[34 Pa.B. 4712]
[Continued from previous Web Page] § 212.117. Weight, size and load restrictions.
(a) Weight restriction based on condition of bridge. Traffic on a bridge may be prohibited or restricted by weight of vehicle, number of vehicles, or kinds or classes of vehicles when warranted by an engineering evaluation. Engineering evaluation of a bridge or bridge component may be based on structural analysis and rating computations, testing, engineering judgment or a combination thereof. Restriction is warranted when one or more of the following conditions are present:
(1) The safe load capacity of the bridge, as determined in accordance with Department standards, is exceeded by the load effect of any of the legal load configurations.
(2) Engineering judgment indicates that the condition or material of construction of one or more portions or components of a bridge is such that further use by heavy vehicles may damage the bridge because of severe impact, fatigue or other reasons.
(3) The bridge is damaged due to fire, a vehicle crash or environmental deterioration, and engineering judgment indicates that a vehicle weight restriction is necessary to ensure an adequate level of safety.
(b) Weight restriction based on condition of highway. Traffic on a highway may be prohibited or restricted by weight of vehicle, or kinds or classes of vehicles when warranted by an engineering evaluation. Engineering evaluation may be based on structural analysis, testing, engineering judgment or a combination thereof. Restriction is warranted when one or more of the following conditions are present:
(1) The highway pavement or shoulders have inadequate structural capacity or have been weakened due to deterioration, high traffic volumes or climatic condition, and may be seriously damaged unless a restriction is imposed.
(2) An engineering evaluation of previous similar climatic conditions on the highway or on similar highways indicates that vehicles over a certain weight should have been prohibited.
(c) Size restriction based on condition of bridge or highway. Traffic on a bridge or highway may be restricted by size of vehicle or kinds or classes of vehicles when, after an engineering evaluation, one or more of the following conditions are found to be present:
(1) A bridge has poor alignment, inferior bridge rails or guide rails, substandard horizontal or vertical clearance, or creates problems for vehicles with low ground clearance, or the restriction is otherwise necessary to protect the bridge from vehicle crashes or damage.
(2) A highway has inadequate turning radii, horizontal width or creates concerns for vehicles with low ground clearance at one or more locations.
(d) Weight and size restrictions based on traffic conditions. Traffic on a highway or bridge may be prohibited or restricted by weight or size of vehicle, or kinds or classes of vehicles when, an engineering evaluation of the horizontal and vertical alignment, prevailing traffic speeds, compatibility of the various types of traffic, history of vehicle crashes or vehicular characteristics, indicates that the movement of certain vehicles constitutes a safety hazard. Restrictions may include weight; height, width or length of vehicles or their loads; types of cargo; speed or gearing; stopping requirements; specified travel lanes; and hours of operation.
(e) Erection of signs. Appropriate signs must be erected within 25 feet of each end of a restricted portion of a highway or bridge whenever vehicles are prohibited under subsection (a), (b), (c) or (d). In the case of a restriction on a highway or bridge which does not begin or end at an intersection with an unrestricted highway, an advance information sign must also be erected at the intersection nearest each end of the restricted highway or bridge to allow drivers to avoid the restricted highway or bridge.
(f) Alternate routes. An alternate route must be established whenever vehicles are prohibited under subsection (a) or (b) on either a numbered traffic route or a State-designated highway on the National Highway System, as established by the Federal Highway Administration, when the following apply:
(1) A reasonable alternate route exists which is not readily perceived by drivers.
(2) The alternate route can legally, safely, structurally and physically accommodate the weight and size of vehicles and their loads that are being detoured.
(3) Five or more vehicles per day are estimated to be prohibited from using the original route.
§ 212.118. Street name signs.
For street name signs, white lettering on a green background is recommended, but local authorities may use other contrasting colors provided the same colors are used systematically throughout the municipality. To improve sign legibility, upper and lower case lettering is recommended.
§ 212.119. Signing of named highways.
Signs carrying the name of the highway will be permitted at intervals of at least every 15 miles on conventional highways.
§ 212.120. General motorist service signs.
