The initial changes, which conform to the changes in the 2009 edition of the federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, may not be very noticeable: Street name signs that currently are in all caps will be changed to include both upper-case and lower-case letters. On high-speed roads, stop, speed limit and warning signs will be made larger so they are viewable to drivers with 20/40 vision. (The current signs accommodate 20/33 vision.)
One change that will occur this month likely will cause drivers to take notice. Starting in mid-June, most stoplights on main streets in Town will switch from normal operation to a flashing yellow light from about 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. This will help decrease vehicle delays when traffic volumes are extremely light. One exception to the flashing yellow usage will be the two signals tied to the Fifth Street railroad crossing – Fifth and Wilcox streets and Fifth and Perry streets.
Other changes will not be seen in Castle Rock until later, but drivers may see the new treatments in other communities, as the new regulations will be used consistently throughout the United States.
A significant change will be the addition of flashing yellow arrows to left turn lane signals. Those signals will go from a green arrow, indicating the ability to turn without yielding, to a flashing yellow, meaning vehicles can turn but must yield to oncoming traffic. A solid yellow signal will follow the flashing yellow, indicating the light is about to turn red and traffic should prepare to stop.
Additional changes that drivers may notice soon in other communities, and eventually in Castle Rock, include new symbols on signs and a new background color on some signs – pink, which will indicate emergency incidents.
The striping on gates at railroad crossings and pavement markings for share the road cycling lanes also will be changing under the new regulations. The changes are being phased in over the next several years as new construction, needed maintenance and specific compliance dates trigger conversions.
Questions? Contact Traffic Engineering and Operations Manager Dan Sailer, 720-733-2470 or dsailer@CRgov.com.