LIVESTOCKMITIGATIONPOLICY-2014.DOC

Proposed Amendment - 2014
(Changes noted in Capital Letters and Strike-through Font)
Title: MCDOT Roadway/Livestock Incident Mitigation Policy
Purpose: To establish guidelines for the reporting and tracking of vehicle
incidents involving livestock, and establish criteria for the implementation of traffic
control devices at identified livestock locations providing for the safest
circumstances.
Policy Statement: In order to provide the safest circumstances when drivers
approach identified livestock areas the Traffic Management Division has
established guidelines for the decision makers to follow. A procedure to capture
calls relating to livestock incidents which include a “potential problem”
designation, where an animal is standing next to the road, a “physically creating
a traffic hazard” designation, where an animal is on the road, and an incidents
with an animal caused injury designation (which may vary in degree of injury) is
established in coordination with the Maricopa County Sheriffs Office. Criteria to
differentiate between degrees of livestock incidents and strategies to address
different livestock incidents have been developed. While there is no such thing as
a perfectly safe roadway, nevertheless, MCDOT does have a duty to keep its
highways reasonably safe for travel.
1. Background: Arizona is an “open range” state which means that in most
areas not under jurisdiction of a municipality or other government agency,
livestock are not enclosed onto property with fences but are allowed to
graze freely. Roads in open range areas total about 280 miles of paved
roads and 351 miles of unpaved roads. MCDOT follows the nationally
recognized standards for cattle and animal warning signs as described in
the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). MCDOT also
uses supplemental plaques indicating the distance over which the warning
applies. This existing policy is often an adequate precaution against
livestock hazards, since it is the duty of the driver to be vigilant in open
range areas where such warnings are posted. However, there have been
new developments affecting many aspects of this policy which include a
substantial increase in cattle and urbanization encroachment upon open
range areas. It is against this background that MCDOT has explored
alternate ways to keep its transportation system reasonably safe,
particularly from known obstructions and hazards, given that perfect safety
is impossible to attain.
2. Responsibilities: The Traffic Management Division will record and track
livestock incidents and accidents as received from the Maricopa County
Sheriff’s Office and any other source. The Traffic Management Division

will evaluate and determine appropriate implementation strategies for a
specific location based on criteria as described in Section 3 of this Policy.
3. Procedures: The following procedures will be followed for recording of
livestock incidents and accidents, and for the implementation of traffic
control devices at identified livestock locations for increase safety:
a. MCSO will implement the following radio codes for recording
livestock/vehicle incidents:
i. 930L – Livestock Problem: This radio code will be used in
responding to a complaint about livestock creating a
“potential problem”; for example, a complaint regarding
livestock standing next to a road, but not in the road.
ii. 961L – Vehicle Accident vs. Livestock: This radio code will
be used in responding to an accident involving a motorized
vehicle and livestock.
iii. 962L – Vehicle Accident with Injuries vs. Livestock: This
radio code will be used in responding to an accident
resulting in injuries involving a motorized vehicle and
livestock.
iv. 963L – Vehicle Accident Fatal vs. Livestock: This radio code
will be used in responding to an accident resulting in a
fatality involving a motorized vehicle and livestock.
v. 585L – Traffic Hazard Livestock: This radio code will be used
in responding to a livestock complaint where livestock is
“physically creating a traffic hazard”; for example, the
presence of livestock in the middle of the road.
b. MCSO will provide a report titled “MCSO Livestock Related Activity”
setting out livestock activities as identified in Part 3.a. of this Policy
to the Traffic Management Division according to Maricopa County
Sheriff’s Office policy.
c. The Traffic Management Division will analyze the MCSO reports,
record livestock incidents and accidents on County roadways in a
database for evaluation, and for implementation of appropriate
traffic control devices.
4. Implementation Strategies and Evaluation Criteria: The following
strategies and criteria will be followed:
a. Standard Signage: MCDOT will post warning signs in areas where
unexpected entries into the roadway of animals have been
reported. These signs will be installed in accordance with the
guidelines of the MUTCD (signs W11-3, W11-4 and W11-12) and

may be supplemented with “distance ahead” supplemental plaques
(sign W16-2, W16-3 and W16-4) where applicable. Warning signs
shall be installed in locations with known livestock movement with
five reported livestock incidents per mile within a 12 month period
that is susceptible for correction.
b. Additional Signage, Striping and Rumble Strips: Where two (2) or
more livestock accidents/collisions with livestock are reported within
the one (1) mile segment of roadway in which signage was installed
pursuant to Section 4(a) of this Policy within a 12 month period
following installation of that signage, MCDOT will evaluate and
search for possible locations of incident concentration and will
install additional signage to reinforce the warning to approaching
drivers of the potential presence of livestock. On the roadway
approaches to identified locations, MCDOT will also install striping
which reads “watch for cattle” as well as AND MCDOT MAY
DEPLOY OTHER APPROPRIATE ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS,
WHICH MAY INCLUDE a series of rumble strips SUCH AS
RAISED PAVEMENT MARKER TRANSVERSE RUMBLE STRIPS,
CUT GROOVE TRANSVERSE RUMBLE STRIPS OR OTHER
APPROPRIATE RUMBLE STRIP TREATMENTS.
5. Order of Precedence: Any inconsistency between the MCDOT
Roadway/Livestock Incident Mitigation Policy and the Maricopa County
Department of Transportation Roadway Design Manual (including
supplements, amendments, and additions thereto) shall be resolved by
giving precedence in the following order:
a. MCDOT Roadway/Livestock Incident Mitigation Policy
b. Roadway Design Manual (including supplements, amendments,
and additions thereto).