Download - Rick Butner Steve Martin Pierce County Public Works & Utilities Traffic Division July 11, 2011
PIERCE COUNTY’S TRAFFIC SIGN INVENTORY
A REFLECTION OF MEETING THE MUTCD REQUIREMENTS
Rick ButnerSteve MartinPierce County Public Works & UtilitiesTraffic Division
July 11, 2011
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 1
Rules
During this presentation• If you need to get up and stretch; go for it!
– Just be quiet• If you need to go to the restroom; go!
– Just be quiet• If you’ve got a question
– At any time please feel free to jump in– Put your hand up– Interaction is encouraged!
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 2
Introductions
• Rick Butner, Pierce County Traffic – Traffic Operations Supervisor– ‘67 Camaro
• Steve Martin, Pierce County Traffic– Traffic Sign and Markings Supervisor– ‘80 Celica
• Introduce to person to Right and left of you• Introduce to person in front and behind you
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 3
Bellevue, WAIMSA Conference
Pierce County, WA
Region
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 4
Region
Pierce County Washington• 1,679 Square Miles – land• 128 Square Miles – water• 795,225 Population • 382,115 Population – Unincorporated• Major Cities
– Tacoma– Lakewood– Puyallup
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 5
Region
Pierce County Washington
• Produces 50% of Rhubarb for U.S.
• Named after President Franklin Pierce
• Home of Mt. Rainier, tallest in the Cascades
• Elevation changes from 0’ to 14,410’
• Second most populous county in Washington
• An important element of your inspection program.
• Card file to an inventory software program.
• Foundation of many programs
• Documentation
Inventory
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 6
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 7
• 1 - Traffic Operations Supervisor• 2 - Office Support Staff• 1 - Sign & Markings Supervisor• 1 - Seasonal Lead Sign Technician• 12 - Traffic Sign Technicians• 8 - Seasonal Temporary
Traffic Operations - Sign and Markings Staff
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 8
Inventory - Standards
• System based on Standards– Sign Size– Sign Placement / Exhibits– Sign Sheeting
• Controlled by Work Order– Approval Structure
• Help to minimize Liability– Documentation
Inventory – Tracking Change
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 9
• An effective Inventory must be maintained
• PC Work Orders document change in Inventory
• Task codes are used to track change– i.e. 62A – Add– i.e. 62C – Change– i.e 62D - Delete
Inventory – In the beginning
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 10
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 11
Inventory
24,908 Total traffic signs (county only)
• 2,947 Stop and Yield signs• 6,745 Warning (W-series) signs• 3,160 Speed limit signs• 8,506 Street name signs (34%)
• (~1,500 centerline miles of roads)
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 12
• Home Grown Software Program – “Rubble”
• System Divided into Areas and Sub Areas
• Sign Work is Documented by Function Code
• Signs are tracked by Route and Position Number
• Track by Sign Code
• Track by Serial Number
Inventory
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 13
Inventory - Rubble
• Sign Inspection Route
• Listed by Route and Position Number
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 14
Inventory – Standard Inspection Route
• Sign Inspection Route Map
• Ensure that all signs are inspected in the most efficient manner
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 15
Inventory - Rubble
99100237
Inventory - Traffic Sign Serial Numbers
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 16
Inventory - Street Sign Serial Numbers
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 17
Inventory – Accurate Dispatch
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 18
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 19
• Monthly Stop and Yield sign inspections– Each inspection is date and time stamped– Documentation of work performed
• Quarterly full sign inspection– Each inspection is date and time stamped– Documentation of work performed
• Data from sign inspections– Used for documentation in legal matters
Inspection - Intervals
• Vandalism– Gun Shot– Graffiti – Stolen
• Natural Causes– Vegetation– Dirty– Environment
Inspection - Intervals
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 20
Inspection – Sending the correct message
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 21
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 22
• Stop and Yield signs are highest priority– Downed signs are a high safety concern– Downed signs are a high liability– Program is structured to have signs repaired within
one hour of notification; 24/7• Other Regulatory and Warning signs are
responded to generally the same business day• Street name signs are up within a couple of days
– It may take a day or two to have a new sign made
Traffic Sign Repair – Response priority
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 23
Traffic Sign Repair – Response priority
Dispatch to Technician to
schedule repair
Dispatch to Technician for
immediate repair
All Other SignsNormal
Business Hours
After Normal Business
Hours
Stop or Yield
Traffic Sign Call Out
Stop or Yield
All Other Signs
Answering Service fax to Traffic Operations
Inventory – Foundation of a program
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 24
INVENTORYMeets
RETROREFLECTIVITY
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 25
Retroreflectivity - Requirement
• “… shall use an assessment or management method that is designed to maintain traffic sign retroreflectivity at or above the minimum levels …”.
