Title 23: Highways
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PART 655—TRAFFIC OPERATIONS
Section Contents
Subparts A–E [Reserved]
Subpart F—Traffic Control Devices on Federal-Aid and Other Streets and Highways
§ 655.601 Purpose.
§ 655.602 Definitions.
§ 655.603 Standards.
§ 655.604 Achieving basic uniformity.
§ 655.605 Project procedures.
§ 655.606 Higher cost materials.
§ 655.607 Funding.
Appendix to Subpart F of Part 655—Alternate Method of Determining the Color of Retroreflective Sign Materials and Pavement Marking Materials
Subpart G [Reserved]
Authority: 23 U.S.C. 101(a), 104, 109(d), 114(a), 217, 315, and 402(a); 23 CFR 1.32; and 49 CFR 1.48(b).
Subparts A–E [Reserved]
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Subpart F—Traffic Control Devices on Federal-Aid and Other Streets and Highways
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Source: 48 FR 46776, Oct. 14, 1983, unless otherwise noted.
§ 655.601 Purpose.
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To prescribe the policies and procedures of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to obtain basic uniformity of traffic control devices on all streets and highways in accordance with the following references that are approved by the FHWA for application on Federal-aid projects:
(a) Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways (MUTCD), 2003 Edition, including Revision No.1, FHWA, dated November 2004. This publication is incorporated by reference in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552 (a) and 1 CFR part 51 and is on file at the National Archives and Record Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA call (202) 741–6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.php. It is available for inspection and copying at the Federal Highway Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Room 3408, Washington, DC 20590, as provided in 49 CFR part 7. The text is also available from the FHWA Office of Transportation Operations' Web site at: http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov.
(b) Standard Alphabets for Highway Signs, FHWA, 1966 Edition, Reprinted May 1972. (This publication is incorporated by reference and is on file at the Office of the Federal Register in Washington, DC. This document is available for inspection and copying as provided in 49 CFR part 7, appendix D).
(c) Guide to Metric Conversion, AASHTO, 1993. This publication is incorporated by reference in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51 and is on file at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202–741–6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.php. This document is available for inspection as provided in 49 CFR part 7. It may be purchased from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, Suite 249, 444 North Capitol Street, NW., Washington, DC 20001.
(d) Traffic Engineering Metric Conversion Factors, 1993—Addendum to the Guide to Metric Conversion, AASHTO, October 1993. This publication is incorporated by reference in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51 and is on file at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202–741–6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.php. This document is available for inspection as provided in 49 CFR part 7. It may be purchased from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, Suite 249, 444 North Capitol Street, NW., Washington, DC 20001.
[51 FR 16834, May 7, 1986, as amended at 60 FR 18521, Apr. 11, 1995; 61 FR 29626, June 11, 1996; 62 FR 1373, Jan. 9, 1997; 63 FR 8351, Feb. 19, 1998; 63 FR 33549, June 19, 1998; 64 FR 33753, June 24, 1999; 65 FR 13, Jan. 3, 2000; 65 FR 78958, Dec. 18, 2000; 67 FR 7076, Feb. 15, 2002; 68 FR 65582, Nov. 20, 2003; 69 FR 18803, Apr. 9, 2004; 69 FR 69819, Dec. 1, 2004]
§ 655.602 Definitions.
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The terms used herein are defined in accordance with definitions and usages contained in the MUTCD and 23 U.S.C. 101(a).
§ 655.603 Standards.
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(a) National MUTCD. The MUTCD approved by the Federal Highway Administrator is the national standard for all traffic control devices installed on any street, highway, or bicycle trail open to public travel in accordance with 23 U.S.C 109(d) and 402(a). The national MUTCD is specifically approved by the FHWA for application on any highway project in which Federal highway funds participate and on projects in federally administered areas where a Federal department or agency controls the highway or supervises the traffic operations.
