Don,
Apparently, the new MUTCD won't be approved until late next year. All the more reason to take Lewis up on his offer to work with us on getting the SLMs and BMUFL signs installed as an experiment. Richard Moeur is a member of the MUTCD committee.
Frank
-------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: MUTCD approval? Date: Thu, 18 Dec 2008 09:19:44 -0500 From: Richard C. Moeur rcmoeur@aol.com To: fgmeindl@verizon.net References: 494A5539.7000403@verizon.net
Not yet. Federal Highway Administration reportedly received over 12,000 comments on the draft*, and it'll take them a while to plow through them all and issue the final version of the new Manual. Right now, I'd estimate it'll be near the end of 2009 before the final rule is issued and the new MUTCD is ready for use - and it could be later than that.
Note that Section 2B.54 of the current (2003) MUTCD allows the use of custom regulatory signs as needed, as long as the sign uses word legends and/or already- approved symbols. This would seem to allow an agency to install the Bicycles May Use Full Lane sign (if they chose to) without having to wait for a new MUTCD.
*and virtually no comments opposing the new devices for bicyclists :)
-- Richard C. Moeur, P.E., L.C.I., WC7RCM Practicing Traffic Engineer (I'll get it right someday...) Phoenix, Arizona, USA "Life is just one W1-5 after another, until the W14-1" The opinions expressed are not necessarily shared by any organization with which I may be associated. :) Websites: http://www.richardcmoeur.com http://www.trafficsign.us - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-----Original Message----- From: Frank Gmeindl fgmeindl@verizon.net To: Richard C. Moeur rcmoeur@aol.com Sent: Thu, 18 Dec 2008 6:50 am Subject: MUTCD approval?
Richard,
When will the new MUTCD be officially approved for use? We got the WVDOH to approve our use of the Shared Lane Markings and Bicycles May Use Full Lane signs but a personnel change caused them to retract their approval until the new MUTCD is official.
As always, I am very grateful for your response as I'm sure you get many such requests.
Frank Gmeindl LCI 1703