Responsible for the design, manufacture, installation, and maintenance of traffic signs and conducting traffic studies.
The Traffic Services Section is under the supervision of the Staff Traffic Engineer, who also serves as the Staff Maintenance Engineer for Districts 3 and 8. Primary areas of responsibility of this Section are:
- Statewide Signing Crews
- Sign Fabrication Shop
- Traffic Operations Studies
- Interstate Signing Contracts
The Statewide Sign Crews are responsible for signing installations on new construction and for maintenance re-signing of all freeway routes, U.S. routes and several high volume state routes. There are six sign crews in the Section. Two crews work on the maintenance of freeway signs and four crews work on new construction and maintenance re-signing of major routes. These crews typically install approximately 16,000 signs per year, the majority being re-signing of existing routes.
Each week a signing schedule is prepared by the Signing Superintendent and distributed to central office operations Staff and to each District. This schedule lists the routes and sections where the work is being performed and the type of work being performed by each crew. It also lists the previous week’s accomplishments. The Signing Superintendent also prepares signing logs for statewide Sign Crews and District Sign Crews. These logs list the locations of signs on a given section of roadway with recommendations for replacement, removal or relocation to conform to current standards. Signs are routinely replaced on a ten-year cycle, due to the anticipated performance of the retroreflective sheeting.
Sign Shop
The sign shop under the direction of the Sign Shop Supervisor manufactures nearly all of the signs used on the Highway System. The Districts order signs via Transfer Requests (Form 19-152) The Signing Superintendent also orders signs for installation by statewide sign crews.
The sign shop manufactures approximately 60,000 signs per year, most of which are regulatory, warning, and guide signs.
Old signs are reclaimed through a sanding process for re-use of the aluminum sign blanks. Approximately 30 percent of all signs are manufactured using reclaimed aluminum.
Traffic Operations
Studies that are conducted at high accident rate locations often result in safety projects funded by the FHWA. Each week a traffic operations studies list is produced and distributed along with the signing schedule.
Interstate Signing Contracts
Plans and specifications for freeway signing contracts are prepared by Traffic Operations Personnel. Signing plans by consultants on freeway projects are also reviewed.
Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)
The Manual contains the basic principles that govern the design and use of traffic control devices for all streets and highways open to public travel regardless of type or class and has been adopted by all the states. Traffic control devices are defined as all signs, signals, markings, and other devices used to regulate, warn, or guide traffic, placed on, over, or adjacent to a highway, pedestrian facility, or bikeway. It specifies the application of each device and the restriction of its use. The Traffic Services Section maintains uniformity and compliance with this manual. It is important that these principles be given primary consideration in the selection and application of each device.