80898 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 240 / Monday, December 14, 2020 / Proposed Rules DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION • Instructions: You must include the devices, which is to promote the safe agency name and docket number or the and efficient utilization of the highways Federal Highway Administration Regulatory Identification Number (RIN) and streets through an uninterrupted for the rulemaking at the beginning of uniform system of signs, signals, and 23 CFR Parts 470, 635, and 655 your comments. All comments received markings as road users travel between [FHWA Docket No. FHWA–2020–0001] will be posted without change to http:// jurisdictions. Uniformity and www.regulations.gov, including any consistency in message, placement, and RIN 2125–AF85 personal information provided. operation of traffic control devices have FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. been shown to address the expectancy National Standards for Traffic Control Kevin Sylvester, Office of of the road user, resulting in a more Devices; the Manual on Uniform Traffic Transportation Operations, (202) 366– predictable response. The system of Control Devices for Streets and 2161, [email protected], or Mr. uniform traffic control devices works in Highways; Revision William Winne, Office of the Chief concert with the natural tendencies of AGENCY: Federal Highway Counsel, (202) 366–1397, the road user in the various high- Administration (FHWA), U.S. [email protected], Federal judgment situations that the road user Department of Transportation (DOT). Highway Administration, 1200 New will encounter. ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC II. Summary of the Major Provisions of proposed amendments (NPA). 20590. the Regulatory Action in Question SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: The Manual on Uniform Key proposed changes in this NPA Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Electronic Access and Filing include the following: Highways (MUTCD) is incorporated in This document and all comments Incorporation of provisional traffic FHWA regulations and recognized as received may be viewed online through control devices currently under Interim the national standard for traffic control the Federal eRulemaking portal at Approval, including pedestrian-actuated devices used on all public roads. The http://www.regulations.gov. The website rectangular rapid-flashing beacons at purpose of this NPA is to revise is available 24 hours each day, 365 days uncontrolled marked crosswalks, green- standards, guidance, options, and each year. An electronic copy of this colored pavement for bicycle lanes, red- supporting information relating to the document may also be downloaded by colored pavement for transit lanes, and traffic control devices in all parts of the accessing the Office of the Federal a new traffic signal warrant based on MUTCD. The proposed changes are Register’s home page at: https:// crash experience; intended to update the technical www.federalregister.gov. Improvements to safety and provisions to reflect advances in accessibility for pedestrians, including technologies and operational practices, Executive Summary the location of pushbuttons at signalized incorporate recent trends and I. Purpose of the Regulatory Action crosswalks, crosswalk marking patterns, innovations, and set the stage for and accommodations in work zones; This regulatory action seeks to collect Expanded traffic control devices to automated driving systems as those comments from the public on proposed continue to take shape. The proposed improve safety and operation for revisions to the MUTCD. The proposed bicyclists, including intersection bicycle changes would promote uniformity and changes are intended to streamline incorporate technology advances in the boxes, two-stage turn boxes, bicycle processes and reduce burdens on State traffic signal faces, and a new design for traffic control device application, and and local agencies by including many of ultimately improve and promote the the U.S. Bicycle Route sign; the successful devices or applications Considerations for agencies to prepare safe and efficient utilization of roads that have resulted from over 180 official that are open to public travel. These roadways for automated vehicle experiments that FHWA has approved, technologies and to support the safe proposed changes are being designated including congestion-reduction as the 11th edition of the MUTCD. deployment of automated driving strategies such as variable speed limits, systems; DATES: Comments must be received on dynamic lane control and shoulder use, Clarifications on patented and or before March 15, 2021. Late-filed and pedestrian safety enhancements proprietary traffic control devices to comments will be considered to the such as the rectangular rapid-flashing foster and promote innovation; and extent practicable. beacon. Safety and operational improvements, ADDRESSES: To ensure that you do not The proposed changes would update including revised procedures for the duplicate your docket submissions, the technical provisions to reflect posting of speed limits, new criteria for please submit them by only one of the advances in technologies and warning signs for horizontal alignment following means: operational practices, incorporate recent changes, new application of traffic • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to trends and innovations, and set the control devices for part-time travel on http://www.regulations.gov and follow stage for automated driving systems as shoulders to manage congestion, and the online instructions for submitting those systems continue to take shape. new application of traffic control comments. These changes would promote devices at busway crossings. • Mail: Docket Management Facility, uniformity and incorporate In addition, this regulatory action U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 technological advances in traffic control amends the following: New Jersey Ave. SE, West Building device design and application, and 23 CFR part 470, subpart A, appendix Ground Floor Room W12–140, ultimately improve and promote the C; Washington, DC 20590–0001; safe and efficient utilization of roads 23 CFR 635.309(o); and • Hand Delivery: West Building that are open to public travel. 23 CFR 655.603(b)(1). Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 With this proposed rule, FHWA seeks New Jersey Ave. SE, between 9 a.m. 5 to address any existing provisions that III. Costs and Benefits p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, might have contributed to situations FHWA has estimated the costs and except Federal holidays. The telephone that inhibit or contravene the purpose of evaluated potential benefits of this number is (202) 366–9329; a nationwide standard for traffic control rulemaking and believes the rulemaking VerDate Sep<11>2014 03:26 Dec 12, 2020 Jkt 253001 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\14DEP2.SGM 14DEP2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with PROPOSALS2 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 240 / Monday, December 14, 2020 / Proposed Rules 80899 is being proposed in a manner that conforming traffic control devices is available in two formats. The first fulfills the requirements under 23 U.S.C. through systematic upgrading, format shows the current MUTCD text 109(d) and 23 CFR part 655, while also proportionally each year until the with proposed additions in blue providing flexibility for agencies. The compliance date. The analysis period is underlined text and proposed deletions estimated national costs are 10 years starting with an as red strikeout text, and also includes documented in the economic analysis implementation date of 2021 and notes in green boxes to provide helpful report titled, ‘‘Manual on Uniform extending through 2030. The costs of explanations where text is proposed to Traffic Control Devices Assessment of five substantive revisions could not be be relocated or where minor edits are Economic Impacts of Notice of Proposed estimated due to lack of information, proposed. The second format shows a Amendment,’’ which is available on the but all are expected to have net benefits ‘‘clean’’ version of the complete text docket. based on per-unit or per-mile costs and proposed for the next edition of the The proposed rulemaking introduces benefits of the proposed revision. Costs MUTCD, with all the proposed changes a variety of revisions resulting in for each substantive revision with incorporated. Though the proposed text, clarification of language and appreciable impacts are estimated based figures, and tables are available only as organization of the MUTCD, on the cost of the traffic control device, separate documents for inspection, all deregulation through increased the removal and installation costs of the three elements will be integrated when flexibility and alternatives for agencies, device, the current and future the new edition of the MUTCD is deregulation through relaxation of deployment of the traffic control device, published in a consistent format, similar standards to guidance, and the and the compliance date if applicable. to the current edition. The complete introduction of new traffic devices. For The benefits of the revisions include current 2009 edition of the MUTCD the purposes of this analysis, where operational and safety benefits. with Revision No. 1 and Revision No. 2 revisions improve the clarity of existing Operational benefits include the incorporated is also available on the content, those revisions have been capacity of the traffic control device to same website. considered non-substantive. All other convey necessary information