TEO Signal Committee Meeting Minutes Waters Edge Room C

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1 TEO Signal Committee Meeting Minutes Waters Edge Room C Attendees: Jerry Kotzenmacher Rachel Guan Tod Becker Marlin Reinardy Roger Sowder John Tackman Steve Misgen Greg Gruber Ray Starr Tim Bangsund Jim Deans John Bieniek Al Espinosa Kile Holm Mike Wolf Sean Delmore Tom Dumont Old Business: Pedestrian Push Buttons Rachel is working on having all push buttons ADA approved. She has contacted suppliers to submit their push button products. ESS will evaluate. Products names include the Bumble Bee, Bulldog, Teeco and Pelco products. Samples to be sent to Ray and he will foreword to ESS. Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Marlin displayed a prototype UPS service cabinet. The cabinet was a modified lighting service cabinet. The cabinet was capable of storing up to 4 batteries. A two-battery system could be used for flash operation only. Additional shell costs for this modified UPS service cabinet are around $400 - $500 per cabinet. Marlin feels all MN/DOT service cabinets should be this style, even if the battery backup is not utilized. The committee discussed ways to reduce component needs in the cabinet such as reducing the number of breakers in the cabinet. The cabinet will have an external meter and is wired for an external indicator light for when the batteries are operating the traffic signal. The cabinet will be at the ESS building for the next week or two. Marlin will be looking for comments and other ideas for the UPS service cabinet.

2 New Business: Ped Ramps Pedestrian ramps have often not been shown on traffic signal layout plans. This has been creating problems during signal construction. Costs are increased when ramps are not shown on plan. Mike W. has specs on ramps that he will distribute. Ped language should also be noted on the signal layout if applicable. OTSO will check on whether it is required to put ped pushbuttons (and the resulting required ped ramps) in rural areas where there are no anticipated pedestrians. Conduit Bushing Thread is required on bushings when used in hand hole even if the threadless conduit bushing is used. Brown Traffic Seminar Tod participated in Brown Traffic Seminar in Iowa. Had handouts that he passed around. Good info on solar powered products. Brown Traffic planning seminar February 12 in Maplewood. Armored Cable 3/C #4 direct buried cable used on flasher systems should now use 4/C #4 direct buried cable. This 4 conductor cable should also be used for lighting projects as well as any other projects that required the 3/C #4 direct buried cable. If the project has some existing 3/C #4 that will remain in place, then the new 4/C #4 needs to run from terminal point to terminal point without splices. If there is no other alternative which will require a splice, then the 4 th conductor (Green) of the 4/C #4 shall remain unconnected at both the splice end and the terminal point. Mouse screens A high percentage of cable failure calls are due to rodents chewing on signal cables. Different style low cost rodent prevention screens were discussed. Photos of District 6 and District 7 mouse screens were passed for review (see attached). District 6 utilized a rigid round screen grid that was placed around the pole conduit before the transformer base was placed. The screen grid was then glued into place. District 7 utilized a screen that was strapped to the bottom of the transformer base and extended to the concrete base. This type of rodent prevention screen has been used by the city of Rochester for some time and has proven success. Maintenance and installation of these prevention systems was discussed. The committee agreed that no screen would prevent 100% of rodent problems, although some form of prevention may reduce maintenance do to rodents. It is the district discretion whether installation and anticipated maintenance costs of these types of rodent prevention screens outweighs the maintenance costs of potential damage of cable due to rodents. Pole foundations flush with the ground or having weeds grow up

3 to transformer base tend to have more problems. Disc type systems that were installed a few years back have not shown to be useful. Frey Mount Frey type signal head mount detail and pole note text is on the OTSO web site. This type of pole mount should be listed as an optional use in the spec, but since the pole must be specified for the Frey mount, the signal designer must specify in the plan that this type of mount will be used. Therefore, when using the Frey mount, it must be specified in the plan that this type of pole mount will be used. There can be no option to the Frey design once it is in the signal design plan. This type of pole mount should NOT be listed as optional in the spec. See attached pictures of Frey mount. Spec Book The new 2005 Standard Specification for Construction book is now being reviewed. Mike W. has revisions for the new book. Ask Mike for his proposed revisions if you want to review. Also can review 2545 of the book for Lighting and 2565 for Signals. Comments back by April Final Inspection Form The question came up as to whether Traffic Engineering has an official construction Inspection form that could be given to the project engineer as an official notice of completion of traffic signal work. District traffic personnel typically use a verbal notice to the project engineer on work completion. Metro District has forms they use for their final inspection. The forms are a checklist and cover hand holes, loops, service equipment, signal pole and signal cabinet. The contactor is required to provide a loop test report per spec book. Metros forms are posted on OTSO web site Districts can use the lists, but will not be policy. MMUTCD Revisions to the manual are now being proposed. Ray is heading the traffic signal section and is looking for comments. The TEO Signal Committee discussed the following MMUTCD topics: 56% warrant the 56% vehicle count warrant may allow to many unjustified signals. It was proposed that the 56% only be applied on the crash warrant and removed from the chart. OTSO will make a final proposal. Countdown Pedestrian Indication New federal manual now has provisions in manual. A draft Tech Memo was handed out for comments. Installation guidelines on countdown ped indications have also been written up in draft. The guidelines will go in the Signal Design manual when complete. The tech memo does not give guidance as to whether or not to use countdown ped indications, but the guidelines will give guidance. Ray is proposing that the guidance will be that countdown pedestrian indications should be used for any new signal that needs pedestrian indications unless no pedestrian activity is anticipate or unless preemption will be used that will require shortening the flashing dont walk interval. See attached draft Pedestrian Countdown Signals Installation and draft Technical Memorandum The group did not have any favorable comments about the fed MUTCD's "animated eyes" pedestrian indication.

4 The group did agree with the fed MUTCD's lengthening of the max signal head distance from 150 to 180 feet. The group agreed with the fed MUTCD's new ped clearance requirement to the far side of the far lane rather than the middle of the far lane. The group agreed with deleting the Red/Yellow intersection flasher from the MN MUTCD in keeping with the tech memo that went out. Other topics to examine include the design of accessible ped signals, the approach for left turn signals, and the blinker flashers on signs. SYNCHRO Version 6 The new SYNCHRO version 6 software is out. There is no longer an option for a statewide license as we had in the past. Each copy must be purchased separately, but the costs go down with quantity. MN/DOT has a $9700 credit for having a past statewide license. This credit will be spread to all participating in the new version. Jerry will survey districts to see who would like the new version. He will also explain purchase price and upgrade benefits for the new version. PC Warrants for Windows the comment came up that Metro district in house warrant program has not been functioning well. It was suggested to survey the district for who may want to purchase PC Warrants. Jerry will include this in the SYNCHRO survey. Round Robin Tim B passed a picture of an unmaintainable traffic signal (see attached picture) Efforts will be made to make sure special equipment or position descriptions are not needed in signal maintenance. Steve M. Red LED arrows are again failing. Keep an eye on the red arrows. John B. Design build may sound good but the present design build signal plans have been short on sound traffic signal design. It has become clear to John that a lot of work may still need to be completed by MN/DOT signal design when this projects are handed in for review, specifically Mn/DOT has to do the agreements, not the contractor. Kile H. TH 63 at CSAH 22 in Stewartville the traffic signal at this location has been a source of citizen complaints and agony for the district traffic engineer. The dilemma is shared thru/left turn lanes, with traffic getting stuck in the wide median. Since the problem is only for an hour or two during the peak, the district is reluctant to split phase the intersection. The committee did not come up with any practical operational solutions other than split phase. Metro pushes for 3 lanes of approach on all new signals. Jerry K Has been working with Metro signal design for new signal cell library. Tom D Elk River train crash district checked preemption detection and operation and found no problem. Working on technical service agreements with cities that require technical support from the district. May be a good source of extra $. The NO RIGHT TURN ON RED sign at TH 10 at TH 24 is confusing. The signal has a right turn overlap. Issue will go to the TEO Signing Committee. Additionally, the paint problem on the AWF pedestals has not been resolved yet. Lead/lag issues with AWFs, Marlin will report back on what the fix is for the Econolite controller with the AWFs.

5 Ray S. Links to MUTCD and MN MUTCD differences table are and Ray would like district comments on the differences. Marlin - was looking for comments on any field advice that should be included in the certification course. Next Meeting Waters Edge Building Conference Room A Date: April 8, 2004 Time: 9:00am 12:00 noon **CHANGE** ATTACHMENTS in order Draft Pedestrian Countdown Installation Guidelines Draft Tech Memo Use of Pedestrian Countdown Indication Pictures of Rodent Prevention Screens Pictures of Questionable Signal Pole Placement Pictures of Frey mount

