The following regulations in the interest of public safety have
been adopted by the Transportation Board to govern the display of official
business directional signs licensed by the Travel Information Council.
Roadside Signs
1)
Design - The design of an official business directional sign shall not conflict
with the standards set forth in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
prepared by the National Joint Committee on Traffic Control Devices and
approved by the U. S. Bureau of Public Roads for Federal-Aid
highways.
2) Text Dimensions - The
letter heights and widths shall be such that a single sign, or all the signs
comprising a sign assembly, may be read by a motorist without having to reduce
the speed of his vehicle below the safe operating speed of the highway, or on
highways having a legal minimum speed, without having to reduce the speed below
such minimum.
3) Sign Assemblies -
An assembly of more than one official business directional sign mounted on the
same support shall not exceed four separate signs.
4) Sign Supports - The posts used for
mounting official business directional signs shall conform with the
Department's standards for breakaway and yielding type posts.
5) Locations
The following minimum measurements shall apply to the locations
of single Official Business Directional Signs or Official Business Directional
Sign assemblies. For measurement purposes, an intersection is defined as that
point in center line of a public highway where center line of another public
highway intersects or joins center line of such highway at an angle, whether
such highway crosses or not.
a) Six
feet outside the highway shoulder to the near edge of the sign, but not less
than eight feet from the edge of the pavement. Two feet from the face of curbs
and curbed areas to the near edge of the sign. Official Business Directional
Signs must face the flow of traffic nearest it, except for the Official Travel
Information Council Approach Signs for the Travel Information Plazas.
b) Two hundred feet approaching and two
hundred feet beyond a traffic control sign or device in the direction of the
flow of traffic.
c)
1. Seven hundred and fifty feet approaching
and two hundred feet beyond the intersection of two or more federal or state
numbered routes or signalized intersections in the direction of the flow of
traffic.
2. Two hundred feet
approaching and two hundred feet beyond other public highway intersections in
the direction of the flow of traffic which intersects on a federal or state
numbered route.
d) One
hundred feet approaching and one hundred feet beyond other public highway
intersections in the direction of the flow of traffic.
e) Seven hundred and fifty feet approaching
and two hundred feet beyond a railroad grade crossing in the direction of the
flow of traffic.
f) Two hundred
feet approaching another business direction sign or assembly or two hundred
feet beyond another business direction sign or assembly in the direction of the
flow of traffic.
g) The location of
an existing traffic control device, or the need for a new device, shall take
precedence over the location of a business direction sign either existing or
proposed.
h) Limited Access
Highways
1. A sign shall not be erected on
the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways including, but not
limited to, its ramps.
2. A sign
will not be erected on any four lane divided highway including, but not limited
to, its ramps, with the exception of the Official Travel Information Council
Approach Signs for the Travel Information Plazas.
3. A sign will not be erected on any other
limited access facilities without the expressed written approval of the
Commissioner of Highways or his authorized representative, with the exception
of the Official Travel Information Council Approach Signs for the Travel
Information Plazas.
6) Request for Variance of the Highway Safety
Regulations
a) All requests for variance will
be considered formal proceedings. The hearing will be held at a time and place
designated by the Chairman of the Transportation Board within 60 days of the
filing of the petition for variance. Written briefs if desired shall be
submitted at least five days prior to hearing.
1. The brief must contain a general
description of the highway safety problem.
b) The Hearing Officer will report to the
Transportation Board.
c) A decision
by the Transportation Board will be rendered in writing to all parties within a
reasonable time.
Off-Highway Signs
1)
The geometric design of a sign plaza shall conform with the standards adopted
by the American Association of State Highway Officials.
2) The locations of official business
directional signs displayed in a sign plaza shall be such that the faces of the
signs shall not be visible from the highway.
Approved by Attorney General's Office - January 27, 1969
Approved by State Highway Board - February 14, 1969
Amended by Transportation Board - April 12, 1977
Filed with Secretary of State - April 13, 1977 - and filed as
Rule No. 118-1, effective April 19, 1977
