Signing and Pavement Marking

Enhancing road safety through the implementation and maintenance of a variety of pavement markings, signage and traffic control.

What We Do

Traffic Engineering Division maintains 57,870 signs and 253 miles of centerline pavement markings.
Install and maintain pavement markings to provide road users with critical information especially regarding lane designation and stop and yield locations.
Install and maintain public signing to provide road users with critical information during all seasons, some examples include traffic control, speed limits, wayfinding, lane designation, street names, pedestrian crossings, and parking and loading.
Coordinate and manage short term lane closures and traffic control brought on by both private development and public works projects.

Expand all

How do I request a new sign?

Traffic Engineering installs new signage in areas that need improved safety or had road conditions change, as well as in expansion areas such as new subdivisions.

Request a Safety Improvement

Process:

Traffic Engineering carefully reviews the request(s) and determines If new signage is recommended.
Traffic Engineering staff creates a new signage plan.
The plan is submitted to Traffic Engineering Field Operations for installation of the new signage.
Installation occurs and the new sign is now active, and enforceable.

Please note that this process can take some time to complete. Many reviews and field checks are administered. The Traffic Engineering Division will install the signage as soon as it is possible, based on current workload volumes.

What to do when a sign is damaged or missing?

Our team ensures that all signage is maintained, if you notice signage that has been damaged, knocked down, or missing please report the issue with as much detail as you can provide.

Report a Problem

Noticing an issue with pavement markings in your neighborhood?

Our team ensures that all pavement markings are maintained. The City has several types of markings on the roadways. Learn more about pavement marking types.

if you notice markings that are damaged or missing, please report the issue with as much detail as you can provide.

Report a Problem

I live in a newly developed area, how is signing for the area determined?

Signing location are carefully planned and placed by a Traffic Engineer with guidance from the Federal Highway Administration's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.

What happens when I make a safety request?

The City takes its role in traffic safety very seriously. We appreciate the thousands of complaints, requests and suggestions we receive from various sources every year because it helps us develop a safer transportation system.

Due to limited resources, we cannot always respond immediately to some of your ideas. This does not mean that we do not value your suggestions or appreciate your concerns.

Many transportation situations take considerable time to study and evaluate possible solutions. Quick solutions are often less effective in the long run. The most appropriate solutions may have a greater cost and can be tethered with new projects & redevelopments.

We must also prioritize the equitable spending of these City funds across the entire City, in all areas that are in need of improvements. A potential problem in one part of the City must be weighed against current crashes and injuries in another area to help determine priority.

Stop Sign Requests, what is the process?

"This corner is really dangerous - Can't you put a stop sign there before someone gets hurt?"

This is an example of a request from concerned citizens, neighborhood groups and alderpersons. The following information will help you understand how we respond to your concerns.

Factors Considered

To fulfill a stop sign request, certain factors need to be considered. These include:

Pedestrian, bicycle, and motor vehicle volume.
Vehicle Speed
Collision History
Visibility
Special conditions such as hills and curves

Standards Used:

We evaluate the data in light of established guidelines for traffic controls. These guidelines are accepted nationwide and are integrated into City ordinances. Stop signs are installed at an intersection only after a careful engineering survey of the present conditions indicates that their installation is appropriate. Numerous studies have shown that stop signs can lead to an increase in collisions as drivers ignore signs they think are inappropriate. Stop signs may also lead to an increase in fuel consumption, noise pollution, auto emissions, and force traffic onto other streets. Experience has shown that other measures are needed to maintain a safe situation. Parking restrictions, tree or hedge trimming, pavement markings and speed enforcement are often effective in reducing traffic collisions.

Stop signs are intended to assign the right of way at intersections. They do not control speeding. In fact, speed often increases as motorists try to make up for time lost at a stop sign.

Calling the Madison Police Speeding Hotline, or reporting online at Report a Problem, Traffic Enforcement, at 266 - 4624.

When used properly, a stop sign can be one of our most valuable and effective traffic control devices. Their use and location regulate safety for motorists, pedestrians and for the community. If you have any questions, requests, or suggestions please contact the Traffic Engineering Division at 608-266-4761.