and then when the kid eats too many cookies and gets sick, pointing to the mutcd and saying "but we followed all the standards"
December 19, 2025 at 7:13 PM
and then when the kid eats too many cookies and gets sick, pointing to the mutcd and saying "but we followed all the standards"
Great thread and blog by @nacto.bsky.social about state adoption of the MUTCD!
"For a document that emphasizes uniformity and rigidity, there is inconsistency and a lack of transparency in the states’ updates to the MUTCD"
Congress now requires more frequent updates, so these features matter more
"For a document that emphasizes uniformity and rigidity, there is inconsistency and a lack of transparency in the states’ updates to the MUTCD"
Congress now requires more frequent updates, so these features matter more
Happy (?) birthday to the 11th edition of the MUTCD!
It’s been two years since the FHWA published the 11th Edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, which sets detailed standards for U.S. road markings, speed limits, stop signs, and traffic signals.
nacto.org/latest/the-1...
It’s been two years since the FHWA published the 11th Edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, which sets detailed standards for U.S. road markings, speed limits, stop signs, and traffic signals.
nacto.org/latest/the-1...
The 11th edition of the MUTCD, two years later - NACTO
It’s been two years since the Federal Highway Administration published the 11th Edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), which was the first update to the manual in almost 15 ...
nacto.org
December 19, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Great thread and blog by @nacto.bsky.social about state adoption of the MUTCD!
"For a document that emphasizes uniformity and rigidity, there is inconsistency and a lack of transparency in the states’ updates to the MUTCD"
Congress now requires more frequent updates, so these features matter more
"For a document that emphasizes uniformity and rigidity, there is inconsistency and a lack of transparency in the states’ updates to the MUTCD"
Congress now requires more frequent updates, so these features matter more
The release of the 11th edition of the MUTCD triggered a 2-year clock for state DOTs to incorporate it into their state standards.
In the 31 U.S. states where NACTO has members:
10 adopted the 11th edition directly
13 adopted the 11th edition and a state supplement
8 adopted a separate state MUTCD
In the 31 U.S. states where NACTO has members:
10 adopted the 11th edition directly
13 adopted the 11th edition and a state supplement
8 adopted a separate state MUTCD
December 19, 2025 at 2:47 PM
The release of the 11th edition of the MUTCD triggered a 2-year clock for state DOTs to incorporate it into their state standards.
In the 31 U.S. states where NACTO has members:
10 adopted the 11th edition directly
13 adopted the 11th edition and a state supplement
8 adopted a separate state MUTCD
In the 31 U.S. states where NACTO has members:
10 adopted the 11th edition directly
13 adopted the 11th edition and a state supplement
8 adopted a separate state MUTCD
The new MUTCD still falls short in areas that play an outsized role in the unsafe design of our streets and continues to prioritize motor vehicle movement over the enormous range of other urban street users. nacto.org/latest/thous...
Thousand-page document governing nearly every street in the U.S. gets a refresh - NACTO
A single federal document dictates what nearly every American street looks like–and federal regulators recently updated it for the first time since 2009. The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices...
nacto.org
December 19, 2025 at 2:47 PM
The new MUTCD still falls short in areas that play an outsized role in the unsafe design of our streets and continues to prioritize motor vehicle movement over the enormous range of other urban street users. nacto.org/latest/thous...
Since the MUTCD was adopted, NACTO has worked to understand the changes in the 11th edition, communicated the most important information to our members, tracked state adoption of the document, and developed recommendations to improve future guidance.
December 19, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Since the MUTCD was adopted, NACTO has worked to understand the changes in the 11th edition, communicated the most important information to our members, tracked state adoption of the document, and developed recommendations to improve future guidance.
Happy (?) birthday to the 11th edition of the MUTCD!
It’s been two years since the FHWA published the 11th Edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, which sets detailed standards for U.S. road markings, speed limits, stop signs, and traffic signals.
nacto.org/latest/the-1...
It’s been two years since the FHWA published the 11th Edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, which sets detailed standards for U.S. road markings, speed limits, stop signs, and traffic signals.
nacto.org/latest/the-1...
The 11th edition of the MUTCD, two years later - NACTO
It’s been two years since the Federal Highway Administration published the 11th Edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), which was the first update to the manual in almost 15 ...
nacto.org
December 19, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Happy (?) birthday to the 11th edition of the MUTCD!
It’s been two years since the FHWA published the 11th Edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, which sets detailed standards for U.S. road markings, speed limits, stop signs, and traffic signals.
nacto.org/latest/the-1...
