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Maine Department of Transportation
Guidelines for Crosswalks


Crosswalks are marked areas where pedestrians can safely cross a roadway.  By law in the State of Maine (Title 29-A Subsection 2056,4)  any vehicle must yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian who has entered a crosswalk when a traffic control device is not in operation.  This law makes it imperative that crosswalk placement, painting and usage be done in a uniform way.

 

  1. All crosswalks shall meet the latest Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) standards.   They shall be a minimum of six (6) feet wide and marked with white paint as shown on the attached sheet.  Crosswalks shall be painted at least annually and shall be retroreflective for nighttime visibility.   Crosswalks should be lighted for nighttime use

  2. All crosswalks shall meet the criteria put forth in the American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA).

  3. All crosswalks should extend from one safe landing zone to another.  A safe landing zone is an area where a pedestrian is safe from vehicle conflict while waiting to cross or when finished crossing.  Islands, walkways and sidewalks are typically considered safe landing zones, while road shoulders, driveways (under normal circumstances) and parking areas are not considered safe landing zones.  Provisions should be made for winter maintenance of the landing zones, including but not limited to snow and ice removal.

  4. Crosswalks shall, to the maximum extent practical, be perpendicular to the highway.  No crosswalks shall be constructed more than 30 degrees from perpendicular.

  5. Crosswalks shall be installed in areas where the speed limit is 35 mph or less. 

  6. Crosswalks shall be placed in areas where there is sufficient stopping sight distance for the posted speed limit as set forth in Table 1.  Stopping sight distance for the purpose of evaluating a crosswalk shall be measured from a 3.5 foot driver eye height to a 3.5 foot pedestrian height.

 

Table 1 – Sight Distance
Posted Speed (MPH)
Sight Distance (Feet)
20
155
25
200
30
250
35
305

                                                                                                                      

                                                                      

  1. Crosswalks shall have the appropriate signage (W11-2 series from the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, see attached sheet).  These signs shall be black symbol on yellow background or black symbol on fluorescent yellow-green background.  Sign colors should not be mixed in any area. 
  2. Crosswalks should be located a minimum distance of 500 feet apart. 
  3. No parking shall be allowed within 20 feet of any unsignalized crosswalk and 30 feet at a signalized intersection.  Signs should be installed indicating that no parking is allowed. (See attachment) 
  4. Crosswalks in school zones should have crossing guards for times when school is starting and ending.  School crosswalks should be at roadway intersections.  Mid-block crossing should only be used when a high concentration of students will be using them, as driver expectation is not to have to stop at a mid-block location.
  5. If a municipality proposes a crosswalk on a roadway with more than 1 lane in any direction, they would need to submit a traffic engineering study indicating that the location of the crosswalk would be safe.   Placement of such crosswalks shall require approval by the State Traffic Engineer or his/her designee. 
  6. Prior to installing crosswalks, on State roads or State aid roads towns shall enact traffic ordinances dealing with crosswalks.  At a minimum, Items 1 through 11 should be included.  Municipalities are entitled to place crosswalks if they are in accordance with these guidelines.  If a municipality wants a crosswalk other than as defined in these guidelines, they would need to submit a traffic study indicating that the location of the crosswalk would be safe.   Placement of crosswalks other than as specified shall require approval by the State Traffic Engineer or his/her designee.

 

Crosswalk Warning Assembly Pedestrian Warning Assembly
This an image of a crosswalk sign This is an image of a pedestrian sign
               This is an image of an arrow sign This is an image of a Ahead sign
2003 MUTCD Section 2C.41 

When a fluorescent yellow-green background is used, a systematic approach featuring one background color within a zone or area should be used. The mixing of standard yellow and fluorescent yellow-green backgrounds within a selected area should be avoided.

 

 

 

This is an image of a school crosswalk sign this is an image of a school advance warning sign
2003 MUTCD Section 7B.09

 

          

This is an image of typical parking space diagram


Updated September 14,2006