pooled fund Projects
In progress
Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Canada Update Scoping Study
| Research Area | Traffic control |
| Responsible Council / Committee | Chief Engineers' Council Traffic Operations and Management Standing Committee |
| Related TAC publications | Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Canada (1998) |
| Expected Start Date | |
| Expected Completion Date | |
| Research Agency | |
| Status | |
| Project Funding Partners to Date | Halifax Regional Municipality; City of Edmonton; Alberta Transportation; New Brunswick Department of Transportation; Saskatchewan Highways and Infrastructure; Ministère des transports du Québec; Newfoundland and Labrador Transportation and Works; British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure; City of Ottawa; City of Winnipeg; Ontario Ministry of Transportation; City of Montréal; Prince Edward Island Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal; Nova Scotia Department of Transportation and Public Works; Northwest Territories Department of Transportation; City of Toronto |
| Staff Contact | Sandra Majkic |
Abstract
The current edition of the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Canada (MUTCDC) was issued in 1998, with periodic minor updates made in the intervening years. Since its publication, there have been significant changes in the body of knowledge and traffic control device standards. As well, the US Federal Highway Administration released a new edition of the US MUTCD in 2009 which introduced several major changes. It is recommended that TAC review its MUTCDC, consider the elements it should encompass, identify revisions and additions that are required, and assess the need to issue a new, updated edition of the manual. To that end, a scoping study is proposed to determine the extent of work that is required and identify and prioritize topics that should be added or enhanced in the Manual.
Work in the scoping study would include, but not be limited to:
- A review of the MUTCDC in the context of similar manuals published by other agencies to determine if it requires significant rewriting or needs only to be refreshed to incorporate state-of-the-art research findings.
- A review of existing related TAC publications and other material approved by the TAC Chief Engineers’ Council to determine how best to incorporate new technical material into the MUTCDC.
- A review of research and development in traffic control over the last decade to determine areas where the MUTCDC does not reflect current standards and practices.
- Consideration of the integration of traffic operations and road safety in the MUTCDC
- Consideration of the inclusion of additional topics (e.g. accessible pedestrian signals, sign sheeting, pavement marking materials, ITS technologies, roundabout operations as related to traffic control devices, accommodating aging drivers).
- A survey to determine client satisfaction with the existing MUTCDC and to identify areas for improvement, including publication medium.
- Consideration of users’ needs with respect to the MUTCDC as a tool for consistency, training and learning and the extent to which the manual meets those needs.
The major deliverable of the scoping study will be a report documenting the work, with recommendations regarding:
- A vision for what the MUTCDC should encompass, aspects of effective traffic control that should be incorporated and a strategy to achieve this vision.
- Recommendations regarding the extent of work that is required to rewrite or refresh the MUTCDC.
- Recommendations regarding additional research that may be required to update the 1998 Edition.
- Recommendations regarding the future format and medium for the MUTCDC.