Traffic Control Orders

A traffic control order (TCO) is written approval from the Midland City Council to establish regulatory control of vehicular traffic within the Midland City limits. Regulatory control could be in the form of establishing speed limits, stop and yield conditions at intersections, parking restrictions, signal operations, regulating traffic for special events, or other regulatory control. TCOs may be necessary for various reasons, such as:

  • Changes in street, width, pavement markings, or other configurations, requiring changes in traffic control
  • To improve public safety within the City's street system
  • When changes in traffic patterns require changes in traffic control
  • When new streets are constructed, requiring traffic control

Requirements

Traffic control equipment installations must meet the requirements of the Michigan Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MMUTCD), as amended. TCOs are frequently written as a result of recommendations from the City's traffic consultant based on traffic control requests or concerns made by City staff or the public.

Resident Traffic Control Requests / Concerns

Citizens may request the removal or installation of various types of traffic control devices, such as:

  • No Parking signs
  • Speed limit signs
  • Stop signs
  • Traffic signals
A temporary stop sign installed at an intersection.

Procedure

Once the concern or request is received, it is reviewed by Engineering to determine whether it is justified and / or needs further review. Because the City does not have a specialized traffic engineer on staff, the City contracts with a traffic consultant who is an engineer with a specialty in traffic operations. The consultant provides a report after each visit to Midland (generally, every 2 months) indicating recommendations to a variety of traffic-related issues, including issues related to the development of TCOs.

Installation

Detailed data collection and analysis may be necessary to justify the installation of traffic control devices. However, once the Engineering Department has determined that some form of regulatory action is necessary, a temporary TCO is written and submitted for approval to the City Manager. Once approved, the related traffic control devices, such as regulatory signs or signals, are installed.

After 60 days, but within 90 days of granting the temporary order, City Council will either approve making the TCO permanent or allow the temporary control order to expire. Once expired, the temporary TCO is no longer valid, and the traffic control device(s) are removed.

Traffic Control Orders for Block Parties

Requests for neighborhood block parties may be made to the City Engineer, who may issue a traffic control order permitting such activity. To request a traffic control order for such a gathering, contact the Engineering Department 3 weeks before the scheduled event.