MUTCD Retroreflectivity Compliance

By Justin Petersen, PE, PTOE

 

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has recently changed the minimum sign retroreflectivity requirements for signs along public roads and private roads open to public travel.

Retroreflectivity plays a major role in maintaining nighttime sign visibility. The 2009 Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) now requires all public agencies to adopt a sign maintenance program, which will help agencies meet these new requirements. Non-compliance with these new MUTCD requirements could put states and other public agencies at risk of losing federal funding for transportation projects.

The 2009 MUTCD states that one or more of the following assessment or management methods should be used to maintain sign retroreflectivity:

Visual nighttime inspection

Measured sign retroreflectivity

Expected sign life

Blanket replacement

Control signs

Other methods

The 2009 MUTCD states, "provided that an assessment or management method is being used, an agency or official having jurisdiction would be in compliance even if there are some individual signs that do not meet the minimum retroreflectivity levels at a particular point in time."

The assessment or management plan should be designed to maintain retroreflectivity at or above the minimum levels listed in Table 2A-3 on page 31 of the 2009 MUTCD: click here.

More information on traffic sign retroreflectivity is in Section 2A.07 and 2A.08 of the 2009 MUTCD: click here.

Agencies responsible for maintaining street signs have until January 22, 2012, to implement an assessment or management method. Compliance dates also have been set for replacing existing signs that do not satisfy the new minimum retroreflectivity requirements. The following table summarizes the compliance dates:

Federal aid programs, including the National Highway System (NHS) Program, the Surface Transportation Program (STP), and the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), provide funding for improving signage on highways and public roads. Developing a sign management program may also be eligible for federal funding under the State Planning and Research Program. In metro areas, metropolitan planning funds can also be used to develop a sign management program.

The FHWA suggests using the following four steps to implement the new retroreflectivity standards:

Gather basic information.

Identify sign maintenance methods.

Prepare a budget.

Administer the sign maintenance program.

Although assistance may be available from your local state DOT, many local agencies may lack the staff levels to develop and implement a sign program. Olsson Associates understands these concerns, and we have experienced traffic engineers who can assist agencies in areas from developing a sign assessment and management plan to seeking funding to implement the plan. If funding allows, we also could provide a sign audit service to ensure that all required signage is present on your roadways and that obsolete signage is removed or replaced.

You can reach Justin Petersen with Olsson's Traffic team at 402.458.5958 or jpetersen@oaconsulting.com.

Additional traffic engineering professionals you can contact include:
Mike Piernicky, mpiernicky@oaconsulting.com, in Omaha; Todd Fredericksen, tfredericksen@oaconsulting.com, or Shannon Jeffries, sjeffries@oaconsulting.com, in the Kansas City area; Shane King, sking@oaconsulting.com, in Lincoln; or Natalie Carrick, ncarrick@oaconsulting.com, in Phoenix.

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