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!


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


Bellevue, WAIMSA Conference

Pierce County, WA

Region


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


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



• 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


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


• 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



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)


• 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


Inventory - Rubble

• Sign Inspection Route

• Listed by Route and Position Number


Inventory – Standard Inspection Route

• Sign Inspection Route Map

• Ensure that all signs are inspected in the most efficient manner


Inventory - Rubble

99100237

Inventory - Traffic Sign Serial Numbers


Inventory - Street Sign Serial Numbers


Inventory – Accurate Dispatch



• 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


Inspection – Sending the correct message



• 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


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


INVENTORYMeets

RETROREFLECTIVITY


Retroreflectivity - Requirement

• “… shall use an assessment or management method that is designed to maintain traffic sign retroreflectivity at or above the minimum levels …”.


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.”


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


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


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.


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


• Measure signs with retroreflectometer• Compare measured values with minimum values• Replace signs when measured values approach

minimums

Retroreflectivity – Measured Retroreflectivity


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


Retroreflectivity – Tapping the inventory

95052938 95050795 95040173 95040154 95040153 9501231X 95011469 95011465 95011463 95011461 95011421 95011419 95011418 95011417 95011416 95011412


Retroreflectivity – Testing Route/Tracking

970327043 March 6, 2007

Yellow Average 231


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


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


• 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


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


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


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


Retroreflectivity – Street Sign Replacement

6,145

72%

90911%

1,452

17%

Pierce CountyStreet Sign replacement programEngineer Grade signs changed out

2011


Retroreflectivity – Stop Signs

128246%

150654%

Pierce CountyStop Sign InventoryAll Stop signs were replaced in 1995 with HI

2011


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


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


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


Retr

orefl

ectiv

ity R

eadi

ngs


Retroreflectivity – Warning Signs


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


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


• 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


• 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?


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


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

mailto:[email protected]

rick butner steve martin pierce county public works & utilities traffic division july 11, 2011

Documents

traffic sign technicians

total traffic signs

populous county

sign markings supervisor

sign code track

washington slide

sub areas sign work

serial number inventory