TRAFFIC-CONTROL DEVICES

Philadelphia Code tit. 12, ch. 12-1200

in effect

Philadelphia Code § 12-1201 Authority to Install Traffic-Control Devices.

§ 12-1201. Authority to Install Traffic-Control Devices. (1) The Department shall place and maintain all necessary traffic-control signs, signals, devices, and markings. (2) Upon the written request of the chief administrator of a school and written approval from the superintendent or the superintendent's designee of the appropriate school system to the Streets Commissioner, the Department shall install and the school shall maintain a variable school speed limit sign subject to the approval of the Streets Commissioner. The criteria for approval by the Streets Commissioner shall include, but is not limited to: the volume and speed of vehicular traffic, age of school students, existing student paths of travel, existing school bus pick-up and/or drop-off locations, existing traffic signage and other appropriate traffic engineering factors. The written request shall specify the times of day, days of the week and months of the year when the flashing sign shall operate and such other information as may be required by the Department. The phrase "variable school speed limit sign" shall include, but is not limited to, a blank-out message, a variable message, or a message in effect during the operation of flashing beacons. The Department may establish a standard design or designs. 195 (3) Variable Speed Limit Signs. 196 Upon the written request of five disabled residents who reside within 500 feet of the intersection in question or the chief administrator or designee of a specialty nursing care facility, a senior citizen center or a disability care/rehabilitation facility located within 500 feet of the intersection in question to the Streets Commissioner, the Department shall install and maintain a variable speed limit sign subject to the approval of the Streets Commissioner. The written request shall specify the times of day, days of the week and months of the year when the flashing sign shall operate and such other information as may be required by the Department. The criteria for approval by the Streets Commissioner shall include, but are not limited to: the volume and speed of vehicular traffic, existing pedestrian paths of travel, existing traffic signage and other appropriate traffic engineering factors, consistent with PennDOT regulations. (4) Pedestrian Traffic Control Signals Designed to Meet the Needs of the Disabled and Senior Citizens. 197 Upon the written request of five disabled residents who reside within 500 feet of the intersection in question or the chief administrator or designee of a specialty nursing care facility, a senior citizen center or a disability care/rehabilitation facility located within 500 feet of the intersection in question to the Streets Commissioner, the Department shall install and maintain pedestrian traffic control signals designed to meet the needs of the disabled and senior citizens where one of the following conditions exist, and in a manner consistent with PennDOT regulations: (a) For any street with a speed limit of up to 30 miles per hour, there must be a minimum of 50 disabled or senior citizen pedestrians attempting to cross during an eight hour period and, during the hour pedestrian volume is highest, there must be fewer than 60 adequate gaps in the vehicular traffic. A gap is defined as the time between vehicles moving on the street that is equal to the walking time required for a pedestrian to cross the street, plus some reaction time. (b) For any street with a speed limit greater than 30 miles per hour, there must be a minimum of 37 disabled or senior citizen pedestrians attempting to cross during an eight hour period. The gap requirement shall be the same as set forth in the preceding subsection (a). (c) The surveyed disabled or senior citizen pedestrian volumes may be increased if available information indicates that an immediate increase in actual volume can be anticipated. Notes 195 | Added, Bill No. 1255 (approved December 18, 1995), 1995 Ordinances, p. 1555. Section 2 of the Ordinance provides that it shall take effect on July 1, 1996. 196 | Added, Bill No. 070698-A (approved November 15, 2007). 197 | Added, Bill No. 070698-A (approved November 15, 2007).

Philadelphia Code § 12-1202 Obedience to Official Traffic-Control Devices.

§ 12-1202. Obedience to Official Traffic-Control Devices. (1) No operator shall violate the instructions of any official traffic-control device, except operators of authorized emergency vehicles or when directed by a policeman.

Philadelphia Code § 12-1203 Non-intersection Traffic-Control Signals.

§ 12-1203. Non-intersection Traffic-Control Signals. (1) When an official traffic-control signal is erected and maintained at a place other than an intersection, such signal shall have the same meaning as is provided in The Vehicle Code for signals at intersections.

Philadelphia Code § 12-1204 Play Streets.

§ 12-1204. Play Streets. (1) The Department may designate any street or part thereof a play street by placing appropriate signs or devices in the roadway. (2) No person shall drive a vehicle upon any designated play street or portion thereof except operators of vehicles having business or whose residences are within such closed area.

Philadelphia Code § 12-1205 Designation of Crosswalks and Safety Zones.

§ 12-1205. Designation of Crosswalks and Safety Zones. (1) The Department may designate and maintain, by appropriate devices, marking, or lines upon the surface of the roadway, crosswalks at intersections. (2) The Department may establish safety zones and islands of such kind and character and at such places as may be necessary for the protection of pedestrians or for traffic regulation and direction.

Philadelphia Code § 12-1206 Traffic Lanes.

§ 12-1206. Traffic Lanes. (1) The Department may mark traffic lanes upon the roadway of any street or highway. (2) When traffic lanes have been marked, no operator shall fail or refuse to keep his vehicle within the boundaries of such lanes except when lawfully passing another vehicle or preparatory to making a lawful turning movement.

Philadelphia Code § 12-1207 Hazardous Intersections.

§ 12-1207. Hazardous Intersections. (1) Definitions. As used in this Section, the following terms shall have the meaning specified: (a) Intersection. The intersection of two streets, and the area within 200 feet of the intersection. (b) Hazardous intersection. An intersection where two streets on the High Injury Network, as designated by Vision Zero, cross. (2) Upon request by a District Councilmember concerning a collision involving serious bodily injury or death that occurred at a hazardous intersection located in the Councilmember's district, the Department, after consultation with the Police Department and any other agency designated by the Mayor, shall transmit to the District Councilmember, no later than 60 days of the District Councilmember's request, a report setting out: (a) The cause of the collision at the hazardous intersection (if known). (b) The nature of the injuries or damages resulting from the collision (if known). (c) A list of other collisions that have occurred at the hazardous intersection within that calendar year. (d) The speed limit in the vicinity of the hazardous intersection. (e) Whether the cause of the collision was related to the unlawful passing of a trolley or the failure to yield to an emergency response vehicle at that hazardous intersection. (f) A description of all traffic control devices, including any traffic calming or speed control devices, in the vicinity of the collision. (g) A proposed plan of corrective action to reduce the number of collisions in the vicinity of the hazardous intersection. Such plan shall include, as appropriate, recommendations for installation of four-way stop signs, traffic lights, speed limits signage, or traffic calming devices, or for reduction in speed limits, or such other measures as the Department deems appropriate. (3) Within two months of receipt of a report from the Department pursuant to subsection (2), above, Council shall adopt such ordinances as shall be necessary to reduce the number of collisions in the vicinity of any hazardous intersection. Notes 198 | Added, Bill No. 170244 (approved June 6, 2018).

Philadelphia Code § 12-1208 Penalty.

§ 12-1208. Penalty. (1) Any person violating any of the provisions of this Chapter shall, upon summary conviction before a Magistrate, pay a fine of ten dollars ($10), together with costs of prosecution; except that any person violating Section 12-1204 shall pay a fine of three dollars ($3.00), together with costs of prosecution. Notes 199 | Amended, Bill No. 758 (approved July 24, 1995), 1995 Ordinances, p. 1081; renumbered, Bill No. 170244 (approved June 6, 2018).

Source: City of Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Code and Home Rule Charter (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/philadelphia/latest/philadelphia_pa/0-0-0-285664Fetched: 10/27/2026