Wainwright, Scott
From: Murray Bodin (Concerned Grandparents) [ConcernedGrandpa@aol.com]
Sent: Tuesday, October 05,20048:24 AM
To: Wainwright. Scott
Cc: Huckaby, Ernest; (Various Copies)
Subject: Entrance Ramp Markings
Dear Mr. Wainwright, (FHW A Team Member, MUTCD Part 3 - Markings)
With 350 miles of 65 MPH highway in New York State, it is time to show the driver (especially the older driver, I'm 71 years old) where the thru lanes are. I am referring to lanes such as exits and entrances on the New York State Thruway.
Auxiliary lanes such as EXIT ONLY should be designated by "cat tracks" rather than the usual dashed lines, which are used for traffic lane separation. Then drivers would know which were the thru lanes, and which were the "different" lanes that did something else.
I would guess that 99% of the people passing an exit (or entrance) go past without turning. These are the people who should get the information they need, which are the lanes that go past the exit.
At the high speeds of traffic today, CONSISTENCY is VERY important! These decisions can no longer be left to the discretion of a local traffic engineer. Road markings MUST be consistent in every state and every city. Which it why the "U" in the MUTCD means UNIFORM.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Murray Bodin
The broken line markings for one-halflength of full width acceleration lane should be "lane drop markings" (as you show elsewhere) the entire length of the acceleration lane.
"Lane drop markings as shown in Figure 3B-1O may (should) be used in advance oflane drops at exit ramps to distinguish a lane drop from a normal exit ramp or from an auxiliary lane. The lane drop marking may (should) consist of a wide, white dotted line with line segments 0.9m (3 ft) in length separated by 2.7 m (9 ft) gaps." (I think this is the "cat tracks. ")
Figure 3B-9 Examples of Channelizing Line Applications for Entrance Ramp Markings
Standard:
For exit ramps, channelizing lines shall be placed along the sides of the neutral area adjacent to the through traffic lane and the ramp lane.
With a parallel deceleration lane, a lane line shall be extended nom the beginning of the channelizing line upstream for a distance of one-half the length of the full-width deceleration lane as shown in Figure 3B-8.
Option:
White chevron markings may be placed in the neutral area for special emphasis as shown in Figure 3B-8.
Guidance:
For entrance ramps, a channelizing line should be placed along the side of the neutral area adjacent to the ramp lane.
For entrance ramps with a parallel acceleration lane, a lane line should be extended nom the end of the channelizing line for a distance of one-half the length of the full-width acceleration lane as shown in Figure 3B-9.
Option:
For entrance ramps with a tapered acceleration lane, lane line markings may be placed to extend the channelizing line, but not beyond a point where the tapered lane meets the near side of the through traffic lane as shown in Figure 3B-9.
Lane drop markings as shown in Figure 3B-1O may (should) be used in advance oflane drops at exit ramps to distinguish a lane drop from a normal exit ramp or from an auxiliary lane. The lane drop marking may (should) consist of a wide, white dotted line with line segments 0.9m (3 ft) in length separated by 2.7 m (9 ft) gaps.
Wainwright, Scott
From: Murray Bodin (Concerned Grandparents) [ConcernedGrandpa@aol.com]
Sent: Tuesday, October 05,20049:17 AM
To: Wainwright, Scott
Cc: Huckaby, Ernest; (Various Copies)
Subject: Lane Drop Markings at Exit Ramps
Dear Mr. Wainwright, (FHWA MUTCD Team Member, Part 3 - Markings)
"Section 3B.06 Edge Line Pavement Markings
Standard:
Ifused, edge line pavement markings shall delineate the right or left edges of a roadway." It is generally understood that yellow lines are on the left, white lines on the right. (See Gene Hawkins paper on this subject.)
In the example shown below, the line from the "Theoretical gore point" on the Exit Ramp is shown as White. Since it is the LEFT side of the Exit Ramp it should be Yellow. This would help the driver recognize where the exit lane starts. As the MUTCD states:
"If used on the roadways of divided highways or one-way streets, or on any ramp in the direction of traveJ.lej!n/gl>.linl>.
PfJ.JJl>.f!1,l>.lllmfJrlfil1g$sl1fJl{f;Jlfl.5ifi(JJffJl1QtlllalfiQlidYl>.IlQ'!JL!i!1C(flJIl>.li1l.l>.fJ(Clhc]cj!cdgcQfqmtldlYf!Y or to indicate driving or passing restrictions left of these m~1rkings."
"Guidance:
Edge line markings should not be broken for minor driveways. "
"Support:
Edge line markings have unique value as visual references to guide road users during adver ~~veather and Y:isibilitY_c.<UlditiQns~t~
This should also apply to lesser roads in suburban areas.
Thank you for your consideration.
Murray Bodin
Figu~_3B-1O Example of Lane Drop Markings at Exit Ramps /01
Guidance:
Ifused, lane drop markings should begin 800 m (0.5 mi) in advance of the theoretical gore point.
Option:
Where lane changes might cause conflicts, a wide solid white channelizing line may extend upstream from the theoretical gore point.
Section 3B.06Edge Line Pavement Markings
Standard:
If used, edge line pavement markings shall delineate tl1e right or left edges of a roadway.
Except for dotted edge line extensions (see S~s.:j:iQI13B,(8), edge line markings shall not be continued through intersections or major driveways.
If used on the roadways of divided highways or one-.way streets, or on any ramp in the direction of travel, left edge line pavement markings shall consist of a normal solid yellow line to delineate the left edge of a roadway or to indicate driving or passing restrictions left of these markings.
If used, the right edge line pavement markings shall consist of a normal solid white line to delineate the right edge of the roadway.
Guidance:
Edge line markings should not be broken for minor driveways.
Support:
Edge line markings have unique value as visual references to guide road users during adverse weather and visibility conditions.
Option:
Wide solid edge line markings may be used for greater emphasis.
Wainwright, Scott
From: Murray Bodin (Concerned Grandparents) [ConcernedGrandpa@aol.com]
Sent: Tuesday, October 05,20049:43 AM
To: Xu, Guan; Ranck, Fred; Umbs, Rudolph; Rusch, Peter; Huckaby, Ernest; Brown, Linda L.; Wainwright, Scott
Subject: combine the two emails
Hope you are all doing well! I've had a really GREAT year, hiking in the Alps and two weeks with my grandchildren in Cape Cod. I NEVER thought I would be this lucky and have so much fun! Grandchildren are great, you give them back at the end of the week. Actually, we are taking Daniel and Emily to the Amish Country, a working farm, for three days in November.
Scott: If you combine the two emails, and you use cat tracks across the entire exit, then the yellow line can start at the gore point without the problem someone once told me about a driver getting confused by that line. This only became clear in the shower just now. I don't know about you, but some of my best work gets done in showers.
See you all in January. Yes, I sent my check in already. And yes, I am MORE mellow. Surprised me too.
(!sit Ms. Guan or Ms. Xu?)
vi :.cnay