Development of Texas Guidelines for School Traffic Control Devices

To achieve uniformity of traffic control in school areas, comparable traffic situations need to be treated in a consistent manner. The Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (TMUTCD) Part 7 provides information on traffic control devices related to schools. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) manual on Procedures for Establishing Speed Zones provides information on school speed zones. A recent TxDOT project (0-5470) investigated school speed zones and developed the Guidelines for Traffic Control for School Areas. The purpose of these Guidelines is to augment the TMUTCD by providing additional background and information to assist in the traffic control device applications. The Guidelines are not intended to establish policy or procedures; rather they are to give typical guidance. An engineering and traffic investigation should be conducted to determine the need for a school speed limit as well as all appropriate traffic control devices.