1. Rick Butner Traffic Division Staff Pierce County Public Works & Utilities; Traffic Division November 8, 2011 Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs ASSET MANAGEMENT FOR SIGNS AND MARKINGS ELEMENTS OF ASSET MANAGEMENT TRAFFIC SIGNS

2. Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs Region Pierce County Washington 1,679 Square Miles – land 128 Square Miles – water 795,225 Population 382,115 Population – Unincorporated Major Cities – Tacoma – Lakewood – Puyallup

3. Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs Region Pierce County Washington Produces 50% of Rhubarb for U.S. Named after President Franklin Pierce Home of Mt. Rainier, tallest in the Cascades Elevation changes from 0 to 14,410 Second most populous county in Washington

4. Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs Level of Service Inventory Condition Assessment Usage Data Cost Data Replacement Model Risk Assessment Performance Measures 8 Elements of Asset Management What is the best use of my very limited budget?

5. Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs MUTCD Regulates – Requirements for type, size, location – Requirements for retroreflectivity Perform regular inspections – Fulfilling the need for which intended – Proper placement, cleanliness, visibility, and that the sign commands attention Expectations of the Stakeholders Level of Service

6. Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs 1- Traffic Operations Supervisor 2- Office Support Staff 1- Sign & Markings Supervisor 1- Seasonal Lead Sign Technician 12- Traffic Sign Technicians 8- Seasonal Temporary Level of Service – Sign & Markings Staff

7. Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs Inventory 24,908 Total Traffic Signs (county only) 2,947 Stop and Yield 6,745 Warning 3,160 Speed limit 8,506 Street name (34%)

8. Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs Home Grown Software Program – Rubble System Divided into Areas and Sub Areas Sign Work is Documented by Function Code Signs are tracked by Route and Position Number Track by Sign Code Track by Serial Number Inventory

9. Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs Inventory - Rubble Sign Inspection Route Listed by Route and Position Number

10. Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs Inventory – Standard Inspection Route Sign Inspection Route Map Ensure that all signs are inspected in the most efficient manner

11. Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs Inventory - Traffic Sign Serial Numbers

12. Inventory - Street Sign Serial Numbers Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

13. Regular Sign Inspections – Fulfilling a need; have the conditions changed – Does the Sign Command Attention – Does the Sign meet Federal Requirements Regular Sign Retroreflectity Testing Condition Assessment

14. Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs Condition Assessment - Retroreflectivity Testing … shall use an assessment or management method that is designed to maintain traffic sign retroreflectivity at or above the minimum levels …. The approach that Pierce County is using to meet the retroreflectivity requirements is a combination of methods – Measured Retroreflectivity – Control Sample – Expected Life

15. Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs 2007 Pierce County began the retroreflectivity assessment Use retroreflectivity program as an asset management tool? Using this method found that signs due for replacement, did not need to be replaced Began using the system as a decision making tool for traffic sign replacement Condition Assessment - Retroreflectivity Testing

16. Signs outside warranty Measured Retroreflectivity Not Tested Monitor age with Inventory Monitor age with Inventory Add to Control Sample Group for Measured Retroreflectivity Testing Monitor Control Sample and schedule sign replacement based on data models Within warranty Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

17. Condition Assessment – Charting the data Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

18. Condition Assessment – A look back STOP Signs MUTCD Minimum >3:1 Contrast Ratio MUTCD Minimum >3:1 Contrast Ratio MUTCD Minimum 35/7 White/Red MUTCD Minimum 35/7 White/Red White 258 – 325 Red 20 - 59 White 258 – 325 Red 20 - 59 Contrast Ratio 5:1 – 9:1 Contrast Ratio 5:1 – 9:1 2007 Test Results Blanket change-out to High Intensity STOP signs in 1995 Decision is made to continue monitoring control sample Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

