MUTCD proposed amendment re sign retroreflectivity
Comment on the proposed MUTCD revision
You can submit comments to the Federal Register any of several ways:
- Send them to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Dockets Management Facility, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590.
- Submit them electronically or via the Federal eRulemaking Portal, (follow online instructions).
- Fax your comments to 202-493-2251.
Remember to include the docket number with your comments.
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On July 30, 2004, the FHWA published a Notice of Proposed Amendments to the MUTCD regarding sign retroreflectivity. The “PROPOSED Revision No. 2 to the 2003 MUTCD” is on the MUTCD website, http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov. Proposed text is clearly marked in the document margins of the file.
Review this information to determine how these changes could affect your agency. Comments are due by October 28, 2004, and must include the docket number, FHWA-2003-15149.
In summary, the proposed new Section 2A.09 Minimum Retroreflectivity provides guidance for measuring and managing sign retroreflectivity to maintain minimum levels. They include the following options:
- Visual nighttime inspection
- Retroreflectometer measurements
- Expected sign life
- Blanket replacement
- Sampling of control signs
The proposed text provides the option to exclude several signs from these guidelines:
- Parking, Standing, and Stopping signs (R7 and R8 series)
- Walking/Hitchhiking/Crossing signs (R9 series, R10-1 through R10-4b)
- Adopt-A-Highway signs
- All signs with blue or brown backgrounds
- Bikeway signs that are intended for exclusive use by bicyclists or pedestrians
The MUTCD text refers to a supplemental document on maintaining traffic sign retroreflectivity, which includes minimum maintained retroreflectivity levels.
Other supplemental documents to the docket are also available from the FHWA at http://dms.dot.gov. Use the docket number (15149) to search.
After the comment period has ended and all comments have been considered, the FHWA will adopt the final rule, although no schedule for that action has been decided.
