What is the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)?
The MUTCD contains the standards for traffic control devices that regulate, warn, and guide road users along highways, county roads, and city streets. The MUTCD functions as both a legal and an engineering document. The Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 47.36, Traffic Control Devices, requires the WSDOT to adopt uniform standards for traffic control devices installed along state highways. The law also requires that traffic control devices along county roads fully conform to these adopted standards, and those along city streets conform to the extent possible.
 

MUTCD 2009

WSDOT adopted the MUTCD 2009 on November 17, 2011. The MUTCD 2009 and Washington Modification are effective for use in Washington beginning December 19, 2011.

Individual Parts and Chapters

• FHWA MUTCD 2009  (Entire Document)
• Cover, Table of Contents and Introduction (pdf 1mb)
• Part 1 - General (pdf 736kb)
• Part 2 - Signs:
• Chapter 2A - General (pdf 739kb)
• Chapter 2B - Regulatory Signs, Barricades and Gates (pdf 3mb)
• Chapter 2C - Warning Signs and Object Markers (pdf 2mb)
• Chapter 2D - Guide Signs - Conventional Roads (pdf 2mb)
• Chapter 2E - Guide Signs - Freeways and Expressways (pdf 3mb)
• Chapter 2F - Toll Road Signs (pdf 1mb)
• Chapters 2G-2H - Preferential and Managed Lane Signs and General Information Signs (pdf 3mb)
• Chapters 2I-2N - General Service Signs, Specific Service Signs, Tourist-Oriented Directional Signs, Changeable Message Signs, Recreational and Cultural Interest Area Signs, and Emergency Management Signing (pdf 3mb)
• Part 3 - Markings (pdf 3mb)
• Part 4 - Highway Traffic Signals (pdf 3mb)
• Part 5 - Traffic Control Devices for Low-Volume Roads (pdf 1mb)
• Part 6 - Temporary Traffic Control (pdf 5mb)
• Part 7 - Traffic Controls for School Areas (pdf 941kb)
• Part 8 - Traffic Control for Railroad and Light Rail Transit Grade Crossings (pdf 2mb )
• Part 9 - Traffic Control for Bicycle Facilities (pdf 1mb)
• Appendices A1 and A2 - Congressional Legislation and Metric Conversions (pdf 417kb) 

Modifications to the MUTCD 2009

A list of MUTCD 2009 modifications for Washington. 
 

2009 MUTCD Adoption Process 

In January 2010, the FHWA released the 2009 MUTCD. Per Federal regulations, each State has two years to adopt a new edition of the MUTCD as is, or supplement.

WSDOT formed a MUTCD Adoption Committee made up of traffic experts from cities and counties (mixture of urban and rural; representatives from the west and east side of the mountains); private consultants representing ITE and bringing their expertise from NCUTCD, NACE, and ATSSA organizations; subject matter experts within WSDOT; and FHWA Division Office – Olympia.

The Adoption Committee reviewed the 55 existing modifications from the 2003 MUTCD contained in Washington Administration Code (WAC) Chapter 468-95, list of 2003 MUTCD Modifications. Based on input from the Adoption Committee, and subsequent WSDOT review, amended 34 of the existing modifications, repealed 11 of the existing modifications, and 10 of the existing modifications will remain the same.

The next step in process was to review the 2009 MUTCD, and 80 proposed modifications were submitted to the committee’s for review. The Adoption Committee submitted 17 proposed modifications to the State Traffic Engineer for his approval. After the approval, WSDOT submitted the 17 proposed modifications to FHWA for approval. The Division Office in Olympia for FHWA approved 16 out of the 17 proposed modifications. 

Existing 2003 Modifications with Revisions		Existing 2003 Modifications without Revisions	Delete Existing 2003 Modifications	New 2009 Modifications
468-95-010	468-95-250	468-95-290	468-95-015	468-95-017	468-95-329
468-95-033	468-95-260	468-95-29001	468-95-027	468-95-019	468-95-335
468-95-045	468-95-270	468-95-29005	468-95-132	468-95-022	468-95-365
468-95-120	468-95-280	468-95-29009	468-95-133	468-95-024
468-95-125	468-95-29003	468-95-29015	468-95-134	468-95-075
468-95-131	468-95-29007	468-95-29019	468-95-135	468-95-085
468-95-140	468-95-29011	468-95-29021	468-95-147	468-95-136
468-95-143	468-95-29013	468-95-305	468-95-150	468-95-138
468-95-148	468-95-29017	468-95-307	468-95-180	468-95-145
468-95-160	468-95-300	468-95-370	468-95-303	468-95-265
468-95-190	468-95-306		468-95-350	468-95-301
468-95-200	468-95-310			468-95-3015
468-95-205	468-95-317			468-95-302
468-95-210	468-95-325			468-95-322
468-95-220	468-95-330			468-95-327
468-95-230	468-95-340			468-95-328
468-95-235	468-95-360			468-95-3285

The MUTCD 2003 was in effect in Washington from December 4, 2005 to December 18, 2011.

MUTCD M.E .
The MUTCD Millennium Edition was in effect in Washington from January 9, 2003 to December 3, 2005.

Hard copies or CD versions of the MUTCD are available from the following organizations:

• American Association of State Highway Organizations
• Institute of Traffic Engineers
• American Traffic Safety Services Association