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<http://ctr.utk.edu/ttap> Description: Description: cid:702550718@10022010-0567 News Update _____ On August 31, the Federal Highway Administration published a Notice of Proposed Amendments in the Federal Register. These changes would eliminate 46 existing compliance dates, delay four more dates, and leave eight safety-critical dates in place. These proposed changes will impact deadlines for a number of recent changes to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), including minimum standards for traffic sign retroreflectivity. FHWA is soliciting comments regarding this NPA through October 31, 2011. No changes have been proposed to the specific sections cited in Table I-2, meaning that all applicable standards and recommendations are still in place. Elimination of a compliance date means that an existing traffic control device can remain in use until the end of its regular service life rather than facing a deadline for replacement. All new or replaced devices must meet the standards set by the current edition of the MUTCD. To see complete details of the proposed changes to the MUTCD, click here <http://1.usa.gov/rn6tlh> . To see the original USDOT press release, click here <http://1.usa.gov/pY02Uo> . Key compliance dates proposed for elimination from Table I-2: . Section 2A.08: Minimum retroreflectivity levels for regulatory, warning, and guide signs (January 22, 2015, and January 22, 2018) . Multiple sections: Increased sizes for regulatory, warning, and guide signs . Section 4E.07: Use of countdown pedestrian signals . Sections 3B.04, 3B.05: Use of dotted lane markings for dropped and auxiliary lanes Key compliance dates proposed for revision in Table I-2: . Section 2A.08: Use of a management or assessment method designed to maintain regulatory and warning sign retroreflectivity at or above minimum levels (2 years from effective date of this revision to the MUTCD) . Section 4D.26: Yellow change and red clearance intervals (5 years from effective date of this revision to the MUTCD or when timing adjustments are made to intersection/corridor) . Section 4E.06: Pedestrian intervals and signal phases (5 years from effective date of this revision to the MUTCD or when timing adjustments are made to intersection/corridor) . Sections 8B.03, 8B.04: Retroreflective strips on railroad crossbuck signs and supports (December 31, 2019) Compliance dates unaffected by proposed changes: . Section 2A.19: Crashworthiness of sign supports on roads with posted speed limit of 50 mph or higher (January 17, 2013) . Section 2B.40: Number and location of One Way signs (December 31, 2019) . Sections 2C.06 - 2C.14: Revised requirements for use of horizontal alignment warning signs (December 31, 2019) . Sections 2E.31, 2E.33, 2E.36: Plaques for left-hand exits (December 31, 2014) . Section 6D.03: Requirements for all workers on ROW to wear high-visibility apparel (December 31, 2011) . Section 6E.02: Requirements for all flaggers to wear high-visibility apparel (December 31, 2011) . Section 7D.04: Requirements for all adult crossing guards to wear high-visibility apparel (December 31, 2011) . Section 8B.04: Use of Stop or Yield signs at passive grade crossings (December 31, 2019) Please keep in mind that these are proposed changes and some details may change before a final rule is published.