HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL

Transcription

1 HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL Date of Issue: October 2006 Copyright October 2006 The Crown in the right of the Province of Alberta as represented by the Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation Purchasers of this document are hereby given permission to reproduce all or portion of this document without modification. If changes are made to any of the drawings, it should be made clear that the drawings have been modified and all appropriate approvals obtained before the modified drawings are used on a public roadway.

2 FOREWORD Traffic Control Devices such as signs, signals and pavement markings provide instructions to the driver about changes in driving conditions. Of these, signs provide regulatory, warning and guidance information to the driver to allow decisions to be made on an ongoing basis. Proper guidance though the use of guide and information signage is critical to the driving task. This task can be made safe, more efficient, convenient and comfortable by ensuring that directional route information is conveyed to motorists in clear concise, simple and understandable form. Not providing the required information in this manner can lead to driver confusion which may result in poor driving habits and increased frustration. Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation has always maintained jurisdiction over the guide and information signs on highways under its responsibility both in rural and urban areas. The purpose of this manual is to provide guidelines and standards for the application of guide and information signs on rural and urban highways in Alberta. The manual has been prepared to provide consistency and uniformity in guide and information signage applications on rural highways throughout Alberta, as well as locations where a highway or roadway is serving a city, town or other major urban development. National sign conventions are used throughout the manual, as outlined in the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Canada. However, the Alberta Guide and Information Sign Manual includes additional guidelines and standards which are unique to Alberta s highways. Business advertising and other miscellaneous signs are outside the scope of this manual. Urban and rural municipalities are encouraged to use the manual to ensure a consistent approach to urban guide signage throughout Alberta. Continuing comment is essential for regular updating of these guidelines and guide and information signage in general. Any feedback is welcomed and may be sent to Moh Lali, Director of Highway Operations, Technical Standards Branch, Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation, Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, T6B 2X3.

3 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL OCTOBER 2006 PART A4 HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Subject Page A4.1 INTRODUCTION... 1 A4.1.1 Purpose... 1 A4.1.2 Jurisdiction... 1 A4.1.3 Guide Format... 1 A4.1.4 Definitions... 2 A4.2 GENERAL INFORMATION... 3 A4.2.1 Driver Needs and Route Hierarchy... 3 A4.2.2 Classification of Guide and Information Signs... 3 A4.2.3 Human Factors... 4 A4.3 GUIDE SIGN DESIGN AND GENERAL PLACEMENT A4.3.1 Importance of Common Standards A4.3.2 Shape and Colour A4.3.3 Font Type A4.3.4 Font Size A4.3.5 Borders A4.3.6 Abbreviations A4.3.7 Symbols A4.3.8 Arrows A4.3.9 Sign Layout A Sign Size A Placement Considerations A Sign Materials A Signage Design Plans A4.4 ROUTE MARKERS AND IDENTIFICATION SIGNS A4.4.1 Route Number Shield on Guide Signs A4.4.2 Highway Route Markers A4.4.3 Route Marker Assemblies A4.4.4 Other Route Identification A4.5 DIRECTIONAL GUIDE SIGNS A4.5.1 Destinations, Directions, Routes and Distances A4.5.2 Advance Guide Signs A4.5.3 Interchange Sequence Signs A4.5.4 Exit Direction Sign on Freeways A4.5.5 EXIT ONLY Panels on Freeways A4.5.6 Major Forks A4.5.7 Exit Gore Signs A4.5.8 Exit Numbering Signs on Freeways A4.5.9 Bypass Route Signing A Supplementary Guide Signs A Ring Road Signing A Destination Direction Signs for Intersections A Destination Distance Signs A Combination Directional/ Distance Signs at Minor Intersections A Kilometre Markers for Remote Highways TABLE OF CONTENTS A4-i

4 OCTOBER 2006 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL PART A4 HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Subject Page Number A Miscellaneous Guide Signs...56 A4.6 FACILITIES AND SERVICES SIGNS...61 A4.6.1 Introduction...61 A4.6.2 Emergency Services...62 A4.6.3 Transportation Services...64 A4.6.4 Tourist Oriented Directional Signs (TODS)...67 A4.6.5 Safety Rest Area...72 A4.6.6 Motorist Services - Logo Signs...75 A4.7 OTHER DOCUMENTS AND REFERENCE MATERIALS...79 Index 81 Figures Figure 3.1 Tapered Arrow Dimensions...17 Figure 3.2 Straight Shafted Arrow Dimensions...18 Figure 3.3 Down Arrow Dimensions...18 Figure 3.4 Down Arrow Placement on Sign for Two Lanes...18 Figure 3.5 Down Arrow Placement on Sign for Three Lanes...18 Figure 3.6 Specific Traffic Lane (more than three lanes)...19 Figure 3.7 Typical Layout of an Exit Guide Directional Sign...20 Figure 3.8 Destination Direction Sign Layout...20 Figure 3.9 Sign Orientation...25 Figure 4.1 Guide Sign Route Number Shield...29 Figure 4.2 Standard Alberta Highway Route Marker for One or Two Digit Route...30 Figure 4.3 Anthony Henday Drive Route Marker...30 Figure 4.4 Standard Alberta Highway Route Marker for Three Digit Route...30 Figure 4.5 Special Route Markers...31 Figure 4.6 Highway Route Marker with Trailblazer Assembly...32 Figure 4.7 Trailblazers...33 Figure 4.8 Typical Confirmation Route Marker Assembly...34 Figure 4.9 Cardinal Direction Tabs...34 Figure 4.10 Directional Route Marker Assemblies...35 Figure 4.11 Arrow Tab Signs...36 Figure 4.12 Highway Connection Marker...36 Figure 4.13 Confirmation Highway Connector Route Marker Assembly...37 Figure 4.14 Directional Highway Connector Route Marker Assembly...37 Figure 4.15 End of Route Assembly...37 Figure 4.16 Junction Tabs...38 Figure 4.17 Junction Route Marker Assembly for a Single Highway Approach...38 Figure 4.18 Type II Junction Route Marker Assembly for a Dual Highway Approach...38 Figure 4.19 Rural Street Name Sign...40 Figure 4.20 Advance Urban Street Name Sign...41 Figure 4.21 Advance Urban Street Name Sign Having Two Street Names...41 A4-ii TABLE OF CONTENTS

5 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL OCTOBER 2006 PART A4 HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Subject Page Figure 4.22 Diagrammatic Advance Street Name Sign at Complex Junctions Figure 5.1 Advance Guide Sign with Highway Route Marker Figure 5.2 Interchange Sequence Sign Figure 5.3 Exit Direction Sign Figure 5.4 EXIT ONLY Panel on Single Lane Figure 5.5 EXIT ONLY Panel on Two Lanes Figure 5.6 EXIT ONLY Panel Figure 5.7 EXIT ONLY - Single Lane Advance Guide Sign Figure 5.8 EXIT ONLY - Double Lane Advanced Guide Sign Figure 5.9 EXIT ONLY Directional Sign for Single Lane Exit Figure 5.10 EXIT ONLY Directional Sign for Dual Lane Exit Figure 5.11 Diagrammatic Sign at a Major Fork Figure 5.12 Exit Gore Sign Figure 5.13 Exit Number Tab Figure 5.14 Numbered Exit Gore Sign Figure 5.15 Bypass Route (Single Exit) Figure 5.16 Next Exit Sign Figure 5.17 Supplementary Directional Sign Figure 5.18 Supplementary Destination Sign Figure 5.19 Ring Road Advance Guide Sign Figure 5.20 Ring Road Exit Direction Sign Figure 5.21 Destination Directional Sign Figure 5.22 Double Destination Directional Sign Figure 5.23 Triple Destination Directional Sign Figure 5.24 Single Destination Distance Sign Figure 5.25 Double Destination Distance Sign Figure 5.26 Triple Destination Distance Sign Figure 5.27 Single Combination Directional/Distance Sign Figure 5.28 Double Combination Directional/Distance Sign Figure 5.29 Triple Combination Directional/Distance Sign Figure 5.30 Corporate Boundary Marker Figure 5.31 River Identification Sign Figure 5.32 Lake Identification Sign Figure 5.33 County Boundary Sign Figure 5.34 Municipal District Boundary Sign Figure 5.35 Industrial Technical Park Sign Figure 5.36 Fingerboard Sign Figure 5.37 Community Hall Directional Sign Figure 5.38 Sanitary Landfill/Waste Transfer Sign Figure 6.1 Hospital Marker Figure 6.2 Advanced Hospital Sign Figure 6.3 Urban Freeway Advanced Hospital Sign Figure 6.4 Police Sign TABLE OF CONTENTS A4-iii

6 OCTOBER 2006 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL PART A4 HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Subject Page Number Figure 6.5 Police Sign (RCMP)...63 Figure 6.6 Telephone Sign...63 Figure 6.7 Jet Service Airport...64 Figure 6.8 Airport Sign...64 Figure 6.9 Municipal Airport...65 Figure 6.10 Parking Sign...65 Figure 6.11 Ferry...66 Figure 6.12 Access for Persons with Disabilities...66 Figure 6.13 Tourist Region Sign...67 Figure 6.14 Tourist Destination Area Sign (Provincial Park)...68 Figure 6.15 Tourism Destination Area Sign (Recreation Area)...68 Figure 6.16 Visitor Information Centre Directional Sign...68 Figure 6.17 Destination Sign...69 Figure 6.18 Major Resort Sign...69 Figure 6.19 Major Attraction Sign...70 Figure 6.20 Regular Attraction Sign...70 Figure 6.21 TODS Trailblazer...70 Figure 6.22 Classification of TODS...71 Figure 6.23 Community Facilities Sign (for communities away from Highway)...72 Figure 6.24 Community Facilities Sign (no attractions)...72 Figure 6.25 Community Facilities Sign (with attractions)...72 Figure 6.26 Safety Rest Area Sign (Class I and II)...73 Figure 6.27 Roadside Turnout Sign (SRA Class III)...74 Figure 6.28 Logo Sign Gas (6 Panel)...75 Figure 6.29 Logo Sign Food (6 Panel)...75 Figure 6.30 Logo Sign Lodging (6 Panel)...75 Figure 6.31 Logo Sign Gas (4 Panel)...75 Figure 6.32 Logo Sign Food (4 Panel)...76 Figure 6.33 Logo Sign Lodging (4 Panel)...76 Figure 6.34 Logo Sign Gas (2 Panel)...76 Figure 6.35 Logo Sign Food (2 Panel)...76 Figure 6.36 Logo Sign Lodging (2 Panel)...76 Figure 6.37 Combination Logo Sign...76 Figure 6.38 Ramp Logo Sign...77 Tables Table 2.1 Reading Distance (m)...8 Table 2.2 Reaction Distance (m)...8 Table 2.3 Lane Change Distance (m)...8 Table 2.4 Speed Reduction Distance* (m)...9 Table 3.1 Guide and Information Sign Shapes and Colours...12 Table 3.2 Comparison of ClearviewHwy Font to Highway Gothic Font...13 A4-iv TABLE OF CONTENTS

