The municipal traffic engineer shall place and maintain official traffic control devices when and as required under title 9, and may place and maintain such additional official traffic control devices as deemed necessary to regulate, warn or guide traffic under title 9, the Alaska Traffic Manual, or other standards municipalities are required to comply with under Alaska Statute.
(CAC 9.14.010; AO No. 78-72; AO No. 2011-113(S), § 20, 11-22-2011, eff. 12-22-2011)
The traffic engineer shall post a sign indicating a school is a "drug free school zone" at each location where the municipality has installed a sign identifying the location of a school zone.
(AO No. 2011-113(S), § 21, 11-22-2011, eff. 12-22-2011)
A. 
All traffic control signs, signals and devices shall as far as practicable conform to the Alaska Traffic Manual or other standards municipalities are required to comply with under AS 28.90.010 .
B. 
All signs and signals required under this title for a particular purpose shall be uniform as to type and location throughout the municipality. All traffic control devices so erected, and not inconsistent with the provisions of state laws or this title, shall be official traffic control devices.
(CAC 9.14.020; AO No. 78-72; AO No. 2011-113(S), § 22, 11-22-2011, eff. 12-22-2011)
A. 
The driver of any vehicle shall obey the instructions of any official traffic control device applicable thereto, placed in accordance with the provisions of this title, unless otherwise directed by a police officer, subject to the exceptions granted the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle.
B. 
No provision of this section for which official traffic control devices are required shall be enforced against an alleged violator if at the time and place of the alleged violation an official device is not in proper position and sufficiently legible to be seen by an ordinarily observant person. Whenever a particular section of this Code does not state that official traffic devices are required, such section shall be effective even though no devices are erected or in place.
C. 
Whenever official traffic control devices are placed in position approximately conforming to the requirements of this title, such devices shall be presumed to have been so placed by the official act or direction of lawful authority, unless the contrary shall be established by competent evidence.
D. 
Any official traffic control device placed pursuant to the provisions of this title and purporting to conform to the lawful requirements pertaining to such devices shall be presumed to comply with the requirements of this title, unless the contrary shall be established by competent evidence.
E. 
No driver of a motor vehicle may leave the roadway and drive through a parking lot or other private or public property for the purpose of avoiding a traffic control device.
(CAC 9.14.030; AO No. 78-72; AO No. 89-52)
A. 
Whenever traffic is controlled by traffic control signals exhibiting different colored lights, or colored lighted arrows, successively, one at a time or in combination, only the colors green, red and yellow shall be used, except for special pedestrian signals carrying a word legend, and the lights shall indicate and apply to drivers of vehicles and vulnerable road users as follows:
1. 
Green indication.
a. 
Vehicular traffic facing a circular green signal shall proceed straight through or turn right or left, unless a sign at such place prohibits either such turn. Vehicular traffic, including vehicles turning right or left, shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles and to vulnerable road users lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk.
b. 
Vehicular traffic facing a green arrow signal, shown alone or in combination with another indication, shall enter the intersection only to make the movement indicated by such arrow, or such other movements as are permitted by other indications shown at the same time. Such vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way to vulnerable road users lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection.
c. 
Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian control signal, as provided in section 9.14.050, pedestrians and other vulnerable road users travelling upon a sidewalk facing any green signal may proceed across the roadway within any marked or unmarked crosswalk, except when the sole green signal is a turn arrow or a sign prohibits crossing at that location.
2. 
Steady yellow indication.
a. 
Vehicular traffic facing a circular steady yellow signal is thereby warned that the related green signal is being terminated or that a red indication will be exhibited immediately thereafter.
b. 
Vehicular traffic facing a steady yellow arrow signal is thereby warned that the related green arrow signal is being terminated or that a red indication will be exhibited immediately thereafter.
c. 
Vulnerable road users facing a steady yellow signal, unless otherwise directed by a crosswalk control signal as provided in section 9.14.050, are thereby advised that there is insufficient time to cross the roadway before the red indication is shown, and no vulnerable road user with sufficient time to stop, may then start to cross the roadway.
3. 
Steady red indication.
a. 
Vehicular traffic facing a steady circular red signal alone shall not enter the intersection and shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or, if there is no crosswalk, then before entering the intersection, and shall remain stopped until a signal to proceed is shown. This traffic may, after stopping, cautiously proceed to make a right turn from a one-way or two-way roadway into a two-way roadway or into a one-way roadway carrying traffic in the direction of the right turn, or it may make a left turn from a one-way or two-way roadway into a one-way roadway carrying traffic in the direction of the left turn;
i. 
However, the movements described in this subsection are not allowed if a sign posted by state or local authority prohibits these movements, or directs the driver's attention to an arrow signal which controls these movements.
ii. 
Any vehicle making such a turn shall yield the right-of-way to any other vehicle, or vulnerable road user lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk at the time the signal is exhibited.
iii. 
No vehicle shall follow another vehicle through a steady red indication signal without first coming to a complete stop at the stop line, crosswalk or a point nearest the intersecting roadway.
b. 
