TRAFFIC SIGN DESIGN, PLACEMENT, AND APPLICATION GUIDELINES PREPARED BY Traffic and Safety Design Division March 2017 “Providing the highest quality transportation services for economic benefit and improved quality of life.” Engineering Manual Preamble This manual provides guidance to administrative, engineering, and technical staff. Engineering practice requires that professionals use a combination of technical skills and judgment in decision making. Engineering judgment is necessary to allow decisions to account for unique site-specific conditions and considerations to provide high quality products, within budget, and to protect the public health, safety, and welfare. This manual provides the general operational guidelines; however, it is understood that adaptation, adjustments, and deviations are sometimes necessary. Innovation is a key foundational element to advance the state of engineering practice and develop more effective and efficient engineering solutions and materials. As such, it is essential that our engineering manuals provide a vehicle to promote, pilot, or implement technologies or practices that provide efficiencies and quality products, while maintaining the safety, health, and welfare of the public. It is expected when making significant or impactful deviations from the technical information from these guidance materials, that reasonable consultations with experts, technical committees, and/or policy setting bodies occur prior to actions within the timeframes allowed. It is also expected that these consultations will eliminate any potential conflicts of interest, perceived or otherwise. MDOT Leadership is committed to a culture of innovation to optimize engineering solutions. The National Society of Professional Engineers Code of Ethics for Engineering is founded on six fundamental canons. Those canons are provided below. Engineers, in the fulfillment of their professional duties, shall: 1. Hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public. 2. Perform Services only in areas of their competence. 3. Issue public statement only in an objective and truthful manner. 4. Act for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees. 5. Avoid deceptive acts. 6. Conduct themselves honorably, reasonably, ethically and lawfully so as to enhance the honor, reputation, and usefulness of the profession. TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ......................................................................................................... i INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 1 DEPARTMENT FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES ....................................................... 1 PERMANENT SIGNING PROJECTS .............................................................................................. 1 EXPERIMENTAL TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES ......................................................................... 4 QA/QC PROCESS TEMPLATE ....................................................................................................... 4 TRAFFIC SIGNING QA/QC PROCEDURE ..................................................................................... 4 NEED FOR SIGNING GUIDELINES ....................................................................................... 5 1. SIGNING BASICS ............................................................................................................. 6 A. SIGNING PRIORITIES ....................................................................................................... 6 B. SIGNING PRINCIPLES ...................................................................................................... 7 C. SIGN SPACING .................................................................................................................. 8 D. SIGN SUPPORTS .............................................................................................................. 9 2. SIGN DESIGN ................................................................................................................. 10 STANDARDIZATION ..................................................................................................................... 10 SIGN COMBINATIONS .................................................................................................................. 10 A. REGULATORY SIGNS .................................................................................................... 11 SIZE OF REGULATORY SIGNS ................................................................................................... 11 SPEED LIMIT SIGNS ..................................................................................................................... 12 LANE-USE CONTROL SIGNS ...................................................................................................... 13 NO TURN ON RED SIGNS............................................................................................................ 13 TWO-WAY, LEFT-TURN ONLY SIGNS ........................................................................................ 14 RAILROAD CROSSBUCK SIGNS ................................................................................................. 15 NO PASSING CONTROL AT RAILROAD CROSSING ................................................................. 15 WINTER PARKING RESTRICTIONS SIGNS................................................................................ 15 PASSING LANE TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNS.............................................................................. 16 LOCAL PARKING ORDINANCE SIGNS ....................................................................................... 16 B. WARNING SIGNS ............................................................................................................ 17 ADVANCED CROSSROAD / SIDE ROAD SIGNS ........................................................................ 19 RAILROAD ADVANCE SIGNS ...................................................................................................... 19 ADVANCE WARNING SIGNS AND ADVANCE HORIZONTAL ALIGNMENT SIGNS ................. 19 CHEVRON ALIGNMENT SIGNS ................................................................................................... 24 ADVANCED SNOWMOBILE AND ALL TERRAIN VEHICLE (ATV) CROSSING SIGNS ............. 25 C. GUIDE SIGNS .................................................................................................................. 26 ADVANCE GUIDE/EXIT DIRECTION SIGNS ............................................................................... 26 SUPPLEMENTAL GUIDE SIGNS .................................................................................................. 26 NON-FREEWAY GUIDE SIGNS ................................................................................................... 27 REFERENCE HUBS FOR DIRECTIONAL SIGNING .................................................................... 28 STREET NAME AND ADVANCE STREET NAME SIGNS ........................................................... 29 TRAVEL INFORMATION RADIO STATION SIGNS ..................................................................... 30 RECREATIONAL SIGNS ............................................................................................................... 30 MDOT Traffic and Safety i 03/14/17 CARPOOL LOT SIGNS ................................................................................................................. 31 REST AREA / WELCOME CENTER SIGNS ................................................................................. 32 ROADSIDE PARKS AND SCENIC TURNOUTS ........................................................................... 34 SNOWMOBILE USE ON COUNTY ROADS SIGNS ..................................................................... 34 SLOGAN SIGNS ............................................................................................................................ 35 MEMORIAL / DEDICATED HIGHWAY SIGNS.............................................................................. 35 MDOT SUPPLIED SIGNS.............................................................................................................. 35 D. OBJECT MARKERS ........................................................................................................ 36 3. SIGN PLACEMENT .................................................................................................. 38 FREEWAY RAMPS ........................................................................................................................ 38 CONVENTIONAL ROAD ADVANCE SIGNING TO INTERCHANGES ......................................... 41 FREEWAY ADVANCE SIGNING TO INTERCHANGES ............................................................... 42 OVERHEAD ARROW-PER-LANE AND DIAGRAMMATIC GUIDE SIGNS .................................. 44 AFTER INTERCHANGES / ROUTE CHANGES / MAJOR HIGHWAY JUNCTIONS ................... 44 JUNCTION ASSEMBLY SIGNS .................................................................................................... 45 SPEED LIMIT SIGNS ..................................................................................................................... 46 RESERVED PARKING FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILTIES ...................................................... 46 STOP AHEAD AND SIGNAL AHEAD SYMBOL SIGNS ............................................................... 46 DIRECTIONAL CROSSOVERS AND DIVIDED HIGHWAYS ......................................................