brief history of the mutcd - texas a&m university history... · 2005-06-16 · created for the...
TRANSCRIPT
Brief History of the MUTCD
Gene HawkinsTexas Transportation Institute
1920s
1930s
1940s
Early 1950s
1960sToday
Transportation Operations Group©
1935 1942 1948 1961 19711978 1988 2000
The MUTCDThere have been 9 editions of the MUTCD
2003
Transportation Operations Group©
MUTCD Comparisons
107542003109986444
Parts
47319889822000
425197837719713331961223194820819421661935
PagesEdition
Transportation Operations Group©
Traffic Control Devices
Colonial America
Used on pioneer trails in America
Early 20th Century
Automobile age created new demands
Roman empire
Early markers used in the Roman Empire
Transportation Operations Group©
Early Traffic Control Devices
Need for devices increased with more automobile travel
Little coordination between agencies
Transportation Operations Group©
Early Traffic Control Devices
The wide variety of devices created the need for uniformity
19111911--1st centerline 1st centerline MichiganMichigan
1914 1914 –– 11stst electric signal electric signal ClevelandCleveland
1920 1920 –– 1st1st33--colorcolorsignalsignal
DetroitDetroit
Transportation Operations Group©
1923 Sign Shape Recommendations
Mississippi Valley Assoc of St Hwy DeptNumber of sides represents hazard level
RR Grade Crossing
Stop Intersection
Warning (speed reduction)
Caution
Directions or Regulations
Transportation Operations Group©
1924 Sign Color Recommendations
National Conference on Street and Highway Safety
For signs and signals
Red - stopWhite – directions
or distance
Yellow - caution
Green - proceed
Purple – intersection
Transportation Operations Group©
1925 Joint Board ReportReport of of Joint Board on
Interstate HighwaysAASHO ledDeveloped U.S. Highway systemIncluded recommendations for
standard signs
Transportation Operations Group©
1927 AASHO ManualEvolved from Joint BoardFirst national manualRural signs only Title:
Manual and Specifications for the Manufacture, Display, and Erection of U.S. Standard Road Markers and Signs
Revised 1929 and 1931
Transportation Operations Group©
1927 Signs
Block letter font
Transportation Operations Group©
1930 NCHS ManualPrepared by American
Engineering Council Signs, markings, and
signals for urban areasTitle:
Manual on Street Traffic Signs, Signal and Markings
Not Revised
Transportation Operations Group©
1930 Signs
Transportation Operations Group©
Birth of the MUTCDProblems of two manuals led
to creation of the MUTCD
Joint Committee
1927 Rural Manual
1930 Urban Manual
1935 MUTCD
Transportation Operations Group©
1935 MUTCDFirst MUTCD (35 & 37 versions)Signs
White or yellowDiamond, square, circle, octagon
MarkingsWhite, yellow, or black
Signals3-color signal as standard Revised 1939
Transportation Operations Group©
1935 Signs
Transportation Operations Group©
1942 MUTCDFew major changesAddressed wartime
conditionsConservation of materialsBlackout traffic control
Not Revised
Transportation Operations Group©
Blackout Devices
Transportation Operations Group©
1948 MUTCDSignificant rewriteSigns
Simplified messagesEliminated square signsAdded advisory plateRounded alphabet
Pavement markingsYellow – Double center and barrier lineWhite – all other applicationsEdge lines not recommended
Simplified signal warrantsRevised 1954
Transportation Operations Group©
1948 Signs
Transportation Operations Group©
Early Stop & Yield Signs
Transportation Operations Group©
1954 RevisionSignificant sign changes
Became
New SignSecondary messages eliminated
THRU
HWY
Transportation Operations Group©
1958 AASHO Interstate Manual
Created for the new Interstate Highway system
New featuresWhite on green guide signsLower case lettersGreen on white service signs
Utilized larger sign sizesBlue service signs added in
1961 revision
Revised 1961, 1962, 1970
Transportation Operations Group©
New Interstate Signs
Transportation Operations Group©
1961 MUTCDFederal compliance requiredNew material:
Construction traffic controlCivil defense signingFreeway guide signing
Not Revised
Transportation Operations Group©
1961 Signs
Transportation Operations Group©
1971 MUTCDSignificant rewriteDOT ownershipNew features:
Content: school areasColor: orangeShapes: pennant, pentagon
International sign influenceMany new symbols
Yellow markings for opposing traffic
Revised 8 times
Transportation Operations Group©
1971 Signs
Transportation Operations Group©
1978 MUTCDUpdate of 1971 editionLoose leaf (binder) format
Individual page revisions
New contentRR-hwy grade crossingsBicycle facilities
Yellow markings on left sideRevised 4 times
Transportation Operations Group©
1978 Devices
Transportation Operations Group©
1988 MUTCDUpdate of 1978 edition
Included new revision (#5)
New contentRecreational/cultural signsLogo signsTODS
Planned to be revised only for safety reasons Revised 7 times
Transportation Operations Group©
2000 MUTCDMillennium editionComplete rewriteTen years to developSignificant evolution
New structureDefinitionsMetric unitsNew material 1 Revision
Transportation Operations Group©
2003 MUTCDCurrent edition (9th overall)Update of 2000 MUTCDSame size and formatChanges
Compressed pagesEditorial improvements
Transportation Operations Group©
Changing the MUTCD
Idea/text for changeExperimental resultsNCUTCD develops languageFHWA develops language
All changes processed through Federal Register NPA – Notice of proposed amendments
Typical 90 day comment period
FR – Final ruleEffective 30 days after final rule
Transportation Operations Group©
NCUTCDNational Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
Private organization21 sponsoring organizationsWeb Site: http://www.ncutcd.com
Provides input to FHWA on the MUTCDDeveloped draft language for 2000 MUTCDSeven committees
R/W signsG/MI signsMarkings
Over 200 professionalsMeet twice a year
Signals Temp Traffic Ctrl
Grade CrossingsBicycles
Transportation Operations Group©
NCUTCD Evolution
Joint Committee, 1932, 2 organizations
National Joint Committee, 1948, 5 organizations
National Advisory Committee, 1972, 10 organizations
National Committee, 1980, 17 organizations(21 current sponsoring organizations)
Transportation Operations Group©
FHWA ResourcesMUTCD web site
http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.govOfficial PDF version of MUTCDAlso HTML versionLists of changesStd Hwy SignsInterim approvalsOther stuff
Transportation Operations Group©
More History InformationTTI traffic control devices
http://tcd.tamu.edu⇒ MUTCD History
MUTCD history presentation
ITE Journal articles on MUTCD historyJuly, August, November
1992
Pavement marking color evolution
Transportation Operations Group©
Questions