January 2006 Report

Regina S. McElroyRegina S. McElroy

DirectorDirector

Office of Transportation OperationsOffice of Transportation Operations

Federal Highway AdministrationFederal Highway Administration

Outline

2005 Highlights2005 Highlights SAFETEA-LUSAFETEA-LU 2006 New Initiatives2006 New Initiatives UpdatesUpdates MUTCD Team MUTCD Team

2005 HIGHLIGHTS

Acknowledgement vs. Advertising

Issued policy guidance to the Issued policy guidance to the field on August 10, 2005field on August 10, 2005

Advertising is prohibitedAdvertising is prohibited Acknowledgement signs for highway- Acknowledgement signs for highway-

related services are permittedrelated services are permitted Policy applies to new or replacement Policy applies to new or replacement

installationsinstallations Existing installations may remain in placeExisting installations may remain in place

USBP Checkpoint Traffic Control Devices

Responds to NTSB recommendationResponds to NTSB recommendation Collaborative effort between Collaborative effort between

AASHTO, CBP, and FHWAAASHTO, CBP, and FHWA Issued policy guidance to FHWA field Issued policy guidance to FHWA field

on December 20on December 20 Will respond to NTSB in FebruaryWill respond to NTSB in February

Recommending that the TCPs not Recommending that the TCPs not be included in the MUTCDbe included in the MUTCD

Interim Approval –RV Friendly Signs

Issued interim approval Sept 2005Issued interim approval Sept 2005 Allows optional use of symbol to identify Allows optional use of symbol to identify

and locate RV Friendly facilities and locate RV Friendly facilities Requires States or locals to Requires States or locals to

have a policy for have a policy for selecting eligible selecting eligible facilities facilities

MUTCD Training One-day workshop designed mainly One-day workshop designed mainly

for local agencies for local agencies The course covers:The course covers:

Human factorsHuman factors Basics of TCDsBasics of TCDs MUTCD highlightsMUTCD highlights

Pilot sessions underwayPilot sessions underway

Sign Synthesis Report ““Special” non-MUTCD signs used by State Special” non-MUTCD signs used by State

DOTs and some large cities and countiesDOTs and some large cities and counties Findings:Findings:

Many word message signs for conditions not Many word message signs for conditions not covered in MUTCDcovered in MUTCD

Significant variations of Significant variations of words/phrases/concepts used to convey same words/phrases/concepts used to convey same messagemessage

Good Canadian symbols exist for some U.S. Good Canadian symbols exist for some U.S. word messagesword messages

Approved Experimentations

47 Approved---a few examples:47 Approved---a few examples: Flashing Yellow Arrow for Protected-Flashing Yellow Arrow for Protected-

Permissive Left TurnsPermissive Left Turns Purple Dot Markings (E-Z Pass Lanes)Purple Dot Markings (E-Z Pass Lanes) Tsunami Evacuation Route SymbolTsunami Evacuation Route Symbol

Interpretations 16 Interpretations --- some examples:16 Interpretations --- some examples:

Ramp Metering Signals for Staggered Ramp Metering Signals for Staggered ReleaseRelease

Use of LED Devices as RPMsUse of LED Devices as RPMs Political Jurisdiction Logos on Guide Political Jurisdiction Logos on Guide

SignsSigns New page on MUTCD Website for recent New page on MUTCD Website for recent

interpretations --- coming sooninterpretations --- coming soon

SAFETEA-LU

Landmark Legislation

Make driving saferMake driving safer Fight congestionFight congestion Enhance economic productivityEnhance economic productivity Protect the environmentProtect the environment

Section 1310 – Interstate Oasis Program

Intent: Provide States with option of Intent: Provide States with option of replacing or supple - replacing or supple - menting Interstate menting Interstate Rest Areas by Rest Areas by providing substitute providing substitute facilities (e.g., truck facilities (e.g., truck stops) off the stops) off the freewayfreeway

Congressional Language

Section 1310 – Interstate Oasis Program

Formulate a program (with minimum Formulate a program (with minimum National eligibility standards)National eligibility standards) 24-hr restroom access24-hr restroom access Products and services providedProducts and services provided Parking for cars and heavy trucksParking for cars and heavy trucks

Obtain public commentObtain public comment

Congressional Language

Section 1310 – Interstate Oasis Program

Design new logo for freeway and Design new logo for freeway and access route signingaccess route signing

Congressional Language

Section 1310 – Interstate Oasis Program

Stakeholder meeting – Dec 05Stakeholder meeting – Dec 05 Non-rulemaking Federal Register Non-rulemaking Federal Register

notice – coming soonnotice – coming soon

Status

Section 1402 – Worker Injury Prevention and Free Flow of Vehicular Traffic

Requires regulation to mandate high Requires regulation to mandate high visibility garments for workers on or visibility garments for workers on or near Federal-aid highwaysnear Federal-aid highways

Regulation within a Regulation within a yearyear

Section 1910 – Motorist Information Concerning Full Service Restaurants

Determine Determine if if rulemaking should proceed rulemaking should proceed toto Give priority to full service restaurantsGive priority to full service restaurants Permit full service restaurants to appear Permit full service restaurants to appear

on CAMPING and ATTRACTIONS on CAMPING and ATTRACTIONS panels when the FOOD panel is fullpanels when the FOOD panel is full

Make decision known within 180 daysMake decision known within 180 days

Congressional Language

Section 1910 – Motorist Information Concerning Full Service Restaurants

States currently able to designate “full States currently able to designate “full service” as an eligibility factor for service” as an eligibility factor for participation in their Specific Service Sign participation in their Specific Service Sign programsprograms

