001.01.87 Ark. Code R. § 003 - Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department Policy for Erection of Specific Information Signs

1. DEFINITIONS. Except as defined in this paragraph, the terms used in this directive shall be defined in accordance with the definitions and usage of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).

a. Besiness Sign - a separately attached sign mounted on the rectangular sign panel to show the brand, symbol, trademark, or name, or combination of these, for a motorist service available on a crossroad at or near an interchange or an intersection.

b. Specific Information Sign - a rectangular sign panel with:

(1) The words "GAS", "FOOD", "LODGING", or "CAMPING";

(2) Directional information; and

(3) One or more business signs.

2. LOCATION

a. Intended for Rural Areas. Specific information signs are intended for use primarily in rural areas, specifically, but not limited to, those sections of the rural Interstate highway system where the 65 miles per hour maximum speed limit is currently in effect.

b. Lateral Location. The specific information signs should be located so as to take advantage of natural terrain, to have the least impact on the scenic environment, and to avoid visual conflict with other signs within the highway right-of-way. Unprotected sign panel supports located within the clear zone shall be of a breakaway design.

c. Relative Location. In the direction of traffic successive specific information signs shall be those for "CAMPING", "LODGING", "FOOD", AND "GAS" in that order.

3. CRITERIA FOR SPECIFIC INFORMATION PERMITTED

a. Conformity with Laws. Each business identified on a specific information sign shall have given written assurance to the State of its conformity with all applicable laws concerning the provision of public accommodations without regard to race, religion, color, sex, or national origin, and shall not be in breach of that assurance.

b. Distance to Services. The maximum distance that service facilities can be located from the main traveled way to qualify for a business sign shall not exceed 3 Biles in either direction for "FOOD", "LODGING", and "CAMPING" services and 1 Bile for "GAS".

c. Types of Services Permitted. The types of services permitted shall Be limited to "GAS", "FOOD", "LODGING", and "CAMPING". To qualify for display on a specific information signs:

(1) "GAS" shall include:

(a) Vehicle services, which shall include fuel, oil, tire repair and water;

(b) Restroom facilities and drinking water;

(c) Continuous operation at least 16 hours per day, 7 days a week. (This requirement may be waived if petroleum allocation shortages do not permit efficient operation during these times); and

(d) Telephone.

(2) "FOOD" shall include:

(a) Licensing or approval, where required;

(b) Continuous operation to serve three meals a day, 7 days a week;

(c) An indoor seating capacity for 20 or more; and

(d) Telephone.

(3) "LODGING" shall include:

(a) Licensing or approval, where required;

(b) Adequate sleeping accommodations; and

(c) Telephone.

(4) "CAMPING" shall include:

(a) Licensing or approval, where required;

(b) Adequate parking accommodations; and

(c) Modern sanitary facilities and drinking water.

d. Number of Signs Permitted. The number of specific information signs permitted shall be United to one for each type of service along an approach to an interchange or intersection. The number of business signs permitted on a sign panel is specified in paragraphs 5b and 6f. In exceptional cases additional business signs may be considered.

4. COMPOSITION

a. Sign Panels. The sign panels shall have a blue background with a white reflectorized border. The panels may be illuminated. The size of the sign panels shall not exceed the minimum size necessary to accommodate the maximum number of business signs permitted using the required legend height and the interline and edge spacing specified in the MUTCD.

b. Business Signs. Business signs shall have a blue background with a white legend and border. The principal legend should be at least equal in height to the directional legend on the sign panel. Where business identification symbols or trademarks are used alone for a business sign, the border may be omitted, the symbol or trademark shall be reproduced in the colors and general shape consistent with customary use, and any integral legend shall be in proportionate size. Messages, symbols, and trademarks which resemble any official traffic control device are prohibited. The vertical and horizontal spacing between business signs on sign panels shall not exceed 8 inches and 12 inches, respectively. Typical sign locations prepared from these standards are shown in Appendix A.

c. Legends. All directional arrows and all letters and numbers used in the name of the type of service and the directional legend shall be white and reflectorized.

5. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

a. Location

(1) Separate Sign Panel. Except as provided in paragraph 5b(3), a separate sign panel shall be provided for each type of service for which business signs are displayed.

(2) Relationship to Exit Gore. The specific information signs shall be erected between the previous interchange and 800 feet in advance of the exit direction sign at the interchange from which the services are available. There should be at least 800 feet spacing between the eigne. Excessive spacing should be avoided.

(3) Convenient Reentry Required. Specific information signs shall not be erected at any interchange where the motorist cannot conveniently reenter the rural Interstate highway and continue in the sane direction of travel, or at interchanges between rural Interstate highways.

(4) Exit Ramp Signs. At single-exit interchanges where service facilities are not visible from a ramp terminal, ramp signs shall be installed along the ramp or at the ramp terminal, and may be provided along the crossroad. These signs shall be duplicates of the corresponding specific information signs along the main roadway but reduced in size. Service information for visible facilities may be omitted. The signs shall include the distances to the service installations and directional arrows in lieu of words. The minimum letter height should be 4 inches except that any legend on a symbol shall be proportional to the size of the symbol. Ramp signing may be used on ramps and crossroads at double-exit interchanges.

b. Composition

(1) Single-Exit Interchanges. The name of the type of service followed by the exit number shall be displayed in one line above the business signs. The "GAS" specific information sign shall be limited to six business signs; the "FOOD", "LODGING", and "CAMPING" specific information signs shall be limited to four business signs each.

(2) Double-Exit Interchanges. The specific information signs shall consist of two sections, one for each exit. The top section shall display the business signs for the first exit and the lower section shall display the business signs for the second exit. The name of the type of service followed by the exit number shall be displayed in a line above the business signs in each section. Where a type of motorist service is to be signed for at only one exit, one section of the specific information sign may be omitted, or a single-exit interchange sign may be used. The number of business signs on the sign panel (total of both sections) shall be limited to six for "GAS" and four each for "FOOD", "LODGING", AND "CAMPING".

(3) Remote Rural Interchanges. In remote rural areas, where not more than two qualified facilities are available for each of two or more types of services, business signs for two types of services nay be displayed on the sane sign panel. Not more than two business signs for each type of service shall be displayed in combination on a panel. The name of each type of service shall be displayed above its respective business sign(s), and the exit number shall be displayed above the names of the types of services. Business signs should not be combined on a panel when it is anticipated that additional service facilities will become available in the near future. When it becomes necessary to display a third business sign for a type of service displayed in combination, the business signs involved shall then be displayed in compliance with paragraphs 5b(1) and 5b(2).

c. Size

(1) Business Signs.

(a) Each business sign displayed on the "GAS" specific information sign shall be "contained within a 48-inch wide and 36-inch high rectangular background area, including border.

(b) Each business sign on the "FOOD", "LODGING", and "CAMPING" specific information signs shall be contained within a 60-inch wide and 36-inch high rectangular background area, including border.

(2) Legends. All letters used in the name of the type of service and the directional legend shall be in conformance with the MUTCD.

6. PROCEDURES

a. Application. Applications for erection or replacement of specific information signs shall be made to the Department's Environmental Division.

Address: Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department Environmental Division

P.O. Box 2261

Little Rock, AR 72203

Phone: (501) 569-2281

b. Erection. Specific information panels shall be erected and business signs shall be attached by the Department's Traffic Division.

c. Cost. Business signs shall be furnished to the Department in accordance with Departmental specifications. The businesses shall furnish signs at no charge to the Department.

d. Replacement. Upon notice from the Department, businesses will provide signs to replace business signs which become worn out or damaged. The replacement signs will be provided at no cost to the Department.

e. Removal. The Department shall remove or cover business signs for those businesses that are not in compliance with the conditions indicated in paragraph 3 of this policy.

f. Selection of Eligible Businesses. If there is not enough space on specific information panels to accommodate all businesses wishing to display signs, those businesses closest to the particular interchange will be selected. If subsequently, a business is constructed closer to the interchange than one being displayed on the panel, the business on the panel may continue to display for one year prior to being displaced by the closer business.

g. Seasonal Removal/Covering. Each business sign displayed ^n the "CAMPING" specific information signs and ramp signs shall be removed or covered by the Department during off-season months if such business is operated on a seasonal basis only. Said signs shall be reinstalled or uncovered by the Department during seasonal operations. Each such business shall notify the Department's Environmental Division at the time of payment of annual maintenance fees of their operating intentions for the forthcoming year. The Division shall revoke all permits for signs at an interchange for any such business that fails to notify the Division at least six months in advance of any seasonal closing and the Department shall remove all such business signs for that business at that interchange.

7. FEES

a. Initial Fees. An application fee of $25 per interchange per business shall be payable with the application for business signs requested to be permitted. The Environmental Division shall then make a preliminary determination whether a permit may be granted and whether it is necessary to install ramp signs and shall notify the applicant within a reasonable time.

If a preliminary determination la Bade that such signs shall be permitted, the following initial installation fees shall be payable:

1. Initial installation fee per mainline logo -----------$50

2. Initial installation fee per ramp logo --------------------$50

If an application for a permit is, for any reason, not granted, all fees transferred -with the application shall be promptly refunded. If an application is approved and a contract has been awarded or a work order issued by the Department for the erection of the sign, no part of the permit fee shall be refunded.

b. Annual Fees. Upon payment of the above initial fees, the following maintenance fees, where applicable, shall be paid for the first year and for each year thereafter:

1. Annual maintenance fee per mainline logo ---------------$125

2. Annual maintenance fee per ramp logo ----------------------$125

If an application for permit renewal is, for any reason, not granted, all fees tendered with the renewal application shall be promptly refunded. If a permit has been renewed, no part of the annual maintenance fees shall be refunded. If, however, the business sign is subsequently removed by a taking of eminent domain, a proportional refund of the annual maintenance fees shall be made. However, in case of any removal, the annual maintenance fees for any months or major portion (16 days or more) of a month remaining to the anniversary date of placement of the business sign shall be refunded. There shall be no refund of annual maintenance fees for any business sign temporarily removed or covered pursuant to Sections 6e or 6g.

The above annual maintenance fees are due within 60 days after approval of the initial application or renewal application. When extenuating circumstances exist, a waiver may be granted. The business shall be notified when the motorist information signs are erected and the logos installed. Annual maintenance fees shall be reviewed periodically to determine their relationship to the cost of operation.

c . Special Fees.

1. The fee to be charged per business per interchange for the removal of logo signs (other than by being displaced) shall be ------------------------------------------------------$100

2. The fee to be charged per business per interchange for the seasonal removal or covering of "CAMPING" logo signs per interchange (fee to include corresponding reinstallation or uncovering at the end of the off-season) shall be ----------------------------$100

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Notes

001.01.87 Ark. Code R. § 003

12/21/1987