19. Engineer Grade Street Name Signs 44/5 – 114/24 White/Green Engineer Grade Street Name Signs 44/5 – 114/24 White/Green MUTCD Minimum Engineer Grade NO EG/7 White/Green MUTCD Minimum Engineer Grade NO EG/7 White/Green MUTCD Minimum High Intensity 120/15 White/Green MUTCD Minimum High Intensity 120/15 White/Green Street Name Signs High Intensity Street Name Signs 277/52 – 327/59 White/Green High Intensity Street Name Signs 277/52 – 327/59 White/Green Decision made to replace over 6,000 Engineer Grade street name signs 2007 Test Results Condition Assessment – A look back Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

20. Condition Assessment – Stop Signs Age of sign in years Retroreflectivity Readings Chart indicates contrast ratio for Stop and Yield signs Control sample will be expanded Testing to begin at 8 years old Minimum 3:1 ratio 1995 stop signs Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

21. Condition Assessment – Black on White Results Age of sign in years Retroreflectivity Readings

22. Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs Regular Inspection and cleaning of the signs Helps to provide a consistent retroreflectivity reading Data collected from inspection shows the value Usage Data

23. Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs Monthly Stop and Yield sign inspections – Each inspection is date and time stamped – Documentation of work performed Quarterly full sign inspection – Each inspection is date and time stamped – Documentation of work performed Data from sign inspections – Used for documentation in legal matters Usage Data - Sign Inspection

24. Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs Cost Data – Cost of assets in field

25. Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs Cost Data – Cost to replace managed assets

26. Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs Cost Data – Sign Maintenance – Major Contributors

27. Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs Replacement Model Technician determines sign meets requirements Replace Sign Dont Replace Sign Schedule to Replace Signs in Control Group Technician determines sign fails to meet requirements Control sample readings within acceptable range Control sample readings approaching minimum Is sign part of control sample? Is sign within Manufacturer warranty Inspections by Sign Techs Monitor using data Traffic Sign

28. Replacement Model – Street sign project Signs managed through Retroreflectivity Program Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

29. Monitor control samples Data determines replacement implementation Some signs are replaced by normal maintenance Group replacements should be able to occur over the period of 2-3 years and not have as much of an impact on budget Replacement Model – Retroreflectivity testing

30. Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs Perform routine sign inspections Replace unstable support structures Replace signs that are damaged by graffiti Replace signs not conveying a clear message Evaluate changing conditions and that the sign continues to fulfill a need Other vandalism and damage may require replacement as determined by the sign technician Replacement Model – Sign Inspection

31. Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs Stop and Yield signs are highest priority – Downed Stop and Yield sign are a high liability – Program is structured to have signs repaired within one hour of notification; 24/7 Other Regulatory and Warning signs are responded to generally the same business day Street name signs are up within a couple of days – It may take a day or two to have a new sign made Risk Assessment – Sign Priority

32. Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs Risk Assessment Dispatch to Technician to schedule repair Dispatch to Technician for immediate repair All Other Signs Normal Business Hours After Normal Business Hours Stop or Yield Traffic Sign Call Out Stop or Yield All Other Signs Answering Service fax to Traffic Operations

33. Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs Risk Assessment – Value of Inspection Found During InspectionStop/YieldAll Other Down Reset32705 Missing Replaced16279 Defaced / Replaced87236 Defaced / Cleaned235892 Post Broken / Replaced33155 Visibility Brushed3521,465

34. Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs Data shows less inspection will increase call outs Data also shows time saved eliminating one inspection would be backfilled by call outs Estimates show, based on data, that our annual Stop/Yield overtime calls could increase by 145 Estimates show, based on data, that our monthly overall sign calls could increase by 215 Risk Assessment – Sign Inspection

35. Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs Current inspections keep call outs to minimum Retroreflectivity program has allowed for maximum use of asset in the field Repairs, found during inspection; 8 minutes average Repairs, by call out; 30 to 90 minutes average Reduced inspections would result in more call outs, which could result in increased Tort Liability Performance Measures

36. Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs Performance Measures DOWNRESETTOC12:1913:20 LEANINGSTRAIGHTENEDSELF13:3613:41

37. QUESTIONS? Rick Butner (253)798-6836 or email rbutner@co.pierce.wa.us November 8, 2011 Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs