Under MUTCD, who bears responsibility for the design, placement, operation, maintenance, and uniformity of traffic control devices?

• A. The public agency or official having jurisdiction.
• B. Each private gate owner.
• C. The federal government.
• D. Volunteer committees.

Answer: (A)

The responsibility for the design, placement, operation, maintenance, and uniformity of traffic control devices rests with the public agency or official having jurisdiction over the roadway. This means the governing body—such as a state department of transportation or a city/county public works department—that controls the road is required to ensure devices comply with MUTCD standards, are placed correctly, kept in good working order, and appear consistently with other devices on the same network. The MUTCD sets the rules, but the actual accountability lies with the agency that governs the roadway, not private gate owners, the federal government, or volunteer committees.