Safety Solutions for the FHWA Minimum Levels of Retroreflectivity. Visibility & Safety. for the. Life of the Road. Tim Gibson Senior Government Transportation Safety Specialist [email protected] 480-221-5407. FHWA Ruling on the Minimum Levels of Retroreflectivity. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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“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.”
But the study suggests that older drivers have trouble navigating the roads, which were not designed with them in mind. For many aging motorists, signs are hard to read, lanes are too narrow and left-hand turns are very difficult. Intersections are a particular problem. According to the study... Half of all fatal accidents involving older drivers occur at intersections, compared with about 25% for other drivers.
Overhead Guide Signs (white) must be Prismaticmust be Prismatic Ground Mounted Street Name Signs (white) can not be EG (Type I)can not be EG (Type I) Warning Signs (Yellow &/or Orange) can not be EG (Type I)can not be EG (Type I) Regulatory Signs (Black on White), white ≥ 50 cd/lx/m2 (EG initial values
are 70 cd/lx/m2, life of EG signs will be shortlife of EG signs will be short) Minimum Sign Contrast Ratio ≥ 3:1 for Stop Signs (white refl. ÷ red refl.)
(A lot of older stop signs will be noncompliant due to ink fadingolder stop signs will be noncompliant due to ink fading – especially if those signs are south facing)
How will you determine which of your signs fail these criteria?
Standard:Public agencies or officials having jurisdiction shall use an assessment or management method that is designed to maintain sign retroreflectivity at or above the minimum levels in Table 2A-3.
FHWA uses the verb ‘shall’ in STANDARD statements which means ‘required’ or ‘mandatory’
If you have the following……• Significant quantities of Engineer Grade (EG) Signs• Older High Intensity Beaded signs of certain types• Significant Street Name signs that are out of
compliance (Letter Height Sheeting)
.....you may be better off replacing without a costly assessment
Maintenance activities should consider proper position, cleanliness, legibility and daytime and nighttime visibility (see section 2A.09) Damaged or deteriorated signs should be replaced… a schedule for inspecting (both day and night), cleaning and replacing sign should be established.
4 years - (1/22/12)Select and begin implementing Assessment/Management Method to maintain traffic sign retroreflectivity at or above the established minimum levels
7 years - (1/22/15)Replace regulatory, warning, and post mounted guide signs that are identified using the assessment or management method as failing to meet the established minimum levels
10 years - (1/22/18)Replace overhead guide signs and street name signs that are identified using the assessment or management method as failing to meet the established minimum levels.
Increasing the overall total retroreflective efficiency ensures serving the greatest segment of nighttime driver population without the need of sign illumination.
Using durable prismatic sheeting may be the more economic option for agencies in the long run, although initial costs may be higher.
Using higher retroreflectivity materials only increases total sign cost by 3% to 14%
Engineer Grade Sheeting can be more costly than prismatic sheeting with a longer life cycle when sign installation costs are considered (labor, hardware, administrative).
Although older drivers will particularly benefit from higher retroflectivity, all drivers will be better served by the improved nighttime performance.
The study can be accessed online at: http://www.tfhrc.gov/safety/pubs/07042/07042.pdf
Partnership Between NACE & 3M NACE Members Only (www.countyengineers.org) Material Upgrade Only (EG to Prismatic) 3M Sheeting Materials Required
• Type IV,X (High Intensity Prismatic)• Type XI (Proposed) (DG3)
Grant Applies To In-house or Fabricator Supplied Signs One Grant Per Agency (Redeem within 6 months) Offered During 2008 NACE Grant Application Site: http://nacegrant.brandspringsolutions.com
The Purpose:
To provide funding that assists local government agencies in upgrading their sign standards
“Traditional Approach” to Sign Inventory & Replacement”
General Payment Requirements Pay for Design/Sign Inventory/GIS Pay for Plans/Specs/Reports Administration Costs to Implement Contracts Pay for Materials (3M) Pay for Fabrication (Fabricator) Pay for Installation (Sign Installer) Pay to Update Final Inventory
Multiple Channels for Payment results in inefficiencies and greater overall cost to the agency
3M RMS Signing Total Solution3M RMS Signing Total Solution
Development of Replacement Plans – Using the information captured from the 3M Sign Assessment, RMS utilizes the web-based inventory system to develop a comprehensive replacement plan for years to come…
With the information captured, we can utilize the ‘Expected Life’ management method for each sign to know when to replace…
And the inventory information to know what sign goes where for an efficient installation…
3M RMS Signing Total Solution3M RMS Signing Total Solution
Delivery of New Signs – Typical Contracts
Corridor/Project Sign Contract 3M RMS responsible for all signs or signs defined by series/type/style in specific area/region/corridor Contract defined by upgrade activity
Contract ends when upgrade activity is complete Warranty provisions on materials apply Could be financed or pay up front Typically a “blanket” replacement or new construction installation of signs
3M RMS Signing Total Solution3M RMS Signing Total Solution
Delivery of New Signs – Typical Contracts
Work Order/Sign Maintenance Contract 3M RMS under contract as extension of Agency staff
• Complete “Turnkey” sign replacement service Work orders issued for individual or groups of sign replacement activity Bid Schedule, with variety of sign types/styles
• Pay “per each” installed Annual contract, with option to renew (similar to supply contract) Typically two phases of each Work Order:
3M RMS Signing Total Solution3M RMS Signing Total Solution
3M Inventory/Data Management System – a 3M hosted web-based system that allows agencies to track progress of projects, as well as have a final inventory of signs when project completed.
Added Benefit Interactive Web Site
• “real-time” update of project status• Agency Officials will track progress
of sign replacement• Data used to develop final inventory• No special software required• No IT support required, 3M RMS
manages the system• http://www.3mtrafficsafetynow.com/
City of Gilbert, AZ – Neighborhood Sign Upgrade Residential Sign Upgrade Installation
• Current signs in older neighborhoods were 15+ year old Engineer Grade, past their service life
• City forces kept up with knock-downs & standard maintenance, but completing a large-scale upgradewith limited personnel was a significant challenge
3M RMS provided not only sign fabrication & installation, but sign data for seamless integration with the town’s existing GIS system.
Completed ProjectsHow other agencies are utilizing RMS for signing work
“Using 3M for this work is a great fit for our town. It allows us to concentrate on the day-to-day maintenance of traffic signs while we contract larger-scale sign upgrade efforts through 3M Roadway Maintenance Services. 3M does a fantastic job with the coordination and communication on the project.”
Coconino County, AZ – Street Sign Upgrade Program County-wide Long-Term Street Sign Upgrade Program
• County addressed issues of new grid for addresses• Volume savings by utilizing a county-wide multi-year contract• Consistency with new signs & layouts• Data management & Inventory System Critical
3M RMS provided “turn-key” solution, including Management, Design/Assessment, Inventory, and Sign Installation
Completed ProjectsHow other agencies are utilizing RMS for signing work
“Throughout this project, 3M consistently met the standards of workmanship to Coconino County’s satisfaction.” “We are very pleased with the work 3M has provided. As a result, Coconino County’s contractual relationship with 3M is ongoing and we expect 3M to continue to perform sign installation projects for Coconino County over the next 5 years”
“Brand Name” Reliability Industry Leading Products with
the highest quality installation Commitment to Service and Quality Level Maintenance Costs – Project Financing Extension of Agency Staff – find the right fit for RMS Opportunity for cost reductions/efficiencies