DisadvantagesMethod 5, Control Signs

Advantages:Not very labor intensive Low cost option

Disadvantages:Need an adequate sampling of signs

MUTCD Methods

Visual assessmentMeasured retroreflectivity Expected sign lifeBlanket replacementControl signsFuture methodsCombination of methods

www.fhwa.dot.gov/retro

Method 6: Future Methods

Flexibility is provided for

future advancements in

technology and methods

that have not been fully

developedMust be based on an

engineering study

MUTCD Methods

Visual assessmentMeasured retroreflectivity Expected sign lifeBlanket replacementControl signsFuture methodsCombination of methods

www.fhwa.dot.gov/retro

Summary: Methods Allowed

Visual Nighttime Inspection Calibration Signs Comparison Panels Consistent Parameters

Measured Sign Retro Expected Sign Life Blanket Replacement Control Signs Future Method Based On

Engr. Study Combination

Public agencies or officials having jurisdiction shall use an assessment or management method that is designed to maintain sign retroreflectivity at or above the minimum levels in Table 2A-3”

Compliance… is achieved by having a method in place and using the method to maintain the minimum levels established in Table 2A-3. Provided that… a method is being used, an agency would be in compliance… even if there are some individual signs that do not meet the… levels at a particular point in time.

Summary of New Language

Compliance Periods

From “Effective” Date of Final Rule (January 22, 2008):

Establish and implement method(s) 4 yrs (January, 2012)

Replace identified regulatory, warning, ground-mounted guide signs (except street-name) 7 yrs (January, 2015)

Replace identified street name & overhead guide signs 10 yrs (January, 2018)

Exempt Signs

Parking/Standing/Stopping Walking/Hitchhiking Adopt-A-Highway Blue or Brown

Backgrounds Exclusive Use of Bikes

or PedsNote: Must still meet other

requirements in MUTCD(inspections, retroreflective,etc,)

More Information

ATSSA www.retroreflectivity.netPrimer on retroreflectivityCommon questions

FHWA fhwa.dot.gov/retroSummary BrochureFinal RulePower Point PresentationsNewsletter ArticlesFrequently Asked Questions

Funding

December 2008 Letter from FHWA Locals:

Do some homework Talk to your state DOT

Consider life/cycle costs Stimulus package – get ready

? Simple PS&E package