(b) State or other Federal MUTCD. (1) Where State or other Federal agency MUTCDs or supplements are required, they shall be in substantial conformance with the national MUTCD. Changes to the national MUTCD issued by the FHWA shall be adopted by the States or other Federal agencies within 2 years of issuance. The FHWA Division Administrators shall approve the State MUTCDs and supplements that are in substantial conformance with the national MUTCD.
(2) The FHWA Associate Administrator of the Federal Lands Highway Program shall approve other Federal land management agencies' MUTCDs that are in substantial conformance with the national MUTCD. States and other Federal agencies are encouraged to adopt the national MUTCD as their official Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
(c) Color specifications. Color determinations and specifications of sign and pavement marking materials shall conform to requirements of the FHWA Color Tolerance Charts.2 An alternate method of determining the color of retroreflective sign material is provided in the appendix.
2 Available for inspection from the Office of Traffic Operations, Federal Highway Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590.
(d) Compliance—(1) Existing highways. Each State, in cooperation with its political subdivisions, and Federal agency shall have a program as required by 23 U.S.C. 402(a), which shall include provisions for the systematic upgrading of substandard traffic control devices and for the installation of needed devices to achieve conformity with the MUTCD.
(2) New or reconstructed highways. Federal-aid projects for the construction, reconstruction, resurfacing, restoration, or rehabilitation of streets and highways shall not be opened to the public for unrestricted use until all appropriate traffic control devices, either temporary or permanent, are installed and functioning properly. Both temporary and permanent devices shall conform to the MUTCD.
(3) Construction area activities. All traffic control devices installed in construction areas using Federal-aid funds shall conform to the MUTCD. Traffic control plans for handling traffic and pedestrians in construction zones and for protection of workers shall conform to the requirements of 23 CFR part 630, subpart J, Traffic Safety in Highway and Street Work Zones.
(4) MUTCD changes. The FHWA may establish target dates for achieving compliance with changes to specific devices in the MUTCD.
(e) Specific information signs. Standards for specific information signs are contained in the MUTCD.
[48 FR 46776, Oct. 14, 1983, as amended at 51 FR 16834, May 7, 1986; 68 FR 14139, Mar. 24, 2003]
§ 655.604 Achieving basic uniformity.
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(a) Programs. Programs for the orderly and systematic upgrading of existing traffic control devices or the installation of needed traffic control devices on or off the Federal-aid system should be based on inventories made in accordance with 23 CFR 1204.4, Highway Safety Program Standards. These inventories provide the information necessary for programming traffic control device upgrading projects.
(b) Inventory. An inventory of all traffic control devices is required by Highway Safety Program Standard Number 13, Traffic Engineering Services (23 CFR 1204.4). Highway planning and research funds and highway related safety grant program funds may be used in statewide or systemwide studies or inventories. Also, metropolitan planning (PL) funds may be used in urbanized areas provided the activity is included in an approved unified work program.
§ 655.605 Project procedures.
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(a) Federal-aid highways. Federal-aid projects involving the installation of traffic control devices shall follow procedures as established in 23 CFR part 630, subpart A, Federal-Aid Programs Approval and Project Authorization. Simplified and timesaving procedures are to be used to the extent permitted by existing policy.
(b) Off-system highways. Certain federally funded programs are available for installation of traffic control devices on streets and highways that are not on the Federal-aid system. The procedures used in these programs may vary from project to project but, essentially, the guidelines set forth herein should be used.
§ 655.606 Higher cost materials.
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The use of signing, pavement marking, and signal materials (or equipment) having distinctive performance characteristics, but costing more than other materials (or equipment) commonly used may be approved by the FHWA Division Administrator when the specific use proposed is considered to be in the public interest.
§ 655.607 Funding.
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(a) Federal-aid highways. (1) Funds apportioned or allocated under 23 U.S.C. 104(b) are eligible to participate in projects to install traffic control devices in accordance with the MUTCD on newly constructed, reconstructed, resurfaced, restored, or rehabilitated highways, or on existing highways when this work is classified as construction in accordance with 23 U.S.C. 101(a). Federal-aid highway funds for eligible pavement markings and traffic control signalization may amount to 100 percent of the construction cost. Federal-aid highway funds apportioned or allocated under other sections of 23 U.S.C. are eligible for participation in improvements conforming to the MUTCD in accordance with the provisions of applicable program regulations and directives.