Considering Interim Approval to increase Considering Interim Approval to increase number of available logo positionsnumber of available logo positions

Status

Research and Technology Program

Issue – No SAFETEA-LU source of Issue – No SAFETEA-LU source of funds to support MUTCD (funding for funds to support MUTCD (funding for “baseline” activities and major “baseline” activities and major revision uncertain)revision uncertain)

StatusStatus Exploring optionsExploring options Verdict is still out – somewhat Verdict is still out – somewhat

optimisticoptimistic

2006 NEW INITIATIVES

MUTCD Strategic Planning: Short term (5 years)

How to properly "steward" and update the How to properly "steward" and update the MUTCD in event of funding shortfallMUTCD in event of funding shortfall Technology developmentsTechnology developments Improved state of the art and practiceImproved state of the art and practice Other advancementsOther advancements

Creative solutionsCreative solutions Alternative funding sourceAlternative funding source New partnershipsNew partnerships Etc.Etc.

MUTCD Strategic Planning: Long-term (20 years) Consensus vision – direction, content, and Consensus vision – direction, content, and

format of MUTCDformat of MUTCD Guide for future decisions, such as:Guide for future decisions, such as:

What is or is not a TCD?What is or is not a TCD? What is or is not regulated by the MUTCD? What is or is not regulated by the MUTCD? Content---all-inclusive TCD information, Content---all-inclusive TCD information,

strictly regulatory material, or current mix?strictly regulatory material, or current mix? Strategic incremental steps needed to reach Strategic incremental steps needed to reach

the visionthe vision

MUTCD Strategic Planning Volunteers

Core WorkingCore Working GroupGroup Steering GroupSteering GroupGene Hawkins (Chair) Gene Hawkins (Chair) Lee Billingsley Lee BillingsleyRoger Wentz Ken KobetskyRoger Wentz Ken KobetskyJim Pline Bruce FriedmanJim Pline Bruce FriedmanGerry Alexander Tom HicksGerry Alexander Tom HicksKurt Smith Carlton RobinsonKurt Smith Carlton RobinsonJohn LaPlante John LoganJohn LaPlante John LoganJim Ellison Ernie HuckabyJim Ellison Ernie Huckaby Paul CarlsonPaul Carlson

FHWA ParticipantsFHWA Participants

Scott Wainwright, Hari Kalla, Ken WoodScott Wainwright, Hari Kalla, Ken Wood

Comprehensive Review of Specific Service Sign Program

Changing ContextChanging Context High and increasing demand from High and increasing demand from

businesses for logo positionsbusinesses for logo positions New Safety Evidence New Safety Evidence

(VA experiment)(VA experiment) Opportunity to Opportunity to

provide more provide more selection options selection options to motoriststo motorists

Comprehensive Review of Specific Service Sign Program

StatusStatus Frame issue & develop key questionsFrame issue & develop key questions Discussion at Jan 06 NCUTCD meeting Discussion at Jan 06 NCUTCD meeting

to finalize questions for Request for to finalize questions for Request for Information (RFI)Information (RFI)

Issue RFIIssue RFI Revise SSS Program as part of next NPARevise SSS Program as part of next NPA

2008 MUTCD Rulemaking June 2006 NCUTCD MeetingJune 2006 NCUTCD Meeting --- last --- last

opportunity to recommend NPA itemsopportunity to recommend NPA items Technical Committees must act at THIS Technical Committees must act at THIS

meeting (January 2006)meeting (January 2006) Late 2006/early 2007Late 2006/early 2007 --- NPA --- NPA

Goal -- draft SHS pages for any new/revised Goal -- draft SHS pages for any new/revised signs available on MUTCD websitesigns available on MUTCD website

Docket Comment PeriodDocket Comment Period--to include at least --to include at least 1 NCUTCD meeting – may be as long as 6 1 NCUTCD meeting – may be as long as 6 monthsmonths

20082008 --- Final Rule for 2008 Edition --- Final Rule for 2008 Edition+ Updated SHS posted on MUTCD website+ Updated SHS posted on MUTCD website

SAFETEA-LU Provisions

Section 1310: Interstate Oasis Section 1310: Interstate Oasis ProgramProgram

Section 1402: Worker Injury Section 1402: Worker Injury Prevention and Free Flow of Prevention and Free Flow of Vehicular TrafficVehicular Traffic

Section 1910: Motorist Information Section 1910: Motorist Information Concerning Full Service RestaurantsConcerning Full Service Restaurants

UPDATES

Updates Sign Retroreflectivity RulemakingSign Retroreflectivity Rulemaking TCD Pooled Fund StudyTCD Pooled Fund Study Traffic Control Strategies at Toll PlazasTraffic Control Strategies at Toll Plazas Official Ruling DatabaseOfficial Ruling Database

Updates Policy Memo on Use of Stop/Yield Policy Memo on Use of Stop/Yield

signs at Passive RR Crossingssigns at Passive RR Crossings ADA/MUTCD ResearchADA/MUTCD Research MUTCD BrochureMUTCD Brochure

MUTCD TEAM

Upcoming Vacancy

Excellent communication skills (written Excellent communication skills (written and oral)and oral)

Consensus building skillsConsensus building skills Real-world traffic engineering Real-world traffic engineering

experienceexperience Expect posting in FebExpect posting in Feb

Thank You

for theTime,

Expertise,& Valuable Help

You Provideto FHWA