Title 47 — Title 47 PUBLIC HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORTATION

The definitions set forth in this section apply throughout this chapter.(1) "Erect" means to construct, build, raise, assemble, place, affix, attach, create, paint, draw, or in any other way bring into being or establish.(2) "Interstate system" means a state highway that is or be…

The department shall fix permanent monuments at the original positions of all United States government monuments at township corners, section corners, quarter section corners, meander corners, and witness markers, as originally established by the United States government survey w…

The secretary of transportation shall adopt specifications for a uniform system of traffic control signals consistent with the provisions of this title for use upon public highways within this state. Such uniform system shall correlate with and so far as possible conform to the s…

The duration of a yellow change interval at any traffic control signal must be at least as long as the minimum yellow change interval identified in the manual of uniform traffic control devices for streets and highways as adopted by the department under this chapter.[ 2012 c 85 s…

(1) For the purposes of this section:(a) "Arterial" means a public road or highway that is designated or qualifies as a principal or minor arterial under a state or local law, ordinance, regulation, or plan.(b) "Bicycle" means a human-powered vehicle with metallic wheels at least…

(1) The secretary of transportation shall have the power and it shall be its duty to adopt and designate a uniform state standard for the manufacture, display, erection, and location of all signs, signals, signboards, guideposts, and other traffic devices erected or to be erected…

The department, upon written request, shall cause to be manufactured, painted, and printed, and shall furnish to any county legislative authority or the governing body of any incorporated city or town, directional signboards, guide boards, and posts of the uniform state standard …

The department shall erect and maintain upon every state highway in the state of Washington suitable and proper signs, signals, signboards, guideposts, and other traffic devices according to the adopted and designated state standard of design, erection, and location, and in the m…

The department shall place and maintain such traffic devices conforming to the manual and specifications adopted upon all state highways as it deems necessary to carry out the provisions of this title or to regulate, warn, or guide traffic.[ 1984 c 7 s 191; 1961 c 13 s 47.36.053.…

Local authorities in their respective jurisdictions shall place and maintain such traffic devices upon public highways under their jurisdiction as are necessary to carry out the provisions of the law or local traffic ordinances or to regulate, warn, or guide traffic. Cities and t…

Whenever any person, firm, corporation, municipal corporation, or local authorities responsible for the erection and maintenance, or either, of signs at any railroad crossing or point of danger upon any state highway fails, neglects, or refuses to erect and maintain, or either, t…

Wherever it is considered necessary or convenient the department may erect approach and warning signs upon the approach of any state highway to a highway-railroad grade crossing situated at a sufficient distance therefrom to make the warning effective. The department may further …

Standard federal road markers shall be placed on state highways in the manner requested by the department of transportation of the United States. The department of transportation of the state of Washington is authorized and empowered to cooperate with the several states and with …

The department is hereby authorized to establish a continuing system for the designating of state highways and branches or portions thereof, heretofore established by the legislature of the state of Washington, to give designations to such state highways and branches, or portions…

Designations or redesignations assigned under the system by the department pursuant to RCW 47.36.095 as each is made, shall be filed with the secretary of state and with the auditor of each county. Thereafter such highways shall be so designated for all purposes.[ 1984 c 7 s 197;…

Directional signs showing distance and direction to points of importance may be placed at all crossings and intersections of primary and secondary state highways. The department may place such directional signs as it deems necessary upon any city streets designated by it as formi…

In order to provide safety at intersections on the state highway system, the department may require persons traveling upon any portion of such highway to stop before entering the intersection, except as provided in RCW 46.61.190. For this purpose there may be erected a standard s…

The department shall erect wherever it deems necessary upon state highways at or near their point of entrance into cities and towns, signs of the standard design designating the city or town limits of the cities or towns.[ 1984 c 7 s 200; 1961 c 13 s 47.36.120. Prior: 1937 c 53 s…

No person shall without lawful authority attempt to or in fact alter, deface, injure, knock down, or remove any official traffic control signal, traffic device or railroad sign or signal, or any inscription, shield, or insignia thereon, or any other part thereof.[ 1961 c 13 s 47.…

(1) Local transit authority bus shelters within the right-of-way of the state highway system may display and maintain commercial advertisements subject to applicable federal regulations, if any. Pursuant to RCW 47.12.120, the department may lease state right-of-way air space to l…

(1) It is unlawful to erect or maintain at or near a city street, county road, or state highway any structure, sign, or device:(a) Visible from a city street, county road, or state highway and simulating any directional, warning, or danger sign or light likely to be mistaken for …

(1) When construction, repair, or maintenance work is conducted on or adjacent to a public highway, county road, street, bridge, or other thoroughfare commonly traveled and when the work interferes with the normal and established mode of travel on the highway, county road, street…

(1) If the department or its delegate determines at any time for any part of the public highway system that the unsafe conditions of the roadway require particular tires, tire chains, or traction equipment in addition to or beyond the ordinary pneumatic rubber tires, the departme…

The department shall erect signs on multilane highways indicating proper lane usage.[ 1986 c 93 s 6.]Notes:Keep right except when passing, etc: RCW 46.61.100.

Regional shopping center directional signs shall be erected and maintained on state highway right-of-way if they meet each of the following criteria:(1) There shall be at least five hundred thousand square feet of retail floor space available for lease at the regional shopping ce…

The department of transportation shall, by January 1, 1992, adopt minimum pavement marking standards for the area designating the limits of the vehicle driving lane along the right edge for arterials that do not have curbs or sidewalks and are inside urbanized areas. In preparing…

Directional signs for state parks within fifteen miles of an interstate highway shall be erected and maintained on the interstate highway by the department despite the existence of additional directional signs on primary or scenic system highways in closer proximity to such state…

(1) The legislative authority of any county, city, or town may erect, or permit the erection of, supplemental directional signs directing motorists to motorist service businesses qualified for motorist information sign panels pursuant to RCW 47.36.310 or 47.36.320 in any location…

The department is authorized to erect and maintain motorist information sign panels within the right-of-way of the interstate highway system to give the traveling public specific information as to gas, food, lodging, camping, or tourist-oriented business available on a crossroad …

The department is authorized to erect and maintain motorist information sign panels within the right-of-way of noninterstate highways to give the traveling public specific information as to gas, food, lodging, recreation, or tourist-oriented businesses accessible by way of highwa…

(1) Not more than six business signs may be permitted on motorist information sign panels authorized by RCW 47.36.310 and 47.36.320.(2) The maximum distance that eligible service facilities may be located on either side of an interchange or intersection to qualify for a business …

To be eligible for placement of a business sign on a motorist information sign panel a lodging activity shall:(1) Be licensed or approved by the department of social and health services or county health authority;(2) Provide adequate sleeping and bathroom accommodations available…

The department shall ensure that motorist information sign panels are installed within nine months of receiving the request for installation.[ 1999 c 201 s 7; 1991 c 94 s 5.]

(1) The department of transportation shall not include the logo "RV" under RCW 47.36.310 and 47.36.320 unless a business or destination requests an "RV" logo and the department determines that the gas, food, or lodging business or the camping or tourist activity destination provi…

The department may install adopt-a-highway signs, with the following restrictions:(1) Signs shall be designed by the department and may only include the words "adopt-a-highway litter control facility" or "adopt-a-highway litter control next XX miles" and the name of the litter co…

(1)(a) The executive officer, or a designated employee, with control of operations and maintenance of a bridge of any county, city, town, or state agency, subject to approval by the department pursuant to (d) of this subsection, may erect informational signs near or attached to b…