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-control 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)  Warrant 9, ADT volume warrant.

     (i)   An ‘‘ADT volume warrant’’ is added as ‘‘Warrant 9’’ and may be used in addition to the eight warrants contained in 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-control 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, consideration should be given to removing the traffic-control signal and replacing it with appropriate alternative traffic-control devices, if any are needed.

     (ii)   This warrant is satisfied when the estimated ADT volumes on the major street and on the higher volume minor street or driveway approach to the intersection, when projected 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 either Condition A or Condition B:

Condition A—ADT Volume Warrant
Number of Lanes for Moving Traffic on Each Approach		Estimated ADT*
Major Street	Minor Street	Major Street (Both Approaches)		Higher-Volume Minor Street (One Direction Only)
		100%	70%**	100%	70%**
1	1	10,000	7,000	3,000	2,100
2 or more	1	12,000	8,400	3,000	2,100
2 or more	2 or more	12,000	8,400	4,000	2,800
1	2 or more	10,000	7,000	4,000	2,800

Condition B—ADT Volume Warrant
Number of Lanes for Moving Traffic on Each Approach		Estimated ADT*
Major Street	Minor Street	Major Street (Both Approaches)		Higher-Volume Minor Street (One Direction Only)
		100%	70%**	100%	70%**
1	1	15,000	10,500	1,500	1,050
2 or more	1	18,000	12,600	1,500	1,050
2 or more	2 or more	18,000	12,600	2,000	1,400
1	2 or more	15,000	10,500	2,000	1,400

 * 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.

 ** May be used 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.

§ 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.

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