The application of general motorist service signs must be in accordance with the Department's Statewide policy, and will generally be limited to expressways and freeways, except trailblazers from expressways and freeways will be permitted on conventional highways, and hospital symbol signs are permitted on all highways. Symbols must be as specified in the Signing and Marking Standards, TC-8700 Series (Department Publication 111M).
§ 212.121. Specific service signs.
(a) The Department may enter into an agreement with a private agency to administer a program for specific service signs for gas, food, lodging, camping and attractions. Specific service signs must only be installed in accordance with Department policy and only on expressways and freeways, except trailblazers will be authorized on conventional highways as necessary. If a trailblazer is required on a local roadway to direct motorists to a specific business, and the local authority refuses to install or allow others to install the trailblazer on their local highway, specific service signs may not be provided for that business on the expressway, freeway or conventional highway.
(b) Airports may be signed on either major guide signs or on specific service signs at freeway-to-freeway interchanges.
§ 212.122. Recreational and cultural interest area signs.
Recreational and Cultural Interest Area Signs, as described in Chapter 2H of the MUTCD, that is, relating to the RG, RM, RA, RL, RW and RS Series signs, will be authorized for use within any State park, State forest picnic area, Federal recreation area, National forest or public park.
§ 212.123. Tourist-oriented directional signs.
Tourist-Oriented Directional Signs (D7-4) must be of the size and type specified in the Department's Handbook of Official Signs (PennDOT Publication 236M) or as specified in an agreement with the Department, instead of the design included in Chapter 2G of the MUTCD relating to tourist-oriented directional signs). The Department may enter into an agreement with an outside entity to administer a program for tourist-oriented directional signs.
Subchapter C. MARKINGS Sec.
212.201. Pavement marking standards. 212.202 No-passing zones. 212.203. Delineation. § 212.201. Pavement marking standards.
The Signing and Marking Standards, TC-8700 Series (Department Publication 111M) contains additional design details for pavement markings. Pavement markings for lane drops, expressways, freeways, on-ramps and off-ramps, and all pavement marking words and symbols must conform to the Signing and Marking Standards.
§ 212.202. No-passing zones.
(a) Additional warrants on two-lane, two-way highways. In addition to the sight distance warrant in Section 3B.02 of the MUTCD (relating to no-passing zone pavement marking and warrants), no-passing zones may be established at the following locations on two-lane, two-way highways with center line pavement markings:
(1) In advance of a divided highway or an obstruction such as a bridge support pillar, a channelizing island or a safety zone, which separates the two lanes of traffic.
(2) On or within, and in advance of any bridge, tunnel or underpass designated as a narrow bridge or underpass in accordance with § 212.1 (relating to definitions).
(3) In advance of a Stop Sign (R1-1), Yield Sign (R1-2) or traffic signal.
(4) On the approach to an intersection where passing may be undesirable due to the high number of crossing or turning movements.
(5) Within a school zone.
(6) In areas where an analysis of vehicle crashes shows an unusually high number of passing-related crashes.
(7) In areas where the roadside development includes many driveways and intersections where passing would create frequent potential conflicts.
(8) At locations where the roadway width is very restrictive, shoulders are nonexistent or in poor condition, the roadway cross-section has an excessive crown, or obstacles are close to the roadway.
(9) In areas where a capacity analysis indicates Level of Service D.
(10) At locations where a passing zone would otherwise be less than 600 feet in length.
(11) At locations where engineering judgment indicates that allowing passing is undesirable because a better passing area exists farther ahead.
(b) Minimum advance distance. No passing zones established according to subsection (a)(1)--(5) must precede the location by the minimum distance noted in the following table:
Speed Limit or 85th
Percentile Speed
(mph)Distance
(feet)35 or less 300 40 350 45 400 50 450 55 500
§ 212.203. Delineation.
The 4-foot mounting height for delineators specified in the MUTCD (relating to delineator placement and spacing) is not applicable for guide rail and barrier-mounted delineators. In addition, post-mounted delineators may be 4 feet above the ground instead of 4 feet above the near edge of pavement as specified in the MUTCD.
Subchapter D. HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SIGNALS Sec.