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 26
Retroreflectivity - Requirement
“Compliance…is achieved by
having a method in place and using
the method to maintain the
minimum levels established in
Table 2A-3…. even if there are
some individual signs that do not
meet the minimum retroreflectivity
levels at a particular point in time.”
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 27
Retroreflectivity – Assess/Manage methods
A. Visual Nighttime InspectionB. Measured RetroreflectivityC. Expected LifeD. Blanket ReplacementE. Control SignsF. Other Supported Methods
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide28
Retroreflectivity - Minimum Levels
Sign Color
Conditions
Retroreflective Sheeting Material (ASTM D4956-01a)
(legend//background)
I II III VII VIII IX
White on Red
3:1 W35 // R7
Black on
Orange or
Yellow
48” or Bold X OY50
< 48” or Fine X OY75
Black on
WhiteW50
White on
Green
Overheadx
//G7x
//G15
x //G2
5W250 // G25
Shoulderx
//G7W120 // G15
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 29
Retroreflectivity - Contrast Ratio
White on Red 3:1 W35 // R7
STOP
35
75:1
STOP
200
1002:1
Standard
Fails by Contrast RatioEven though readingsare above minimums
STOP
300
407:1
Typical 1995Stop Sign in Pierce County
Understanding Contrast Ratio
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 30
Retroreflectivity – Finding an answer
• Which assessment or management method is best??
• What is the best way to optimize use of our labor, equipment, and materials??
• Our Sign Inventory became a powerful tool that helped guide us to the best answer…
…. for us.
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 31
Retroreflectivity – Pierce County program
• The approach that Pierce County is using to meet the retroreflectivity requirements is a combination of methods– Measured Retroreflectivity– Control Sample– Expected Life
• In 2007 Pierce County began the retroreflectivity assessment program
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 32
• Measure signs with retroreflectometer• Compare measured values with minimum values• Replace signs when measured values approach
minimums
Retroreflectivity – Measured Retroreflectivity
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 33
Retroreflectivity – Tapping the inventory
• Control Samples set up using inventory• Select signs by age/serial number• Sort signs by route and position
– Establish efficient route – Select signs from all areas of the Inventory– Sort inventory by sign code
• Create an inspection route
• Control sample tested from each sign group– Sample represents group outside of warranty
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 34
Retroreflectivity – Tapping the inventory
95052938 95050795 95040173 95040154 95040153 9501231X 95011469 95011465 95011463 95011461 95011421 95011419 95011418 95011417 95011416 95011412
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 35
Retroreflectivity – Testing Route/Tracking
970327043 March 6, 2007
Yellow Average 231
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 36
Retroreflectivity – Data & Calculations
Serial # # Sequence Result / Date
95020557
1 March 6, 2007
White Average 310
Red Average 41
Serial # # Sequence Result / Date
95020557
1 March 6, 2007
W 000001/1 316
W 000001/2 300
W 000001/3 313
R 000001/4 41
R 000001/5 41
R 000001/6 40
RATIO 7.6
White Average 310
Red Average 41
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 37
Retroreflectivity – Charting the dataSize Code VAR Serial # Sequence 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
48x24 W1-6 R 95043065 new for
2008 June 18, 2008 April 30, 2009April 29,
2010Yellow Average 238 237 235
30x30 W1-1 R 97021547 new for
2008 June 18, 2008 April 30, 2009April 29,
2010April 20,
2011Yellow Average 219 231 217 196
18x18 W13-1 10 97021548 new for
2008 June 18, 2008 April 30, 2009April 29,
2010April 20,
2011Yellow Average 208 238 218 172
24x30 R2-1 25 98090711 new for
2008 June 18, 2008 April 30, 2009April 29,
2010April 20,
2011White Average 103 103 98 98
30x30 W1-1 L 97010425 new for
2008 June 18, 2008 April 30, 2009April 29,
2010April 20,
2011Yellow Average 218 210 214 204
12x36 W12-401 L 95040825 new for
2008 June 18, 2008 April 30, 2009April 29,
2010April 20,
2011Yellow Average 207 216 202 201
24x30 R2-1 25 97070011 new for
2008 June 18, 2008 April 30, 2009April 29,
2010April 20,
2011White Average 97 99 97 97
24x30 R2-1 25 20024978 new for
2008 June 18, 2008 April 30, 2009April 29,
2010April 20,
2011White Average 78 77 75 64
24x30 R2-1 25 98090718 new for
2008 June 18, 2008 April 30, 2009April 29,
2010April 20,
2011White Average 104 101 99 90
1 2 3 40
20
40
60
80
100
120
Retroreflectivity levels of white examples on chart
Years
Minimum level 50 for Black on White
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 38
• Monitor control samples
• Data determines replacement implementation
• Some signs are replaced by normal maintenance
• Group replacements should be able to occur over the period of 2-3 years and not have as much of an impact on budget
