Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 2, February 2024
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.
Business Sign - a separately
attached sign mounted on the rectangular sign pane! 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 and other fully controlled access highways located In rural
areas where the 65 miles per hour maximum speed limit is currently in effect.
Specific information signs may be erected along freeways in urbanized areas, if
those freeways are subject to city or county ordinances banning billboards and
the signs can be installed without detriment to traffic safety.
b.
Lateral Location. The
specific information signs should be located so as to cake 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 miles in either direction
for "FOOD", "LODGING", and "CAMPING" services and 1 mile for "GAS"; except
that, if within that 3-mile limit services of the type being considered are not
available, the limit of eligibility maybe extended in 3-mile increments until
services of the type being considered or 15 miles, are reached.
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 sign;
(1)
"GAS" shall include:
(a) Vehicles services, which shall include
fuel, oil, 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 meals beginning no later than 11:00 a.m., 7 days a week;
(c) 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) Modem sanitary facilities
and drinking water.
d.
Number
of Signs Permitted. The number of specific information signs permitted
shall be limited 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 paragraph 5b and 6f In exceptional cases, additional
business signs may be considered. Businesses offering more than one service may
have their signs displayed on more than one service panel, as long as no other
business would be eliminated.
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.
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(j), 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 ereected 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 signs. 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 [he rural Interstate
highway and continue in the same 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",
"FOOD", "LODGING", and "CAMPING", specific information signs shall be limited
to nine (9) business signs each except as otherwise permitted in 3.d. Number of
Signs Permitted.
(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 each for "GAS", "FOOD".
"LODGING", and "CAMPING" except as otherwise permitted in 3.d. Number of Signs
Permitted.
(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 may be displayed on the same 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 paragraph
5b(l) 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 Beautification Section of
the Environmental Division.
Address. Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department
Beautification Section
Environmental Division
P.O. Box 2261
Little Rock. AR 72203
Phone: (501) 565-2597
b.
Erection. Specific
information panels shall be erected and business signs shall be attached by the
Depanment's Maintenance 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.
Replacment. 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 Depanment.
e.
Removal. The Depanment 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 exists or is constructed closer to the interchange
than one being displayed on the panel, the business on the panel may continue
to display until such time as they no longer desire to do so. At that time, the
business that is located closer to the interchange may apply for a
sign.
g.
Seasonal
Removal/Covering. Each business sign displayed on 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 Beautification
Section, Environmental Division, at the time 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 Depanment shall remove all such business signs for that business at that
interchange.
7.
FEES
The Arkansas State Highway Commission shall determine the initial
fees, annual fees, and special fees pertaining to the Specific Information
(Logo) Sign Program.
a.
initial
Fees. An application fee per interchange per business shall be payable
with the application for business signs requested to be permitted. The
Beautification Section. 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 is made that such signs shall be
permitted, the initial installation tees shall be payable.
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 contract has been awarded or a work order issued by
the Department for the erection of the sign, no pan of the permit fee shall be
refunded.
b.
Annual
Fees. Upon payment of the initial fees, the annual maintenance fees,
where applicable, shall be paid for the first year and for each year
thereafter.
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 pan 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 Section 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. A fee will be charged per business per
interchange for the removal of logo signs (other than by being
displaced).
2. A fee will 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 offseason).