It’s been two years since the FHWA published the 11th Edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, which sets detailed standards for U.S. road markings, speed limits, stop signs, and traffic signals.
nacto.org/latest/the-1...
As for the sign itself, it’s definitely not MUTCD-compliant. Perhaps @ncrabbithole.com has thoughts as I believe he has covered the controversy before.
December 17, 2025 at 10:59 PM
As for the sign itself, it’s definitely not MUTCD-compliant. Perhaps @ncrabbithole.com has thoughts as I believe he has covered the controversy before.
Fixing this is mostly a solved problem. The orthodox manual (the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices, MUTCD) has an alternative that some places already use, developed by NACTO. nacto.org
Homepage - NACTO
Connecting cities and transit agencies toward safe, sustainable, and accessible transportation.
nacto.org
December 15, 2025 at 4:21 AM
Fixing this is mostly a solved problem. The orthodox manual (the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices, MUTCD) has an alternative that some places already use, developed by NACTO. nacto.org
hey people with knowledge of MUTCD etc,
a solid white line across the lanes, usually a bit thicker than the lane lines are, is ALWAYS a "stop bar" and means the same thing as a stop sign even in absence of the stop sign, except at a signaled intersection,
correct? do i have that right?
a solid white line across the lanes, usually a bit thicker than the lane lines are, is ALWAYS a "stop bar" and means the same thing as a stop sign even in absence of the stop sign, except at a signaled intersection,
correct? do i have that right?
December 14, 2025 at 10:09 PM
hey people with knowledge of MUTCD etc,
a solid white line across the lanes, usually a bit thicker than the lane lines are, is ALWAYS a "stop bar" and means the same thing as a stop sign even in absence of the stop sign, except at a signaled intersection,
correct? do i have that right?
a solid white line across the lanes, usually a bit thicker than the lane lines are, is ALWAYS a "stop bar" and means the same thing as a stop sign even in absence of the stop sign, except at a signaled intersection,
correct? do i have that right?
If these are based on the MUTCD signals these phases don't exist in the standard. The only thing they have close to these is a flashing triangle (can be substituted with a flashing vertical bar) to indicate prepare to stop.
December 13, 2025 at 11:51 PM
If these are based on the MUTCD signals these phases don't exist in the standard. The only thing they have close to these is a flashing triangle (can be substituted with a flashing vertical bar) to indicate prepare to stop.
What are your thoughts on the feasibility of all crosswalks in the project being raised? Previous meetings they said MUTCD forbade raised crosswalks at this volume, but now we have them for Otis. I am going to submit a comment that if we can have it at Otis we should have it at every intersection.
December 11, 2025 at 4:01 AM
What are your thoughts on the feasibility of all crosswalks in the project being raised? Previous meetings they said MUTCD forbade raised crosswalks at this volume, but now we have them for Otis. I am going to submit a comment that if we can have it at Otis we should have it at every intersection.
I understand it looks great at whatever MUTCD keynote conferences highway designers are attending, but if anybody at @massdot.bsky.social would like to walk to Assembly with me via the Kensington underpass I think they’d understand very quickly.
December 11, 2025 at 3:53 AM
I understand it looks great at whatever MUTCD keynote conferences highway designers are attending, but if anybody at @massdot.bsky.social would like to walk to Assembly with me via the Kensington underpass I think they’d understand very quickly.
✨📊 The Style Guide for America's Highways: The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
Driving across America, you will encounter a wide variety of cultures, landscapes, people and animals…
https://beautifulpublicdata.com/the-style-guide-for-americas-highways-mutcd
Driving across America, you will encounter a wide variety of cultures, landscapes, people and animals…
https://beautifulpublicdata.com/the-style-guide-for-americas-highways-mutcd
The Style Guide for America’s Highways: The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
Driving across America, you will encounter a wide variety of cultures, landscapes, people and animals. But the one consistent thing that will stay the same from Maine to California are the signs you pass on the highway. That is because America’s roads and highways have a big, fat style guide.
beautifulpublicdata.com
December 10, 2025 at 4:09 PM
✨📊 The Style Guide for America's Highways: The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
Driving across America, you will encounter a wide variety of cultures, landscapes, people and animals…
https://beautifulpublicdata.com/the-style-guide-for-americas-highways-mutcd
Driving across America, you will encounter a wide variety of cultures, landscapes, people and animals…
https://beautifulpublicdata.com/the-style-guide-for-americas-highways-mutcd
I guess the other thing would be to make the MUTCD advisory, but that could have some unintended consequences.
December 10, 2025 at 3:56 PM
I guess the other thing would be to make the MUTCD advisory, but that could have some unintended consequences.
