20-Year Vision and Strategic Plan for the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices

Overview

The objective of this task was to develop a long-range vision (25-30 years from now) of what the MUTCD should be and develop a strategic plan or roadmap for how the MUTCD should be revised to be consistent with the vision. The MUTCD was first published in 1935. In 1970, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) took over ownership of the MUTCD and is still responsible for it. During the 1990s, there was a significant effort to reformat and revise the MUTCD, which culminated in the 2000 edition. The 2000, 2003, and 2009 MUTCD editions represent a significant growth in size and content from earlier editions, and a general expansion in the level of detail associated with principles for the selection, design, installation, operation, maintenance, and removal of traffic control devices. The rulemaking associated with MUTCD changes has also generated significantly greater attention over the last few rulemaking activities. There were over 15,000 individual comments made to the docket for the proposed 2009 MUTCD. Through its history, the MUTCD has tended to be a document that has evolved as a series of independent changes to the Manual. Those changes that originate within or processed through the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (NCUTCD) are typically considered individually and comments to the docket are made with respect to individual changes. There is no overall strategic vision or strategic road map for the MUTCD against which proposed changes are evaluated to determine if they are consistent with the overall goals of the MUTCD. The FHWA has attempted to develop a strategic plan for the MUTCD a couple of times in the last decade. In each case, there was one meeting, with little follow-up activity. In 2009, the NCUTCD established an MUTCD strategic planning task force, which has done some work to develop a vision and strategic plan, but the effort has not progressed very far. All of these efforts at developing an MUTCD strategic plan have achieved limited success because they utilized a volunteer-based work effort. There is a need for strategic planning process that is supported by funding to provide for travel, soliciting input from a broader audience, and dedicated time for developing the necessary content. The following present a proposed concept for a NCHRP Project 20-7 effort focused on developing a long-range vision and strategic plan for the MUTCD.