104.30 Portable Traffic Signal (Pts)
2025 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS CATEGORY 100 PRELIMINARY SECTION 104.30 — PORTABLE TRAFFIC SIGNAL (PTS)
104.30.01 Description
Furnish, install, and maintain a portable, self-contained, trailer mounted traffic signal for maintenance of traffic operations as specified in the Contract Documents or as directed by the Engineer.
104.30.02 Materials
Portable Traffic Signal (PTS) As Approved by Office of Traffic and Safety
104.30.03 Construction
Place PTS trailers in the closed lane during alternating one-lane, two-way traffic operations, without intruding into the travel lane, or as directed by the Engineer. The Contractor is responsible for all setup procedures necessary for the PTS including setting up the trailers, setting up and testing the remote monitoring system notification, aiming signal heads, interconnecting the signal controllers, aiming, and adjusting vehicle detection units, and installing the timing provided by the Office of Traffic & Safety.
104.30.03 01 Equipment. Each PTS shall be a trailer mounted unit. A PTS system shall consist of two or more trailers. Each
unit shall be self-contained battery powered with solar assist, consist of two signal heads per trailer, and a solid state signal controller. One signal head should be mounted on an overhead mast arm capable of extending over the travel lane. The other signal head shall be mounted on a vertical upright. The PTS system shall have non-intrusive vehicle detectors and each PTS must be interconnected to each other at all times with a twisted pair shielded cable or wireless radio link with sufficient range, as specified in the Contract Documents or as directed. Trailer. The trailer shall conform to Maryland Motor Vehicle Law governing trailers. Support Structure. The PTS trailer shall be capable of accommodating a vertical upright and a horizontal mast arm. The trailer and all mounted equipment shall be structurally adequate for unlimited, normal operation in wind velocities typically encountered on the roadway (gusts of 80 MPH). No additional ballast shall be used to achieve the structural stability required for normal operation. Additional ballast includes but is not limited to, sandbags, concrete/cement blocks and
104.30 Portable Traffic Signal (Pts)
steel, cast, or iron weights (secured or unsecured). PTS trailers shall be manufactured to accommodate the option of transporting two signal trailers with one vehicle. Each signal trailer shall be equipped with four stabilizing/leveling jacks, one on each corner of the trailer. The PTS trailer shall have adequate structural integrity to facilitate lifting and placing the PTS trailer as required. Lift Mechanism. The PTS shall contain a lift mechanism that is electric or electrically-assisted hydraulic, as well as a manual mechanism capable of raising and lowering the mast arm. The mast arm shall extend a minimum of 9 ft from the side of the trailer. Signal Heads/Display Requirements. The PTS shall meet the physical display and operational requirements of conventional traffic signals according to Part IV of the MdMUTCD. Signal Heads shall be cast aluminum and have three, 12 in. LED indications, conforming to ITE Specifications for “Vehicle Traffic Control Signal Heads” and NEMA Standards TS1 and TS2. Signal heads shall be equipped with visors which extend beyond the signal head a minimum of 10 in. All signal housings shall have a black face and yellow housing. The signal heads shall have the ability to accommodate back plates and rotate horizontally 180 F. The PTS shall have a reversible signal head mounting feature which will allow two trailers to be placed in the same lane of traffic. Both signal heads shall be able to be rotated and locked into position to provide the optimum visibility to motorists. The overhead signal shall have a minimum clearance height of 17 ft and a maximum clearance height of 19 ft, measured from the bottom of the green indication to the road surface. The lower signal head shall be mounted to a vertical upright at a minimum height of 8 ft measured from the bottom of the green indication to the road surface. Power Requirements. Each PTS Trailer shall be equipped with batteries sufficient to operate the signal for a minimum of 21 days at 72 F without charging. The charging system shall include 390 watts (minimum) of solar collection capability and an onboard battery charger capable of being used with a 110 volt power source. The system shall also include an onboard monitoring system capable of regulating and providing a visual display of the battery voltage and solar input. Operational Requirements. Each PTS shall be equipped with an operating system having the following capabilities:
a.The signal controller shall be enclosed in a cabinet mounted on each trailer. (b) The controller shall be furnished with a keypad or LCD display screen to allow for the signal operator to program the signal under all weather conditions. The controller shall have the capability of connecting to a PC or laptop for programming.
c.The signal controller shall operate between -30 F and 150 F and in a 20 percent to 100 percent humidity range.
d.A conflict monitoring system conforming to NEMA Standards shall be provided.
e.The PTS shall have the capability of being operated in a fixed time, traffic actuated or manual control mode. 2025 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS
104.30 Portable Traffic Signal (Pts)
f.Fixed time mode operation option must include the ability to provide a minimum of five automatic signal timing changes within a 24 hour period.
g.The operating system shall have the ability to control a minimum of 7 traffic phases.
h.Programmable green times from 3 seconds to 250 seconds, yellow times from 3.5 seconds to 6 seconds, and red times from 1 second to 250 seconds shall be provided. All programmable green times shall be in 1 second increments. All programmable clearance times shall be in 0.5 second increments.
i.The PTS shall have the ability to facilitate minimum / maximum green time programming in the traffic actuated mode in a manner that will extend the green times in predetermined programmable segments as required.
j.The operating system shall have a programmable time-of-day feature that will allow the maximum green times to be changeable by time of day.
k.The operating system shall have the capability of facilitating standby modes of red, red flash and yellow flash mode.
l.The operating system shall be capable of facilitating traffic actuation with true presence capability.
m.The operating system shall have an integrated mechanism capable of recording system malfunctions including date and time of system failure. This information shall be available in a printable format.
n.The operating system shall be capable of accommodating a pre-emption system with optical activation which provides a priority green phase in the direction of appropriately equipped approaching emergency vehicles.
o.The operating system shall have the capability to allow the PTS to be connected to and controlled by a standard NEMA controller.
p.The operating system shall have a manual control option that will allow the Traffic Manager to manually control the signal to coordinate the PTS system for special operations.
q.The operating system shall be equipped with diagnostic capabilities in the event of a system default.
r.The system shall have the capability of identifying the default in a manner that will expedite the return to full operational mode. 2025 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS
104.30 Portable Traffic Signal (Pts)
Monitoring System Requirement. Furnish and install PTS monitoring system capable of reporting signal location, battery voltage and system default. The monitoring system shall have the ability to communicate system default via text or email to responsible individuals. As specified in GP-2.04 verify available communications at the site, e.g., cellular or satellite, and select an appropriate PTS monitoring system that works with that communication method. Coordinate the installation of monitoring system with the ADE-T to develop an acceptable plan for monitoring signal operations and reporting on system default. Actuation Requirements. The PTS systems shall be capable of utilizing non-invasive detectors for traffic actuation. Acceptable non-invasive detectors include microwave motion sensors and video detection cameras. Acceptable PTS systems shall have the capability of being operated with both a motion and true presence actuation system. Communication Requirements. The PTS systems shall have the capability of being operated using hardwired or wireless communication. Field conditions will determine the method used for interconnection of the PTS system. The communication cable shall be deployed in a manner that will not intrude in the direct work area of the project or obstruct vehicular and pedestrian traffic. If a radio link communication option is utilized, a clear line of sight must be maintained between PTS units. The radio system shall conform to the applicable Federal Communication Commission requirements and all applicable state and local requirements. Should there be a failure in the communication link between the two signals, both signals shall be display solid red indications. Default Requirements. PTS systems shall have the capability of reverting to a solid red, red flash, or yellow flash mode upon system default. The default setting shall be solid red unless otherwise stated in the project specifications or as directed by the Engineer. Upon default the PTS system shall immediately contact a minimum of three responsible individuals via the remote monitoring system described in the Operational Requirement section. The PTS system repairs shall be the responsibility of the contactor and rendered in a manner that will return to PTS to full operation condition in the most expeditious manner. Field Operations. Set up, program, relocate, and maintain the PTS as per the Contract Documents or as directed by the Engineer, as recommended by the PTS manufacturer. Notify the Assistant District Engineer Traffic and the Office of Traffic and Safety at least three weeks prior to starting work. There will be no programming or timing changes to the PTS without written approval from the Office of Traffic and Safety. The contractor shall adjust or reconfigure the PTS operation only as directed by the Engineer, with approval from the Office of Traffic and Safety and the Assistant District Engineer Traffic. Operate the PTS as noted on the Maintenance of Traffic signalization plans, when available. Provide SHA with the name and telephone number of an emergency contact person to maintain and operate or repair the signals. Make provisions to have certified flaggers who have completed the SHA approved flagger training course and make provisions to have appropriate signing in place to maintain traffic at the PTS location in case of a PTS failure. Notify the Engineer, the Statewide 2025 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS
104.30 Portable Traffic Signal (Pts)
Operations Center (SOC), and the ADE-T in the event of a failure. Maintain daily log at the signal site and record equipment malfunction.
104.30.04 Measurement and Payment
The Portable Traffic Signal will be measured and paid for at the Contract price per unit day. A unit day will consist of any approved usage within a normal work shift, regardless of start time or whether the shift runs into another calendar day. Each portable traffic signal will be paid for only once per unit day. When a portable traffic signal is used for part of a day, it will be measured and paid for as a unit day. When operations require continuous 24 hour use of a portable traffic signal, the unit day will be measured as 24 hour periods from start to finish. The payment will be full compensation for the provision, installation, operation, interconnection, monitoring system, maintenance, reconfiguration, adjustments, flaggers, signing, repair technicians, relocation as required by the Traffic Control Plan or as directed by the Engineer, and for all materials, labor, equipment, tools, training by the portable traffic signal manufacturer, and incidentals necessary to complete the work. Where other Contract pay items for Maintenance of Traffic are specified in the Contract Documents, measurement and payment shall conform to the pertinent items. 2025 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS
104.31 Accessible Pedestrian Maintenance of Traffic
2025 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS CATEGORY 100 PRELIMINARY SECTION 104.31 — ACCESSIBLE PEDESTRIAN MAINTENANCE OF TRAFFIC
104.31.01 Description
Provide and maintain an accessible pedestrian route, to the “maximum extent feasible”, throughout the project’s limits. When an existing pedestrian access route within the public right of way is blocked by construction, alteration, or maintenance activity, an alternate accessible pedestrian route shall be provided. The phrase, “maximum extent feasible”, applies in areas where the nature of an existing facility or site conditions makes it virtually impossible to comply fully with applicable accessibility standards through a planned alteration. In these circumstances, the alternate accessible pedestrian route shall provide the maximum physical accessibility that is feasible, or a design waiver must be approved by SHA’s Office of Highway Development.
104.31.02 Materials
Not applicable.
104.31.03 Construction
Consider the following items when addressing accessible pedestrian maintenance of traffic:
a.All pedestrians, including persons with disabilities, shall be provided with a reasonably safe, convenient and accessible path that replicates as much as practicable the existing pedestrian facilities.
b.The width of the existing pedestrian facility should be maintained if practical. When it is not possible to maintain a minimum width of 60 in. throughout the entire length of the pedestrian route, a minimum width of 36 in. shall be provided with 60 in. x 60 in. passing zones at least every 200 ft, to allow individuals in wheelchairs to pass.
c.Traffic control devices and other construction materials and features shall not intrude into the usable width of the sidewalk, temporary pathway or other pedestrian facility.
d.Signs and other devices mounted lower than 7 ft above the temporary pedestrian pathway shall not project more than 4 in. into accessible pedestrian route.
Source: Maryland Standard Specifications for Construction and Materials, 2025 Edition. Pages 226–230 of 1,113.