Federal Highway Administration
400 Seventh Street, SW
Washington, DC 20590

August 14, 2001
Refer to: HOTO-1

Mr. Guy Alon
Traffic Engineer
City of Overland Park
City Hall
8500 Santa Fe Drive
Overland Park, KS 66212

Dear Mr. Alon:

Thank you for your letter requesting an interpretation of Section 7B.08 School Advance Warning Sign (S1-1), of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).

After a review of Sections 7B.08, School Advance Warning Sign, and 7B.09 School Crosswalk Warning Assembly, we have determined that the use of these signs is optional. However, if used, the standard text provides flexibility in closely-spaced intersections under normal conditions. You may chose to use the advance crossing sign as determined by engineering judgment for your specific situation.

If you have determined that advance crossing signs are needed in the situation you describe, you may want to consider installing one only advance warning sign in advance of the first crossing location and install the S1-1 school crosswalk warning assembly (with diagonal arrow) at each one of the three crossing locations. We would not recommend installing three distance plaques on one advance crossing sign as you mentioned as motorists may find this confusing.

For reference purposes, we have assigned your request the following official interpretation number and title: "VII-40(I)) - School Advance Warning Signs (S1-1)."

If you have any questions, please call Ms. Cherie L. Kittle at 202-366-2188.

Sincerely yours,

Shelley J. Row, P.E.
Director, Office of Transportation
Operations