Vehicular traffic facing a steady red arrow signal shall not enter the intersection to proceed in the direction indicated by the arrow and shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or, if there is no crosswalk, then before entering the intersection, and shall remain standing until a signal to proceed is shown.
c. 
Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian control signal as provided in section 9.14.050, vulnerable road users facing a steady red signal alone may not enter the roadway.
d. 
A person riding a bicycle on the roadway facing any steady red signal, which fails to change to a green light shall have the right to proceed subject to the rules stated herein. After stopping, the bicyclist shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle in or near the intersection or approaching on a roadway so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time such bicyclist is moving across or within the intersection or junction of roadways. Such bicyclist shall yield the right-of-way to vulnerable road users lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection.
B. 
If an official traffic control signal is erected and maintained at a place other than an intersection, the provisions of this section shall be applicable, except as to those provisions which by their nature can have no application. Any stop required shall be made at a sign or marking on the pavement indicating where the stop shall be made, but in the absence of any such sign or marking the stop shall be made at the signal.
(CAC 9.14.040; AO No. 78-72; AO No. 78-146; AO No. 89-52; AO No. 2011-113(S), § 23, 11-22-2011, eff. 12-22-2011; AO No. 2023-65(S-1), § 3, 10-9-2023)
A. 
When a special pedestrian control signal exhibits the words "walk" or "don't walk", such signals shall indicate the following:
1. 
Steady walking person symbol signal. Pedestrians and other vulnerable road users travelling upon a sidewalk facing this signal may proceed across the roadway in the direction of the signal and shall be given the right-of-way by the drivers of all vehicles.
2. 
Flashing upraised hand symbol signal.
a. 
Except as provided in subsection A.2.b of this section, no pedestrian or other vulnerable road users travelling upon a sidewalk shall start to cross the roadway in the direction of an upraised hand symbol signal illuminated with intermittent flashes; however, any vulnerable road user who has partially completed crossing on the walking person symbol signal shall proceed to a sidewalk or safety median.
b. 
A person operating a bicycle facing this signal may proceed across the roadway in the direction of the signal and shall be given the right-of-way by the drivers of all motor vehicles.
3. 
Steady upraised hand symbol signal. No pedestrian or other vulnerable road user travelling upon a sidewalk shall start to cross the roadway in the direction of such signal, and any vulnerable road user in the street shall proceed to the nearest sidewalk or safety median immediately.
B. 
When a special bicycle control signal exhibits different colored lights, only the colors green, red and yellow shall be used and the lights shall indicate and apply only to vulnerable road users lawfully travelling in a bicycle lane as follows:
1. 
Green indication with bicycle symbol signal. Vulnerable road users facing a green indication with bicycle symbol signal shall proceed straight through or turn right or left, unless a sign at such place prohibits either such turn. Persons operating a vehicle, including vehicles turning right or left, shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians or any other vulnerable road users lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk. Vulnerable road users, including those turning right or left, shall yield to the right of way to any pedestrian lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk.
2. 
Steady yellow indication with bicycle symbol signal. Vulnerable road users facing a circular steady yellow signal are thereby warned that the related green signal is being terminated or that a red indication with bicycle symbol signal will be exhibited immediately thereafter.
3. 
Steady red indication with bicycle symbol signal. Vulnerable road users facing a steady circular red signal alone shall not enter the intersection and shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or, if there is no crosswalk, then before entering the intersection. A vulnerable road user shall remain stopped until a signal to proceed is shown, unless making a turn movement, in which case a vulnerable road user may cautiously proceed to do so after stopping, as long as doing so does not require them to cross vehicular travel lanes.
a. 
However, the movements described in this subsection are not allowed if a sign posted by state or local authority prohibits these movements.
b. 
Any vulnerable road users making such a turn shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian or any other vulnerable road user lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk at the time the signal is exhibited.
c. 
No vulnerable road users shall follow another vulnerable road user through a steady red indication signal with bicycle symbol signal without first coming to a complete stop at the stop line, crosswalk or a point nearest the intersecting roadway.
(CAC 9.14.050; AO No. 78-72; AO No. 78-146; AO No. 2011-113(S), § 24, 11-22-2011, eff. 12-22-2011; AO No. 2023-65(S-1), § 3, 10-9-2023)
A. 
When an illuminated flashing red or yellow signal or intersection control beacon is used in a traffic sign or signal, it shall require compliance by vehicular traffic as follows:
1. 
Flashing red signal (stop signal). A driver facing a red lens illuminated with intermittent flashes shall:
a. 
Stop at a clearly marked stop line, but
b. 
If none, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or
c. 
If none, then at the point nearest the intersecting roadway where the driver has a view of approaching traffic on the intersecting roadway before entering the intersection.
d. 
In addition, the right to proceed shall be subject to the rules applicable after making a stop at a stop sign.
2. 
Flashing yellow signal (caution signal). A driver facing a yellow lens illuminated with intermittent flashes may proceed through the intersection or pass such signals only with caution.
