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Traffic engineering design guidelines and standards

We have information on design guidelines, plans and specifications, reports and publications, and more.

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We offer guidance and standards to traffic engineers looking to create designs for City streets.

Design guidelines and CAD standards

Design guidelines and CAD standards
Traffic Signal Operations Design Guidelines
Pedestrian Delay Worksheet Example
Traffic Signal Design Submission Requirements
CAD Standards Manual
CAD Templates and Blocks (zip folder)
Sign code guide book (May 2018)
Public Works Design Standards
Complete Streets Guidelines
Speed hump policy and design directive

Engineering Standard Plans

Standards
A1 Concrete Signal Foundation
A100 Parking Meter Post Installation No. 1
A101 Parking Meter Post Installation No. 2
A102 Parking Meter Post Installation No. 3
A104 Welded Parking Meter Post and Flange
A105 Parking Meter Post Installation No. 5
A107 2-inch Meter Posts
A11.1 Typical Saw Cut Installation for Loop Detectors
A12.4 Typical Loop Detector Detail
A13.1 Traffic Signal Post Pedestal Type
A14.1 Pedestal Base for Standard Traffic Signal Post: Part 1
A15 Pedestal Base for Standard Traffic Signal Post: Part 2
A16 Column Base for Standard Traffic Signal Post
A2.3 Type II Mastarm/Cored Pier Foundation
A2.4 Standard Mast Arm Spread Foot Foundation
A201 2-inch and 2.5-inch Sign Post Installation, 12-foot Post
A203 2-inch Sign Post Installation Surface Mount
A205 Surface Mount Base for 2-inch Square Post
A219 Aluminum Sign Blanks Larger than 18 x 18
A219-1 Aluminum Sign Blanks 18 x 18 or Smaller
A25 Back Plate for Terminal Block
A26.1 19 Wire Terminal Block with Accessories
A3.1 Concrete Control Box Foundation CA and CB Cabinets
A3.4 Concrete Control Box Foundation CC and CD Cabinets
A3.5 Type CB Control Cabinets
A30 Height Requirements for Mounting Traffic Signal Equipment
A302 Pavement Markings for Parking Meter Stalls
A303 Pavement Markings for Parking Meter Stalls
A304 Angle Parking Stalls
A306 Crosswalks with 12-inch Longitudinal Lines
A307 Crosswalks with 24-inch Longitudinal Lines
A308 Special Emphasis Crosswalks
A309 Standard Crosswalks
A310 Trolley Track Left Turn Arrow
A311 Lane Line Pavement Markings
A312 Mast Arm Sign Mount
A313 Neckdown Standard Width
A314 Lane Use Control Word and Symbol Markings
A36 Cable Wiring IMSA 19-1, 19-5
A36.1 Cable Wiring I.M.S.A 19-2, 19-6
A37.3 Conduit Installation and Roadway Patch Detail
A38 Typical Installation of PVC Conduit
A40 12 x 24 Precast Concrete Handhole
A40.1 Precast Interconnect Manhole
A40.2 Manhole (Frame and Cover)
A42 Rectangular Rapid Flash Beacon
A42.1 Pedestrian Activated Flashing Beacon - 120 VAC
A43 Pedestrian Sign and Pushbutton Saddle
A43A Pedestrian Pushbutton Sign Legend
A45 Steel Mast Arm Detail
A48 Overhead Traffic Signal Service Connection
A50 Standard Mast Arm Street Name Sign
A51 Street Name Sign Specification Detail
A52 solar-powered flashing LED pedestrian crossing sign
School Zone Flasher Assembly
A701 BIKE LANE ADJACENT TO CURB
A702 BIKE LANE ADJACENT TO PARKING
A703 BUFFERED BIKE LANE
A704 SEPARATED BIKE LANE
A705 PARKING PROTECTED BIKE LANE
A706 PARKING PROTECTED BIKE LANE WITH METERS
A707 BIKE LANE THROUGH BUS STOP
A708 BUFFERED BIKE LANE THROUGH BUS STOP
A709 BIKE LANE ADJACENT TO BUS STOP
A710 BIKE LANE SYMBOL SPACING
A711 TYPICAL BIKE LANE INTERSECTION CROSSING
A712 BIKE BOX
A713 TWO STAGE BIKE BOX
A714 DAYLIGHTING WITH EXISTING STOP BAR
A715 DAYLIGHTING WITHOUT EXISTING STOP BAR
A716 DAYLIGHTING WITHOUT EXISTING CROSSWALK
A717 YIELD MARKINGS
A718 SEPARATED BIKE LANE YIELD MARKINGS
A719 YIELD MARKINGS AT MIDBLOCK CROSSWALK
A720 TRAFFIC SEPARATOR CURB (MODULAR BASE)
A721 TYPICAL SHARED LANE MARKING SYMBOL WITH ON-STREET PARKING
A722 TYPICAL SHARED LANE MARKING SYMBOL WITHOUT ON-STREET PARKING
A723 RAISED CROSSING
A724 SPEED HUMP
A725 MID-BLOCK ACCESSIBLE SPACE WITH PROTECTED BIKE LANE
A726 FAR-SIDE ACCESSIBLE SPACE WITH PROTECTED BIKE LANE
A727 NEAR-SIDE ACCESSIBLE SPACE WITH PROTECTED BIKE LANE
A728 RADAR SPEED FEEDBACK SIGN
A729 LOW-PROFILE SPEED BUMP
A730 HARDENED CENTERLINE - VEHICLE PATHS
A731 FULL HARDENED CENTERLINE
A732 HARDENED CENTERLINE
A8.1 12 x 24 Cast Iron Handhole Frame and Cover
A8.2 Polymer Frame and Cover Assembly