(2) Traffic control devices are eligible, in keeping with paragraph (a)(1) of this section, provided that the work is classified as construction in accordance with 23 U.S.C. 101(a) and the State or local agency has a policy acceptable to the FHWA Division Administrator for selecting traffic control devices material or equipment based on items such as cost, traffic volumes, safety, and expected service life. The State's policy should provide for cost-effective selection of materials which will provide for substantial service life taking into account expected and necessary routine maintenance. For these purposes, effectiveness would normally be measured in terms of durability, service life and/or performance of the material. Specific projects including material or equipment selection shall be developed in accordance with this policy. Proposed work may be approved on a project-by-project basis when the work is (i) clearly warranted, (ii) on a Federal-aid system, (iii) clearly identified by site, (iv) substantial in nature, and (v) of sufficient magnitude at any given location to warrant Federal-aid participation as a construction item.
(3) The method of accomplishing the work will be in accordance with 23 CFR part 635, subpart A, Contract Procedures.
(b) Off-system highways. Certain Federal-aid highway funds are eligible to participate in traffic control device improvement projects on off-system highways. In addition, Federal-aid highway funds apportioned or allocated in 23 U.S.C. are eligible for the installation of traffic control devices on any public road not on the Federal-aid system when the installation is directly related to a traffic improvement project on a Federal-aid system route.
Appendix to Subpart F of Part 655—Alternate Method of Determining the Color of Retroreflective Sign Materials and Pavement Marking Materials
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1. Although the FHWA Color Tolerance Charts depreciate the use of spectrophotometers or accurate tristimulus colorimeters for measuring the daytime color of retroreflective materials, recent testing has determined that 0/45 or 45/0 spectroradiometers and tristimulus colorimeters have proved that the measurements can be considered reliable and may be used.
2. The daytime color of non-fluorescent retroreflective materials may be measured in accordance with ASTM Test Method E1349, “Standard Test Method for Reflectance Factor and Color by Spectrophotometry Using Bidirectional Geometry” or ASTM Test Method E 1347 (Replaces E97), “Standard Test Method for Color and Color-Difference Measurement by Tristimulus (Filter) Colorimetry.” The latter test method specified bidirectional geometry for the measurement of retroreflective materials. The geometric conditions to be used in both test methods are 0/45 or 45/0 circumferential illumination or viewing. Uniplanar geometry is not recommended for material types IV or higher (designated microprismatic). The CIE standard illuminant used in computing the colorimetric coordinates shall be D65 and the 2 Degree Standard CIE observer shall be used.
3. For fluorescent retroreflective materials ASTM E991 may be used to determine the chromaticity provided that the D65 illumination meets the requirements of E 991. This practice, however, allows only the total luminous factor to be measured. The fluorescent luminous factor must be determined using bispectral fluorescent colorimetry. Commercial instruments are available which allow such determination. Some testing laboratories are also equipped to perform these measurements.
4. For nighttime measurements CIE Standard Illuminant A shall be used in computing the colorimetric coordinates and the 2 Degree Standard CIE Observer shall be used.
5. Average performance sheeting is identified as Types I and II sheeting and high performance sheeting is identified as Type III. Super-high intensity sheeting is identified as Types V, VI, and VII in ASTM D 4956.
