R3-5gP Bus Lane
A supplemental BUS LANE plaque used with a lane-control sign to show that the lane is reserved for buses. It carries the word legend BUS LANE and is not used alone.
- Sign Name
- Bus Lane
- General Meaning
- A supplemental BUS LANE plaque used with a lane-control sign to show that the lane is reserved for buses.
- MUTCD Code
- R3-5gP
- Official designation
- Lane Control Plaque — BUS LANE (R3-5gP) — FHWA Standard Highway Signs, Regulatory sheet 1-29
- Typical Use
- At the point where the regulation applies, per CA MUTCD Part 2B.
- Sign Category
- Regulatory Signs
Specifications
- Standard Shape
- Rectangle (Horizontal)
- Background Color
- White
- Legend / Symbol
- Black legend
- Border
- Black
- Reflectivity
- High Intensity (for nighttime visibility)
- Compliance
- MUTCD / CA MUTCD
Standard Sizes (inches)
- Conventional Rectangle (Horizontal)24"–48" tall
- Expressway Rectangle (Horizontal)36"–60" tall
- Freeway Rectangle (Horizontal)48"–72" tall
Material / Application Notes
Mounted with a lane-control sign at reserved bus lanes. Confirm placement and supplemental plaques against the applicable CA MUTCD standard.
View this sign on the Federal MUTCD (FHWA)California Notes
California-specific application notes and adoptions may differ. Review California requirements where applicable.
What It Means / When This Sign Is Used
In the field, R3-5gP Bus Lane is typically positioned at the advance warning area, ahead of the work. Common deployments include mounted with a lane-control sign at reserved bus lanes; transit corridors and station-area approaches; used where lane restrictions continue through a work zone. Always confirm its size, retroreflective sheeting, spacing, and placement against the CA MUTCD 2026 and the reviewing agency before finalizing the traffic control plan.
Learn more about Bus Lane sign requirementsWhen & Where It's Used
- Mounted with a lane-control sign at reserved bus lanes
- Transit corridors and station-area approaches
- Used where lane restrictions continue through a work zone
Placement on a Traffic Control Plan
- Where it sits
- At the point where the regulation applies, per CA MUTCD Part 2B.
- CA MUTCD reference
- CA MUTCD Part 2B (Regulatory Signs)
- Typical minimum size
- 30" × 12" (plaque)
California / Field Use Notes
Used in California with lane-control signing where a bus-only lane applies through or near a work-zone approach, such as transit corridors and station areas.
In Los Angeles, temporary regulatory changes (speed, one-way, turn or entry restrictions) generally involve LADOT review, and on state highways Caltrans District 7. Regulatory authority cannot be created by signing alone — confirm the change is authorized by the agency with jurisdiction over the roadway.
Common Plan Review Comments
- Temporary regulatory control not warranted or conflicts with existing control.
- Reduced speed limit posted without proper speed-setting authorization.
- Wrong-way protection (DO NOT ENTER / WRONG WAY) missing at closed approaches.
- Sign size not appropriate for the facility.
Confirm the reserved-lane designation and the lane it labels match the operating agency's restriction. Public Ready reviews lane-use control signing.
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View All R-Series Signs
Educational reference only. This is not an official Caltrans, FHWA, or local agency publication and is not legal or engineering advice. Always verify sign selection, size, placement, spacing, and application against the current CA MUTCD 2026, Caltrans sign specifications, Standard Plans, project documents, and the reviewing agency’s requirements. Local jurisdictions may impose additional requirements, and final selection, placement, and dimensions may require engineering judgment or agency approval. Written against California MUTCD 2026 (effective January 18, 2026) and the Federal MUTCD 11th Edition. Official sources last verified June 2026.
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