Understanding Traffic & Safety Controls for Ottawa County Road Commission and Township Collaboration 2012 County Road Traffic Controls Establishing Speed Limits Authority and Obligation Under Public Act 300 of 1949, The Road Commission Speed limits are established in the Road Commission is adheres to the regulations accordance with the Michigan charged to oversee the and guidelines provided by Vehicle Code. installation and maintenance the Michigan Manual of of traffic control devices on all Uniform Traffic Control Currently, regulatory speed county roads. Devices (MMUTCD). limits are set by State Statue at a maximum 55 mph on county roads or 25 mph for business Devices that fall into this The goal is to provide safe and residential districts known and efficient movement of category include traffic as “prima facie” speed limits. vehicle and pedestrian traffic control signs, pavement These speed limits are markings, and traffic signals. on all county roads. generally not posted on county roads. Regulatory speed limits can be modified based on a County Road Traffic Control Device Breakdown unanimous recommendation from a traffic survey team Guide Signs ≈ 4,000 Traffic Signals = 58 consisting of representatives Regulatory Signs ≈ 5,700 Pavement Markings ≈ 6,000,000 feet from the Michigan State Police, Warning Signs ≈ 5,400 Road Commission, and Local Township. The recommendation is based primarily on results of a traffic Traffic Control Placement engineering study that Responsibility includes the collection of speed data, review of the crash The Road Commission has the Traffic controls should meet history, and roadway characteristics. sole responsibility to place or these five basic requirements: approve traffic control devices 1. Fulfill a need, The Lansing office of the State on county roads. 2. Command attention, Police has to accept the 3. Convey a clear, simple recommendation of the survey The MMUTCD specifies the meaning, team in order to establish a size, shape, and color of all 4. Command the respect of road modified speed limit. Once traffic signs and signals. users, and approved, signs for the new 5. Give adequate time for proper speed limit can be posted. response. Pedestrian Safety School Speed Zones Stop Signs Township Collaboration Establishment Overview Pedestrian signals, crosswalks, School speed limits are Stop signs are installed at an and street lighting are safety intended for the protection of intersection only after a traffic devices for both pedestrians students walking to and from engineering study of the and motorists. school. existing conditions indicates that their installation is At the Townships’ request At the request of the school appropriate. The Road superintendent, a need for and expense, pedestrian Commission follows the such zone is determined by a signals can be installed at guidelines and warrants for study involving the Road crosswalk locations on traffic installing signs set forth in the Commission, appropriate signalized intersections. Once MMUTCD. These warrants school district, Sheriff installed, the Road examine the traffic volumes, Department, State Police, and Commission will maintain the crash history, traffic flow, and sometimes the Township. signals. sight distance at the location to determine if a stop sign should Painted cross walks (non If established, school zone be used. school related) are maintained speed limits are only in effect at controlled intersections at for 30-minute periods when MMUTC further states that the Townships’ expense. children are walking to and stop or yield signs shall not be from school. The limit that used for speed control. Street lighting is lights used to may be posted varies illuminate roads, not traffic depending on roadway signals. The Township factors, but is never less than oversees the installation and 25 mph. maintenance of this utility. H Traffic Signals The decision to install or modify a traffic signal is based upon an engineering study and the following factors from the MMUTCD: Vehicular and pedestrian volumes, Crash history, Vehicle delay, and Vehicle progression Traffic signals operate on one of three principles: pre-timed, semi-actuated and fully-actuated. A Pre-Timed Signal runs a set timing plan independent of the existing traffic. It also has the capability of running different cycle lengths depending on the time of day. A Semi-Actuated Signal includes a mechanism installed on the minor road that detects when traffic is present. This detection switches the green phase to the minor road to allow traffic to clear. A Fully-Actuated Signal includes mechanisms installed on both the major and minor roads that detect the volume of traffic present. Based on the amount of traffic, the signal provides enough time to accommodate all of the vehicles. .