Referencing TC-8800 from Signal Plans

Change #2 of Publication 148, Traffic Signal Standards - TC-8800 Series includes new sheets for detection zone placement and preemption. These standards can simplify the information shown on plans for individual intersections by referencing the standards.

Examples plans are available here showing information that previously was included on plans and how this information can be removed from the plans and replaced with a reference to the applicable TC-8800 series standards. For each sheet of the example, the first page shows the old way information was shown on the plan, the second sheet shows what can be removed, and the third sheet shows the new notes to be added to reference the standards. All markups are shown in red.

When there is a need to deviate from the standard for a particular intersection, relevant information should still be included on the plan sheet. Information shown on intersection signal plans supersedes the TC-8800 series standards.

Should you have any questions regarding the example or implementing the new changes to Publication 148, please contact Rickey L. Barnett, Jr. at (717) 705-6178 or rbarnett@pa.gov.

TSAMS Updated 8-21-25

PennDOT’s Traffic Signal Asset Management System (TSAMS) has been updated on August 21^st, 2025, with the following features and bug fixes:

New features/enhancements

• A Roundabout module user guide has been added to the TSAMS’ help session.
• “Save” button is now available in Non-Signal module, and it allows user to save the changes without the system redirecting to the search screen.
• Optional Facility Name text field has been added to the Non-signal module’s School Zone Flasher device detail page to enter additional facility location such as school, landmarks, and etc.
• Restricted certain user roles from unintentionally altering district, county, and municipality information throughout the application. 

ITS Module

• ITS work authorizations status has been updated to include a “Completed” option. Additionally, an email notification will now be sent when a work authorization is marked “Completed”.
• A single work authorization can now be associated to multiple downtime entries.
• Multiple devices can be listed under a single downtime record and update each device status without affecting other devices’ statuses.
• “Manage TSAMS Documents” section is created within Work authorization to streamline the documents between TSAMS and ECMS. 
• The Downtime tab is renamed Malfunction, a dynamic drop-down menu is added so that users can select cause of malfunction for specific device.
• Users can now individually end downtime for a specific ITS device within a shared downtime record.
• Users can search and filter ITS devices that are currently in downtime.
• Several Operational Statuses are now available for the current status of ITS devices which help distinguish between devices that are technically operational but not fully resolved, and those that are truly non-functional.

Bug Fix

• The street details section is now always expanded for user convenience.

As always, please share your feedback with us at signals@pa.gov. We are especially interested in feedback on the new Pedestrian/Bicycle. Most of the feature enhancements are directly from user feedback.    

For Review: Publication 46 changes

Comments will be accepted through July 12, 2025. Please see instructions below.

This proposed policy includes revisions to PennDOT Publication 46 Traffic Engineering Manual. The last full updated to this 2012 publication was Change #1 in 2014. This publication revision incorporates several official policy changes, such as Strike-Off-Letters and memorandums, made effective since Change #1. The scope of proposed policy revisions, per chapter, are shown on the attached Compedium of Changes. The revisions are, in part, prompted for PA to achieve substantial conformance with the national MUTCD, 11th edition, available with additional information at www.mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov. Additional clearance transmittals are forthcoming for PennDOT Publication 46 Traffic Engineering Manual, Chapters 2 and 3, Publication 111 Pavement Makring & Signing Standards and Publication 236 Handbook of Approved signs regarding MUTCD conformance.

Following are documents related to this update for review:

• Publication 46 Change #2 draft (clean)
• Publication 46 Change #2 draft (redline)
• Publication 46 Compendium of Changes
• Clearance Transmittal Form

Please note that only comments provided using MS Excel file titled "CT T-25-008 Publication 46 Traffic Engineering Manual Comment Form" will be accepted. Please download the spreadsheet, populate it with your comments, save it with a new filename, and return to RA-PDBOMO-CT@PA.GOV.

TSAMS Update 4-24-25

PennDOT's Traffic Signal Asset Management System (TSAMS) has been updated on April 24, 2025, with the following features:

New features/enhancements

• A Reference ID field is added to Signal and Non-Signal modules for Electronic Sign components.
• An Image Preview feature is now available in the document section enabling users to preview all images without fully opening each image.
• Component inventory report is added for non-signals in the Signal Owner module.
• Discontinued Date and End of Support Date fields are added to the Product module.
• Dates can be entered manually in addition to using the calendar picker throughout the TSAMS application.
• Different signal statuses can be selected without first selecting the "Operational" status.

Roundabout Module Updates

• A restriction is implemented from entering future status dates.
• The comment history is updated to properly show the username of the individual who entered the comment.

Bug Fixes

• EPS and ECMS tables in the document section are now correctly displaying all documents regardless of how many the user chose to display on each page, and the table can be sorted by any column.
• Resolved the issue of displaying the street details in other unrelated Roundabout modules.

As always, please share your feedback with us at signals@pa.gov. Most of the feature enhancements are directly from user feedback, and therefore we are especially interested in feedback.

For Review: Publication 148 Changes

Comments will be accepted through May 26, 2025. Please see instructions below.

Publication 148 is being revised to add a new sheet to the standard drawings which will provide a detail for wood post mounting of a flashing warning device. 

Following are documents related to this update for review:

• Publication 148 new sheet to be added
• Clearance Transmittal form

Please note that only comments provided using MS Excel file titled "CT T-25-001 Pub 149 Rewrite Comment Form" will be accepted. Please download the spreadsheet, populate it with your comments, save it with a new filename, and return to RA-PDBOMO-CT@pa.gov. 

2025 ARLE Funding Program Application Period

PennDOT will be accepting applications for the 2025 Automated Red Light Enforcement (ARLE) Funding Program from June 1st through June 30th, 2025. The 2025 program will continue to prioritize safety enhancements considering both PennDOT's Safety Network Screening methods for the project location and Crash Modification Factors associated with proposed improvements.

A pre-application scoping form is required prior to submitting an application. Scoping forms should be submitted via email to ARLE@pa.gov. Feedback on scoping forms submitted by April 28, 2025 will be provided by May 30, 2025. The completed and reviewed scoping form must be uploaded as an attachment to the formal application submission.

The scoping form is a fillable web page. If you wish to save a partially-completed form to finish later, click the “Save” button at the top of the screen and save the file to your computer. When you want to work on the form again, navigate to the scoping form webpage, click “Open” at the top of the page, and select the file you saved to your computer.

When you are ready to submit the scoping form, click the “Save” button and then attach the file to an email to ARLE@pa.gov. Please also attach a detailed cost estimate and project location map.

Applications must be submitted electronically through the Single Application for Assistance at https://grants.pa.gov/Login.aspx.

ARLE Funding Program information: https://docs.penndot.pa.gov/Public/Bureaus/BOO/TSPortal/FUNDARLE.html

Contact us via email at ARLE@pa.gov with questions.

2024 ARLE Funding Awards

Awarded projects for the 2024 ARLE application round have been announced here: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/penndot/news-and-media/newsroom/statewide/shapiro-administration-invests-over--20-million-in-traffic-safet.html