Delaware Administrative Code
Title 2 - Transportation
2000 - Department of Transportation
2400 - Division of Transportation Solutions
2402 - Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)
Part 3 - Marking
Chapter 3D - MARKINGS FOR PREFERENTIAL LANES
Section 3D.02 - Preferential Lane Longitudinal Markings for Motor Vehicles

Universal Citation: 2 DE Admin Code 3D.02

Current through Register Vol. 28, No. 3, September 1, 2024

Support:

01 Preferential lanes can take many forms depending on the level of usage and the design of the facility. They might be barrier-separated or buffer-separated from the adjacent general-purpose lanes, or they might be contiguous with the adjacent general-purpose lanes. Barrier-separated preferential lanes might be operated in a constant direction or be operated as reversible lanes. Some reversible preferential lanes on a divided highway might be operated counter-flow to the direction of traffic on the immediately adjacent general-purpose lanes. See Section 1A.13 for definitions of terms.

02 Preferential lanes might be operated full-time (24 hours per day on all days), for extended periods of the day, part-time (restricted usage during specific hours on specified days), or on a variable basis (such as a strategy for a managed lane).

Standard:

03 Longitudinal pavement markings for preferential lanes shall be as follows (these same requirements are presented in tabular form in Table 3D-1):

A. Barrier-separated, non-reversible preferential lane-the longitudinal pavement markings for preferential lanes that are physically separated from the other travel lanes by a barrier or median shall consist of a normal solid single yellow line at the left-hand edge of the travel lane(s), and a normal solid single white line at the right-hand edge of the travel lane(s) (see Drawing A in Figure 3D-1).

B. Barrier-separated, reversible preferential lane-the longitudinal pavement markings for reversible preferential lanes that are physically separated from the other travel lanes by a barrier or median shall consist of a normal solid single white line at both edges of the travel lane(s) (see Drawing B in Figure 3D-1).

C. Buffer-separated (left-hand side) preferential lane-the longitudinal pavement markings for a full-time or part-time preferential lane on the left-hand side of and separated from the other travel lanes by a neutral buffer space shall consist of a normal solid single yellow line at the left-hand edge of the preferential travel lane(s) and one of the following at the right-hand edge of the preferential travel lane(s):

1. A wide solid double white line along both edges of the buffer space where crossing the buffer space is prohibited (see Drawing A in Figure 3D-2).

2. A wide solid single white line along both edges of the buffer space where crossing the buffer space is discouraged (see Drawing B in Figure 3D-2).

3. A wide broken single white line along both edges of the buffer space, or a wide broken single white lane line within the allocated buffer space (resulting in wider lanes), where crossing the buffer space is permitted (see Drawing C in Figure 3D-2).

Table 3D-1. Standard Edge Line and Lane Line Markings for Preferential Lanes

Type of Preferential Lane	Left-Hand Edge Line	Right-Hand Edge Line
Barrier-Separated, Non-Reversible	A normal solid single yellow line	A normal solid single white line (see Drawing A of Figure 3D-1)
Barrier-Separated, Reversible	A normal solid single white line	A normal solid single white line (see Drawing B of Figure 3D-1)
Buffer-Separated, Left-Hand Side	A normal solid single yellow line	A wide solid double white line along both edges of the buffer space where crossing is prohibited (see Drawing A of Figure 3D-2) A wide solid single white line along both edges of the buffer space where crossing is discouraged (see Drawing B of Figure 3D-2) A wide broken single white line along both edges of the buffer space, or a wide broken single white line within the buffer space (resulting in wider lanes), where crossing is permitted (see Drawing C of Figure 3D-2)
Buffer-Separated, Right-Hand Side	A wide solid double white line along both edges of the buffer space where crossing is prohibited (see Drawing D of Figure 3D-2) A wide solid single white line along both edges of the buffer space where crossing is discouraged (see Drawing D of Figure 3D-2) A wide broken single white line along both edges of the buffer space, or a wide broken single white line within the buffer space (resulting in wider lanes), where crossing is permitted (see Drawing D of Figure 3D-2) A wide dotted single white line within the buffer space (resulting in wider lanes) where crossing is permitted for any vehicle to perform a right-turn maneuver (see Drawing D of Figure 3D-2)	A normal solid single white line (if warranted)
Contiguous, Left-Hand Side	A normal solid single yellow line	A wide solid double white line where crossing is prohibited (see Drawing A of Figure 3D-3) A wide solid single white line where crossing is discouraged (see Drawing B of Figure 3D-3) A wide broken single white line where crossing is permitted (see Drawing C of Figure 3D-3)
Contiguous, Right-Hand Side	A wide solid double white line where crossing is prohibited (see Drawing D of Figure 3D-3) A wide solid single white line where crossing is discouraged (see Drawing D of Figure 3D-3) A wide broken single white line where crossing is permitted (see Drawing D of Figure 3D-3) A wide dotted single white line where crossing is permitted for any vehicle to perform a right-turn maneuver (see Drawing D of Figure 3D-3)	A normal solid single white line

Notes:

1. If there are two or more preferential lanes, the lane lines between the preferential lanes shall be normal broken white lines.

