# Presentation: 526126

## MUTCD Part 7: Traffic Control for School Areas

**Notes:**
Part 7 summarizes the changes and new additions to the 2000 MUTCD for Traffic Control for School Areas. The 2000 Manual has added some additional guidance on signs within school areas.  

## Table and Figures

- New table for size of school signs
- New figure for typical signing for school and area traffic control
- Figure for typical school route plan map

**Notes:**
Also, we have added new tables and figures to Part 7.

## New Table: 7B-1

**Notes:**
Table 7B-1, the “Size of School Area Signs and Plaques, ” reflects sign sizes to be used on Conventional Roads and shows “minimum”, “standard”, and “special” sizes.  It also places all school sign size requirements onto a single table.  

## New Figure 7B-1

**New Figure 7B-1**

**Notes:**
A new figure, 7B-1, has been titled “Typical Signing for School Area Traffic Control.”  The figure has been revised since the Notice of Proposed Amendments, and now reflects the assembly signs with the diagonal arrow and the “AHEAD” and distance plaques.  The figure has also been expanded to show the metric versions of the speed limit signs along with the English units.

## Figure 7A-1: Typical School

**Route Plan Map**

**Notes:**
A revised typical route plan map is found in Section 7A.  This figure has been enlarged and printed in color to better identify signals and stop signs.  The arrow heads reflecting direction of travel are enlarged.  Traffic control devices are added where intersecting streets meet the collector road.

## New to the MUTCD

- Section:
- School reduced speed ahead assembly**   **7B.12
- optional installation when engineering judgment indicates advance notice would be appropriate

**Notes:**
This is a new section to Part 7 which allows the optional use of installing a School Reduced Speed Ahead assembly to inform the road users of a reduced speed zone when engineering judgment indicates that advance notice would be appropriate.

## New Options

- Use of color fluorescent yellow-green for school warning signs
- Installation assembly for school reduced speed ahead

**Notes:**
Part 7 includes a new section which allows the optional use of installing a School Reduced Speed Ahead assembly to inform the road users of a reduced speed zone, when engineering judgment indicates that advance notice would be appropriate.

Additionally, a new section in 7B is added on Sign Color for School Warning Signs. This new section addresses the optional use of the fluorescent yellow-green color for school warning signs.  This amendment was adopted on June 19, 1998.  The FHWA has included this OPTION for use of the color and GUIDANCE that addresses the systematic approach for the use of this color.

## New Guidance

**New Guidance**

*(Thanks to City of Gainesville website)*

**Notes:**
A GUIDANCE statement has been added addressing the placement of a Stop line in the absence of a marked crosswalk.  

Also, text in Section 7A has been modified to include middle and high school students.  In the development plans for school routes, the 1988 MUTCD only considered elementary students.  FHWA believes it is appropriate to include all students.

Additionally, text in Section 7E has been added to include “police officers” in addition to adult guards and student patrols in the wearing of high-visibility retroreflective material or clothing since police officers may be used for crossing supervision. 

## Change to Standard

- From Guidance to Standard:
- traffic control devices (warning and regulatory) used in the school traffic control plan SHALL be related to the volume and speed of traffic, street width, the number, and the age of children using the crossing**  **

**Notes:**
In the 1988 Manual, the type of school area traffic control used, either warning or regulatory, was related to the volume and speed of traffic, street width, and number of children crossing the street.

In the 2000 Manual, this changed from Guidance to Standard.  The FHWA is requiring the traffic control devices in the school plan to be related to the volume and speed of vehicle traffic, street width, and the number and age of children using the crossing. 

## Other Changes

**Notes:**
The text in 7B on the School Advance Warning Sign and the Crosswalk Warning Assembly, both shown in this slide, has been modified to be consistent with Section 2C of the Manual.  2C discusses a new application for advance crossing and crossing signs.  

## “Ahead” (W16-9p) or “XX Feet” plaque (W16-2 or W16-2a)

- <footer>

**Notes:**
New applications will consist of a crossing sign supplemented by “Ahead” or distance plaque to provide notice to road users of crossing activity. The FHWA has eliminated the crosswalk line on the crossing signs since road user comprehension studies show that they generally do not know the difference between the two signs.  For advance crossing situations, the new application will consist of a crossing sign supplemented with an “Ahead” or distance plaque. With regard to the use of the Assembly, the standard states that it  SHALL be used in advance of the this first installation of the School Speed Limit Sign Assembly.  The FHWA believes that the supplemental plaques must be used (not optional) to ensure safety of children at crosswalks in school zones.  

There is a phase in compliance period of January of 2011.  This period will allow for replacement of existing signs after their normal service life.  This change is effective immediately for new sign installations.

## Other Significant Changes

- School crosswalk warning assembly (S1-1 w/diagonal arrow) Section 7B.09, Fig. 7B-1
- eliminates crosswalk lines on crossing signs
- new assembly consists of crossing sign (S1-1) with supplemental downward pointing arrow plaque
- phased-in compliance—10 years after effective date of rule; new installations effectively immediately

**Notes:**
Instead of using crosswalk lines within the sign to indicate where the actual crossing is located, the new application consists of a crossing sign with supplemental downward pointing arrow plaque to show the crossing location.  This assembly must be used (not optional) to ensure safety of children at crosswalks in school zones.

This assembly will also have a phase-in compliance period of 10 years after the effective date of this final rule with this change effective immediately for new sign installations.

New text has been added under Guidance that recommends that an engineering study should be conducted before installing the School Crosswalk Warning Assembly.

## S1-1:  w/Diagonal Arrow

**S1-1**
**W16-7**

**School Crosswalk**
**Warning Assembly**

## Questions?