Engineering specifications

Specifications
8IN and 12IN Traffic Signals
Accessible Pedestrian Pushbutton System
Actuated Controllers Addenda to MHD Specifications
ADA Push Button Assembly
Battery Backup System
Closed Loop Field Master
Fiberoptic Interconnect System
Fiberoptic/Copper Communication Interface
General notes
LED 8 and 12 in vehicle traffic signals
LED Pedestrian Signals
Loop Detector Test Procedure
Multi-Space Parking Meter Remove and Reset
Parking Meter Post and Base
Parking Meter Post Remove and Replace
Pedestrian Signals
Rack Mounted Loop Detector Amplifiers
Rigid Plastic Conduit for Traffic Signals
School Zone Flasher Assembly
Sign Posts Removed and Reset
Sign Posts Removed and Stacked
Signal Interconnection System
Solar-powered flashing LED pedestrian crossing sign
Specification for Rack Mounted GPS Unit
Specification for Rectangular Rapid Flash Beacon
Speed Display Sign
Steel Sign Posts 2 IN and 2.5 IN
Street Sign Name 18 IN (Mast Arm)
Street Sign Name 9 IN
Traffic Signs Removed and Reset
Traffic Signs Removed and Stacked
Video Based Multiple Camera Sensor System
Video Based Single Camera Sensor System
Video Monitoring System

Off-street loading

Does your project have an off-street loading site?

We have guidelines for how you should set up loading points. The goal is to make things as efficient as possible, while minimizing the effect on pedestrians and traffic.

Keep in mind
  • You will need to get our approval for the size of the trucks you plan to use to load and unload. We’ll need to see a site plan that includes the truck turning path into the loading site. You need to create the plan at a 1:20 scale.
  • You will also need to be able to answer the questions in our Off-Street Loading guidelines. If your plan is approved, a engineer signs and stamps your plans.

Traffic data devices

Installation

If you want to install a device to track and study traffic data, there are some strict guidelines. Every side of the device needs to have your company’s name and a 24-hour telephone number to reach the device’s owner. The print needs to be big enough to read from a distance.

Seven days before you set up the device, you need to put together a list that contains:

  • the locations and color of the devices
  • a sample of the print size and type on each device, and
  • any other useful information to help identify the devices.
Give us your information

Bring that list to the Transportation Department in Room 721 and the Public Works Department in Room 714 at Boston City Hall:

1 City Hall Square
Boston MA 02201
Office hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

If you change your devices or move them around, you need to let both departments know. If you have any questions about the program, call the Transportation Department at 617-635-4680.

Traffic reports and publications

Reports and publications
Traffic Management Center Annual Report - FY 2017
Traffic Management Center Annual Report - FY 2016
Traffic Management Center Annual Report - FY 2015
Traffic Management Center Annual Report - FY 2014
Traffic Management Center Annual Report - FY 2013
Traffic Management Center Annual Report - FY 2012
Traffic Management Center Annual Report - FY 2011
Traffic Management Center Annual Report - FY 2010
Traffic Rules and Regulations
Benefits of Traffic Signal Retiming Report in Back Bay (March 2010)
Benefit-cost evaluation of the BTD Traffic Signal Retiming Program (FY 2010-2012)
Benefit-cost evaluation of the BTD Traffic Signal Retiming Program (FY 2013-2016)

Disclaimer

You can only use the information on our website as a reference. If you rely on it for your business, the City of Boston can’t be held accountable if you suffer any financial losses.

You can use these plans and specifications to guide your work, but they are not official City documents.

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