CHAPTER 12-1200. TRAFFIC-CONTROL DEVICES

§ 12-1201. Authority to Install Traffic-Control Devices.

   (1)   The Department shall place and maintain all necessary traffic-control signs, signals, devices, and markings.

   (2)   Upon the written request of the chief administrator of a school and written approval from the superintendent or the superintendent's designee of the appropriate school system to the Streets Commissioner, the Department shall install and the school shall maintain a variable school speed limit sign subject to the approval of the Streets Commissioner. The criteria for approval by the Streets Commissioner shall include, but is not limited to: the volume and speed of vehicular traffic, age of school students, existing student paths of travel, existing school bus pick-up and/or drop-off locations, existing traffic signage and other appropriate traffic engineering factors. The written request shall specify the times of day, days of the week and months of the year when the flashing sign shall operate and such other information as may be required by the Department. The phrase "variable school speed limit sign" shall include, but is not limited to, a blank-out message, a variable message, or a message in effect during the operation of flashing beacons. The Department may establish a standard design or designs. 195

   (3)   Variable Speed Limit Signs. 196 Upon the written request of five disabled residents who reside within 500 feet of the intersection in question or the chief administrator or designee of a specialty nursing care facility, a senior citizen center or a disability care/rehabilitation facility located within 500 feet of the intersection in question to the Streets Commissioner, the Department shall install and maintain a variable speed limit sign subject to the approval of the Streets Commissioner. The written request shall specify the times of day, days of the week and months of the year when the flashing sign shall operate and such other information as may be required by the Department. The criteria for approval by the Streets Commissioner shall include, but are not limited to: the volume and speed of vehicular traffic, existing pedestrian paths of travel, existing traffic signage and other appropriate traffic engineering factors, consistent with PennDOT regulations.

   (4)   Pedestrian Traffic Control Signals Designed to Meet the Needs of the Disabled and Senior Citizens. 197 Upon the written request of five disabled residents who reside within 500 feet of the intersection in question or the chief administrator or designee of a specialty nursing care facility, a senior citizen center or a disability care/rehabilitation facility located within 500 feet of the intersection in question to the Streets Commissioner, the Department shall install and maintain pedestrian traffic control signals designed to meet the needs of the disabled and senior citizens where one of the following conditions exist, and in a manner consistent with PennDOT regulations:

      (a)   For any street with a speed limit of up to 30 miles per hour, there must be a minimum of 50 disabled or senior citizen pedestrians attempting to cross during an eight hour period and, during the hour pedestrian volume is highest, there must be fewer than 60 adequate gaps in the vehicular traffic. A gap is defined as the time between vehicles moving on the street that is equal to the walking time required for a pedestrian to cross the street, plus some reaction time.

      (b)   For any street with a speed limit greater than 30 miles per hour, there must be a minimum of 37 disabled or senior citizen pedestrians attempting to cross during an eight hour period. The gap requirement shall be the same as set forth in the preceding subsection (a).

      (c)   The surveyed disabled or senior citizen pedestrian volumes may be increased if available information indicates that an immediate increase in actual volume can be anticipated.

 

Notes

195	Added, Bill No. 1255 (approved December 18, 1995), 1995 Ordinances, p. 1555. Section 2 of the Ordinance provides that it shall take effect on July 1, 1996.
196	Added, Bill No. 070698-A (approved November 15, 2007).
197	Added, Bill No. 070698-A (approved November 15, 2007).

§ 12-1202. Obedience to Official Traffic-Control Devices.

   (1)   No operator shall violate the instructions of any official traffic-control device, except operators of authorized emergency vehicles or when directed by a policeman.

§ 12-1203. Non-intersection Traffic-Control Signals.

   (1)   When an official traffic-control signal is erected and maintained at a place other than an intersection, such signal shall have the same meaning as is provided in The Vehicle Code for signals at intersections.

§ 12-1204. Play Streets.

   (1)   The Department may designate any street or part thereof a play street by placing appropriate signs or devices in the roadway.

   (2)   No person shall drive a vehicle upon any designated play street or portion thereof except operators of vehicles having business or whose residences are within such closed area.

§ 12-1205. Designation of Crosswalks and Safety Zones.

   (1)   The Department may designate and maintain, by appropriate devices, marking, or lines upon the surface of the roadway, crosswalks at intersections.

   (2)   The Department may establish safety zones and islands of such kind and character and at such places as may be necessary for the protection of pedestrians or for traffic regulation and direction.

§ 12-1206. Traffic Lanes.

   (1)   The Department may mark traffic lanes upon the roadway of any street or highway.

   (2)   When traffic lanes have been marked, no operator shall fail or refuse to keep his vehicle within the boundaries of such lanes except when lawfully passing another vehicle or preparatory to making a lawful turning movement.