Are there minimum retroreflectivity requirements for pavement markings? If so, what are the expected standards?
Pavement marking retroreflectivity minimum standards were recently added to the National MUTCD. Agencies with roads over 7,000 vehicles per day will need to implement a maintenance method to maintain minimum retroreflectivity requirements.
In New York State, the retroreflectivity is 50mcd/m2/lx (millicandelas per square meter per lux) under dry conditions for roads with speed limits of 35 mph or greater for longitudinal markings.
In the MUTCD there is a higher level of 100 mcd/m2/lx (millicandelas per square meter per lux) under dry conditions for roads with speed limits of 70 mph or greater, which will not be applicable in the state. Agencies can always set a higher level and there may be times when an agency wants to set a higher level of retroreflectivity.