3. 
Flashing yellow arrow signal.
a. 
A driver facing a flashing yellow arrow signal, alone or in combination with other signal indications, may cautiously enter the intersection only to make the movement indicated by such arrow, or such movement as is permitted by other signals shown at the same time.
b. 
A driver shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles, lawfully within the intersection at the time the flashing yellow arrow light is shown.
c. 
In addition, a driver turning left shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles approaching from the opposite direction so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard, during the time when such turning vehicle is moving across or within the intersection.
4. 
Flashing red arrow signal. A driver facing a flashing red arrow signal, alone or in combination with other signal indications, shall:
a. 
Stop at a clearly marked stop line; but
b. 
If there is no stop line, traffic shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection; or
c. 
If there is no crosswalk, at the point nearest the intersecting roadway where the driver has a view of approaching traffic on the intersecting roadway before entering the intersection, only to make the movement indicated by such arrow, or such movement as is permitted by other signals shown at the same time.
d. 
The right to proceed shall be subject to the rules applicable after making a stop at a stop sign.
B. 
This section shall not apply at railroad grade crossings. Conduct of drivers of vehicles approaching railroad grade crossings shall be governed by the rules as set forth in chapter 9.24.
(CAC 9.14.060; AO No. 78-72; AO No. 2011-113(S), § 25, 11-22-2011, eff. 12-22-2011)
When a lane direction control signal is placed over an individual lane of a roadway, vehicular traffic may travel in any lane over which a green signal is shown, but may not enter or travel in any lane over which a red signal is shown.
(CAC 9.14.070; AO No. 78-72)
A. 
Except as otherwise provided in this section, it is unlawful for a person to possess or use a traffic control signal preemption device.
B. 
This section shall not apply to the operator or owner of any of the following vehicles, when the device is possessed in the course and scope of such person's duties:
1. 
Official fire department vehicles;
2. 
Official police vehicles;
3. 
Official public works or public utility vehicles;
4. 
Motor vehicles operated by licensed ambulance services;
5. 
Public transportation buses operated by the municipal public transportation department; or
6. 
Other vehicles authorized for use of a traffic control signal preemption device by ordinance.
(AO No. 2011-113(S), § 26, 11-22-2011, eff. 12-22-2011)
A. 
No person may place, maintain or display upon or in view of any street any unauthorized sign, signal, marking or device which purports to be or is an imitation of or resembles an official traffic control device or railroad sign or signal, or which attempts to direct the movement of traffic or which hides from view or interferes with the effectiveness of an official traffic control device or any railroad sign or signal.
B. 
No person may place or maintain, nor may any public authority permit, upon any street, any traffic sign or signal bearing thereon any commercial advertising.
C. 
No person may place or maintain upon any traffic control device or its supporting standard, on any public utility pole, or on any other publicly owned roadside pole or support, any advertisement or other notice which has not been approved by the municipal traffic engineer.
D. 
This section shall not be deemed to prohibit the erection upon private property adjacent to streets of signs giving useful directional information and of a type that cannot be mistaken for official signs.
E. 
Every sign, signal or marking prohibited by this section is a public nuisance, and the traffic engineer may remove such sign, signal or marking or cause it to be removed without notice.
(CAC 9.14.080; AO No. 78-72; AO No. 78-146; AO No. 80-4; AO No. 89-52)
A. 
The municipal traffic engineer is hereby authorized to:
1. 
Designate and maintain by appropriate devices, marks or lines upon the surface of the roadway, crosswalks at intersections where, in the traffic engineer's opinion, there is particular danger to pedestrians crossing the roadway, and at such other places as deemed necessary.
2. 
Establish pedestrian zones of such kind and character and at such places as deemed necessary for the protection of pedestrians.
(CAC 9.14.120; AO No. 78-72; AO No. 80-4; AO No. 2011-113(S), § 27, 11-22-2011, eff. 12-22-2011)
A. 
In an emergency, the police chief or fire chief may close all or part of any street to traffic.
B. 
Except as provided in subsection A, all street closures shall be pursuant to a permit issued under Title 24.
1. 
Prior to issuing a permit for the closure of any street, the traffic engineer shall be notified of the proposed closure.
2. 
The traffic engineer or designee shall review, and approve or deny the closure and make any recommendations necessary for the movement of traffic.
C. 
No person may drive a vehicle onto any part of a street that has been closed pursuant to law where the closure is indicated by authorized signs or barriers, except as directed by an official traffic control device or a police officer or firefighter.
(CAC 9.14.130; AO No. 78-72; AO No. 78-146; AO No. 2011-113(S), § 28, 11-22-2011, eff. 12-22-2011)
It is unlawful for the driver of any unauthorized vehicle to enter or travel upon any portion of municipal airports designated for use by aircraft. Those portions of municipal airports designated for aircraft shall include but not be limited to taxiways, runways and runway approach zones.
(CAC 9.14.140; AO No. 78-72; AO No. 2022-40(S), § 4, 3-22-2022)