Chapter 4 - Summary
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The FHWA is preparing to develop proposed language for the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices regarding pavement marking retroreflectivity. The purpose of this report was to summarize the recommendations from the two pavement marking retroreflectivity workshops that the FHWA held in the summer of 2007 regarding the upcoming proposed rulemaking on pavement marking retroreflectivity. This rulemaking effort is a result of the 1993 U.S. DOT Appropriations Act requiring the Secretary of Transportation to “…include a standard for minimum level of retroreflectivity that must be maintained for traffic signs and pavement markings for all roads open to public travel.” In response to this legislative mandate and after many years of research and proposed rulemaking, the FHWA has developed and adopted a set of minimum retroreflectivity levels for traffic signs, which became effective in January 2008. The FHWA is now prepared to continue with pavement marking retroreflectivity rulemaking.
Through the course of these workshops, the participants’ major discussion topics included:
- Maintenance methods
- Seasonal/regional constraints
- Minimum pavement marking retroreflectivity factors
- Economic impacts
- Retroreflectivity measurements
- Safety benefit
- Tort liability
- MUTCD language
The FHWA plans to use the information gathered from the workshops to continue forward with proposed pavement marking retroreflectivity rulemaking. The following activities are planned as part of that process:
- The FHWA develops proposed language for the MUTCD and issues a Notice of Proposed Amendments to the MUTCD in the Federal Register to solicit public comment on the proposed language.
- The public has a 6-month period during which to submit comments.
- The FHWA reviews the comments that are submitted and develops the Final Rule for the MUTCD.
- The FHWA publishes the Final Rule for pavement marking retroreflectivity in the MUTCD and in the Federal Register.
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