MUTCD Rulemaking - Signs
In 1993, the Congress directed the Secretary of Transportation to revise the MUTCD to include a standard for minimum levels of retroreflectivity that must be maintained for traffic signs and pavement markings, which apply to all roads open to public travel.1 The specific language is shown below.
“The Secretary of Transportation shall revise the MUTCD to include a standard for a minimum level of retroreflectivity that must be maintained for traffic signs and pavement markings which apply to all roads open to public travel.”
While the FHWA was already working on developing minimum retroreflectivity levels, the research that eventually was used to support rule-making efforts for signs was completed in 2003.2
On July 30, 2004, at 69 FR 45623, the FHWA published in the Federal Register a Notice of Proposed Amendment (NPA) to amend the MUTCD to include methods to maintain traffic sign retroreflectivity.3 The MUTCD language associated with the FHWA’s proposal, along with all the official comments to the proposal, are available on-line at: http://dms.dot.gov/. Go to “simple search” and type the following number “15149.”
The FHWA reviewed and analyzed the comments to the NPA described above. After considering and analyzing the comments, the FHWA decided to issue a Supplemental NPA. The SNPA was issued on May 8, 2006. Comments were due by November 6, 2006. The proposed changes would be designated as Revision No. 2 to the 2003 Edition of the MUTCD.4 They can be found here.
1United States Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 1993, Public Law 102-388, 106 Statute 1520, Section 406.
2 Carlson, P.J. and H.G. Hawkins. “Updated Minimum Retroreflectivity Levels for Traffic Signs,” FHWA-RD-03-081, U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Washington, D.C., 20003. A copy of this report is available at: http://www.tfhrc.gov/safety/pubs/03081/index.htm.
3The NPA published on July 30, 2004, at 69 FR 45623, describes the research and development and other efforts by the FHWA to implement this requirement. More information is available at the following Web address: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/retro.
4 The proposed changes to the MUTCD are available for review at the following Web address: http://tcd.tamu.edu/Documents/MinRetro/2005-08-02_PROPOSED_Rev2.pdf.
