A New Era: New York Introduces the National MUTCD and a State Supplement

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1 A New Era: New York Introduces the National MUTCD and a State Supplement Presented at 62 nd Annual School for Highway Superintendents by David Woodin, PE, PTOE New York State Department of Transportation June 5, 2007

2 Change in Law Old State MUTCD first adopted in 1948 September 13, 2007 New manual of uniform traffic control devices per Section 1680(c) of Vehicle & Traffic Law effective Combines 2003 National Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (NMUTCD) and the new State Supplement

3 Purpose of State Supplement Contains traffic control devices unique to New York Excludes material from NMUTCD and replaces it with State specific guidance Excludes mandates from NMUTCD that conflicts with State laws Promotes uniformity as it specifies one standard when NMUTCD provides multiple options for the same traffic control device

4 National MUTCD Download NMUTCD for free at Or from the NYSDOT web site at Paper copies can be purchased from AASHTO, ATSSA, and ITE

5 New York State Supplement Official Version: New York State Supplement to the National Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways 2003 Edition a.k.a. New York State Supplement Published by West Group (800) refer to as Transportation Title 17B (NYCRR) when ordering (availability date TBD) Un-official Version: Download for free from NYSDOT website

6 Standard Highway Sign Book Unlike the old State MUTCD, most of the sign layouts for the NMUTCD are contained in a separate document: Standard Highway Sign (SHS) Book Available on line at

7 Major Changes Over 250 Federal mandates adopted Many other changes incorporated 300 page State Supplement developed NYSDOT web site contains list of major changes

8 Compliance Dates Old MUTCD allowed devices to remain for 10 years National MUTCD Compliance dates varies: (see National MUTCD Introduction, Pg I-3 to I-6) from 0 to15 years beginning in 2003

9 Compliance Dates cont. Examples from National MUTCD Item Street name signs (D3-1) on multilane streets w/ speed limit > 40 MPH Larger warning sign sizes No Xwalk lines on Xing signs Type I, II & III Barricade - Crashworthiness Date

10 Compliance Dates cont. Devices installed after 9/13/07 shall be compliant with NMUTCD & Supplement NYSDOT contract lettings after 9/6/07: SHALL be compliant (EB ) NYSDOT contract lettings before 9/6/07 SHOULD be compliant (EB )

11 Compliance cont. Question: I have intersections that are ALL WAY stops. State MUTCD did not require the supplemental ALL WAY devices, but the NMUTCD requires them. The Federal target compliance date for installing these plaques was What happens if those devices are not in place on September 13?

12 Compliance cont. Answer: While not absolved, you can mitigate potential liability by developing a plan as part of a systematic upgrading of substandard traffic control devices (and installation of new required traffic control devices) (National MUTCD, Page I-3). The plan should prioritize and be reasonable, realizing that staffing and monetary resources may impact how soon upgrades are completed.

13 Miscellaneous Changes MUTCD applies to all streets, highways, and bicycle paths open to public travel (e.g. includes shopping malls, apartment complexes, etc.) Code numbers for devices now conform to National MUTCD Devices unique to New York retain old code number with prefix NY before it (e.g. NYW8-33 is the former W8-33 LANE CLOSED sign)

14 Training Anticipate training programs will be developed by professional groups and consultants Cornell Local Roads Program will be conducting three sign workshops in September and another dozen in 2008

15 Training NYSDOT can answer technical questions. contact preferred Dave Woodin (518) or Barbara Abrahamer (518)