Diff of federal MUTCD 11th Ed. (Dec 2023) and Delaware MUTCD Part 7 School Areas (Rev 3, May 2018). Labeled "DE Revision" edits plus unmarked structural divergences. FHWA adoption deadline was January 18, 2026 (now past). DE MUTCD 2026 is labeled PENDING APPROVAL on deldot.gov (verified 2026-06-14) — not formally adopted, no effective date published.
These changes are explicitly marked in the Delaware MUTCD text. Each is categorized by function.
| Section | Type | DE Revision text |
|---|---|---|
| 7A.01 Need for Standards | Statute | 10A (DE Revision) Title 21, Chapter 41, Subchapter VIII, §4169 of the Delaware Code establishes that where no special hazard exists the speed limit in school zones shall be 20 mph where 20 mph regulatory signs are posted and state the specific time periods or under what conditions during which the 20 mph speed is in effect. |
| 7A.01 Need for Standards | Speed | 10B (DE Revision) In general the 20 mph speed limit should be applied only in locations where there is a reasonable expectation of children walking to/from school. |
| 7A.01 Need for Standards | Statute | 10C (DE Revision) Title 21, Chapter 41, Subchapter VIII, §4169 of the Delaware Code establishes that on the basis of engineering study or investigation a maximum speed limit greater or less than 20 mph may be established by the Department of Transportation. Factors that may be considered in such an investigation and study can include: location and surrounding environment of the school, driver expectation, existing posted speed limit along the adjacent and surrounding roadways, traffic volumes and vehicle operating characteristics, the presence or absence of children walking to or from school, etc. |
| 7A.02 School Routes and… | Other | 03 (DE Revision) The following factors should be considered when determining the feasibility of requiring children to walk a longer distance to a crossing with existing traffic control: A. The availability of adequate sidewalks or other pedestrian walkways to and from the location with existing control, B. The number of students using the crossing, C. The age levels of the students using the crossing, |
| 7B.06 Lettering | Other | 01 (DE Revision) The “Standard Highway Signs and Markings” book and the “Delaware Standard Signs Book” (see Section 1A.11) contain information regarding sign lettering. |
| 7B.07 Sign Color for School Warning Signs | Sign Color | 02 (DE Revision) In situations where warning signs not associated with schools are located within a school zone, the warning signs not associated with schools should be yellow with a black legend. |
| 7B.07 Sign Color for School Warning Signs | Sign Color | 03 (DE Revision) If a pedestrian crossing is located within a school zone, but is not part of an established route to school, the warning signs for that crossing, if used, should be yellow with a black legend (W11-2 assembly). |
| 7B.11 School Advance Crossing Assembly | Approval Gate | 05 (DE Revision) A 12-inch reduced size in-street School (S1-1) sign (see Figure 7B-6), installed in compliance with the mounting height and special mounting support requirements for In-Street Pedestrian Crossing (R1-6 or R1-6a) signs (see Section 2B.12), may be used in advance of a school crossing to supplement the post-mounted school warning signs. A 12 x 6-inch reduced size AHEAD (W16-9P) plaque may be mounted below the reduced size in-street School (S1-1) sign. These reduced size signs may only be used on state-maintained roads with DelDOT Traffic approval. |
| 7B.11 School Advance Crossing Assembly | Approval Gate | 06 (DE Revision) If the School Advance Crossing Assembly or SCHOOL BUS STOP AHEAD (S3-1) sign have been considered but determined to be inappropriate, a SCHOOL CHILDREN WALK ALONG THIS ROAD (S31-DE) sign (see Figure 7B-1) may be installed on state-maintained roads with DelDOT Traffic approval. |
| 7B.12 School Crossing Assembly | Other | 03A (DE Revision) Except for crosswalks at locations that are controlled by stop or yield control, the School Crossing assembly should be installed at marked crosswalks (see Figure 7B-4) on the established school pedestrian route including those at signalized locations. |
| 7B.12 School Crossing Assembly | Other | 04A (DE Revision) The Yield Here to (Stop Here for) Pedestrians (R1-5 or R1-5b) signs (see Section 2B.11 and Figure 2B-2) may be modified to replace the standard pedestrian symbol with the standard schoolchildren symbol and may be used at unsignalized school crossings. |
| 7B.12 School Crossing Assembly | Approval Gate | 09 (DE Revision) In-Street Pedestrian signs shall only be installed along state-maintained roadways with DelDOT Traffic approval. If approved, the sponsoring entity shall be responsible for procurement, installation, and maintenance of these signs. The sponsoring entity shall enter into a Right-of-Way Use agreement with DelDOT, and shall provide a maintenance point of contact with 24-hour/7-day per week availability. |
| 7B.12 School Crossing Assembly | Other | 10 (DE Revision) Additional guidance on the use of the STOP FOR or YIELD TO legends and STOP and YIELD sign symbols on In-Street Pedestrian Crossing and Overhead Pedestrian Crossing signs is contained in Section 2B.12 05 |
| 7B.13 School Bus Stop Ahead Sign (S3-1) | Sign Code | 02 (DE Revision) If the School Bus Stop Ahead (S3-1) sign has been considered but determined to be inappropriate, a SCHOOL CHILDREN WALK ALONG THIS ROAD (S3-1-DE) sign (see Figure 7B-1) may be installed. |
| 7B.13 School Bus Stop Ahead Sign (S3-1) | Approval Gate | 03 (DE Revision) Use of the SCHOOL CHILDREN WALK ALONG THIS ROAD (S3-1-DE) sign on statemaintained roads requires approval from DelDOT Traffic. |
| 7B.15 School Speed Limit… | Statute | 01 (DE Revision) A School Speed Limit assembly (see Figure 7B-1) or a School Speed Limit (S5-1-DE) sign (see Figure 7B-1) shall be used to indicate the speed limit where a reduced school speed limit zone has been established (in accordance with Delaware Code and based upon an engineering study) or where a reduced |
| 7B.15 School Speed Limit… | Speed | 04 (DE Revision) Except as provided in Paragraph 5, the downstream end of an authorized and posted reduced school speed limit zone shall be identified with an END SCHOOL SPEED LIMIT (S5-3) sign (see Figure 7B-1). |
| 7B.15 School Speed Limit… | Speed | 05A (DE Revision) On state-maintained roads, the END SCHOOL ZONE (S5-2) sign should be used to designate the end of the school zone in lieu of the regulatory speed limit sign. |
| 7B.15 School Speed Limit… | Speed | 07 (DE Revision) The beginning point of a reduced school speed limit zone should be at least 200 feet in advance of the school property line, a school crossing, or other school related activities; however, this 200-foot distance should be increased if the reduced school speed limit is 30 mph or higher. |
| 7B.15 School Speed Limit… | Beacon | 17 (DE Revision) A SCHOOL SPEED LIMIT XX WHEN FLASHING (S5-3-DE) sign, with Speed Limit Sign Beacons mounted to the left and right of the sign, may be mounted overhead at or as near as practical to the point where the reduced speed zone begins (see Figure 7B-3). |
| 7B.15 School Speed Limit… | Other | 18 (DE Revision) Paragraph deleted. |
| 7B.15 School Speed Limit… | Speed | 19 (DE Revision) On state-maintained roads, the use of Speed Limit Sign Beacons requires approval from DelDOT Traffic. |
| 7B.18 Flashing Beacons at… | Beacon | 01 (DE Revision) Flashing yellow beacons may be installed to supplement standard school signing and markings for the purpose of providing advanced warning during specified times of operation when justified. |
| 7B.18 Flashing Beacons at… | Beacon | 02 (DE Revision) A flashing yellow beacon may be justified when ALL of the following conditions are fulfilled: 1. At least 40 school pedestrians use the crossing during each of any two hours (not necessarily consecutive) of a normal school day; 2. The crossing is at least 600 ft from the nearest alternate crossing controlled by traffic signals, stop signs or crossing guards; |
| 7C.03 Pavement Word, Symbol,… | Marking | 01 (DE Revision) If used, the SCHOOL word marking may extend to the width of two approach lanes in one direction (see Figure 7C-1). |
| 7C.03 Pavement Word, Symbol,… | Marking | 01A (DE Revision) Pavement word and symbol markings should not extend beyond the centerline, if present, into the opposing direction of travel. |
| 7C.03 Pavement Word, Symbol,… | Marking | 01B (DE Revision) When installed in a single lane with a width of 10.5 feet or greater, the SCHOOL word marking should consist of 16 inch wide by 96 inch high letters, separated by 4 inch spaces (see Figure 7C-1). |
| 7C.03 Pavement Word, Symbol,… | Marking | 01C (DE Revision) When installed in a single lane with a width less than 10.5 feet, the SCHOOL word marking should consist of 12 inch wide by 72 inch high letters, separated by 3 inch spaces (see Figure 7C-1). |
| 7C.03 Pavement Word, Symbol,… | Speed | 02A (DE Revision) The SCHOOL word marking should be placed at the same location of the School Speed Limit sign approaching the school zone. If no School Speed Limit sign is present, the SCHOOL word marking should be placed at the same location of the School Zone (S1-1) sign approaching the school zone. |
| 7C.04 Stop Lines (DE Revision) | Stop Line | 01 (DE Revision) Section 3B.16 contains provisions regarding the placement, design, and appropriate use of stop lines. |
| 7C.04 Stop Lines (DE Revision) | Stop Line | 02 (DE Revision) Stop lines should not be installed along uncontrolled approaches in school areas for the sole purpose of indicating stopping points for motorists when crossing guards are present. |
| 7D.05 Operating Procedures for… | Crossing Guard | 01A (DE Revision) Adult crossing guards should understand how to effectively control traffic, balancing the demands of all road users. |
| 7D.05 Operating Procedures for… | Crossing Guard | 01B (DE Revision) Adult crossing guards should be aware of the impact their control can have on the flow of traffic on the main road. |
| 7D.05 Operating Procedures for… | Crossing Guard | 01C (DE Revision) Adult crossing guards should not keep traffic stopped on the main road for an unreasonable length of time. |
| 7D.05 Operating Procedures for… | Crossing Guard | 01D (DE Revision) Adult crossing guards at signalized intersections should utilize existing pedestrian pushbutton controls and should not manually control traffic movements at the traffic signal. |
These structural differences between the federal and Delaware texts were not tagged "DE Revision." That doesn't mean they're unauthorized — some are genuine improvements (new dedicated sections, clearer scope) that Delaware chose to integrate without flagging. Where the DE version strengthens the standard, it is noted as credit below. The "Verification" note means these cannot be cited as formally approved DE amendments without primary source confirmation, not that they are wrong.
| Section | Type | Federal 11th Ed. | Delaware (Rev 3) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7A.01 | Rewrite | Introduction — 1 paragraph, calls Part 7 "standards for design, application, installation, maintenance." | Need for Standards — 5 paragraphs of rationale on uniformity and public understanding. Title changed. |
| 7A.02 | Restructure | School Route Plans and School Crossings — 8 ¶s including bicycle provisions, school crossing signal warrant reference. | School Routes and Established School Crossings — restructured; gap methodology moved to new 7A.03. |
| 7A.03 | Addition | (Does not exist as a separate section — gap criteria embedded in 7A.02) | School Crossing Control Criteria — new dedicated section on gap frequency and adequacy. References Traffic Control Devices Handbook. |
| 7A.04 | Addition | (Scope text appears in 7A.01) | Scope — dedicated section with cross-references to Parts 2A, 2B.06, 3, 4, 4C.06. |
| 7B.01 — Table 7B-1 | Revision | Federal sign size table uses standard federal sign codes (S1-1, S3-1, S5-1, S5-2, S5-3, R1-6 series). | (Delaware Revision) — adds DE-specific codes S3-1-DE, S5-1-DE, S5-3-DE. Drops some federal signs. Column order differs. |
| 7B — Federal 11th Ed. only | Deletion | Higher fines signs R2-10/R2-11 (End Higher Fines Zone) present in sign table. | R2-10/R2-11 absent from DE sign table. DE uses different fines sign regime. |
| 7B.18 | Addition | Section does not exist in 11th Edition under this number. | 7B.18 Flashing Beacons at School Crossings — entirely DE addition. 40 ped/hr threshold in each of 2 hours to justify beacon. |
| 7C.04 | Addition | No dedicated school-area stop line section. | 7C.04 Stop Lines (DE Revision) — stop lines should NOT be installed solely for crossing guards on uncontrolled approaches. |
| Finding | Standard / Guidance / Option | WPPE Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| DE §4169 = 20 mph school zone (Standard) 7A.01 §10A (DE Revision) |
SHALL — mandatory where signs are posted | No posted 20 mph sign at WPPE = no zone = Delaware law does not activate. Chicken-and-egg: need signs to enforce law, need law to mandate signs. |
| DelDOT approval gates block community action 7B.09, 7B.11, 7B.13, 7B.15, 7B.18 |
SHALL (DE Standard) — no install without DelDOT Traffic sign-off | In-street signs, S3-1-DE, Speed Limit Beacons, and flashing beacons all require DelDOT Traffic approval + ROW agreement. WPPE community cannot self-install. Blocks workarounds. |
| 7B.18 Flashing Beacon threshold: 40 ped/hr × 2 hrs 7B.18 §02 (DE Revision, no federal equivalent) |
OPTION — may install if criteria met | WPPE community pedestrian counts at WPPE can establish whether the 40/hr threshold is met. If yes, this is a documented, quantified justification for a beacon request to DelDOT. |
| Stop lines NOT for crossing guards (7C.04) 7C.04 §02 (DE Revision, no federal equivalent) |
SHOULD NOT | DE explicitly says stop lines at uncontrolled approaches should not be installed solely as stopping points for crossing guards. Inverts the intuitive expectation — guards are not a substitute for infrastructure. |
| School Crossing assembly required at marked crosswalks 7B.12 §03A (DE Revision) |
SHOULD (stronger than federal Option) | Federal makes this an Option; DE makes it Guidance (should). If WPPE crosswalks are on an established route, this is a documented obligation. Key predicate: "established route" must be formally established first. |
| 11th Ed. adoption deadline: Jan 18, 2026 — PASSED Deadline past as of 2026-06-14 |
Administrative deadline (past) | DE MUTCD 2026 labeled PENDING APPROVAL on deldot.gov (verified 2026-06-14) — not formally adopted, no effective date. Rev 3 (2018 / 2009 base) is the current governing standard. Federal 11th Ed. applies by default argument where DE has not adopted. WPPE is non-compliant under either. Strongest advocacy window: cite both federal non-compliance AND Rev 3 non-compliance. |
DE MUTCD 2026 on file (files/de-mutcd-2026.pdf, 32MB, deldot.gov). Labeled PENDING APPROVAL on the deldot.gov MUTCD index page (verified 2026-06-14) — no effective date published, no adoption notice in Delaware Register of Regulations. The 2026 version maintains the 2009-era base structure — it does not adopt the federal 11th Ed. (2023) section organization. Key changes from Rev 3 that affect WPPE advocacy:
| Section / Provision | Change type | DE MUTCD Rev 3 (2018) — had this | DE MUTCD 2026 — now says this |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7A.02 ¶09 Factors E & F Walk route feasibility |
REGRESSION | Rev 3 §03 (DE Revision): Factors A–F. Factor E: "The presence of a school crossing guard." Factor F: "The location of the crossing, avoiding locations where the presence of pedestrians crossing the road is unexpected." These required agencies to consider guard absence and dangerous geometry when deciding if an indirect detour was justified. | 2026 §09: only Factors A–D (availability of sidewalks, number of students, age levels, extra walking distance). Factors E and F removed without replacement. The crossing guard and unexpected-location arguments are gone from the operative text. |
| 7B.xx DE sign codes S3-1-DE, S5-1-DE, S5-3-DE |
REMOVED | Rev 3 Table 7B-1 (Delaware Revision): three DE-specific sign designations — S3-1-DE (SCHOOL CHILDREN WALK ALONG THIS ROAD), S5-1-DE (SCHOOL SPEED LIMIT XX WHEN CHILDREN ARE PRESENT), S5-3-DE (SCHOOL SPEED LIMIT XX WHEN FLASHING overhead). Each required DelDOT Traffic approval. | 2026 Table 7B-1: no DE-specific codes. Standard federal sign codes only (S3-1, S5-1, S5-3). The "children are present" functionality now achieved via S4-2P plaque with standard S5-1 sign. DelDOT approval gates for these specific codes removed along with codes. |
| §7B.18 Flashing Beacon warrant | SECTION REMOVED | Rev 3 §7B.18 (DE Revision, no federal equivalent): flashing yellow beacons may be installed when ≥40 school pedestrians use the crossing during each of any 2 hours. Created a documented, quantifiable threshold for beacon requests. Unique to Delaware. | 2026: no §7B.18 section. The 40/hr threshold is gone. Beacon requests revert to general engineering judgment under Part 4. No specific school pedestrian count threshold exists in 2026 text. |
| 7A.01 §10A–10C speed provisions §4169 / 20 mph Standard |
REMOVED FROM PT. 7 | Rev 3 §10A (DE Revision, Standard): Title 21, §4169 — 20 mph school zone speed SHALL be where signs are posted. §10B (Guidance): 20 mph only where children reasonably expected. §10C (Option): DelDOT may set different speed via engineering study. | 2026 Part 7 (7A.01–7A.02): no §4169 reference, no 20 mph Standard in Part 7 text. Speed zone provisions moved to 7B.05 — engineering study required, but no specific DE statutory citation embedded in the MUTCD text. The §4169 law still exists in Title 21 but is no longer integrated into Part 7 as a Standard provision. |
| 7B.05 speed zone max distance | NEW CONSTRAINT | Rev 3: school speed zone should begin "at least 200 feet in advance" of school property or crossing. No maximum stated. | 2026 §7B.05 ¶05: "The maximum beginning point of a reduced school speed limit zone should not be greater than 500 feet in advance of the school grounds or a school crossing." New 500-foot cap. On a fast arterial, this limits how much advance warning distance a planner can use — constrains slow-down zone depth near WPPE. |
| 7B.03 Stop-control exceptions | MODIFIED | Rev 3: School Crossing assembly SHALL NOT be installed on approaches controlled by a STOP or YIELD sign. No exceptions stated beyond the blanket prohibition. | 2026 §7B.03 ¶09–10: two new Option exceptions — circular intersections with YIELD sign where crosswalk is ≥20 feet from yield point, and channelized right-turn lanes with YIELD sign where crosswalk is ≥20 feet from yield point. Slightly more flexibility at YIELD-controlled locations. |
| 7B.03 In-street sign approval gate | GATE REMOVED | Rev 3 §7B.12 §09 (DE Revision, Standard): in-street pedestrian signs SHALL only be installed along state-maintained roadways with DelDOT Traffic approval. Sponsoring entity SHALL enter ROW agreement. | 2026 §7B.03: no DelDOT approval gate for in-street signs. Standard sign mounting requirements still apply, but the approval gate and ROW agreement requirement are absent. This opens a potential community action path for in-street school crossing signs if 2026 is adopted. |
| FHWA compliance dates Table 1B-1 |
NEW IN 2026 | Rev 3: no Table 1B-1 compliance dates section. | 2026 Table 1B-1 (pp. 5–6): three specific FHWA deadlines added — (1) September 6, 2026: retroreflectivity of longitudinal pavement markings (§3A.05); (2) ~January 2031: high-profile grade crossing signs (§8B.16, 5-year window); (3) ~January 2036: highway traffic signals at or near grade crossings (§8D.09–12, 10-year window). All three are directly actionable for pedestrian and rail safety advocacy. |
Source: files/de-mutcd-2026.txt (pdftotext extraction, 98,377 lines) compared against files/deldot-mutcd-part7-school.txt. Verified 2026-06-14. → See also Table 7 (Timeline) for dated regulatory context and rail deadlines.
Each edition of the federal and Delaware MUTCD was driven by specific regulatory pressure, political context, or safety incidents. This table maps the pattern. Rows marked VERIFY need primary source confirmation; confirmed rows cite source docs in this repo.
| Year | Edition | Federal authority / DE Governor | Driving conditions / pressures | Key Part 7 / school area changes | DE response & lag |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Federal MUTCD 3rd Ed. | FHWA / Gov. Russell Peterson (R) | Interstate highway expansion; first major standardization push. Highway Safety Act of 1966 mandated uniform devices across states. | First edition to consolidate school area signs into dedicated guidance. "S" series sign codes introduced. No Delaware-specific provisions. | VERIFY DE adoption date and provisions unknown. Likely adopted verbatim. |
| 1978 | Federal MUTCD Revision | FHWA / Gov. Pete du Pont (R) | Post-55 mph national speed limit era; growing school zone accident data; NHTSA school bus safety push after 1970s fatal crashes. | School bus stop sign requirements tightened. SCHOOL warning sign colors clarified. Crossing guard sign standards added. | VERIFY DE adoption and any state supplements unknown. |
| 1988 | Federal MUTCD 4th Ed. | FHWA / Gov. Michael Castle (R) | Metric conversion pressure (FHWA); fluorescent yellow-green color research (FHWA, early 1980s studies showing higher conspicuity for school signs). | Fluorescent yellow-green (FYG) retroreflective sheeting introduced as Option for school signs — first time FYG appears in MUTCD. SCHOOL word pavement markings standardized. | VERIFY DE adoption and whether DE adopted FYG Option at this stage. |
| 2000 / 2003 | Federal MUTCD Millennium Ed. → 2003 Ed. | FHWA (Clinton/Bush transition) / Gov. Tom Carper → Ruth Ann Minner (both D) | Safe Routes to School Act (1998 TEA-21); pedestrian/bicycle safety research surge; ADA Accessibility Guidelines push. FHWA metric transition abandoned (2000). | Part 7 restructured as standalone chapter. FYG made Standard (shall) for school warning signs replacing yellow. "School area" vs "school zone" distinction formalized. 7A.01–7A.02 structure established. Crossing assembly language firmed up. | VERIFY DE adopted MUTCD 2003 with supplements — specific adoption date and DE Part 7 supplement contents unknown. Likely basis for first DE Revision tags. |
| 2009 (+ 2012 Suppl.) |
Federal MUTCD 2009 Ed. + Supplements | FHWA (Obama/LaHood DOT) / Gov. Jack Markell (D) | MUTCD 2003 noncompliance widespread; FHWA rulemaking finalized after years of comment. MAP-21 (2012) safe routes mandate. School bus crash data (NHTSA). Rail crossing fatality spike triggered Part 8 revisions. | Part 7: 7B.18 flashing beacon warrant added at federal level (min pedestrian volumes). Crossing assembly Shall provisions tightened. Part 8 Rev 1 (Dec 2012): school bus exemption at rail crossings (§4163) formally incorporated into DE MUTCD. Speed limit sign options expanded. | DE Rev 1 (Dec 2012): Part 8 adopted first — rail rules urgent due to Amtrak corridor. Part 7 Rev 1/2 dates unconfirmed. VERIFY Rev 1 and Rev 2 Part 7 dates and contents. |
| 2018 | DE MUTCD Rev 3 (current governing standard) | FHWA (Trump/Chao DOT, no new federal edition) / Gov. John Carney (D, first year), DelDOT Sec. Jennifer Cohan | No new federal edition — Rev 3 is a Delaware-initiated update to the 2009-base. Safe Routes to School funding (FAST Act 2015). Growing pedestrian fatality data in DE. Pressure from advocacy groups on school zones. | DE-specific additions confirmed in Rev 3: Factors E & F in 7A.02 ¶09 (crossing guard presence; unexpected location). S3-1-DE, S5-1-DE, S5-3-DE sign codes in Table 7B-1. §7B.18 flashing beacon warrant (40 peds/hr). §4169 integrated into Part 7 as Standard. DelDOT approval gates added for in-street signs, beacons, speed limit sign beacons. | Sourced. All Rev 3 provisions confirmed in files/deldot-mutcd-part7-school.pdf. Rev 3 is currently the governing DE MUTCD. Adoption date: May 2018. |
| 2023 | Federal MUTCD 11th Ed. (Dec 2023) | FHWA (Biden/Buttigieg DOT) / Gov. John Carney (D) | Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (2021) §11129 mandated MUTCD update. Pedestrian fatality crisis (7,500+ annual deaths, 40-yr high). Vision Zero movement. ADA settlement pressure on accessible signals. Safe System Approach adopted as FHWA policy framework. | Significant structural reorganization — Part 7 section numbering changed. RRFB (Rectangular Rapid Flash Beacon) and PHB (Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon) promoted from Option/experimental to standard options. Leading Pedestrian Interval (LPI) added as Guidance. "Safe System" language throughout. School crossing warrants updated. Note: DE has not adopted this structure — DE MUTCD 2026 retains 2009-era organization. | FHWA adoption deadline: January 18, 2026 — now PAST. DE MUTCD 2026 labeled PENDING APPROVAL on deldot.gov (verified 2026-06-14). Rev 3 (2018) is current governing standard. Federal 11th Ed. applies by default argument. Sourced: deldot.gov MUTCD index; files/mutcd-11th-part7.pdf. |
| 2026 (draft) | DE MUTCD 2026 (draft, not formally adopted) | FHWA (Biden → Trump/Duffy DOT transition) / Gov. Matt Meyer (D, took office Jan 2025), DelDOT Sec. VERIFY | FHWA adoption deadline pressure. Internal DelDOT update cycle. No known external safety incident or advocacy event driving this specific draft. Anomaly: draft removes DE-specific protections rather than adding them — a departure from every prior revision's pattern. | Regressions confirmed (2026-06-14): Factors E & F removed. S3-1-DE, S5-1-DE, S5-3-DE removed. §7B.18 beacon warrant section removed. §4169 removed from Part 7. 500-ft speed zone max added. In-street sign approval gate removed. 2009-era structure retained (11th Ed. not adopted). New FHWA compliance dates table (Table 1B-1) added. See Part D above for full comparison. | Draft status. Formal adoption not confirmed. Source: files/de-mutcd-2026.pdf (deldot.gov, 32MB). ACTION FOIA DelDOT for adoption notice, public comment record, and any written justification for removing Factors E&F and DE sign codes. |
Sources confirmed in this repo: Rev 3 Part 7 (files/deldot-mutcd-part7-school.pdf), Part 8 Rev 1 (files/de-mutcd-part8-railroad.pdf), DE MUTCD 2026 (files/de-mutcd-2026.pdf), Federal 11th Ed. Part 7 (files/mutcd-11th-part7.pdf). Rows marked VERIFY require primary source research — recommended FOIA targets: DelDOT archives, DE Secretary of State for prior adoption notices, FHWA for any DE extension requests.