Northern San Luis Obispo County Coastal Trail Master Plan

Northern San Luis Obispo County Coastal Trail Master Plan
California Highway Barrier Aesthetics
Caltrans published a report on highway barrier aesthetics in 2002 that provides guidance for barriers. 6 The
report provides an overview of barrier design options which may be beneficial within the scenic easement of
Highway 1. The photos below provide two examples.
A cable barrier is less costly than metal beam guardrail and is
can be easier to maintain.
3-18
Type 60 Textured concrete barrier along Highway 1, San
Luis Obispo, CA.
(Photo credit: District 5 Landscape Architecture Office)
California MUTCD (2012)
The California MUTCD (CA MUTCD) is published by Caltrans and is issued to adopt uniform standards and
specifications for official traffic control devices in California. Traffic control devices are defined as all signs,
signals, markings, and other devices used to regulate, warn, or guide traffic, placed on, over, or adjacent to a
street, highway, pedestrian facility, or bikeway by authority of a public agency or official having jurisdiction,
or, in the case of a private road, by authority of the private owner or private official having jurisdiction. The
CA MUTCD is not applicable to privately-owned and maintained roads or commercial establishments in
California, unless the particular city or county enacts an ordinance or resolution to this effect.
The CA MUTCD incorporates the FHWA’s MUTCD (2009 Edition) and all policies on traffic control devices
issued by Caltrans that have been issued since January 21, 2010 and other editorial, errata, and format changes
that were necessary to update the previous documents.
On state highways, the CA MUTCD shall not supersede Caltrans’ Standard Plans, Standard Specifications or
the Special Provisions publications but all Standard statements of the CA MUTCD shall be met. On state
highways, whenever there is a discrepancy between the specifications and requirements contained in the CA
MUTCD, and those contained in Caltrans’ Standard Plans, Standard Specifications or the Special Provisions
6 http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/LandArch/barrier_aesthetics/barrier-aesth1final.pdf