6 DRAFT Pedestrian Countdown Signals Installation (Signal Design Manual) January 2004 Introduction A Pedestrian Countdown Signal (PCS) is a pedestrian traffic signal device displaying the countdown number of seconds remaining for the pedestrian change interval (flashing DON T WALK or Flashing upraised hand). Studies showed that PCSs help pedestrians to understand the meaning of the flashing DON T WALK, but no clear effect on the pedestrian safety. Studies also showed that the citizen response has been positive for the PCS. The PCSs are for information to the pedestrian and do not change the meaning of the WALK, pedestrian change interval, or DON T WALK interval, or pedestrian timing at the intersection. The installation of Pedestrian Countdown Signals (PCSs) is still remained as an option in the current MUTCD (November, 2003). However there are standards regarding hardware and operations when it is used. Installation Criteria The installation of PCSs should be based on the analysis of the needs by districts and engineering judgment should apply to the installation of PCSs for new and existing traffic signal installations. New Traffic Signal Installations: (If price with and without countdown timer is minimal) For new traffic signal installations, PCSs should be used whenever pedestrian signal indications are needed, except where: No pedestrian activity is expected, or There will be frequent preemption that will shorten the pedestrian clearance interval. In-place Traffic Signal Installations: There is no requirement to retrofit existing traffic signals with PCSs. If the district receives a request for PCSs at an existing signal location, or if the district is considering installing PCSs at an existing signal location, the following factors should be considered in dealing whether or not to install PCSs. These considerations should be applied with engineering judgment.

7 PCSs may be installed based on one or more of the following:. 1. Complaints: Complaints regarding confusion of flashing DON T WALK or not long enough pedestrian time for crossing were reported. 2. Pedestrian Volume: There is a high volume of pedestrians at the signalized intersection or the presence of pedestrians with special needs. The situation could include but not limited to the following: location near school along an established route within 6 blocks of the school; location with 20 pedestrian crossings per hour or 15 pedestrians under age 15 crossings per hour for each of four hours with traffic on the major street meet in warrant 1 volumes for condition A; the presence of mobility impaired pedestrians (elderly, or disabled pedestrian), with 10 such pedestrian crossings per hour for each of two hours. 3. Facilities Types: Urban central areas, event locations, safety concern areas, and school areas. The situation could include but not limited to: bike or pedestrian path, Medical or handicapped facility, elderly housing facility, major event locations with at least two events per month, business locations or major traffic generators, parks, transit stations in high vehicular and pedestrian volume locations, and schools. 4. Goemetrics: Geometrics considerations could include: median pedestrian station, lack of pedestrian refuge, skewed intersection; free rights; wide crossing; pedestrian and vehicular conflicts, etc. 5. Local Funding: A local agency has requested PCSs and will fund the extra cost as compared with conventional pedestrian indications. 6. Engineering Judgment Engineering judgment based upon other factors or other considerations may justify the installation of PCSs. Engineering judgment should be based on additional information such as safety concerns, uniformity of practice, traffic conflicts, and budget situations. 7. Operational Considerations

8 Cares should be taken for installing the PCSs, especially for timing coordination, preemption, detection, safety, and costs issues. When PCSs are installed, there are hardware and operational requirements specified in the current MUTCD (2003). The compliance dates for those are required.

9 DRAFT MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Operations, Safety, and Technology Division Technical Memorandum No. xx-xx-x-x January 16, 2004 To: Distribution 57, 382, 612, 618, and 650 From: Marthand Nookala Director Traffic Operations, Safety and Technology Subject: Pedestrian Countdown Signals (PCSs) Usage Expiration This is a new technical memorandum and will remain in effect until December 31, 2008, unless superseded before that date or incorporated into either the Minnesota Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MN MUTCD) or the Minnesota Traffic Engineering Manual. Implementation This policy shall be implemented immediately. Purpose The purpose of this technical memorandum is to allow the usage of Pedestrian Countdown Signals (PCSs) in accordance with the federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways (MUTCD) 2003 edition. Introduction The PCSs display the number of seconds remaining in the pedestrian change interval (flashing. DON T WALK or flashing upraised hand) at traffic signalized intersections. The PCSs are for information to the pedestrian and do not change the meaning of the WALK, pedestrian change interval, or DON T WALK interval, or pedestrian timing at the intersection. When PCSs are used, they shall comply with the requirements identified in the federal MUTCD 2003 edition. Scope The policy contained in this technical memorandum applies to Mn/DOT roadways. However, local road authorities are encouraged to adopt a similar policy. Questions Questions regarding the content of this Technical Memorandum may be directed to Ray Starr, Traffic Electrical Systems Engineer at Any questions regarding publication of this Technical Memorandum should be referred to Mohammad Dedashti, Design Standards Engineer at or Jennifer Abernathy, Design Services Administrative Assistant at

ADA PRESENTATION (CURB RAMPS)

ADA PRESENTATION (CURB RAMPS) ACECNJ/NJDOT/FHWA DESIGN SUMMIT Warren Howard New Jersey Department of Transportation May 21, 2013 ADA Curb Ramps NJDOT wants curb ramps to be designed & constructed properly