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Revised Center and Edge Line Marking Rules

Immediate Compliance in Restriping Programs and on Resurfaced Roads

On January 3, 2000, FHWA published the final rule revising the MUTCD regulations for center and edge line marking. The compliance date is the earliest of the following:

Definitions of Key Terms

Traveled way. That portion of a highway ordinarily used for vehicular travel, exclusive of parking lanes, sidewalks, berms, or shoulders. In the event a highway includes two or more separate traveled ways, the term ``traveled way'' refers to each one separately, but not collectively.

Collector highway. A general term denoting a highway that in rural areas connects small towns and local highways to arterial highways, and in urban areas provides land access and traffic circulation within residential, commercial and business areas and connects local highways to the arterial highways.

Arterial highway. A general term denoting a highway primarily used by through traffic, usually on a continuous route or a highway designated as part of an arterial highway system.

The MUTCD uses AASHTO definitions for "urban" and "rural," which refers to them as "urban areas" and "rural areas."

Urban areas are those places within boundaries set by the responsible State and local officials having a population of 5,000 or more.

Rural areas are "those areas outside the boundaries of urban areas."

City and regional planners frequently use these definitions. They can help road managers classify specific roads.
 
  1. January 3, 2003, or
  2. When pavement lane markings are replaced within an established pavement marking program, or
  3. When the highway is resurfaced or reconstructed.

The New Rules

Key terms used in the new rules are defined in the box on the next page.

The following are the new "shall" rules. It is mandatory that agencies meet these requirements.

  1. Centerline markings shall be placed on paved, 2-way traveled ways on streets and highways having either of the following characteristics.
  2. Edge line markings shall be placed for paved traveled ways on rural arterial streets and highways with traveled ways 20 feet or more in width with an ADT of 6000 or greater. (Also on all freeways and expressways.)

The new "should" rules are recommendations rather than mandatory requirements.

  1. Center line markings should be placed on paved, 2-way traveled ways on streets and highways having the following characteristics:
  2. Edge line markings should be placed on paved travel ways for streets and highways with the following characteristics:

The MUTCD now recommends that an engineering study be used on traveled ways less than 16 feet wide to determine whether to place center line markings on traveled ways. The engineers should consider whether traffic encroaches on the pavement edges, parked vehicles affect traffic, and traffic encroaches into the lane of opposing traffic where edge line markings are used.

The following are the new "may" rules, which are permissive.

  1. Centerline markings may be placed on other 2-way traveled ways on any street and highway.
  2. Edge line markings may be placed on the traveled way on any other street or highway with or without centerline markings.
  3. Edge line markings may be excluded based on engineering judgment where curbs or other markings delineate the travel way edges.

Shall and Should

Some road managers treat "should" rules as if they were "shall." They base this approach on plaintiffs’ attorneys having at times used the "should" rules in tort liability cases. These cautious road managers would broaden the proposed rules to mark lines on more roads than would a manager who strictly interprets the rules. Some would argue that they are also providing safer roads.

Current Rules Still in Force

The revised rules apply to current regulations described below. These descriptions of markings are summaries MUTCD Sections 3B-1 and 3B-6.

Center Line Markings. A centerline separates traffic traveling in opposite directions. It need not be at the geometric center of the pavement. Centerlines provide important guidance to motorists. The center line markings on two-lane, two-way highways shall be either:

  1. A normal, broken yellow line where passing is permitted.
  2. A double line consisting of a normal broken yellow line and a normal, solid yellow line where passing is permitted in one direction.
  3. A double line consisting of two normal solid yellow lines where passing is prohibited in both directions.

Edge Line Markings. Pavement edge line markings provide an edge of pavement guide for drivers. They have a unique value as a visual reference for the guidance of drivers during adverse weather and visibility conditions. They also may be used where edge delineation is desirable to reduce driving on paved shoulders or refuge areas of lesser structural strength than adjacent pavement. Edge lines should be continued through intersections and should not be broken for driveways.

Edge line markings shall be white, except they shall be yellow for the left edge in the direction of travel of the traveled ways of a divided or one way street or highway.

The Formal Regulations

The new rules differ from the proposed rules described in Road Business three years ago (Winter 1996, p. 4). The ADT thresholds are much higher that originally proposed. For a copy of the Federal Register pages formally describing the new rules, contact the UNH T² Center.

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