Traffic Division of Pierce County Public Works and Utilities

Public Works & Utilities >> Traffic Division

The Traffic Division designs, operates, and maintains traffic control devices on public roads in unincorporated Pierce County (except State highways).

Our primary areas of responsibility:

Traffic Signs
Signals and Lighting
Pavement Markings (e.g. striping, crosswalks)
Traffic Studies
Traffic Data Collection
Traffic Impact of Development
Speed Limits
Road Classification

Report Emergencies 24 Hours/Day

Call (253) 531-6990 to Report Missing Signs or Signal Concerns

The Traffic Division replaces missing or downed STOP or YIELD signs 24 hours per day.

If you observe a missing sign, please call (253) 531-6990 day or night, and a technician will be dispatched to repair or replace the sign. Technicians will also respond to signal concerns that require immediate attention.

Other types of signs (such as street name signs, and speed limit signs) are replaced during regular business hours. Individual signal lamp burnouts or signal timing adjustments are also addressed during regular business hours.

Traffic Division Services

How may we help you?

Traffic Counts
Get traffic count information for county roads
Speed Limits
Find the speed limit for a county road
Arterial Classifications
Check the classification of a county road
Neighborhood Traffic Safety Program
Find out what you can do to increase traffic safety in your neighborhood
Paint Striping
Find out our policies for striping roads
Marked Crosswalks
Why we paint crosswalks at some locations and not others
School Areas Traffic Control
We're committed to safe and consistent school zones
Stop and Yield Signs
How we decide when and where to install these signs
Traffic Signals
Timing, Installing, Locating, Planning--get all the scoop
Parking
Find out about No Parking signs

Contact Us:

2702 South 42nd Street, Suite 201
Tacoma, WA 98409

(253) 798-7253 Phone
(253) 798-3661 Fax

The MUTCD

Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices

On our pages you will see many references to the MUTCD--a federal publication that Washington State has adopted as our standard. Traffic controll devices include signal lights, traffic signs, and paint markings. The MUTCD covers all aspects of the placement, construction, and maintenance of every form of approved traffic control.

The manual provides five basic requirements for all traffic control devices. Devices must:

Fulfill a need.
Command attention.
Convey a clear, simple meaning.
Command respect of road users.
Give adequate time for proper response.

The MUTCD emphasizes 'uniformity' of traffic control devices. A uniform device conforms to the regulations for dimensions, color, wording, and graphics. The standard devices should convey the same meaning at all times. Consistent use of traffic control devices protects the clarity of their messages. As stated in the MUTCD, 'uniformity' must also mean treating similar situations in the same way.