Elements of Effective Sign Maintenance

1. Elements of Effective Sign Maintenance Rick Butner Pierce County Public Works & Utilities

2. Pierce County Sign Inventory (~1,500 centerline miles of roads) • 25,825 traffic signs • 2,938 STOP & YIELD signs • 6,745 warning (W-series) signs • 3,160 Speed Limit signs • 8,512 street name signs (33%)

3. Pierce County sign & markings staff • 1 - Traffic Operations Supervisor • 2 – Office Support Staff • 1 - Sign & Markings Supervisor • 1 - Seasonal Lead Sign Technician • 12 - Traffic Sign Technicians • 8 - Seasonal Temporary Employees

4. Sign Inventoryhow important is it? • A sign inventory is an important element of your sign inspection program. • A sign inventory can be anything from a card file to an inventory software program.

5. Pierce County Sign Inventory • Home Grown Software Program – “Rubble” • System Divided into Area’s and Sub Areas • Sign Work is Documented by Function Code • Ability To Track Work and Signs • Track work completed by function • Track signs by age and location • Document time for reports

6. Serial Numberstracking sign age 99100237

7. Serial Number Tagging

8. Street Name Signsembedded serial numbers

9. SignInspectionRouteListed by Route and Position Number

10. Sign Inspection route map N

11. Pierce Countyregular sign inspection • Quarterly Full Sign Inspection • Includes stop and yield inspection • Monthly Stop and Yield Inspection • 8 additional monthly inspections • Our data shows that regular sign inspection reduces sign call outs

12. Inspection Intervalsyour geographical area ? • Vandalism • Gun Shot • Graffiti • Stolen • Natural Causes • Vegetation • Dirty • Environment

13. Sign Inventoryaccurate dispatch

14. Sign Maintenance Vehicles

15. Office of a Sign Technician

16. The Right Tools For the Job

17. The Right Hardwaresecurely organized & in place

18. Sign Storage

19. Careful Storage of Signs

20. Standard Sign Inventory

21. Keeping Sign Posts in Place

22. After Hours ResponseStop& Yield

24. After Hours Responseproper equipment

25. Emergency Preparedness

26. Vegetation Control

27. Vegetation Controlthe right tools for the job Loppers & Shears Pole Pruner

28. Load Management Load Storage Load Cover

29. Vandalismresponse & repair

30. Cleaning Signsthe right tools for the job

31. Sign Retroreflectivity MUTCD requirements • Final Rule – published Dec 21, 2007 • Effective January 22, 2008 • 4 years to establish/implement assessment management method • 7 years to replace ground-mount signs • 10 years to replace overhead signs

32. Sign Retroreflectivity – MUTCD“shall” statement (standard): “Public agencies or officials having jurisdiction shall use an assessment or management method that is designed to maintain traffic sign retroreflectivity at or above the minimum levels in Table 2A-3.”

33. Sign Retroreflectivity – MUTCDguidance: “One or more of the following assessment or management methods should be used to maintain traffic sign retroreflectivity.”

34. Assessment/Management Methodsa required element • Visual Nighttime Inspection • Measured Retroreflectivity • Expected Life • Blanket Replacement • Control Signs • Other Supported Methods

35. Which Method to Use?Control signs /Measured retroreflectivity, Works for Us

36. Retroreflectivitydata and calculations

37. Retroreflectivity Programtracking the results Type III Stop Sign – installed 1995

38. Asset Managementgetting the most of your dollars Cost to Replace = $ 165,000.

40. Uniformity & Consistency • Standards • Inventory • Maintenance Trucks • Inspection • After Hours Response