They’re not in law, just MUTCD. Last cycle made them looser, but there was real momentum to making them purely advisory next cycle, but now it’s 2025 so… yeah
December 10, 2025 at 3:54 PM
They’re not in law, just MUTCD. Last cycle made them looser, but there was real momentum to making them purely advisory next cycle, but now it’s 2025 so… yeah
@mikeconnollyma.bsky.social @jake4somerville.bsky.social can the MA amendments to the 2009 MUTCD be further amended to allow for traffic lights and other improved safety measures. Also why are they citing the 2009 MUTCD, shouldn’t they be using the updated 2023 one?
December 10, 2025 at 12:59 PM
@mikeconnollyma.bsky.social @jake4somerville.bsky.social can the MA amendments to the 2009 MUTCD be further amended to allow for traffic lights and other improved safety measures. Also why are they citing the 2009 MUTCD, shouldn’t they be using the updated 2023 one?
We don’t do MUTCD (we really should with just less verbose signage or better yet Vienna Convention).
December 8, 2025 at 2:02 PM
We don’t do MUTCD (we really should with just less verbose signage or better yet Vienna Convention).
Ontario is reaching levels of MUTCD complication that shouldn't be possible
December 8, 2025 at 6:05 AM
Ontario is reaching levels of MUTCD complication that shouldn't be possible
How? This is an example of what happens when local designers think they know better than the MUTCD!
December 8, 2025 at 3:28 AM
How? This is an example of what happens when local designers think they know better than the MUTCD!
MUTCD is a model you could use. The FHWA MUTCD itself is just a model, but states are required within two years of federal adoption to adopt it, adopt it with a stage supplement, or adopt a document in substantial conformance with the federal one.
December 8, 2025 at 3:01 AM
MUTCD is a model you could use. The FHWA MUTCD itself is just a model, but states are required within two years of federal adoption to adopt it, adopt it with a stage supplement, or adopt a document in substantial conformance with the federal one.
Not only do we have a national MUTCD, it's literally called the MUTCD for Canada (MUTCDC). However, unlike in the US, it's not a standard, it's just a guideline. Provincial guidelines such as the Ontario Traffic Manual supersede the MUTCDC.
www.tac-atc.ca/en/knowledge...
www.tac-atc.ca/en/knowledge...
Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Canada, Sixth Edition (2021) | Transportation Association of Canada (TAC)
The Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Canada (MUTCDC), Sixth Edition, is an essential tool for professionals involved in traffic management and control. It guides the use of road signs, tr...
www.tac-atc.ca
December 7, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Not only do we have a national MUTCD, it's literally called the MUTCD for Canada (MUTCDC). However, unlike in the US, it's not a standard, it's just a guideline. Provincial guidelines such as the Ontario Traffic Manual supersede the MUTCDC.
www.tac-atc.ca/en/knowledge...
www.tac-atc.ca/en/knowledge...
We do! (Also called MUTCD)
December 7, 2025 at 5:44 PM
We do! (Also called MUTCD)
Toronto making their new light rail signals look identical to traffic signals is deranged, and it's not even universally a Canadian thing. Check out these very MUTCD-lookin' signals in Edmonton (left) compared to the standard variety on SEPTA (right).
December 7, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Toronto making their new light rail signals look identical to traffic signals is deranged, and it's not even universally a Canadian thing. Check out these very MUTCD-lookin' signals in Edmonton (left) compared to the standard variety on SEPTA (right).
the US (as a whole) has a lot more experience with transitways than ontario. that experience has been codified in the MUTCD and other standards.
i guess canada, by delegating most transpo to the provinces, does not have a national MUTCD-type standard.
i guess canada, by delegating most transpo to the provinces, does not have a national MUTCD-type standard.
December 7, 2025 at 4:36 PM
the US (as a whole) has a lot more experience with transitways than ontario. that experience has been codified in the MUTCD and other standards.
i guess canada, by delegating most transpo to the provinces, does not have a national MUTCD-type standard.
i guess canada, by delegating most transpo to the provinces, does not have a national MUTCD-type standard.
MUTCD (covers signs, signals, pavement markings) can be adapted a bit by states and doesn’t require but allows concrete protected bike lanes and intersections. Prev Chicago experimented with green pavement and bike signals, those are now allowed without asking permission.
December 6, 2025 at 2:59 PM
MUTCD (covers signs, signals, pavement markings) can be adapted a bit by states and doesn’t require but allows concrete protected bike lanes and intersections. Prev Chicago experimented with green pavement and bike signals, those are now allowed without asking permission.