212.301. Purpose. 212.302. Traffic-control signals. 212.303. Pedestrian-control signals. § 212.301. Purpose.
This subchapter sets forth additional guidance and criteria relating to the design, application and operation of traffic signals within this Commonwealth. The Traffic Standards--Signals TC-8800 Series (Department Publication 148M) and the Traffic Signal Design Handbook (Department Publication 149M) contain additional design details, specifications, checklists and forms.
§ 212.302. Traffic-control signals.
(a) Flashing operation of traffic-control signals. During flashing operation, a minimum of two vehicular signal heads on each approach must be flashed for the through movement. Any other signal heads may be blanked out.
(b) Warrants. In addition to the criteria in the MUTCD, the following applies:
(1) Traffic volumes. The traffic volume for channelized right-turn movements may not be included in any warrant analysis.
(2) Vehicle crashes. The five or more reported crashes within a 12-month period for Warrant 7 in the MUTCD (relating to Warrant 7, crash experience) may include both reportable crashes, and nonreportable crashes that are documented in the police files, that occurred within a 12-month period during the most recent 3 years of available crash data.
(3) ADT volume warrant. An ''ADT volume warrant'' is added as ''Warrant 9'' and may be used in addition to the eight warrants contained Sections 4C.02 through 4C.09 of the MUTCD (relating to Warrants 1 through 8). This warrant must apply at a proposed intersection, an intersection revised by a highway construction project, or at the driveway of a proposed commercial or residential development where vehicle counts cannot be taken. If a traffic signal is installed under this warrant, a traffic count must be taken within 6 months of the opening of a development or within 2 years of the opening of a highway. If the traffic volumes do not satisfy this warrant, or one or more of the other eight warrants, the traffic signal must be removed. This warrant is satisfied when:
(i) The projected ADT volumes on the major street and on the higher volume minor street or driveway approach to the intersection, when estimated using an accepted procedure such as put forth in the Trip Generation Manual published by the Institute of Transportation Engineers, equals or exceeds the values in the following table:
Lanes for Moving Traffic on Each Approach Estimated ADT* Major Street Minor Street Major Street
(both approaches)Minor Street
(one approach)1 1 10,000 3,000 2 or more 1 12,000 3,000 2 or more 2 or more 12,000 4,000 1 2 or more 10,000 4,000 1 1 15,000 1,500 2 or more 1 18,000 1,500 2 or more 2 or more 18,000 2,000 1 2 or more 15,000 2,000 * Based on the volume projected to be present within 6 months of the opening of the development or within 2 years of the opening of the highway.
(ii) If the 85th percentile speed of the major street traffic exceeds 40 miles per hour or the intersection lies within the built-up area of an isolated community having a population of less than 10,000, this warrant may be met with 70% of the volume requirements of subparagraph (i).
§ 212.303. Pedestrian-control signals.
Pedestrian-control signals provide special types of traffic signal indications for the exclusive purpose of controlling pedestrian traffic. These indications consist of the illuminated symbols of a walking person (symbolizing WALK) and an upraised hand (symbolizing DON'T WALK) or the illuminated words WALK and DON'T WALK.
(1) New pedestrian-control signals must use symbolized messages.
(2) Signals using word messages may be retained for their useful service life and new replacement signal indications with word messages may be used for maintenance of existing installations with word messages.
Subchapter E. TEMPORARY TRAFFIC CONTROL Sec.
212.401. General. 212.402. Exempt work. 212.403. Temporary traffic-control plans. 212.404. Sign supports. 212.405. Regulatory speed limits. 212.406. Channelizing devices. 212.407. Markings. 212.408. Impact attenuators. 212.409. Rumble strips. 212.410. Delineators. 212.411. Flaggers. 212.412. Flagger signaling devices. 212.413. Portable traffic-control signals. 212.414. Emergency work. 212.415. Type D arrow panels. 212.416. Shadow vehicles. 212.417. Flashing warning lights. 212.418. Good management principles. 212.419. Special controls in work zones. § 212.401. General.
This subchapter supplements the criteria in the MUTCD, and applies to highway construction, maintenance operations and utility work or incident management, either on a highway or so close to a highway that workers, equipment or materials encroach on the highway. Compliance with this subchapter does not relieve the contractor or others of their general responsibility for the protection of the public and the employees in work zones.
§ 212.402. Exempt work.