2. The standard lane markings listed in this table are provided in a tabular format for reference.

3. This information is also described in Paragraph 3 of Section 3D.02.

D. Buffer-separated (right-hand side) preferential lane-the longitudinal pavement markings for a full-time or part-time preferential lane on the right-hand side of and separated from the other travel lanes by a neutral buffer space shall consist of a normal solid single white line at the right-hand edge of the preferential travel lane(s) if warranted (see Section 3B.07) and one of the following at the left-hand edge of the preferential travel lane(s) (see Drawing D in Figure 3D-2):

1. A wide solid double white line along both edges of the buffer space where crossing the buffer space is prohibited.

2. A wide solid single white line along both edges of the buffer space where crossing of the buffer space is discouraged.

3. A wide broken single white line along both edges of the buffer space, or a wide broken single white line within the allocated buffer space (resulting in wider lanes), where crossing the buffer space is permitted.

4. A wide dotted single white lane line within the allocated buffer space (resulting in wider lanes) where crossing the buffer space is permitted for any vehicle to perform a right-turn maneuver.

E. Contiguous (left-hand side) preferential lane-the longitudinal pavement markings for a full-time or part-time preferential lane on the left-hand side of and contiguous to the other travel lanes shall consist of a normal solid single yellow line at the left-hand edge of the preferential travel lane(s) and one of the following at the right-hand edge of the preferential travel lane(s):

1. A wide solid double white lane line where crossing is prohibited (see Drawing A in Figure 3D-3).

2. A wide solid single white lane line where crossing is discouraged (see Drawing B in Figure 3D-3).

3. A wide broken single white lane line where crossing is permitted (see Drawing C in Figure 3D-3).

F. Contiguous (right-hand side) preferential lane-the longitudinal pavement markings for a full-time or part-time preferential lane on the right-hand side of and contiguous to the other travel lanes shall consist of a normal solid single white line at the right-hand edge of the preferential travel lane(s) if warranted (see Section 3B.07) and one of the following at the left-hand edge of the preferential travel lane(s) (see Drawing D in Figure 3D-3):

1. A wide solid double white lane line where crossing is prohibited.

2. A wide solid single white lane line where crossing is discouraged.

3. A wide broken single white lane line where crossing is permitted.

4. A wide dotted single white lane line where crossing is permitted for any vehicle to perform a right-turn maneuver.

Guidance:

04 Where preferential lanes and other travel lanes are separated by a buffer space wider than 4 feet and crossing the buffer space is prohibited, chevron markings (see Section 3B.24) should be placed in the buffer area (see Drawing A in Figure 3D-2). The chevron spacing should be 100 feet or greater.

Option:

05 If a full-time or part-time contiguous preferential lane is separated from the other travel lanes by a wide broken single white line (see Drawing C in Figure 3D-3), the spacing or skip pattern of the line may be reduced and the width of the line may be increased.

Standard:

06 If there are two or more preferential lanes for traffic moving in the same direction, the lane lines between the preferential lanes shall be normal broken white lines.

07 Preferential lanes for motor vehicles shall also be marked with the appropriate word or symbol pavement markings in accordance with Section 3D.01 and shall have appropriate regulatory signs in accordance with Sections 2G.03 through 2G.07.

Guidance:

08 At direct exits from a preferential lane, dotted white line markings should be used to separate the tapered or parallel deceleration lane for the direct exit (including the taper) from the adjacent continuing preferential through lane, to reduce the chance of unintended exit maneuvers.

Standard:

09 On a divided highway, a part-time counter-flow preferential lane that is contiguous to the travel lanes in the opposing direction shall be separated from the opposing direction lanes by the standard reversible lane longitudinal marking, a normal width broken double yellow line (see Section 3B.03 and Drawing A of Figure 3D-4). If a buffer space is provided between the part-time counter-flow preferential lane and the opposing direction lanes, a normal width broken double yellow line shall be placed along both edges of the buffer space (see Drawing B of Figure 3D-4). Signs (see Section 2B.26), lane-use control signals (see Chapter 4M), or both shall be used to supplement the reversible lane markings.

10 On a divided highway, a full-time counter-flow preferential lane that is contiguous to the travel lanes in the opposing direction shall be separated from the opposing direction lanes by a solid double yellow center line marking (see Drawing C of Figure 3D-4). If a buffer space is provided between the full-time counter-flow preferential lane and the opposing direction lanes, a normal width solid double yellow line shall be placed along both edges of the buffer space (see Drawing D of Figure 3D-4).

Option:

11 Cones, tubular markers, or other channelizing devices (see Chapter 3H) may also be used to separate the opposing lanes when a counter-flow preferential lane operation is in effect.

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