Schroepfer, Ken (DOT)

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1 Schroepfer, Ken (DOT) From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Attachments: Monday, February 14, :07 PM Anderson, Janelle (DOT) Schroepfer, Ken (DOT) FW: Request for Interpretation - Dropped lanes on Conventional Roads DOC pdf Janelle Kevin's comments below on the right turn lane issue. From: Sylvester, Kevin (FHWA) Sent: Mon 2/14/2011 4:40 PM To: Stein, William (FHWA) Cc: Kalla, Hari (FHWA); Wainwright, Scott (FHWA) Subject: RE: Request for Interpretation Dropped lanes on Conventional Roads Will, This condition is actually pretty common on arterials. While I don't necessarily agree with the problem with the presence of minor driveways (we don't break double yellows and edge lines for driveways, for example, yet turns into them are permitted in the absence of signing so prohibiting), there might be driveways that appear to be street intersections, such as shopping center entrances. The presence of actual street intersections before the mandatory turn is obviously a concern. For the most part, the solutions that MnDOT has discussed are logically thought out. However, the use of the RIGHT LANE ENDS (W9 1) sign, even with a distance plaque, is misleading because this sign has a very specific meaning i.e., that the lane physically ends and all traffic must merge out of the lane. In the case of a mandatory turn lane, there will be a combination of traffic merging into and out of the lane and the W9 1 sign does not convey this expectancy to the driver. The addition of the distance plaque below the W9 1 does not inherently or intuitively convey a condition different from lane reduction (there are situations in which a distance plaque might be and often is used with a lane reduction). Perhaps more importantly, the W9 1 might induce unnecessary lane changes for traffic in the right lane that intends to make the turn, but sees the Lane Ends sign and vacates the lane because the unfamiliar driver does not know that the lane leads to the turn and does not end prior to the turn. Thus, the most appropriate solution is to use the standard R3 7 series signs but with the addition of a plaque displaying AT SIGNAL, AT Tamarack Rd, or the distance if appropriate. The signs could also be used in combination with Advance Street Name or Advance Guide signs to tie the regulatory sign to the location (NEXT SIGNAL or distance message). 1

2 I hope this helps. Regards, Kevin Kevin J. Sylvester, P.E., PTOE Transportation Specialist, MUTCD Team Federal Highway Administration Office of Operations 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE E Washington, DC Tel.: (202) Fax: (202) E mail: Kevin.Sylvester@dot.gov Web: From: Stein, William (FHWA) Sent: Monday, February 14, :17 PM To: Sylvester, Kevin (FHWA) Cc: Kalla, Hari (FHWA) Subject: FW: Request for Interpretation Dropped lanes on Conventional Roads Kevin here's the other one from Ch. 2 that I need you to look at, as it also involves a standard statement (2C.42). The issue concerns how to sign a right turn lane drop when there are driveways or public roadways within the turn lane. The attached sketch illustrates the issue. The request is to be able to use the W9 1 sign (Right Lane Ends) along with a plaque indicating the distance, in these situations. From: Anderson, Janelle (DOT) [mailto:janelle.anderson@state.mn.us] Sent: Thu 2/10/2011 5:02 PM To: Stein, William (FHWA) Cc: Johnson, Sheila M (DOT); Johnson, Kenneth (DOT); Lott, Heather (DOT); Bartelt, Mitch (DOT); Dharam Bobra; Ege, Rob (DOT); George Calebaugh; Howard Preston; Jeff Miller; Joe Gustafson; Kristi Sebastian (kristi.sebastian@co.dakota.mn.us); Marc Culver; Mark Sehr; Paul St. Martin; Schroepfer, Ken (DOT); Tim Chalupnik; Weiss, Mike (DOT); Wenkel, Ken (DOT) Subject: Request for Interpretation Dropped lanes on Conventional Roads Will, We had some considerable discussion our Chapter 2 MUTCD review regarding the new standard in Section 2C.42, which reads as follows: 2

3 "In dropped lane situations, regulatory signs (See Section 2B.20) shall be used to inform road users that a through lane is becoming a mandatory turn lane. The W4 2, W9 1, and W9 2 signs shall not be used in dropped lane situations." This standard, as written, is of great concern to us with regard to conventional roads, as this leaves R3 7 and R3 8 regulatory signs as the only signing option for lane drop situations. On freeways and expressways, overhead "Exit Only" warning signs are used to warn drivers of the upcoming lane drop, as is the new ground mounted W9 7 sign panel, but these warning signs can't be used on conventional roadways nor expressways approaching at grade intersections. Furthermore, the presence of driveways or street access points in the dropped lane area restrict the usage of regulatory signs to a short distance from the intersection, too close for drivers to safely execute a high judgment lane change. For example, "Right Lane Must Turn Right" should not be used where through movements are permitted at driveways or nearby street locations prior to the lane drop. The attached drawing illustrates this scenario showing driveways, but they could also be public streets or frontage roads. We don't dispute that a R3 series regulatory sign is necessary, and we agree that the W4 2 and W 9 2 should not be used. Additionally, we concur that using a W9 1 sign without a distance plaque isn't ideal because it is permissible for turning traffic to remain within the soon to be dropped lane until the turn. However, it is typical Minnesota practice to install a W9 1 sign with a supplementary plaque indicating the distance or location of the lane drop so that through traffic has sufficient warning to execute their lane change. It would be inappropriate to place the "Right Lane Must Turn Right" sign at such a far distance (possibly over 1/4 mile from the lane drop). Dotted and solid pavement markings are helpful, but can be obscured by snow cover or during rain and should not be relied upon in this highjudgment situation. We also had some debate on the definition of "in", as to if placing a W9 1 sign in advance of a lane drop situation (e.g 1000 feet) would violate this standard, or if it was only prohibited within the lane drop area (e.g. within 300 feet). We proposed to add a statement to the end of the standard, modifying it to read as follows: "In dropped lane situations, regulatory signs (See Section 2B.20) shall be used to inform road users that a through lane is becoming a mandatory turn lane. The W4 2, W9 1, and W9 2 signs shall not be used in dropped lane situations, except that the W9 1 sign may be used in advance of dropped lane situations if supplemented by a plaque indicating the distance to, or location of, the mandatory turn." We acknowledge that adding this language would "loosen" the standard from how it's currently written by creating this exception. However, we believe that we are still meeting the intent of the standard and would like some interpretation as to if this added language would, in FHWA's opinion, keep us in Substantial Compliance with the MUTCD. Please advise. 3

4 Below are several examples, two in Washington County and 11 in Dakota County, most or all of which can be seen in Google Streetview. These are places where "Right Lane Must Turn Right" is not appropriate because of intermediate access locations before the lane drop, and/or the regulatory sign cannot provide adequate warning to through traffic that they must begin to execute a lane change, including finding a gap in heavy traffic (high judgment condition = long advance placement distance). Washington County Examples: Southbound Radio Drive at Tamarack Road in Woodbury, MN (intermediate right turn into shopping area) Southbound Innovation Road approaching US 61 in Cottage Grove (intermediate right turn onto frontage road) Dakota County Examples: CSAH 23 southbound at 153rd Street (Right Lane Ends w/600 feet and two Right Lane Must Turn Right signs) CSAH 42 eastbound at Portland Ave (Right Lane Ends no distance plaque and two Right Lane Must Turn Right signs) CSAH 42 eastbound at US 52 (Right Lane Ends w/700 feet and one Right Lane Must Turn Right sign) CSAH 28 westbound at Central Parkway (Right Lane Ends w/600 feet and two Right Lane Must Turn Right signs) CSAH 28 westbound at CSAH 73 (Right Lane Ends w/700 feet and one Right Lane Must Turn Right) CSAH 43 northbound at MN 55 (custom two thru lanes to double left, one thru and one right lane use control signs) CSAH 50 northbound at I 35 (Right Lane Ends w/250 feet and two Right Lane Must Turn Right signs) CSAH 50 eastbound at Holyoke (Right lane Ends w/900 feet and two Right Lane Must Turn Right signs) CSAH 5 northbound at Kenyon Ave (Right Lane Ends w/400 feet and two Right Lane Must Turn Right signs) CSAH 11 northbound at MN 13 (Right Lane Ends w/1000 feet and two Right Lane Must Turn Right signs) CSAH 32 westbound at I 35w (Right Lane Ends w/400 feet and one Right lane Must Turn Right sign) 4

5 A Warning sign gives a driver an alert that lane ends. A Regulatory sign gives a driver directions that they have to turn. Please review and let us know your thoughts. If you have any questions, please call. Thanks. Janelle Anderson, P.E. Tort Claims/Standards Engineer Office of Traffic, Safety, and Technology M.S. 725 Waters Edge, 3rd Floor (Office) (cell) (fax) 5

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