6. The following nine tables depict the 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram x and y coordinates for the corner points defining the recommended color boxes in the diagram and the daytime luminance factors for those colors. Lines drawn between these corner points specify the limits of the chromaticity allowed in the 1931 Chromaticity Diagram. Color coordinates of samples that lie within these lines are acceptable. For blue and green colors the spectrum locus is the defining limit between the corner points located on the spectrum locus:
Table 1 to Appendix to Part 655, Subpart F_Daytime Color Specification Limits for Retroreflective Material With CIE 2° Standard Observer and 45/0 (0/45) Geometry and CIE Standard Illuminant D65.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chromaticity Coordinates ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Color 1 2 3 4 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- x y x y y x x y----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------White........................ 0.303 0.300 0.368 0.366 0.340 0.393 0.274 0.329Red.......................... 0.648 0.351 0.735 0.265 0.629 0.281 0.565 0.346Orange....................... 0.558 0.352 0.636 0.364 0.570 0.429 0.506 0.404Brown........................ 0.430 0.340 0.430 0.390 0.518 0.434 0.570 0.382Yellow....................... 0.498 0.412 0.557 0.442 0.479 0.520 0.438 0.472Green........................ 0.026 0.399 0.166 0.364 0.286 0.446 0.207 0.771Blue......................... 0.078 0.171 0.150 0.220 0.210 0.160 0.137 0.038Light Blue................... 0.180 0.260 0.240 0.300 0.270 0.260 0.230 0.200Purple....................... 0.300 0.064 0.320 0.200 0.550 0.300 0.600 0.202----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 1a to Appendix to Part 655, Subpart F_Daytime Luminance Factors (%) for Retroreflective Material With CIE 2° Standard Observer and 45/0 (0/45) Geometry and CIE Standard Illuminant D65.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Daytime Luminance Factor (Y %) by ASTM Type ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Color Types I, II, III and VI Types IV, VII, and VIII Type V ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Minimum Maximum Minimum Maximum Minimum Maximum----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------White....................... 27 ............ 40 ............ 15 ............Red......................... 2.5 12 3.0 15 2.5 11Orange...................... 14 30 12 30 7.0 25Brown....................... 4.0 9.0 1.0 6.0 1.0 9.0Yellow...................... 15 45 24 45 12 30Green....................... 3.0 9.0 3.0 12 2.5 11Blue........................ 1.0 10 1.0 10 1.0 10Light Blue.................. 12 40 18 40 8.0 25Purple...................... 2.0 10 2.0 10 2.0 10----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 2 to Appendix to Part 655, Subpart F_Nighttime Color Specification Limits for Retroreflective MaterialWith CIE 2° Standard Observer and Observation Angle of 0.33°, Entrance Angle of +5° and CIE Standard Illuminant A.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chromaticity Coordinates ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Color 1 2 3 4 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- x y x y x y x y----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------White............................. 0.475 0.452 0.360 0.415 0.392 0.370 0.515 0.409Red............................... 0.650 0.348 0.620 0.348 0.712 0.2550 0.735 0.265Orange............................ 0.595 0.405 0.565 0.405 0.613 0.355 0.643 0.355Brown............................. 0.595 0.405 0.540 0.405 0.570 0.365 0.643 0.355Yellow............................ 0.513 0.487 0.500 0.4700 0.545 0.425 0.572 0.425Green............................. 0.007 0.570 0.200 0.500 0.322 0.590 0.193 0.782Blue.............................. 0.033 0.370 0.180 0.370 0.230 0.240 0.091 0.133 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------Light Blue........................ Chromat icity coordin ates are yet to be determi ned. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------Purple............................ Chromat icity coordin ates are yet to be determi ned.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Note: Materials used as High-Conspicuity, Retroreflective Traffic Signage Materials shall meet the requirements for Daytime Color Specification Limits, Daytime Luminance Factors and Nighttime Color Specification Limits for Fluorescent Retroreflective Material, as described in Tables 3, 3a, and 4, throughout the service life of the sign.
