ATSSA Signal July/August 2018

American Traffic Safety Services Association 24 Member Company & Agency News FHWA issues interim approval of Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacons at crosswalks Devices permitted for use following issues surrounding patents In amemorandumreleased onMarch 20, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) issued “Interim Approval (IA)- 21–Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) at Crosswalks.” The new IA-21 allows for the optional use of RRFBs as pedestrian-activated visibility enhance- ments for pedestrian and school cross- ing warning signs under limited conditions. The temporary approval to use RRFBs comes after IA-11, which originally al- lowed for the optional use of RRFB as warning beacons and was rescinded in an FHWAmemorandum in December of 2017 because of pending patents on the device. The memo prohibited new in- stallations of RRFBs, however, the flash- ing devices that were already installed were allowed to remain in service until they were no longer functional. Recently the FHWA has been informed that the patents are no longer being pursued and RRFB devices are once again eligible for temporary use under IA-21. It is important to note this is a new IA with updated research and informa- tion regarding RRFBs. Agencies that want to install RRFBs must apply for permis- sion of use from the FHWA under IA-21, even if they were previously granted permission of use under IA-11. IA-21 does not reinstate IA-11. In general, IAs allow for the temporary use of a new traffic control device, revi- sions of the application or manner of use of an existing traffic control device, or adherence toaprovisionnot addressed in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Con- trol Devices (MUTCD) for Streets and Highways. These permissions are sub- ject to change pending the establish- ment of official guidelines. For more information about IA-21, visit www.atssa.com/Resources and click on “FHWA issues interim ap- proval.” For any additional questions about IA-11 or IA-21, email Duane Thomas at Duane.Thomas@dot.gov.