Posts
RRFBs: Thriving Through Regulatory Challenges to MUTCD Inclusion
RRFB has faced numerous challenges but has emerged stronger than ever This article explores the journey of rectangular rapid flashing beacon, or RRFB, highlighting their origins, the impact of interim approvals, and their current status as officially recognized enhancements in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), 11th Edition. Origins R.D. Jones of […]
What the MUTCD says about RRFBs
MUTCD 11th Edition Update: Looking forward If you have so much as a passing interest in traffic safety, you’ve no doubt come across the MUTCD, the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, often described as the bible of American road design. Issued by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), it essentially dictates what’s acceptable—and what isn’t—when […]
RRFB Crosswalk Application Guide
This guide illustrates the current industry recommendations for selecting and installing an RRFB crosswalk using information from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). RRFBs are included in the 11th Edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). This guide will help explain: Best practices for RRFBs: what road conditions facilitate selecting an RRFB FHWA / […]
Funding rural road safety projects
Rural areas routinely get short shrift when it comes to transportation funding in the U.S. Between 2009 and 2015, they received about 37% of federal highway funds—even though 71% of public roads are in rural areas. While the justification for this makes sense (fewer people live in rural areas, and rural roads see less traffic), […]
Rural Road Safety: Problems and Solutions
Picture yourself driving on a rural road. Maybe you’re winding your way through rolling fields of corn or cattle. Maybe you’re high in the mountains, maneuvering curves like a pro. Maybe you’re cruising through the desert in a pink plastic convertible, singing along to Indigo Girls. Wherever you are, chances are you feel relaxed—at least […]
Carmanah launches new chevron signs with remote connectivity for rural roads
Almost half of all fatal vehicle crashes in the U.S. each year occur on rural roads, despite just 19% of the population living in rural areas. Half of them are roadway departure crashes, incidents in which a vehicle “crosses the edge or centerline, or otherwise leaves the travelled way.” (source) Carmanah’s new chevron signs with […]
Understanding accessibility guidelines and standards for pedestrian safety infrastructure
>>>Want to learn about recent changes to accessibility standards in the US? Our partners at Polara have you covered on all things PROWAG ADAAG. PROWAG. MUTCD. It might seem like we’re bashing on our keyboards, but in fact these seemingly random characters represent some of the most important sources when it comes to accessible transportation […]
Building walkability in a rural community: RRFBs in Esko, Minnesota
Background Esko, MN is a small place. Not a town, not a village, but a “census designated place” that falls within the legal boundaries of Thomson Township, which is itself small: less than 40 square miles and home to about 5,000 people. But what it lacks in size, Esko makes up for in spirit, exemplified […]
New crosswalk technology helps Kansas community boost safety and efficiency
The City of Parsons, KS is investing in its future with innovative smart city technology for critical safety assets. On Monday, Public Works, with the assistance of Wichita-based traffic equipment supplier Gades Sales, installed a new solar-powered crosswalk system at the corner of Main St and N 10th, a well-used pedestrian route linking the north and south […]