Retroreflectivity – Program management
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 39
Retroreflectivity – Program management
Signs outside warranty
Measured Retroreflectivity Not
Tested
Monitor age of signs with Inventory
Add to Control Sample Group to
Measured Retroreflectivity
Testing
Monitor Control Sample and schedule
sign replacement based on data
models
Signs within warranty
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 40
Engineer Grade Street Name
Signs44/5 – 114/24White/Green
MUTCD Minimum
Engineer GradeNO EG/7
White/Green
MUTCD Minimum
High Intensity120/15
White/Green
Street Name Signs
High Intensity Street Name
Signs277/52 – 327/59
White/Green
FAILED
Decision made to replace over 6,000Engineer Grade street name signs
2007 Test Results
2007 – A look back at the beginning
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 41
2007 – A look back at the beginning
STOP Signs
MUTCD Minimum
>3:1Contrast Ratio
MUTCD Minimum
35/7White/Red
White258 – 325
Red20 - 59
Contrast Ratio5:1 – 9:1
2007 Test Results
Blanket change-outto High Intensity
STOPsigns in 1995
Decision is madeto continue monitoring
control samplePASS PASS
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 42
Retroreflectivity – Street Sign Replacement
6,145
72%
90911%
1,452
17%
Pierce CountyStreet Sign replacement programEngineer Grade signs changed out
2011
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 43
Retroreflectivity – Stop Signs
128246%
150654%
Pierce CountyStop Sign InventoryAll Stop signs were replaced in 1995 with HI
2011
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 44
Retroreflectivity – Stop Signs
Age of sign in years
Retr
orefl
ectiv
ity R
eadi
ngs
13 14 15 160.0
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
12.0
14.0
16.0
18.0
• Chart indicates contrast ratio for Stop and Yield signs
• Control sample will be expanded
• Testing to begin at 8 years old
Minimum 3:1 ratio
1995 stop signs
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 45
Retroreflectivity – Black on White Signs
3119%
1800
51%
1408
40%
Older th
an 7 years
Newer than 7 years Replaced
2010
Pierce CountyBlack on White RegulatoryEngineer Grade prior to 2010
2011
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 46
Retroreflectivity – Black on White Results
8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 180
20
40
60
80
100
120
140Retro Readings
Retro Readings
7 Year WarrantyExpected Life
Minimum level of 50to meet retroreflectivity
requirements20
02
1994
Age of sign in years
Retr
orefl
ectiv
ity R
eadi
ngs
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 47
Retroreflectivity – Warning Signs
Age of sign in years
Retr
orefl
ectiv
ity R
eadi
ngs
• Chart indicates readings for Black on Yellow Warning Signs, Bold
• Control sample will be expanded
• Testing to begin at 8 years old
Minimum Yellow reading 5013 14 15 160
50
100
150
200
250
300
1995 Warning signs1997 Warning signs
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 48
Retroreflectivity – Managing Inventory
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 160
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
4000
450059
5
1252
1856
1569
1637
952
945 12
81
458
1310
991
650
601
364
1140
151
143337
4
2846 19
54
971
Red indicates signs replaced as part ofstreet name sign replacement program
Signs managed through Retroreflectivity Program
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 49
• Include a variety of signs in your control sample– Include signs within 2 years of warranty– Look at more than the oldest signs in your system
• Take sample readings of sign shipments
• Be consistent with how signs are read– Weather plays a role; we test dry signs– We test our signs clean; that is how we maintain
Retroreflectivity – What have we learned
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 50
• Retroreflectivity program as an asset management tool?
• Found signs due for replacement, did not need to be replaced
• Began using the system as a decision making tool for traffic sign replacement
Retroreflectivity – Asset management tool?
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 51
Asset Management – Retroreflectivity program
5,400 22%
19,500 78%
Traffic Signs Less than
10 years old
Traffic Signs 10 years & older
Conservative Replacement Value @ $100 per sign $540,000
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory Slide 52
Asset Management - Replacement Model
Technician determines sign
meets requirements
Replace Sign
Don’t Replace Sign
Schedule to Replace Signs in Control Group
Technician determines sign
fails to meet requirements
Control sample readings within
acceptable range
Control sample readings
approaching minimum
Is sign part of control sample?
Is sign within Manufacturer
warranty
Inspections by Sign Techs
Monitor using dataTraffic Sign
QUESTIONS?Rick Butner(253)798-6836 or email [email protected]
Steve Martin(253)798-6839 or email [email protected]
July 11, 2011 Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory End