HD71 - Desirability and Feasibility of Installing Mile Markers Along State Primary Highways


Executive Summary:
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) was requested by the 1999 General Assembly, through House Joint Resolution 493 (Appendix A), to conduct a study assessing the desirability and feasibility of the installation of mile markers along state primary highways to determine if installation of these devices would be in the interest of the safety and convenience of the motoring public.

To conduct this study, literary searches were performed along with requests for input from selected states, the Virginia State Police, the Virginia Trucking Association, the American Automobile Association, and VDOT's district and residency personnel.

Literature reviews and contacts with selected states provided input that indicated mile markers have been used on at least some non-interstate highways in other states. Benefits cited by literature and the contacts indicate that mile markers:

• Provide a reference point for the police to record the location of accidents and traffic violations

• Benefit the motoring public by providing milepost information that can be used by businesses

• Help solve problems with lost tourists who cannot find street or house numbers

• Inform motorists of their position relative to each county line (applicable only when county specific and not when continuous mile markers are used)

• Enable department personnel to accurately locate highway features and data recorded in files based upon the mile marker information

• Enable maintenance personnel to easily locate areas needing work

• Allow more expeditious routing of emergency personnel to highway emergency scenes

• Aid motorists in estimating progress and in orienting themselves for decisions that may be needed

Responses to the desirability and feasibility of installing mile markers on primary highways were mixed. While the Virginia State Police support the installation of mile markers on the primary highways, both the Virginia Trucking Association and the American Automobile Association provided responses of no comments to our request concerning the installation of mile markers on the primary highways.

Feedback from the department's district and residency personnel indicate that the majority of them consider that the benefits gained by both the motorists and the Department from the installation of mile markers on the primary highways will not outweigh the cost and maintenance associated with their installation. Increased maintenance costs would result from mowing, snow removal, drainage work, and repair/replacement of the mile markers and would be exacerbated by the fact that many two-lane, rural primary highways have narrow shoulders which require the mile markers to be installed closer to the edge of pavement where they would be more susceptible to damage. In addition, mile markers in urban areas would be ineffective due to the amount of existing signing, development and entrance locations. Street names and landmarks in urban areas will continue to be used for locating accidents, businesses, etc. even if mile markers were installed.

The conclusions of this study indicate that installing mile markers along all state primary highways is not needed and would be very costly. However, installing mile markers on certain segments of rural primary highways, that are part of the National Highway System (NHS), could be beneficial. Therefore, in the year 2000 VDOT will develop criteria to prioritize rural NHS roads for mile marker installation. Other organizations, such as police and emergency services, will be invited to participate in the development of criteria. VDOT recommends initiating a pilot program based on the criteria developed. The development of criteria will be accomplished within current budget. In the current VDOT budget there is no specific allocation for this type of installation. However, once the criteria are developed, VDOT will allocate funds for the pilot program for year 2001 installation. VDOT will request the assistance of the Virginia Transportation Research Council to monitor and evaluate the pilot to identify benefits and determine the significance of the costs associated with installation and maintenance.