Caltrans issued a Policy Directive on August 27, 2009 which becomes effective September 10, 2009. The Policy Directive amends the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. The new Policy Directive Number 09-06 requires that limit-line detection be capable of sensing bicycles and motorcycles. The revised detection is required for new installations, should be provided where more than 50% of the detectors are replaced and can be provided whenever a limit-line detector is maintained. A Type D loop detector satisfies the requirement to detect bicyclists and motorists. An alternative to the revised detection is to place the phase on-recall.
The Policy Directive also requires that sufficient green time be required so that a bicyclist starting from a stop can clear the intersection before the conflicting green is displayed. A formula is provided to calculate what the minimum green plus yellow change interval plus red clearance interval should be. Say, for example, the distance from the limit line to the far side of the last conflicting lane is 100′, the green plus yellow plus all-red must be 13.2 seconds. If the yellow is 4.0 seconds and the all red is 2.0 seconds, then the minimum green would have to be 7.2 seconds.
The Policy Directive is in response to Assembly Bill 1581, which directed that Caltrans adopt standards to accommodate others roadway users. Caltrans referred the issue to the California Traffic Control Devices Committee (CTCDC), who then established a technical subcommittee. At its meeting in Los Angeles on May 14, 2009, the CTCDC endorsed the recommendations of the technical subcommittee, with revisions, after hearing input from various stakeholders. Policy Directive 09-06 adopted the CTCDC recommendations. For more detailed information on this directive, go to the Caltrans website, www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/signtech/mutcd supp/ca_mutcd.htm.
–John E. Fisher, P.E., PTOE (F)