Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 47.36.050 (2026)

Duty to erect traffic devices on state highways and railroad crossings

✓ current as of May 2026
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The department shall erect and maintain upon every state highway in the state of Washington suitable and proper signs, signals, signboards, guideposts, and other traffic devices according to the adopted and designated state standard of design, erection, and location, and in the manner required by law. The department shall erect and maintain upon all state highways appropriate stop signs, warning signs, and school signs. Any person, firm, corporation, or municipal corporation, building, owning, controlling, or operating a railroad that crosses any state highway at grade shall construct, erect, and maintain at or near each point of crossing, or at such point or points as will meet the approval of the department, a sign of the type known as the saw buck crossing sign with the lettering "railroad crossing" inscribed thereon and also a suitable inscription indicating the number of tracks. The sign must be of standard design that will comply with the plans and specifications furnished by the department. Additional safety devices and signs may be installed at any time when required by the utilities and transportation commission as provided by laws regulating railroad-highway grade crossings.
[ 1984 c 7 s 190; 1961 c 13 s 47.36.050. Prior: 1937 c 53 s 49; RRS s 6400-49; prior: 1931 c 118 s 1, part; RRS s 6308-1, part; 1923 c 102 s 1, part; RRS s 6303, part; 1919 c 146 s 1; 1917 c 78 s 2; RRS s 6304. FORMER PART OF SECTION: 1937 c 53 s 51 now in RCW 47.36.053.]
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 2 cases, 2005–2005 · leading case: Owen v. Burlington N. & Santa Fe RR Co., 108 P.3d 1220 (Wash. 2005).
Owen v. Burlington N. & Santa Fe RR Co., 108 P.3d 1220 (Wash. 2005). · cites it 2× “, RCW 47.36.050 (railroad company responsible for erecting and maintaining traffic devices in its right-of-way); City of Seattle v.”
Owen v. Burlington N. Santa Fe R.R., 153 Wash. 2d 780 (Wash. 2005). · cites it 2× “Moreover, the statutory requirement in RCW 47.36.050 for railroad owners and operators to post sawbuck signs at crossings and to comply with other laws regulating railroad crossings does not relieve Tukwila of its duty to maintain roadways reasonably safe for ordinary travel.”
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