Alabama Department of Transportation - Traffic Operations - Comments

Document ID: FHWA-2007-28977-1950
Document Type: Public Submission
Agency: Federal Highway Administration
Received Date: January 15 2010, at 12:00 AM Eastern Standard Time
Date Posted: January 20 2010, at 12:00 AM Eastern Standard Time
Comment Start Date: December 16 2009, at 12:00 AM Eastern Standard Time
Comment Due Date: December 16 2009, at 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time
Tracking Number: 80a7e5b7
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This is comment on Rule

National Standards for Traffic Control Devices; the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways; Revision

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TO: Docket No. FHWA-2007-28977 FROM: Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) SUBJECT: Petition for Reconsideration of Final Rule DATE: January 15, 2010 This is a petition for reconsideration of the Final Rule published by the Federal Highway Administration at 74 FR 240, page 66730 (December 16, 2009). Petitioners, ALDOT requests reconsideration by FHWA regarding the following items: Item 203, 74 FR 240, page 66776 and related provisions in Item 200, 74 FR 240, page 66775 because the agency did not provide an opportunity for public comments on the merits of its decision to adopt the series of signs in Figures 2E-11 and 2E-12 and the related regulatory signing. Of particular concern: Figures 2E-11 and 2E-12 show series of signs that have not been evaluated through research to determine their effectiveness in communicating to the motorist. ALDOT supports the signs recommended in the NCUTCD docket comments submitted in July 2008 because of the superior information and guidance for motorists; the signs (Figures 2E-I and 2E-J, NCUTCD submitted) have been evaluated through research while the signs adopted by FHWA (Figures 2E-11 and 2E-12) in the Final Rule have not been evaluated through research. Additionally, the supplementary regulatory signs for lane use added to drawings in Part 2E represents a strict departure from the principles, concepts, and designs for expressway and freeway signing. Adding regulatory signs to supplement standard guide signs could result in a proliferation of unnecessary regulatory sign on these facilities, introduce higher probability of driver information overload, and violate driver expectancies of information location. ALDOT petitions the Federal Highway Administration for reconsideration of the language in Section 2E.23 and Figures 2E-11 and 2E-12 from the Final Rule and replacement of the text and figures as referenced above. ALDOT also petitions the Fhwa to remove the added regulatory signs from any Figures in Part 2E.