Takeoff Guides
Signing and Pavement Marking Takeoff Guide
Short answer
A signing and marking takeoff counts signs as EA by panel type and post requirements, measures pavement striping in linear feet by width, color, and pattern, and counts raised pavement markers, messages, and symbols as EA — reconciled against the sign tabulation sheet.
Signing work splits into two measurement worlds: vertical items counted (signs, posts, RPMs, symbols) and striping measured by the linear foot of line. The tabulation sheets hold the counts; the plans hold the geometry.
On agency work the sign tabulation is the governing quantity table — every panel and post appears there, and your plan counts exist to verify it.
What to measure
- Signs EA per tabulation — panel plus post(s).
- Solid vs skip striping LF — different pay items.
- Width and color per line — 6" white edge ≠ 4" yellow centerline.
- Arrows, only-lane text, and symbols EA.
- RPMs by spacing over line length.
- Crosswalks and stop bars by their dimensions.
| Item | Unit | How measured |
|---|---|---|
| Signs — panels and posts | EA | Tabulation count, by panel/post type |
| Striping — lane lines, edge lines | LF | Length by width, color, and pattern |
| Messages and symbols — arrows, text | EA | Count on the marking plans |
| Raised pavement markers | EA | Spacing × line length, or per plan |
| Thermoplastic vs paint | separate | Same geometry, different material/pay item |
| Sign removal / relocation | EA | Existing signs affected |
Striping math
Lane-line length comes from station limits minus bridge decks and intersections; skip lines multiply by the paint-to-skip ratio of the pattern. Edge lines are continuous LF. Width and color split the same geometry into different pay items.
Signs: verify the tabulation
The tabulation lists panel, size, post type, and mount per sign. Your plan check is that every sign on the ground appears there — a sign on the plans missing from the tabulation is a pay-item finding, not just a counting miss.
Common mistakes
- One striping LF for every line type — solid, skip, double yellow differ.
- Forgetting posts and mounts behind the panels.
- Missing RPMs — they ride along the striping at spacing intervals.
- Measuring station-to-station without deducting bridge decks and intersections.
References
- MUTCD
- FDOT Standard Plans (signing/marking indexes)
- Project sign tabulation
Related questions
By LF of line paid on painted length — check whether the pay item is per linear foot of line or per painted foot; agencies differ.
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