| (C) According to Part 6 of the TMUTCD reduced speed zoning should be avoided as much as practicable. Reduced speeds should only be posted in the vicinity of work being performed and not throughout the entire project. Traffic control plan designs should, as much as possible, accommodate the speeds existing prior to construction. These decisions, however, require engineering judgment depending on the nature of the project and other factors which affect the safety of the traveling public and construction workers. (D) On sections of highway under construction, speed studies and other studies normally made in determining speeds to be posted for a regulatory speed zone are not required. In selecting the speeds to be posted, consideration should be given to: (i) safe stopping sight distances; (ii) construction equipment crossings; (iii) the nature of the construction project; and (iv) any other factors which affect the safety of the traveling public and construction workers. (E) Only those speed limits authorized by commission minute order or city or county ordinance or resolutions may be posted. (F) Construction speed zones are automatically canceled when construction is complete. (4) Request for regulatory construction speed zones. If a city desires the commission to establish the zones, then it should send a written request to that district. (5) Advisory speed construction warning plates (CW13-1). (A) The CW13-1 ADVISORY SPEED plate may be used in conjunction with any construction warning sign to indicate the maximum safe speed for passenger cars around a curve or through a hazardous location. It shall not be used in conjunction with any sign other than a construction warning sign, nor shall it be used alone. (B) The CW13-1 plate shall always be mounted on the same post with, and immediately below, the construction warning sign to which it applies. (C) The CW13-1 plate is classed with the construction warning signs because, when used, it is in effect a part of a construction warning sign. (6) Regulatory construction speed limit signs. (A) R2-1 SPEED LIMIT signs shall be used for signing construction speed zones. (B) Speed limit signs shall be erected only for the limits of the section of roadway where speed reduction is necessary for the safe operation of traffic and protection of construction personnel. In most cases, this will involve only a short section of roadway where work is in progress, but in some cases, it will involve partially completed sections extending for some distance. (C) It is imperative that proper speed limits be posted in construction work zones. Improperly posted work zone speed limits adversely affect the flow of traffic by: (i) encouraging driver disrespect for all speed limits; and (ii) endangering the driver who observes an unreasonably low posted speed limit. (D) The reduced speed limits are effective only within the limits where signs are erected, even though the entire length of the project may be covered by commission minute order. The following Figure shows typical signing of a construction speed zone. Attached Graphic (7) Covering or removing temporarily unnecessary reduced speed signs. (A) If the reduced speed limits are not necessary for the safe operation of traffic during certain construction operations or those days and hours the contractor is not working, the regulatory construction speed limit signs should be made inoperative by: (i) moving the signs to the edge of the right of way and facing them away from the roadway; or (ii) covering the signs when the reduced speed limits are not necessary (Care should be taken to delineate the sign post so it does not become an invisible obstacle at night adjacent to the roadway.) (B) Leaving speed limit signs in place when not needed has at least three adverse effects: (i) drivers ignore the signs, and by doing so, they are subject to arrest; (ii) respect for all speed limit signs is lessened; and (iii) the law-abiding driver becomes a traffic hazard by observing the reduced speed. (8) Signs installed by the contractor. (A) Even though a contractor may furnish and/or install speed limit signs on a construction project, the engineer must see that contractors do not erect any signs of their own design with speed limits of their choosing. (B) Except under the immediate direction of the engineer, contractors have no responsibility whatsoever for the design, location, or maintenance of speed limit signs. (d) School speed zones. (1) Introduction. Reduced speed limits should be used for school zones during the hours when children are going to and from school. Usually such school speed zones are only considered for schools located adjacent to highways or visible from highways. Pedestrian crossing activity should be the primary basis for reduced school speed zones. However, irregular traffic and pedestrian movements must also be considered when children are being dropped off and picked up from school. If, for some reason, there is a delay in the installation of a school flasher, other static signs for school zones should be installed as soon as possible after the minute order is approved. (2) Signs. (A) Where the department is responsible for signing school speed zones, the zones shall be signed with a combination of the S4-3 SCHOOL and the R2-1 SPEED LIMIT sign assembly. Flashing beacons shall also be used with the S4-4 WHEN FLASHING sign to identify the periods the school speed limit is in force. One sign, S5-1, could be used, which is a combination of these. The S5-1 SCHOOL SPEED LIMIT XX WHEN FLASHING may be used in place of the S4-3, R2-1, and S4-4. A commission minute order or city or county ordinance or resolution authorizing the reduced speed limit is required prior to use of these signs in school zones. Cities should be allowed to sign school speed zones in accordance with the other options set out in the Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. (B) The S4-3, R2-1 and S4-4 sign assembly with flashers shall be mounted on a permanent type mounting and placed at each zone limit of the section of highway, road, or street through which the speed limit has been reduced. The sign assembly with flashing beacons may be placed off the shoulder of the road, in the median, or overhead to face traffic entering the school speed zone. An illustration of signing for school speed zones is shown in the TMUTCD. Other types of signs used by cities should be similarly located in conformance with the TMUTCD. (3) Intervals of operation. (A) Generally, the zones indicated on the signs should be in effect only during the following specified intervals: (i) from approximately 45 minutes before school opens until classes begin; (ii) from the beginning to the end of the lunch period; and (iii) for a 30 minute period beginning at the close of school. (B) The intervals of operation of the flashing beacons on the School Zone Speed Limit Assembly may be extended or revised for school events as mutually agreed upon by the school district and the entity responsible for the operation of the flashing beacons. In this case, the flashing beacons should only be operated when there is an increase in vehicular activity or pedestrian traffic in and around the roadway associated with the school event. (4) More information. See the Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, Part 7, for more details on school areas. (e) Private road speed zones. (1) Introduction. In addition to setting speeds on highway routes, Transportation Code, §542.006, requires the commission to establish speed limits and erect necessary signing on private roads under certain conditions. (2) Eligibility requirements. To be eligible for speed zoning, a private road must: (A) be located in a subdivision that has a total of 400 or more residents or is adjacent to one or more other subdivisions that, together with the subdivision through which the road runs, have a combined total of 400 or more residents (All subdivisions included in the count must have plats filed in the deed records of a county.); (B) be located outside of an incorporated area; and (C) be patrolled or scheduled to be patrolled by a law enforcement entity. (3) Process initiation. The process for speed zoning private roads must be initiated by petition from the majority of property owners along the road for which zoning is requested. (4) Petitions rejected by the commission. If the commission rejects the petition, then the commission shall hold a public hearing on the advisability of making the speed restrictions applicable. For more details, see Transportation Code, §542.006(c), (d), and (e). |