(a) General. The following types of work are exempt from the requirements contained in this chapter and in the MUTCD:
(1) Snow plowing and other snow or ice control operations.
(2) Refuse collection, trash collection, leaf pick-up, street cleaning, municipal street sweeping and residential lawn care.
(3) Operations which do not involve construction, maintenance operations or utility work, such as mail, newspaper, home fuel or other local deliveries.
(4) Studies or inspections of highway or utility features which may be completed without blocking any part of a travel lane.
(5) Construction, maintenance operations or utility work in areas outside the highway right-of-way; except when the work is so close to the highway that workers, equipment or materials encroach on the highway.
(6) Construction, maintenance operations or utility work where all workers, equipment or materials are behind a guide rail, more than 2 feet behind a curb or 15 feet or more from the edge of a roadway.
(7) Mowing operations on roads with less than 10,000 vehicles per day and where equipment does not encroach on the roadway.
(8) Traffic data collection.
(b) Safety considerations. While the types of work in subsection (a) are exempt from the specific traffic-control guidelines of this subchapter, they must be accomplished in a manner that will provide an adequate degree of safety for the workers and the public.
§ 212.403. Temporary traffic-control plans.
Plans for construction projects must either reference or include a temporary traffic-control (TTC) plan, which must consist of one of the following:
(1) A reference to a specific figure either in the MUTCD or in the Temporary Traffic-Control Guide (Department Publication 213) that properly depicts actual site conditions.
(2) A copy of a specific figure either in the MUTCD or the Temporary Traffic-Control Guide (Department Publication 213) which has been modified to depict actual site conditions and the necessary traffic-control requirements for the specific project.
(3) One or more detailed plan sheets or drawings showing the actual site conditions and the TTC requirements for the specific project.
§ 212.404. Sign supports.
(a) Post-mounted signs. Post-mounted signs or signs on fixed supports must be installed in accordance with the Signing and Marking Standards, TC-8700 Series (Department Publication 111M).
(1) Post-mounted sign installations must be of a breakaway or yielding design unless they are adequately placed behind guide rail or median barrier.
(2) Signs may not be mounted on existing utility poles or other structures unless the owner grants written permission and the signs can be properly positioned to convey their messages effectively.
(b) Portable sign supports. Portable sign supports must be of a type approved by the Department.
§ 212.405. Regulatory speed limits.
(a) General. Regulatory speed limits in temporary traffic-control zones and in the area in advance of a work zone where traffic queues are anticipated may be established as follows:
(1) A regulatory speed limit up to 10 miles per hour below the normal speed limit may be established without an engineering and traffic study, provided the reduced regulatory speed limit is at least 25 miles per hour. Regulatory speed limits less than 25 miles per hour or more than 10 miles per hour below the normal speed limit require an engineering and traffic study and the prior approval of the Department for State-designated highways and approval of local authorities for local highways. To qualify for an additional speed limit reduction, the engineering and traffic study must indicate that traffic queues, erratic maneuvers, high vehicle crash rates or undesirable working conditions exist on the project or have existed on similar projects.
(2) Regulatory speed limits for temporary traffic control must be signed with either Speed Limit Signs (R2-1), Work Area Speed Limit Signs (R2-2-2) or variable speed limit signs. For speed limits that are 50 miles per hour or less, the signs must be spaced not greater than 1/2 mile apart throughout the limits of the reduced speed limit zone. Conflicting regulatory or warning signs must be removed, covered, folded or turned so that they are not readable by oncoming traffic whenever the reduced regulatory speed limit is in effect.
(3) A Speed Limit Sign (R2-1) showing the speed limit on the section of highway immediately after the work zone must be positioned at the end of the reduced regulatory speed limit, except an R2-1 sign is not necessary if a Work Area Speed Limit Sign (R2-2-2) is used and an End Road Work Sign (G20-2) or End Work Area Sign (G20-3) is in place at the end of the regulatory speed limit.
(b) Variable speed limits. In an effort to avoid unnecessary speed restrictions, variable speed limits are encouraged in lieu of static signs. These speed limits may be remotely controlled, either manually or by a computer using hardware and software to monitor functions such as traffic speeds, volumes, densities and queues.
§ 212.406. Channelizing devices.
