New York Codes, Rules and Regulations
Title 17 - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Chapter V - New York State Supplement To The National Manual On Uniform Traffic Control Devices For Streets And Highways-2009 Edition
New York State Supplement Introduction

The intent of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways -- 2009 Edition (MUTCD) is to enhance highway safety and operation by requiring uniform, understandable, and effective traffic control devices on facilities open to public travel.

Traffic control devices installed on such facilities within the State of New York are required to conform to the MUTCD, published by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

Section 1680(a) of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law requires that "the Department of Transportation shall adopt a manual and specifications for a uniform system of traffic control devices consistent with the provisions of this chapter for use upon highways within this state. Such uniform system shall correlate with and so far as practicable conform to nationally accepted standards."

Effective September 13, 2007, the provisions of the MUTCD were formally adopted by the State of New York. These regulations also provided for a New York State Supplement to the MUTCD to become effective on that date. Combined, the two comprise the "manual and specifications for a uniform system of traffic control devices" required by Section 1680(a). The current MUTCD, the 2009 Edition, was adopted by the FHWA on December 16, 2009, and became effective January 15, 2010.

Purpose of the New York State Supplement to the MUTCD

Deviations from the MUTCD are published in the New York State Supplement to the MUTCD (NYS Supplement), and are justified in cases where: New York law does not allow or support use of a device as described in the MUTCD; more restrictive guidance is desired; traffic control devices unique to New York need to be included; and/or the exclusion of optional traffic control devices is desired. These deviations are adopted through the State Administrative Procedures Act (SAPA) process and by permission of the FHWA.

How to Cite

In referencing 17 NYCRR Chapter V, it is acceptable to refer to these provisions as the New York State Supplement to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways -- 2009 Edition, the New York State Supplement, or the NYS Supplement.

How to Use the New York State Supplement to the MUTCD

This document supplements the 2009 Edition of the MUTCD, dated December 2009. Prior to the adoption of the MUTCD in New York, the user consulted 17 NYCRR Chapter V (informally known as the New York State MUTCD). Most of what was needed to be known regarding the proper design, application, and location of a traffic control device was contained in that manual. Users now need to follow a two-step process in order to properly ascertain that information.

First, the user should refer to the MUTCD for information regarding a particular device. Second, the user should consult the New York State Supplement to determine if alternative or additional guidance is provided for the traffic control device in question.

The New York State Supplement conforms to the organization, section numbering, and paragraph numbering of the MUTCD.

The New York State Supplement uses the following terms to inform the user what action is being taken in regards to the information being provided. The terms and their meanings are as follows:

DELETE = Remove material as directed.

INSERT = Add material as directed.

In some cases, there may be a conflict with material presented in the MUTCD and the New York State Supplement. When that occurs, the New York State Supplement is controlling, and the information provided in the New York State Supplement is meant to supersede the information found in the appropriate sections of the MUTCD.

Design Details

Design details for signs and pavement markings are generally not included in the MUTCD; they are found in the FHWA Standard Highway Signs and Markings (SHSM) book. Design details for devices referenced in the New York State Supplement can be found in the text and figures that accompany such references, as well as in the Sign Drawings located in Appendix 1 of this Supplement. Information regarding non-traffic control device issues such as substrate type (e.g., aluminum, steel, wood), retroreflective sheeting (e.g., engineering grade, high intensity), bolt hole locations, hardware (e.g., nuts, bolts, brackets), and posts may be provided in the MUTCD and/or SHSM, but for illustrative purposes only. Applicable guidelines and specifications for information on these and other related topics should be consulted.

The New York State Supplement identifies traffic control devices in a manner consistent with the alphanumeric system used in the MUTCD. Devices that are unique to New York are easily identifiable by the addition of the prefix "NY" to the alphanumeric designation. The "NY" designations do not necessarily correspond to MUTCD designations, though, as these designations are based on the identification system used in the State MUTCD that was in effect before the MUTCD was adopted in New York.

Users of the New York State Supplement will notice that signs that can be used in both left and right orientations have been assigned a single alphanumeric designation (e.g., NYW2-8). This approach is consistent with the style of the MUTCD. When using such signs in both the MUTCD and the New York State Supplement, it is appropriate to add "R" or "L" suffixes to the sign designations (e.g., NYW2-8R) to specify the orientation desired.

Obtaining the MUTCD

The MUTCD is available online in electronic format on the FHWA website. Printed copies of the MUTCD 2009 Edition and cost information are available from the American Association of State Highways and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), and the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA).

Obtaining the New York State Supplement and Other NYSDOT Documents

The New York State Supplement is published under the title Transportation Title 17B (NYCRR) by Thomson West (800-344-5009).

The MUTCD, the New York State Supplement, and other NYSDOT traffic control device documents are available online at www.nysdot.gov/portal/page/portal/divisions/operating/oom/transportation-systems/traffic-operations-section/mutcd.

Other

Questions regarding the New York State Supplement may be directed to the Department.