2026 Caltrans MUTCD

[pderocco]

Not to mention how few US highways are left in CA, the most noticable for this will be 101 since it's by far the longest with them and 50 after that.

Don't forget 395, although much of that sees little traffic.

[FredAkbar]

Not to mention how few US highways are left in CA, the most noticable for this will be 101 since it's by far the longest with them and 50 after that.

395 in CA is way longer than 50 but 50 is probably more well-known by normies (and more heavily traveled) since it's how you get to South Lake Tahoe.

[ClassicHasClass]

So what you're saying is, US 95 or US 6 is going to be the last California US highway that keeps its cutouts?

[Max Rockatansky]

So what you're saying is, US 95 or US 6 is going to be the last California US highway that keeps its cutouts?

The thought came to mind is if through attrition more US Route cutouts will end up in my garage?  SB1 had a lot of old shields up in the hands of scrappers a couple years ago.  I have a really nice older Nevada style US 95 shield but would love to add a California variant.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/151828809@N08/3Z8GUt33iU

[TheStranger]

One of the more interesting side thoughts that came to mind:
We know local CalTrans districts are notorious for replacing-in-kind and retaining things the federal MUTCD has depreciated (i.e. new, retroreflective next-3-exits signs that still use freeway names in the Los Angeles area).

I wonder which of the districts will be the last holdout for cutouts!  (And if that functionally will not be for decades to come...hopefully)

[Max Rockatansky]

One of the more interesting side thoughts that came to mind:
We know local CalTrans districts are notorious for replacing-in-kind and retaining things the federal MUTCD has depreciated (i.e. new, retroreflective next-3-exits signs that still use freeway names in the Los Angeles area).

I wonder which of the districts will be the last holdout for cutouts!  (And if that functionally will not be for decades to come...hopefully)

District 4 seemed to be pretty resistant to taking SB1 funds for signage replacement projects.  I don't see them suddenly reversing course just to replace US 101 shields.

[cl94]

One of the more interesting side thoughts that came to mind:
We know local CalTrans districts are notorious for replacing-in-kind and retaining things the federal MUTCD has depreciated (i.e. new, retroreflective next-3-exits signs that still use freeway names in the Los Angeles area).

I wonder which of the districts will be the last holdout for cutouts!  (And if that functionally will not be for decades to come...hopefully)

The California MUTCD explicitly allows for freeway named to be used in urban areas.

[CtrlAltDel]

A sad day for me, and more importantly, my avatar. 

[Bobby5280]

If they're moving to get rid of the cut-out US shields over cost concerns I'd like to know why those shields would cost any more than a standard square or rectangular US highway sign. The more plain looking US highway signs have radiused corners. The sign parts have to be either computer routed or stamped out of either .080" or .125" aluminum.

The shape doesn't really matter. The same amount of material is getting used either way.

If they're going to raise the concern about accurately lining up graphics with the cut out shape, that's not really a big deal either. You can cover a large sheet of aluminum with high intensity reflective vinyl, digitally print multiple copies of the US highway shield graphics across the sheet and then have a computer controlled routing table die cut the sign shapes. It's not that hard to do. And you pretty much have to do the same procedure if you're going to make the ordinary square/rectangular US highway sign shapes.

[Max Rockatansky]

If they're moving to get rid of the cut-out US shields over cost concerns I'd like to know why those shields would cost any more than a standard square or rectangular US highway sign. The more plain looking US highway signs have radiused corners. The sign parts have to be either computer routed or stamped out of either .080" or .125" aluminum.

The shape doesn't really matter. The same amount of material is getting used either way.

If they're going to raise the concern about accurately lining up graphics with the cut out shape, that's not really a big deal either. You can cover a large sheet of aluminum with high intensity reflective vinyl, digitally print multiple copies of the US highway shield graphics across the sheet and then have a computer controlled routing table die cut the sign shapes. It's not that hard to do. And you pretty much have to do the same procedure if you're going to make the ordinary square/rectangular US highway sign shapes.

Something I don't think anyone has brought up is Federal Aid Programs.  I seem to recall the FHWA threatening to withhold money from Florida using colored US Route shields was enough for them to switch.  I suspect there might be some hardball going on behind the scenes that is forcing Caltrans to come more in line with the FHWA MUTCD.

[vdeane]

If they're moving to get rid of the cut-out US shields over cost concerns I'd like to know why those shields would cost any more than a standard square or rectangular US highway sign. The more plain looking US highway signs have radiused corners. The sign parts have to be either computer routed or stamped out of either .080" or .125" aluminum.

The shape doesn't really matter. The same amount of material is getting used either way.

If they're going to raise the concern about accurately lining up graphics with the cut out shape, that's not really a big deal either. You can cover a large sheet of aluminum with high intensity reflective vinyl, digitally print multiple copies of the US highway shield graphics across the sheet and then have a computer controlled routing table die cut the sign shapes. It's not that hard to do. And you pretty much have to do the same procedure if you're going to make the ordinary square/rectangular US highway sign shapes.

They contractors just pull from the standard non-interstate shield template they would use in the rest of the country, though; they'd have to cut out the design specifically for California.  Moreover, if they save money by printing up a bunch of blanks and then putting the numbers in when needed, they can't use the blanks, they have to get them custom-made.

[Scott5114]

How many contractors actually do business both in California and any other state besides Nevada? I can't imagine it's a lot, since California is very large and there isn't really much on the other side of its borders with Oregon and Arizona.

Nevada standards are basically building the federal MUTCD out of California hardware (with the addition of the neato wind brace).

[cahwyguy]

Something I don't think anyone has brought up is Federal Aid Programs.  I seem to recall the FHWA threatening to withhold money from Florida using colored US Route shields was enough for them to switch.  I suspect there might be some hardball going on behind the scenes that is forcing Caltrans to come more in line with the FHWA MUTCD.

I suspect this. The current administration likely threatened to withhold funding if they didn't comply with the national MUTCD, and Caltrans decided there were better battles worth fighting. They'll do a slow drag on making the changes they don't want to do, and will undo things after the administration changes.

[Bobby5280]

It makes sense these changes are coming via a political pissing contest. It certainly doesn't have to do anything with saving money. If anything the mandated changes will cost a good amount of money.

[vdeane]

It makes sense these changes are coming via a political pissing contest. It certainly doesn't have to do anything with saving money. If anything the mandated changes will cost a good amount of money.

I wouldn't expect a mass replacement of signage; more likely it will appear as signage would be replaced anyways.

[Scott5114]

They'll do a slow drag on making the changes they don't want to do, and will undo things after the administration changes.

Now I'm just imagining them complying and posting US route shields on a black background...and then on January 20 of some year, Caltrans goes around and removes the black backgrounds (which were just a separate black square sign stuck to the back the entire time) and sticks vinyl US letters above the number.

[Bobby5280]

One thing I find sort of funny about the federal government pushing Caltrans around with its unique US highway signs: various states around the rest of the nation aren't consistent with the design of their "plain" US highway shields either. The 2-digit and 3-digit badge shapes vary. They often differ from the M1-4 design in the past few editions of the MUTCD SHS guidelines.

[Voyager]

A sad day for me, and more importantly, my avatar. 

I have a (legally) obtained cutout in my living room so glad I got one when I did!

[Max Rockatansky]

A sad day for me, and more importantly, my avatar. 

I have a (legally) obtained cutout in my living room so glad I got one when I did!

Very strong chance a bunch will end up in scrap shops and on eBay in the coming years.

[vdeane]

A sad day for me, and more importantly, my avatar. 

I have a (legally) obtained cutout in my living room so glad I got one when I did!

Very strong chance a bunch will end up in scrap shops and on eBay in the coming years.

Is there reason to believe the CalTrans would move any faster on swapping out cutout US route shields than they have on exit numbers?

[Max Rockatansky]

A sad day for me, and more importantly, my avatar. 

I have a (legally) obtained cutout in my living room so glad I got one when I did!

Very strong chance a bunch will end up in scrap shops and on eBay in the coming years.

Is there reason to believe the CalTrans would move any faster on swapping out cutout US route shields than they have on exit numbers?

Not really, but small-scale projects along US Routes are likely to include M1-4 shields.  A lot of reassurance shields get replaced by normal attrition.

[CtrlAltDel]

A sad day for me, and more importantly, my avatar. 

I have a (legally) obtained cutout in my living room so glad I got one when I did!

I may have to pick one up myself.

[stevashe]

Will they eventually release an update of their own manual that isn't just portions of the MUTCD with the things they don't like crossed out? (Boy, they REALLY hate the generic state route shield marker.)

The previous California MUTCD also had everything crossed out in the same way, so this is almost certainly the final version.

[Max Rockatansky]

Will they eventually release an update of their own manual that isn't just portions of the MUTCD with the things they don't like crossed out? (Boy, they REALLY hate the generic state route shield marker.)

The previous California MUTCD also had everything crossed out in the same way, so this is almost certainly the final version.

The 2026 version was effective as of 1/18/26.  This all appears to be final in my view:

https://dot.ca.gov/programs/safety-programs/camutcd

[vdeane]

Will they eventually release an update of their own manual that isn't just portions of the MUTCD with the things they don't like crossed out? (Boy, they REALLY hate the generic state route shield marker.)

The previous California MUTCD also had everything crossed out in the same way, so this is almost certainly the final version.

How unprofessional of them.