Pedestrian or Trail Sign Design Guidelines

City Guidelines Regarding the Installation of “Pedestrian Crossing" or "Trail Crossing” Signs
Traffic Services Division of the Department of Public Works

Governing Document Reference:

Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways (MUTCD), 2009 or latest edition and the Overland Park Municipal Code (OPMC), Title 12 – Traffic, Chapter 12.04

MUTCD Requirements:

Pedestrian (W11-2) Crossing Signs and and Plaques

Non-Vehicular Warning (W11-2, W11-3, W11-4, W11-6, W11-7, W11-9, and W11-16 through W11-22) signs may be used to alert road users in advance of locations where unexpected entries into the roadway might occur or where shared use of the roadway by pedestrians, animals, or equestrians might occur.

If used in advance of a pedestrian, snowmobile, or equestrian crossing, the W11-2, W11-6, W11-7, and W11-9 signs should be supplemented with plaques (see Figure 2C-16 and Section 2C.61) with the legend AHEAD or XX FEET to inform road users that they are approaching a point where crossing activity might occur.

If a post-mounted W11-2, W11-6, W11-7, or W11-9 sign is placed at the location of the crossing point where pedestrians, snowmobilers, or equestrians might be crossing the roadway, a diagonal downward-pointing arrow (W16-7P) plaque (see Figure 2C-16 and Section 2C.63) shall be mounted below the sign.

A Non-Vehicular Warning sign assembly shall not be installed on an approach controlled by a STOP or a YIELD sign, except as noted below.

The Non-Vehicular Warning sign assembly may be installed on an approach to a circular intersection controlled by a YIELD sign where the crosswalk is at least 20 feet in advance of the yield point at the entrance to a circulatory roadway.

At a signalized or stop-controlled intersection the Non-Vehicular Warning sign assembly may be installed on an approach to a channelized right turn lane controlled by a YIELD sign where the crosswalk is at least 20 feet in advance of the yield point.

An advance Pedestrian Crossing (W11-2) sign with an AHEAD or a distance supplemental plaque may be used in conjunction with a Yield Here To (Stop Here For) Pedestrians sign on the approach to the same crosswalk.

Supplemental warning plaques shall be used only in combination with and installed on the same post(s) as warning or regulatory signs. They shall not be mounted alone or displayed alone.

Diagonal downward-pointing arrow (W16-7P and W16-7aP) plaques (see Figure 2C-16) are used with certain Vehicular Traffic Warning signs (see Section 2C.54) and certain Non-Vehicular Warning signs (see Section 2C.55), and School Crossing signs (see Section 7B.03) to indicate the specific location of a crossing point.

The W16-7P plaque contains a single arrow pointing diagonally down to the right or left, toward the roadway, depending on which side of the roadway it is located.

Trail (W11-15) Crossing Signs and and Plaques

Vehicular Traffic Warning (W8-6, W11-1, W11-5, W11-8, W11-10, W11-11, W11-12P, W11-14, W11-15, and W11-15a) signs (see Figure 2C-14) may be used to alert road users to locations where unexpected entries into the roadway by trucks, bicycles, farm vehicles, emergency vehicles, golf carts, horse-drawn vehicles, or other vehicles might occur.

The Trail Crossing (W11-15) sign may be used where both bicyclists and pedestrians might be crossing the roadway, such as at an intersection with a shared-use path.

If a post-mounted W11-1, W11-11, W11-15, or W11-15a sign is placed at the location of the crossing point where golf carts, pedestrians, bicyclists, or other shared-use path users might be crossing the roadway, a diagonal downward-pointing arrow (W16-7P) plaque (see Figure 2C-16 and Section 2C.63) shall be mounted below the sign.

If used in advance of a trail crossing, a W11-15 or W11-15a sign should be supplemented with an AHEAD or XX FEET plaque to inform road users that they are approaching a point where crossing activity might occur.

City of Overland Park Guidelines for Installation:

To be considered a trail, the facility must be maintained by OP Parks, be at least 8' wide, and have a hard surface on both sides of the street.

The following criteria will be used for signing pedestrian, bicycle, trail, and golf cart crossings which have been approved:

Signing Guidelines for Pedestrian, Bicycle, Trail, and Golf Cart Crossings

Mid-Block Crossings or Uncontrolled Through Movements
Condition	Sign with Ahead (W16-9p) Plaque	Sign with Diagonal Down Arrow (W16-7p) Plaque
Pedestrian Crossing on a Residential Street	No	Yes
Pedestrian Crossing on a Collector or Thoroughfare Street	Yes	Yes
Trail Crossing on a Residential Street1	No	Yes
Trail Crossing on a Collector or Thoroughfare Street1	Yes	Yes
Golf Cart Crossing	No	Yes

¹Does not need to meet volume criteria to be signed.