California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices Branch

Note: Caltrans Offices are closed on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Fridays of each month due to Executive Order S-13-09.

Please be aware that FHWA has released the new 2009 MUTCD but it is not effective in California until Caltrans and CTCDC review it and incorporate the changes into California MUTCD through formal efforts. California has until January 15, 2012 to accomplish this task although it is anticipated that it would be done sooner.

As of January 21, 2010, the California Department of Transportation has revised the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, also called the California MUTCD 2010, to include FHWA’s 2003 MUTCD Revision 2 dated December 21, 2007 to prescribe uniform standards and specifications for all official traffic control devices in California. This action was taken pursuant to the provisions of the California Vehicle Code Section 21400 and the recommendation of the California Traffic Control Devices Committee (CTCDC).

The  California MUTCD  2010 includes FHWA’s 2003 MUTCD with Revision 1 dated November 20, 2004 and Revision 2 dated December 21, 2007. Also, the California MUTCD 2010 includes all policies on traffic control devices issued by the Department since September 26, 2006 and other editorial, errata and format changes that were necessary to update the previous documents.

The California MUTCD 2010 supersedes and replaces the previously California MUTCD 2006 (adopted on September 26, 2006) as well as the May 20, 2004 adopted MUTCD 2003 Edition and the MUTCD 2003 California Supplement and Chapters 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12 and the traffic signals portion of chapter 9 of the 1996 Caltrans Traffic Manual, as amended, and all previous editions thereof. It does not supersede the Department’s Standard Plans, Standard Specifications or the Special Provisions publications.
The non-traffic control device topics of the 1996 Caltrans Traffic Manual (Chapters 1, 2, 3, 7 and the lighting portion of chapter 9) are being retained in their current form until they are assimilated into other manuals or guidelines not yet determined. Chapters 1, 2, 3, 7 and the lighting portion of chapter 9 of the Caltrans.