Table 3 to Appendix to Part 655, Subpart F_Daytime Color Specification Limits for Fluorescent Retroreflective Material with CIE 2° Standard Observer and 45/0 (0/45) Geometry and CIE Standard Illuminant D65.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chromaticity Coordinates ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Color 1 2 3 4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- x y x y x y x y----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Fluorescent Orange.............. 0.583 0.416 0.535 0.400 0.595 0.351 0.645 0.355Fluorescent Yellow.............. 0.479 0.520 0.446 0.483 0.512 0.421 0.557 0.442Fluorescent Yellow-Green........ 0.387 0.610 0.369 .546 .428 .496 0.460 0.540Fluorescent Green............... 0.210 0.770 0.232 0.656 0.320 0.590 0.320 0.675Fluorescent Pink................ 0.450 0.270 0.590 0.350 0.644 0.290 0.536 0.230----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 3a to Appendix to Part 655, Subpart F_Daytime Luminance Factors (%) for Fluorescent Retroreflective Material With CIE 2° Standard Observer and 45/0 (0/45) Geometry and CIE Standard Illuminant D65.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Luminance Factor Limits (Y) Color -------------------------------- Min Max YF*----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Fluorescent Orange............................................................. 25 None 15Fluorescent Yellow............................................................. 45 None 20Fluorescent Yellow-Green....................................................... 60 None 20Fluorescent Green.............................................................. 20 30 12Fluorescent Pink............................................................... 25 None 15----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------*Fluorescence luminance factors (YF) are typical values, and are provided for quality assurance purposes only. YF shall not be used as a measure of performance during service.
Table 4 to Appendix to Part 655, Subpart F_Nighttime Color Specification Limits for Fluorescent RetroreflectiveMaterial With CIE 2° Standard Observer and Observation Angle of 0.33°, Entrance Angle of +5° and CIE Standard Illuminant A.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chromaticity Coordinates ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Color 1 2 3 4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- x y x y x y x y----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Fluorescent Orange.............. 0.625 0.375 0.589 0.376 0.636 0.330 0.669 0.331Fluorescent Yellow.............. 0.554 0.445 0.526 0.437 0.569 0.394 0.610 0.390Fluorescent Yellow-Green........ 0.480 0.520 0.473 0.490 0.523 0.440 0.550 0.449Fluorescent Green............... 0.007 0.570 0.200 0.500 0.322 0.590 0.193 0.782----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 5 to Appendix to Part 655, Subpart F_Daytime Color Specification Limits for Retroreflective Pavement Marking Material With CIE 2° Standard Observer and 45/0 (0/45) Geometry and CIE Standard Illuminant D65.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chromaticity Coordinates ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Color 1 2 3 4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- x y x y x y x y----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------White........................... 0.355 0.355 0.305 0.305 0.285 0.325 0.335 0.375Yellow.......................... 0.560 0.440 0.490 0.510 0.420 0.440 0.460 0.400Red............................. 0.480 0.300 0.690 0.315 0.620 0.380 0.480 0.360Blue............................ 0.105 0.100 0.220 0.180 0.200 0.260 0.060 0.220----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 5a to Part 655, Subpart F_Daytime Luminance Factors (%) for Retroreflective Pavement Marking Material With CIE 2° Standard Observer and 45/0 (0/45) Geometry and CIE Standard Illuminant D65.------------------------------------------------------------------------ Luminance Factor (Y%) Color --------------------------- Minimum Maximum------------------------------------------------------------------------White....................................... 35Yellow...................................... 25Red......................................... 6 15Blue........................................ 5 14------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 6 to Appendix to Part 655, Subpart F_Nightime Color Specification Limits for Retroreflective Pavement Marking Material With CIE 2° Standard Observer, Observation Angle of 1.05°, Entrance Angle of +88.76° and CIE Standard Illuminant A.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chromaticity Coordinates ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Color 1 2 3 4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- x y x y x y x y----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------White........................... 0.480 0.410 0.430 0.380 0.405 0.405 0.455 0.435Yellow.......................... 0.575 0.425 0.508 0.415 0.473 0.453 0.510 0.490----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Note: Luminance factors for retroreflective pavement marking materials are for materials as they are intended to be used. For paint products, that means inclusion of glass beads and/or other retroreflective components.