(a) Device consistency. Channelizing devices used to form a particular taper or a particular longitudinal line of devices must all be of a single type. For example, cones, drums, barricades and vertical panels may not be intermixed within the same taper or line, but the type of device being used in a taper may differ from the type of device being used in a longitudinal section.
(b) Cones. Cones may only be used as a channelizing device for operations where work is in active progress. Cones that are 18 inches high may only be used to protect new pavement markings.
§ 212.407. Markings.
When lane line and center line pavement markings on more than 250 linear feet of highway are covered or destroyed by construction, maintenance, utility, permit or other work, they must be replaced, before ending work each day, with standard pavement markings, or with temporary pavement markings as included in the MUTCD (relating to temporary pavement markings), unless one of the following conditions is present:
(1) The roadway surface has loose aggregate or a surface texture that will not retain pavement markings including raised pavement markers authorized to be used alone in work zones.
(2) The roadway or portion of a roadway will not be opened to traffic until a later date and pavement marking patterns will be installed on the roadway or portion of a roadway before reopening the roadway.
(3) The work is on a two-lane, two-way highway that has an ADT of 5,000 or less, and Do Not Pass Signs (R4-1) and No Pavement Marking Signs (W21-16) are installed at the beginning of the work zone and alternating at intervals not greater than 1/4 mile within the work zone in both directions.
(4) For approximately 2 weeks during which time both of the following occur:
(i) A strip of white temporary pavement marking tape with minimum dimensions of 4 inches wide and 24 inches long, is placed at 40-foot intervals for all lane lines.
(ii) Two strips of yellow temporary pavement marking tape with minimum dimensions of 4 inches wide and 24 inches long, are placed side by side at 40-foot intervals for all center line markings on two-lane, two-way roadways, and Do Not Pass Signs (R4-1) are installed at the beginning of the work zone and at intervals not greater than 1/2 mile throughout the work zone where the interim markings are used.
§ 212.408. Impact attenuators.
The design and application of temporary impact attenuators must comply with the Roadway Construction Standards (Department Publication 72M) for concrete median barrier and other obstructions.
§ 212.409. Rumble strips.
Temporary bituminous rumble strips may be used to provide an audible warning to alert drivers of a potentially dangerous situation including a median crossover, lane reduction and congested area. Recommended rumble strip designs are available from the Bureau of Highway Safety and Traffic Engineering. When rumble strips are used, it is desirable to extend the rumble strip patterns onto the shoulder whenever possible to discourage drivers from making erratic maneuvers in an attempt to bypass or avoid the rumble patterns.
§ 212.410. Delineators.
The application of delineators must comply with the Signing and Marking Standards TC-8700 Series (Department Publication 111M).
§ 212.411. Flaggers.
(a) Helmet. In addition to the requirements of the MUTCD, flaggers shall wear a protective helmet.
(b) Mechanical flaggers. Mechanical flaggers or mannequins, which look and act somewhat like flaggers, may not be used to alert, slow or stop traffic.
§ 212.412. Flagger signaling devices.
A red flag must only be used to control traffic in emergencies when a Stop/Slow Paddle (R21-10) is not available or at intersections where a single flagger is used within an intersection.
§ 212.413. Portable traffic-control signals.
Portable traffic-control signals may be used to control one-lane, two-way traffic. They may also be used for other special applications such as a highway or street intersection with a temporary haul road or equipment crossing. The design and application of portable traffic-control signals must conform with the applicable requirements of the Department's certificate of approval issued to the manufacturer for portable traffic-control signals, and with any special requirements defined in the TTC Plan. For these applications, it may be desirable to use traffic-actuated or manual control to compensate for unbalanced traffic flows.
§ 212.414. Emergency work.
(a) General. Emergency work may be initiated without prior compliance with the traffic-control provisions specified by this subchapter, provided the foreman or lead worker implements all available safety measures, and the traffic control is brought into compliance with this subchapter as soon as possible. The foreman or lead worker may use flares as attention-getting and warning devices.
