Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2006/04/25/E6-6219/traffic-control-devices-on-federal-aid-and-other-streets-and-highways-standards
Timestamp: 2015-10-06 06:12:24
Document Index: 406126641

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 655', 'art 655', '§ 655', '§ 655', '§ 655', '§ 655', '§ 655', '§ 655']

Federal Register | Traffic Control Devices on Federal-Aid and Other Streets and Highways; Standards
Dates: Comments must be received on or before June 26, 2006. Late-filed comments will be considered to the extent practicable.
Comments Close: 06/26/2006
-23882 (6 pages)
Document Number: E6-6219
Shorter URL: https://federalregister.gov/a/E6-6219 Related Topics
Section 655.601Purpose
Section 655.603Standards
Section 655.604Achieving Basic Uniformity
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The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), also referred to as the Manual, is developed and approved by the Federal Highway Administration and recognized as the national standard for all traffic control devices installed on any street, highway, or shared-use path open to public travel in accordance with 23 U.S.C. 109(d) and 402(a). It is incorporated by reference into the Code of Federal Regulations at 23 CFR part 655. The FHWA is issuing this notice to provide an opportunity for public comment on the following proposed changes to 23 CFR part 655:
Discussion of Proposed Amendments Back to Top
Paragraph (a) states, in part, that “The MUTCD approved by the Federal Highway Administrator is the national standard for all traffic control devices installed on any street, highway, or bicycle trail open to public travel in accordance with 23 U.S.C. 109(d) and 402(a).” The FHWA has interpreted the phrase “open to public travel” to include toll roads and roads within shopping centers, airports, sports arenas, and other similar business and recreation facilities that are privately owned, but where the public is invited to travel without access restrictions. To clarify the application of the MUTCD to roads on private property, the FHWA proposes to revise paragraph (a) to include examples of what is meant by roads “open to public travel.” The Uniform Vehicle Code (UVC) is a compendium of national, model legislation for the purpose of developing uniform traffic laws and regulations.
The current MUTCD encourages States to adopt a legislative code similar to section 15-116 of the UVC, which indicates that traffic control devices intended to regulate, warn, or guide traffic shall not be installed on private roads open to public travel unless the devices conform to the State Manual and the MUTCD. At present, there are only 17 States with such laws. The FHWA believes that the proposed rewording of this section will increase uniformity and achieve the goal of the UVC.
The term “substantial conformance” does not mean that the State MUTCD or supplement must fully conform or be identical to every statement in the National MUTCD. It would be unreasonable to require all State Manuals or supplements to conform to every statement in the National MUTCD because the National MUTCD is composed not only of standard and guidance statements, but also option and support statements. Substantial conformance in this context means that the State MUTCD or supplement shall conform as a minimum to the standard statements included in the National MUTCD.
The Highway Safety Act of 1966 (89, 80 Stat. 731), amended title 23, United States Code, to add Chapter 4, “Highway Safety.” Section 402(a) of title 23, United States Code (the Highway Safety Program) required that States have a highway safety program designed to reduce traffic accidents, deaths, injuries, and property damage. These programs were to be in accordance with uniform standards promulgated by the Secretary of Transportation. The NHTSA was the agency within the DOT responsible for promulgating these uniform standards. Originally promulgated in November 1966, these uniform standards were codified in 23 CFR 1204.4. There were 18 standards in all.
Standard number 13 of the uniform standards, “Traffic Control Devices” required, among other things, that each State's highway safety program have, at a minimum: A method to identify needs and deficiencies of traffic control devices; a method to upgrade all existing traffic control devices on all streets and highways to conform with standards issued by the Federal Highway Administrator; and a program for preventive maintenance, repair, and daytime and nighttime inspection of all traffic control devices.
Until the Surface Transportation and Uniform Relocation Assistance Act of 1987 (100, April 2, 1987), it was mandated that the States comply with these 18 standards as there were financial sanctions imposed for non-compliance. In 1987, the Congress revised 23 U.S.C. 402(a) to replace the word “standards” with the word “guidance.” This change, combined with the changes made to the Highway Safety Program under the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (102, December 18, 1991) led to the revision of the uniform standards by NHTSA. In 1995, NHTSA revised the standards to make them guidelines and removed them from the Code of Federal Regulations.
The guidelines, now 21 in all, are published in separate documents made available to the States (see http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/nhtsa/whatsup/tea21/gratMan/HTML/05h_ProgGuidelines.html).
In compliance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act (96, 5 U.S.C. 601-612), the FHWA has evaluated the effects of these proposed changes on small entities and has determined that the proposed action would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. This action proposes to update the authorities of the FHWA and referenced documents regarding MUTCD compliance on existing highways. Such updates will provide transportation entities with the appropriate points of contact regarding the MUTCD. The FHWA hereby certifies that these proposed revisions would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
The FHWA has analyzed this proposed action under Executive Order 13211, Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use. We have determined that it is not a significant energy action under that order because it is not likely to have a significant adverse effect on the supply, distribution, or use of energy. Therefore, a Statement of Energy Effects under Executive Order 13211 is not required. Executive Order 12372 (Intergovernmental Review) Back to Top
23 U.S.C. 101(a), 104, 109(d), 114(a), 217, 315, and 402(a); 23 CFR 1.32; and 49 CFR 1.48(b).
§ 655.601 [Amended]
2. Amend § 655.601 by removing paragraph (b) and by redesignating paragraphs (c) and (d) as paragraphs (b) and (c), respectively.
3. Amend § 655.603 by revising paragraphs (a) and (b); paragraph (c), by removing footnote number and footnote reference “2” and adding in their place, footnote number and footnote reference “1”; by revising paragraph (d)(1); and by removing paragraphs (d)(4) and (e) to read as follows:
§ 655.603 Standards.
4. Revise the first sentence of paragraph (a) and the first sentence of paragraph (b) of § 655.604 to read as follows:
§ 655.604 Achieving basic uniformity.