Center and Edge Line Markings Proposal 

Could Affect Local Roads

 FHWA Requests Comments on Proposed Amendment to MUTCD

A proposed amendment to the Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) might require center and edge line markings on some New Hampshire munici­pal roads. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has asked for comments on the proposed amendment. The box on this page contains the proposed rules.

Key Terms

The proposed rules contain several sets of terms with particular meanings: shall-should-may, urban-rural, and arterial-collector. The MUTCD distinguishes between “shall,” “should,” and “may” to describe specific conditions for device installations:

1. SHALL -- a mandatory condition. Where the word “shall” is used, it is mandatory that these requirements are met.

2. SHOULD -- an advisory condition. When the word “should” is used, it is considered to be advisable usage, recommended but not mandatory.

3. MAY – a permissive condition. No requirement for design of application is intended.

The urban-rural and arterial-connector terms are less clear. The MUTCD refers to AASHTO for definitions of the these terms. AASHTO defines urban areas as “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.” The arterial and collector classifications differ for urban and rural areas. In essence, arteries carry traffic between municipalities. Collectors carry traffic within each municipality to keep traffic from accumulating on local roads (2).  Regional Planning Commissions can help road managers classify specific roads.

Additional Considerations

Some road managers treat “should” rules as if they were “shall.” This cautious approach is based 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 an agency that strictly interprets the rules.

Once an agency establishes line markings on a roadway, it must maintain them. In addition, the FHWA notice suggests that reviewers of proposed rules con­sider the following rule in the current MUTCD:

Where center line markings are installed, no-pass­ing zones shall be established at vertical and horizontal curves and elsewhere on two- and three- lane highways where an engineering study indicates passing must be prohibited because of inadequate sight distances or other special conditions.

A no-passing zone shall be marked by either a one direction, no-passing markings or a two direction, no-passing markings.

Proposed MUTCD Amendment

Center line markings shall be placed on paved, undi­vided 2-way streets and highways having the characteristics as follows:

1. Rural arterials and collectors with roadways 18 feet or more in width and an average daily traffic (ADT) of 1000 or more.

2. Urban arterials and collectors with roadways 20 feet or more in width and an ADT of 2000 or more.

3. Roadways with 3 lanes or more

Center line marking should be placed on paved, undivided 2-way streets and highways having the following characteristics:

1. Rural roadways 18 feet or more in width with an ADT of 500 or more.

2. Urban roadways 20 feet or more in width with an ADT of 1000 or more.

3. Roadways where engineering studies indicate a need.

Center line markings may be placed on any undivided 2-way streets and highways.

Edge line markings shall be placed on paved streets and highways of the following types or with the following characteristics, except when roadway edges are defined by curbs and/or by markings for parking spaces:

1. Freeways

2. Expressways, and

3. Rural arterials

Edge markings should be placed on paved streets and highways with the following characteristics, except when roadway edges are defined by curbs and/or by markings for parking spaces:

1. Rural collectors 20 feet or more in width,

2. Paved streets and highways where an engineering study indicates a need.

Edge line markings may be placed on other classes of streets and highways with or without center line markings.

From Federal Register ,Vol. 61, No. 150, August 2, 1996, pp. 40484-40487

Forwarding Comments

Interested individuals can forward written, signed comments to:

FHWA Docket No. 96-15

FHWA, Room 4232, HCC-10

400 Seventh Street, SW

Washington DC 20590

FHWA must receive comments on or before May 2, 1997. A copy of the FHWA proposal and sections of the MUTCD are available from the UNH T² Center.

        Phone:  603-862-2826; 800-423-0060 (in NH)

        Fax:      603-862-2364

DC: AASHTO, Pp. 9-17

Endnotes 

1.   Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Device, 1988. Washington DC: FHWA p. 1A-4

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