Rick Butner Traffic Division Staff Pierce County Public Works & Utilities; Traffic Division November 8, 2011 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 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 Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

8 Elements of Asset Management

• • • • • • • • Level of Service Inventory Condition Assessment Usage Data Cost Data Replacement Model Risk Assessment Performance Measures What is the best use of my very limited budget?

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

Level of Service

• 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 Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

Level of Service –

Sign & Markings Staff

• • • • • • 1 - Traffic Operations Supervisor 2 - Office Support Staff 1 - Sign & Markings Supervisor 1 - Seasonal Lead Sign Technician 12 - Traffic Sign Technicians 8 - Seasonal Temporary 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%) Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

Inventory

• 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 Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

Inventory -

Rubble

• Sign Inspection Route • Listed by Route and Position Number 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 Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

Inventory -

Traffic Sign Serial Numbers

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

Inventory -

Street Sign Serial Numbers

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

Condition Assessment

• • 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 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 Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

Condition Assessment

- Retroreflectivity Testing

• • • • 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 Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

Condition Assessment

- Retroreflectivity Testing Monitor age with Inventory Within warranty Measured Retroreflectivity Not Tested Signs outside warranty Add to Control Sample Group for Measured Retroreflectivity Testing

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

Monitor Control Sample and schedule sign replacement based on data models

Condition Assessment

– Charting the data Code

120

Size

80

18x18 24x30

60

30x30

40

12x36 W1-6 W1-1 W13-1 R2-1 W1-1 W12-401 VAR R R 10 25 L L Serial # 95043065 97021547 97021548 98090711 97010425 95040825 Sequence 2007 new for 2008 Yellow Average new for 2008 Yellow Average new for 2008 Yellow Average new for 2008 White Average new for 2008 Yellow Average new for 2008 2008 2009 June 18, 2008 April 30, 2009 238 237 June 18, 2008 April 30, 2009 219 231 June 18, 2008 April 30, 2009 208 238 June 18, 2008 April 30, 2009 103 103 June 18, 2008 April 30, 2009 218 210 June 18, 2008 April 30, 2009 207 216

20

24x30 24x30

0

24x30 R2-1 R2-1

1

R2-1 25 97070011 25 Years 20024978 new for 2008 White Average new for 2008 White Average

4

new for 2008 White Average June 18, 2008 April 30, 2009 97 99 June 18, 2008 April 30, 2009 78 77 June 18, 2008 April 30, 2009 104 101 2010 April 29, 2010 235 April 29, 2010 217 April 29, 2010 218 April 29, 2010 98 April 29, 2010 214 April 29, 2010 202 April 29, 2010 97 April 29, 2010 75 April 29, 2010 99

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

2011 April 20, 2011 196 April 20, 2011 172 April 20, 2011 98 April 20, 2011 204 April 20, 2011 201 April 20, 2011 97 April 20, 2011 64 April 20, 2011 90

Condition Assessment

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

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

Condition Assessment

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

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

18,0 16,0 14,0 12,0 10,0 8,0 6,0 4,0 2,0 0,0 13

Condition Assessment

– Stop Signs

1995 stop signs • • • Chart indicates contrast ratio for Stop and Yield signs Control sample will be expanded Testing to begin at 8 years old 14 15

Age of sign in years

16 Minimum 3:1 ratio Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

Condition Assessment

– Black on White Results

140

7 Year Warranty Expected Life Retro Readings

120 100 80 60 40 20 0 0 2

Minimum level of 50 to meet retroreflectivity requirements

4 6 8

Age of sign in years

10 12 14 Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs 16 18 Retro Readings

• • •

Usage Data

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

Usage Data -

Sign Inspection

• • •

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 Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

Cost Data –

Cost of assets in field Signs over 10 years old managed with asset management program, using Retroreflectivity Standards as condition assessment Traffic Signs 10 years & older $ 250,000 Traffic Signs Less than 10 years old $ 850,000 Value of Signs and Supports in Pierce County Traffic Sign Inventory $ 1,100,000.

Data based estimates; 2010 data used Materials only, no labor included

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs 1 2

Cost Data –

Cost to replace managed assets Resources are allocated to other assets needing replacement & to meet new standards $135,000 Labor and Equipment Materials

1 2

$250,000 Cost to replace 10 year and older assets

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

Cost Data –

Sign Maintenance – Major Contributors $105,000 $185,000 $115,000 $45,000 $470,000

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

2010

1 2 3 4 5

Replacement Model

Traffic Sign Is sign part of control sample?

Is sign within Manufacturer warranty Monitor using data Control sample readings within acceptable range Inspections by Sign Techs Technician determines sign fails to meet requirements Technician determines sign meets requirements

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

Control sample readings approaching minimum Schedule to Replace Signs in Control Group Replace Sign Don’t Replace Sign

Replacement Model –

Street sign project

4500 4000 3500

Red indicates signs replaced as part of street name sign replacement program

3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Signs managed through Retroreflectivity Program

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

Replacement Model

– Retroreflectivity testing

• 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 Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

Replacement Model

– Sign Inspection

• • • • • • 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 Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

Risk Assessment

– Sign Priority

• • •

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 Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

Risk Assessment

Traffic Sign Call Out Normal Business Hours After Normal Business Hours Stop or Yield All Other Signs Stop or Yield Dispatch to Technician for immediate repair Answering Service fax to Traffic Operations All Other Signs Dispatch to Technician to schedule repair

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

Risk Assessment

– Value of Inspection

Found During Inspection

Stop/Yield

Down Reset

32

Missing Replaced Defaced / Replaced Defaced / Cleaned Post Broken / Replaced Visibility Brushed

16 87 235 33 352

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs All Other 705 279 236 892 155 1,465

Risk Assessment

– Sign Inspection

• 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 Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

Performance Measures

• 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 Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

Performance Measures

DOWN RESET TOC 12:19 13:20 LEANING STRAIGHTENED SELF 13:36 13:41

Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs

QUESTIONS?

Rick Butner (253)798-6836 or email [email protected]

November 8, 2011 Elements of Asset Management – Traffic Signs