(b) Utility work. Emergency repair for utility work may be initiated under this section or repair to a utility facility undertaken under Chapter 459 (relating to occupancy of highways by utilities) to repair damage resulting from a vehicle crash or collision with the facility, a failed component or storm damage. Utility service connections or disconnections unrelated to a vehicle crash, a failed component, or storm damage must otherwise comply with this subchapter.
(c) Expediting emergency work. Emergency work may be completed without installation of work zone traffic-control devices required by this subchapter, if one of the following conditions are met:
(1) Review of the condition indicates that the emergency work can be completed in less time than it would take to install the temporary traffic-control devices, and the work or condition would not create a significant potential hazard.
(2) Temporary traffic control has been set up and it is found that additional traffic-control devices are desirable, but that it would take longer to obtain and install additional traffic-control devices than it would to complete the work.
§ 212.415. Type D Arrow Panels.
Type D Arrow Panels must only be used on vehicles during short-term stationary, short duration or mobile operations.
§ 212.416. Shadow vehicles.
When used with a truck-mounted attenuator (TMA), the shadow vehicle must be loaded to a weight recommended by the manufacturer of the TMA.
§ 212.417. Flashing warning lights.
If used, flashing warning lights may not be used in a series unless the spacing between successive flashing lights is at least 250 feet.
§ 212.418. Good management principles.
Agencies administering highway construction, utility work and maintenance operations shall mandate the application of the following good management principles:
(1) Keep the temporary traffic-control zones as short as practical to avoid long stretches with no work activity.
(2) Minimize lane restrictions.
(3) Remove all traffic-control devices as soon as practical after the construction, maintenance or utility operation is complete.
§ 212.419. Special controls in work zones.
(a) General. Special signing required in 75 Pa.C.S. §§ 3326, 3365, 4309, 6123 and 6123.1 will be in addition to the traffic-control devices required by the MUTCD and must be installed in accordance with this section.
(b) Application. Signing under this section is discretionary in the following work zones:
(1) Short duration work, where the operation will be completed in less than 1 hour.
(2) Mobile operations, where the work moves intermittently or continuously.
(3) Stationary work where the daily duration of the construction, maintenance or utility operation is less than 12 hours and all traffic-control devices are removed from the highway at the completion of the daily operation, including all advance warning signs.
(4) Work along highways where the speed limit is less than 40 miles per hour.
(5) Work in response to emergency work or conditions such as a major storm.
(c) Work Zone--Turn on Headlights Sign (R22-1). The Work Zone--Turn on Headlights Sign (R22-1) must be erected as the first sign on each primary approach to the work zone, generally at a distance of 250 to 1,000 feet prior to the first warning sign. On high-speed roadways including all expressways and freeways, the larger advance distances should be used. If work begins at or near a border to this Commonwealth, the R22-1 signs should be installed within this Commonwealth.
(d) Active Work Zone When Flashing Sign (W21-19). The Active Work Zone When Flashing Sign (W21-19) must be erected as close as practical to the beginning of the active work zone.
(1) The sign should not be erected within a transition or at a location where workers are put at risk when they may need to turn the light on and off.
(2) When a construction, maintenance or utility project has more than one active work zone and the active work zones are separated by a distance of more than 1 mile, signs for each active work zone must be erected.
(3) The W21-19 signs must be installed on temporary sign posts or on Type III barricades, and a white Type B high-intensity flashing light must be attached to the upper portion of each W21-19 sign. The light must be activated only when workers are present, and deactivated when workers are not anticipated during the next 60 minutes.
(e) End Active Work Zone Sign (W21-20). The End Active Work Zone Sign (W21-20) must be erected immediately at the end of each active work zone, except this sign is not necessary if either the End Road Work Sign (G20-2a) or the End Work Area Sign (G20-3) is installed at the end of the active work zone.
(f) Work zones on expressways or freeways. When the work zone is on an expressway or freeway, appropriate signs and lights identified in subsections (c), (d) and (e) at on-ramp approaches to the work zone must be installed.
(g) Portable changeable message sign. A portable changeable message sign (PCMS) may be used in lieu of the R22-1, W21-19 or W21-20 signs.
(h) Speed display sign. In Interstate highway work zones with a project cost exceeding $300,000, a speed display sign must be installed on each mainline approach to the work zone to inform motorists of their speed.
(1) The speed display sign must display the motorist's speed in numerals at least 18 inches in height.
(2) As an alternative, a portable changeable message sign (PCMS) may be equipped with radar and programmed to display vehicles speeds.
(3) PCMSs may also flash appropriate messages such as ''YOU ARE SPEEDING'' or ''SLOW DOWN.'' The signs must be placed 1/2 to 1 mile in advance of the physical work zone.
Subchapter F. TRAFFIC CONTROLS
FOR SCHOOL AREASSec.
212.501. School zone speed limits. § 212.501. School zone speed limits.
(a) Establishment. A 15 miles per hour school zone speed limit may be established in a school zone during the normal hours that students are arriving at or leaving school, under 75 Pa.C.S. § 3365(b) (relating to special speed limitations).
(1) To establish a school zone, local authorities shall be responsible to prepare and submit a drawing showing the locations where students walk along or across roadways that are adjacent to school property, the hours that students are going to or from school and the proposed limits for the school zone to the Department for approval.
(2) The Department is responsible for approving the establishment of all school zones, including the locations and hours of operation, except local authorities shall be responsible for approving school zones at the following locations:
(i) On local highways when the municipality has received municipal traffic engineering certification under Chapter 205 (relating to municipal traffic engineering certification).
(ii) On State-designated highways when the municipality has entered into an agreement with the Department thereby transferring to the local authorities the authority to install traffic-control devices without specific Department approval.
(iii) On highways in cities of the first and second class, except not on expressways.
(b) Posting. A school zone speed limit must be posted on official traffic-control devices as follows:
(1) At the beginning of the school zone speed limit, one of the following signs or groups of signs must be posted either on the right side of the roadway or over the roadway:
(i) A Speed Limit Sign (R2-1) with the appropriate school zone speed limit, with a School Panel (S4-3) mounted above the Speed Limit Sign (R2-1) and a When Flashing Sign (S4-4) mounted below the Speed Limit Sign (R2-1), with two flashing speed limit sign beacons.
(ii) A Speed Limit Sign (R2-1) with the appropriate school zone speed limit, with a School Panel (S4-3) mounted above the Speed Limit Sign (R2-1) and a Restricted Hours Panel (R3-20) mounted below the Speed Limit Sign (R2-1).
(iii) A School Speed Limit When Flashing Sign with a blank-out ''15'' and flashers as illustrated in the Traffic Signal Design Handbook (Department Publication 149M).
(2) An End School Zone Sign (S5-2) must be posted on the right side of the roadway to define the end of the school zone speed limit.
(3) The limits of a school zone may extend beyond the school property lines to improve the sight distance or to encompass a school crosswalk, except that the length of the zone may not be greater than 1,600 feet.
Subchapter G. TRAFFIC CONTROLS FOR
BICYCLE FACILITIESSec.
212.601. Shared road facilities. § 212.601. Shared road facilities.
Where there is a need to warn motorists to watch for bicyclists traveling along the highway, the Share the Road Sign (W15-3) sign may be used instead of the Bicycle Warning Sign (W11-1) and the Share the Road Plaque (W16-1) as provided in the MUTCD.
Subchapter H. SPECIAL EVENTS Sec.
212.701. Processions, assemblages and special activities. § 212.701. Processions, assemblages and special activities.
(a) Criteria. The closure or partial closure of a highway for a procession, assemblage or a special activity, may be permitted on local roadways by local authorities and on State-designated highways by the Department if the following criteria are satisfied:
(1) Conventional highways and expressways.
(i) An alternate route, which is not more than 5 miles longer or five times greater in length than the normal travel distance, is established to detour traffic around any closed routes, except an alternate route is not required if one of the following exists:
(A) The highway to be closed is not a numbered traffic route and is primarily used by local drivers who are familiar with the alternate route.
(B) The highway is only partially or periodically closed and police control can safely maintain traffic on the remainder of the highway.
(C) The highway closing is for less than 20 minutes and excessive traffic backup will not occur during the closing.
(ii) The local authorities provide adequate detour signing or police controls for the rerouting of traffic along the alternate route if required.
(iii) The highway closure or partial closure will not adversely affect adjacent properties.
(iv) A review of previous, similar closures shows no substantial problems or citizen complaints.
(2) Freeways.
(i) The freeway has a minimum of two lanes to move traffic in each direction of flow.
(ii) If a procession, it will orderly and uniformly move along the highway and will be easy to control and regulate by police officers.
(iii) If a procession or assemblage, it will use a maximum of one lane of the highway and police officers can safely maintain traffic on the remainder of the highway.
(iv) Delays for traffic entering or leaving the highway at ramps will not be more than 5 minutes and uniformed police officers will control all delayed traffic.
(v) The Secretary and the Commissioner of the State Police have determined that the procession, assemblage or special activity is in the National, State or regional interest or has National, State or regional significance and can be conducted with greater safety for motorists and procession or special activity participants by using the freeway.
(b) Use of State-designated highways. The Department may issue a permit for a procession, assemblage or special activity on a State-designated highway if the criteria in subsection (a) and the following requirements are satisfied:
(1) On conventional highways and expressways, the district executive may issue a permit for processions, assemblages or special activities. The permit request must be made in writing by the sponsor, and be received by the district executive at least 3 weeks before the proposed event. The request must include the following items as applicable, a copy of which the sponsor must also submit to the Commissioner of the State Police:
(i) A map of the proposed routing showing all State Route (SR) numbers and the names of all highways, including terminal points for the special activity.
(ii) The known or anticipated number and type of vehicles or pedestrians that will be in the event.
(iii) The purpose, the proposed date and rain date and the time and duration.
(iv) A statement that the sponsor will agree to reimburse the Commonwealth for all costs for police escort and traffic-control services.
(v) A copy of the letter sent from the sponsor of the event to each municipality in which the event is to occur, requesting permission to allow the event.
(vi) A copy of a letter from each municipality in which the event is to occur indicating the following:
(A) Approval of the municipality allowing the sponsor to conduct the event.
(B) A statement that the municipality will agree to fully indemnify, save harmless and, if requested, defend the Commonwealth, Commonwealth departments and their officers, agents and employees from and against claims, suits or actions for injury, death or property damage arising from or because of the acts or omissions of the sponsor, its officers, agents or employees.
(vii) A statement that the sponsor will fully indemnify, save harmless and, if requested, defend the Commonwealth, Commonwealth departments, and their officers, agents and employees from and against claims, suits or actions for injury, death or property damage arising from or because of the acts or omissions of the sponsor, its officers, agents or employees. The sponsor shall also name the Department as an additional insured on its liability policies. The liability insurance policies must be occurrence based and the insurance certificate must indicate that the insurance is occurrence based.
(2) On freeways, the Secretary may issue a permit for processions, assemblages or special activities. The permit request must be made in writing by the sponsor, and be received by the Secretary at least 3 weeks before the proposed partial highway closure. The request must include the following items as applicable, a copy of which the sponsor also submits to the Commissioner of the State Police:
(i) A map showing the location of the assemblage or the proposed routing of the procession or special activity.
(ii) The known or anticipated number and type of vehicles or pedestrians that will be in the event.
(iii) The estimated speed of travel of the procession or special activity.
(iv) The purpose, the proposed date and rain date, and the time and duration.
(v) The reasons the special event should use a freeway, including the safety aspects to both motorists and procession participants.
(vi) A statement that the sponsor of the procession will agree to reimburse the Commonwealth for all costs for police escort and traffic-control services.
(vii) A statement that the sponsor of the special event will fully indemnify, save harmless and, if requested, defend the Commonwealth, Commonwealth departments and their officers, agents and employees from and against claims, suits or actions for injury, death or property damage arising from or because of the acts or omissions of the sponsor, its officers, agents or employees. The sponsor shall also name the Department as an additional insured on its liability policies. The liability insurance policies must be occurrence based and the insurance certificate must indicate that the insurance is occurrence based.
(c) Use of local roadways. Requests to close a local roadway for a procession, assemblage or special activity must be made in writing to the local authorities at least 3 weeks before the anticipated road closure. If the procession, assemblage or special activity also requires the closure of State-designated highways, the request must be made in writing to the local authorities at least 2 months before the anticipated road closure.
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 04-1594. Filed for public inspection August 27, 2004, 9:00 a.m.]
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