Event Title
Location
PMU 250
Session Number
137
Session Title
The Future of the MUTCD
Track Title
Project Management/Planning
Event Description/Abstract
The current edition of the national MUTCD was published in the Federal Register as a final rule in December 2009, effective on January 10, 2010. Most people probably don’t realize that this major tool of our trade is a living document that is under constant review and revision. The MUTCD is legally produced and maintained by FHWA. It usually gets officially revised and republished about every 6-10 years. There are a lot of legal issues and hoops that FHWA must progress through, including public review and documentation, to republish the Manual. Because of the constant changing and improving technology, FHWA can now issue Interim Rulings that allow implementation of new and important traffic control devices on conditional approval until the next Manual is produced. The caveat to this process is that if this new device does not work out and does not go into the MUTCD, the agency must remove the device.
To assist the FHWA in this massive endeavor, the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (NCUTCD) was created. Some form of this group has been in existence for over 50 years. The NCUTCD has sponsoring organizations (such as AASHTO, ITE, AAA, IMSA, APWA, NACE, etc.) and is made up of almost 250 traffic and transportation professionals that volunteer their time working on issues throughout the year and attending two, 3 to 4 day meetings a year. This organization has numerous technical subcommittees that review the MUTCD issues and make recommendations on changes/upgrades for the Manual to the NCUTCD Council for a vote. These recommended changes are also reviewed by the sponsoring organizations. The approved recommended changes are then forwarded to FHWA for consideration.
This presentation will include a brief overview of the integral workings of the process and give an update on proposed changes to the various sections of the next MUTCD.
Included in
Future of the MUTCD
PMU 250
The current edition of the national MUTCD was published in the Federal Register as a final rule in December 2009, effective on January 10, 2010. Most people probably don’t realize that this major tool of our trade is a living document that is under constant review and revision. The MUTCD is legally produced and maintained by FHWA. It usually gets officially revised and republished about every 6-10 years. There are a lot of legal issues and hoops that FHWA must progress through, including public review and documentation, to republish the Manual. Because of the constant changing and improving technology, FHWA can now issue Interim Rulings that allow implementation of new and important traffic control devices on conditional approval until the next Manual is produced. The caveat to this process is that if this new device does not work out and does not go into the MUTCD, the agency must remove the device.
To assist the FHWA in this massive endeavor, the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (NCUTCD) was created. Some form of this group has been in existence for over 50 years. The NCUTCD has sponsoring organizations (such as AASHTO, ITE, AAA, IMSA, APWA, NACE, etc.) and is made up of almost 250 traffic and transportation professionals that volunteer their time working on issues throughout the year and attending two, 3 to 4 day meetings a year. This organization has numerous technical subcommittees that review the MUTCD issues and make recommendations on changes/upgrades for the Manual to the NCUTCD Council for a vote. These recommended changes are also reviewed by the sponsoring organizations. The approved recommended changes are then forwarded to FHWA for consideration.
This presentation will include a brief overview of the integral workings of the process and give an update on proposed changes to the various sections of the next MUTCD.
