Federal Transportation Manual Update a Chance for Improvement

After 11 years, the federal transportation manual is getting an update to reflect the rise of autonomous vehicles, shared mobility, and modernized pedestrian infrastructure.

2 minute read

February 17, 2021, 7:00 AM PST

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Zebra crossing

pixabay.com / Zebra crossing

The Federal Highway Administration has extended the public comment period for its update of the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). The manual, which hasn't been updated since 2009, "sets federal standards for the signs, markings and signals that help instruct road users on how to safely move through our communities."

As reported by Kea Wilson in Streetsblog, advocates hope that the revised manual will take into account new programs and mobility options such as bike share, scooters, and autonomous cars and implement higher standards for protecting vulnerable users. Rather than prioritize vehicle throughput above safety, planner Don Kostelec told Streetsblog, the manual should include the highest standards for safety at crosswalks and other vulnerable interaction points.

The main reason for the manual's upcoming revision seems to be the rise of autonomous vehicles, "which rely on regular road markings to navigate complex road environments," but some of these changes may work in favor of bike advocates. For example, the revised manual calls for bike facilities to be "segregated from other vehicle traffic using physical barriers where practicable and that road markings are needed to denote the end of a bike lane that is merged with traffic" in order to accommodate "machine vision." Such policy changes in manuals like the MUTCD, argues BikeUtah program director Mike Wiltsie, is "the best way we can bring about systemic change in our streets."

Monday, February 8, 2021 in Streetsblog USA

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

Brutalist grey department of housing and urban development building in Washington DC.

How Trump's HUD Budget Proposal Would Harm Homelessness Response

Experts say the change to the HUD budget would make it more difficult to identify people who are homeless and connect them with services, and to prevent homelessness.

2 hours ago - Shelterforce Magazine

Lancaster Boulevard with tree-lined median and wide sidewalks in Lancaster, California.

The Vast Potential of the Right-of-Way

One writer argues that the space between two building faces is the most important element of the built environment.

2 hours ago - Streetsblog USA

Sign in front of building for seior services center in St. Petersburg, Fl.

Florida Seniors Face Rising Homelessness Risk

High housing costs are pushing more seniors, many of them on a fixed income, into homelessness.

5 hours ago - WESH

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA