Interpretation Letter 7-65(I)-In-Street Pedestrian Sign Color & Symbol

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U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration

400 Seventh St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590

October 6, 2004

Refer to: HOTO-1

Mr. John L. Leonard
Operations Engineer
Division of Traffic and Safety
Utah Department of Transportation
4501 South 2700 West
Salt Lake City, UT 84119-5998

Dear Mr. Leonard:

Thank you for your July 15 letter requesting an interpretation of the background color and symbol used on the In-Street Pedestrian (R1-6 series) signs (Section 2B. 12 of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)).

The first issue of your request deals with the background color of the In-Street Pedestrian Signs. Since the Utah State Part 7 supplement restricts the use of fluorescent yellow-green color to school signing only, you want to provide some contrast on the In-Street Pedestrian Signs for non-school crosswalks in lieu of the white background allowed in Section 2B.12.

When the In-Street Pedestrian Signs were developed, the fluorescent yellow-green was chosen for the added emphasis. We agree that yellow has historically been a pedestrian sign color; therefore using a yellow background on the In-Street Pedestrian Series signs is in conformance with the intent of the MUTCD. Furthermore, we are not aware of any research that shows that a yellow background for the In-Street Pedestrian is less safe than the fluorescent yellow-green background.

The second issue of your request deals with what symbol (Pedestrian or School Pedestrian) is used on the In-Street Pedestrian signs. You state that using the School Pedestrian symbol (S1-1) rather than the Pedestrian symbol shown on MUTCD Figure 2B-2 would give a more consistent message at a school crosswalk. We agree that the proposed use of the School Pedestrian Symbol on the In-Street Pedestrian sign at a school crosswalk is in conformance with the intent of the MUTCD.

We appreciate the opportunity to provide the clarification. We have assigned the following official ruling number and title to the request: "7-65(I)—In-Street Pedestrian Sign Color & Symbol—UDOT." Please refer to this number in future correspondence. If you need further assistance, please contact Mr. Fred Ranck at 708-283-3545.

Sincerely yours,

/s/ Regina McElroy

Regina S. McElroy
Director, Office of Transportation
Operations

State of Utah

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

July 15,2004

Ms. Regina S. McElroy
Director, Office of Transportation Operations
Federal Highway Administration
Office of Transportation Operations
400 Seventh Street, SW, HOTO
Washington, DC, 20590

Re. Interpretation Request, In-Street Pedestrian Signs, Rl-6 Series

Dear Ms. McElroy:

The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) is requesting an interpretation on the design of the In-Street Pedestrian Signs, RI-6 series. We have two issues for review: (1) the use of yellow for the background color; and (2) the use of the school pedestrian symbol.

Background Color

Utah has adopted a supplement to Part VII of the MUTCD. This supplement specifically restricts the use of the fluorescent yellow-green color to school signing only. We use the color yellow for other warning signs, including pedestrian signing.

The current edition of the MUTCD in Section 2B.12 states for the Rl-6 series signs that: "If used, the In-Street Pedestrian Crossing sign shall have a black legend (except for the red STOP or YIELD sign symbols) and border on either a white and/or fluorescent yellow-green background." This not only dictates the use of the fluorescent yellow-green or white for this sign, but it precludes the use of the color yellow. Traditionally the color yellow has
been the color for pedestrian signing, with the optional use of fluorescent yellow-green. We believe the use of yellow as a background color of the Rl-6 series signs is in conformance with the intent of the Manual.

Symbol

The text of Section 2B.12 does not dictate the type of symbol to be used on the Rl-6 series. However, the drawing in Figure 2B-2 shows the use of the pedestrian symbol. We believe that the use of the school pedestrian symbol on the Rl-6 sign is in conformance with the intent of the Manual. It would be a more consistent message for a motorist approaching a school crosswalk with the School Crosswalk assembly signs to see a Rl-6 sign with a school pedestrian symbol, than to change the message at the point of conflict and show a pedestrian symbol. We would use the Rl-6 sign with the school
pedestrian symbol at a school crosswalk, and only at times when school children are present.

We request your interpretations on the use of (1) a yellow background and (2) the school pedestrian symbol on the Rl-6 sign series.

Thank you for your consideration of our requests. We are available to answer any questions you may have. We look forward to your consideration and response.

Sincerely,

John L. Leonard, P.E.
Operations Engineer,
Division of Traffic and Safety