Brief History of the MUTCD...©Transportation Operations Group MUTCD Comparisons 10 9 9 8 6 4 4 4...

Brief History of the MUTCD

Gene HawkinsTexas Transportation Institute

1920s

1930s

1940s

Early 1950s

1960sToday

© Gene Hawkins

Transportation Operations Group©

1935 1942 1948 1961 1971 1978 1988 2000

The MUTCDThere have been 8 editions of the MUTCD

© Gene Hawkins


MUTCD Comparisons

10

9

9

8

6

4

4

4

Parts

4731988

9822000

4251978

3771971

3331961

2231948

2081942

1661935

PagesEdition

How did we end up with a ~1,000 page document on traffic control devices?

© Gene Hawkins


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

© Gene Hawkins


Early Traffic Control Devices

Need for devices increased with more automobile travel

Little coordination between agencies

© Gene Hawkins


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

© Gene Hawkins


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

© Gene Hawkins


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

© Gene Hawkins


1925 Joint Board ReportReport of of Joint Board on

Interstate HighwaysAASHO ledDeveloped U.S. Highway systemIncluded recommendations for

standard signs

© Gene Hawkins


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

© Gene Hawkins


1927 Signs

© Gene Hawkins


1930 NCHS ManualPrepared by American

Engineering Council Signs, markings, signals,

and islands for for urban areas

Title: Manual on Street Traffic

Signs, Signal and Markings

Not Revised

© Gene Hawkins


1930 Signs

© Gene Hawkins


Birth of the MUTCDProblems of two manuals led

to creation of the MUTCD

Joint Committee

1927 Rural Manual

1930 Urban Manual

1935 MUTCD

© Gene Hawkins


1935 MUTCDFirst MUTCD (35 & 37 versions)Signs

Regulatory – white rectangleWarning – yellow: diamond,

square, circle, octagonGuide – white rectangle

MarkingsUsed at hazardous locationsWhite, yellow, or black

Signals3-color signal as standard

Revised 1939

© Gene Hawkins


1935 Signs

© Gene Hawkins


1942 MUTCDFew changes in contentAddressed wartime

conditionsRevised standards

addressed:Conservation of materialsBlackout traffic control

Not Revised

© Gene Hawkins


Blackout Devices

© Gene Hawkins


1948 MUTCDStandards used bold textSigns

Simplified sign messagesEliminated square signsAdded advisory plateUsed rounded alphabet

Pavement markingsYellow – Double center and barrier lineWhite – all other applicationsStripe/gap ratio: 15-25Edge lines not recommended

Simplified signal warrants

Revised 1954

© Gene Hawkins


1948 Signs

© Gene Hawkins


Early Stop & Yield Signs

© Gene Hawkins


1954 RevisionShort documentSignificant sign changes

Became

New SignSecondary messages eliminated

THRU

HWY

© Gene Hawkins


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

© Gene Hawkins


New Interstate Signs

© Gene Hawkins


1961 MUTCDFederal compliance requiredEliminated alternativesNew material:

Construction traffic controlCivil defense signingFreeway guide signing

Some symbol signsEdge lines allowed

Not Revised

© Gene Hawkins


1961 Signs

© Gene Hawkins


1971 MUTCDComplete rewriteDOT ownershipNew features:

Information: school areasColor: orangeShapes: pennant, pentagon

International sign influenceMany new symbols

Yellow markings for opposing traffic

Revised 8 times

© Gene Hawkins


1971 Signs

© Gene Hawkins


1978 MUTCDUpdate of 1971 editionLoose leaf (binder) format

Individual page revisionsNew material:

RR-hwy grade crossingsBicycle facilities

New signs and symbolic alternatives

Yellow markings for left sideStripe/gap ratio: 10-30

Revised 4 times

© Gene Hawkins


1978 Devices

© Gene Hawkins


1988 MUTCDUpdate of 1978 edition

Included new revision (#5)

Planned to be revised only for safety reasons

New material:Recreational/cultural signsLogo signsTODS Revised 7 times

© Gene Hawkins


2000 MUTCDCurrent editionTen years to developLoose-leaf, paper sizeNew parts

Low-volume roadsLight-rail

Errata #1Revision #1

© Gene Hawkins


Signs Not in the 2000 MUTCD

© Gene Hawkins


Evolution of Selected Devices

How today’s common devices have evolved

© Gene Hawkins


U.S. route marker proposed in 1925Early highways had no national or state affiliation

State routes markers appear in 1920s

Route Markers

© Gene Hawkins


U.S. route marker proposed in 1925Has evolved over time to current appearance

Route Markers

⇒ ⇒ ⇒

© Gene Hawkins


Pavement Markings1910s – early use of markings1930 – urban manual

Centerline, short radius curve, sight distance

1935 – MUTCDWhite, yellow, or blackCenterline used only for specific

applications

© Gene Hawkins


1948 & 1961 MUTCDs

%

Double stripe design

%

Triple stripe design

1948: Edge lines not recommended, 4-6 inches if used1961: Use on right depended on shoulder

Use on left helpful, 2-4 inches wide

1948 & 1961: White centerline

© Gene Hawkins


1971 & Later MUTCDs

#Passing#Passing #No Passing

No Passing% Passing%%

1971: Yellow for all centerlines

1978: Yellow for left side of travel directionWhite for lane lines and right edge

White for all edgelines except for divided hwy with narrow median or obstructions

© Gene Hawkins


Work Zone Manuals

1955: 1st draft of national guidelinesMid-1950s: state manuals

1955: PA 1956: NC, GA1961: new part in MUTCD (Part V)1971: changed to Part VI, orange signs1993: published as stand-alone document

© Gene Hawkins


1948 MEN WORKING Sign

… shall be used for the protection of men working on the road, … or for the protection of traffic …

… shall be mounted on substantial portable supports, not easily knocked over or blown down, and placed in the center of the road …

… shall not be left up during the lunch period or at night, or on holidays if the road is free from hazard

WORKING

MEN

© Gene Hawkins


Typical Applications

19617-47 1971

9-53

199344-195

200046-213

19789-60

19617 TA47 p

19719 TA53 p

19789 TA60 p

199344 TA195 p2000

46 TA213 p

© Gene Hawkins



1920

1930 1950 1970 1990

19601940 20001980

Cat’s eyesButton reflectorsBeads on paintExposed lensEnclosed lensEncapsulated lensMicroprismatic

© Gene Hawkins


State MUTCD Use

State MUTCDState MUTCD11 states

State SupplementState Supplement16 states

National MUTCDNational MUTCD23 states

© Gene Hawkins


National CommitteePrivate organizationProvides input to FHWA on the MUTCDDeveloped draft language for 2000 MUTCDSeven committees

R/W signsG/MI signsMarkingsSignals

Over 200 professionalsMeet twice a year

Temp Traffic CtrlGrade CrossingsBicycles

© Gene Hawkins


NUTCD Evolution

Joint Committee, 1932, 2 organizations

National Joint Committee, 1948, 5 organizations

National Advisory Committee, 1972, 10 organizations

National Committee, 1980, 17 organizations

© Gene Hawkins


Additional ResourcesMUTCD web site

http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov

MUTCD HistoryITE Journal articles

July, August, November 1992

This presentationhttp://tcd.tamu.edu ⇒ MUTCD History

© Gene Hawkins

Brief History of the MUTCD...©Transportation Operations Group MUTCD Comparisons 10 9 9 8 6 4 4 4...

Documents

Transcript of Brief History of the MUTCD...©Transportation Operations Group MUTCD Comparisons 10 9 9 8 6 4 4 4...