7 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL OCTOBER 2006 PART A4 HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Subject Page Table 3.3 Letter Sizes for Overhead and Ground Mounted Urban Freeway Guide Signs Table 3.4 Letter Sizes for Overhead and Ground Mounted Rural Freeway/Highway Guide Signs Table 3.5 Border Sizes Table 3.6 Standard Abbreviations Table 3.7 Tapered Arrow Dimensions Table 3.8 Straight Shafted Arrow Dimensions Table 3.9 Vertical Placement of Signs Table 4.1 Route Marker Font Sizes and Series Table 6.1 Safety Rest Areas (Amenities) Drawings Number Description After Page TCS A4 300 Typical Rural Sign Installation (Height & Lateral Location) A4 28 TCS A4 305 Typical Urban Sign Installation (Height & Lateral Location) A4 28 TCS A4 310 Breakaway Ground Mounted Signs on I Beam Posts A4 28 TCS A4 315 Breakaway Ground Mounted Bases Steel I Beam Posts A4 28 TCS A4 320 Typical Installation of Large Signs (on Wooden Posts) A4 28 TCS A4 325 Typical Installation of Large Signs (on Steel I Beam Posts) A4 28 TCS A4 330 Typical Sign Assembly Detail A4 28 TCS A4 335A Sign Assembly for Extruded Aluminum Panels A4 28 TCS A4 335B Typical T Stiffener Spacing for Extruded Aluminum Panels A4 28 TCS A4 400 Typical Route Marker Cluster Board Assembly A4 42 TCS A4 405 Typical Signing at the Junctions of Two Digit Highways A4 42 TCS A4 410 Typical Signing at the Junction of Two Offset Two Digit Highways A4 42 TCS A4 415 Typical Signing at the Junction of a Two Digit and Three Digit Highway A4 42 TCS A4 420 Typical Signing at the Junction of Two Three Digit Highways A4 42 TCS A4 425 Typical Signing at the Junction of Two Offset Three Digit Highways A4 42 TCS A4 430 Typical Sign Distances for Sign Locations at Intersections A4 42 TCS A4 440 Rural Address System A4 42 TCS A4 445 Rural Address Sign A4 42 TCS A4 450 Rural Address Signs Placement Details A4 42 TCS A4 455 Advance Township / Range Road Sign A4 42 TCS A4 500 Typical Rural Interchange Signing (Cloverleaf Interchange) A4 60 TCS A4 501 Typical Rural Interchange Signing (Parclo Interchange) A4 60 TCS A4 502 Typical Rural Interchange Signing (Diamond Interchange) A4 60 TCS A4 505 Typical Urban Interchange Signing (Cloverleaf Interchange) A4 60 TCS A4 506 Typical Urban Interchange Singing (Parclo Interchange) A4 60 TCS A4 507 Typical Urban Interchange Signing (Diamond Interchange) A4 60 TCS A4 508 Typical Urban Interchange Signing (Major Fork) A4 60 TCS A4 509 Successive Interchange Signs (Closely Spaced Interchanges) A4 60 TABLE OF CONTENTS A4-v

8 OCTOBER 2006 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL PART A4 HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Subject Page Number Number Description After Page TCS A4 515 Exit Only (With Single Exit Lane) A4 60 TCS A4 516 Exit Only (With Optional Thru Exit Lane) A4 60 TCS A4 517 Exit Only (Dual Exit Lanes) A4 60 TCS A4 520 Typical Interchange Signing with Exit Numbering A4 60 TCS A4 525 Typical Ring Road Signing with Numbering A4 60 TCS A4 530 Typical Ring Road Signing (Cloverleaf Interchange) A4 60 TCS A4 535 Typical Ring Road Signing (Parclo Interchange) A4 60 TCS A4 540 Typical Ring Road Signing (Diamond Interchange) A4 60 TCS A4 545 Use of Combination/Directional Distance Signs A4 60 TCS A4 550 Kilometre Markers A4 60 List of Appendices Appendix Description Page A Destination and Key Point Chart E APP A 1 A4-vi TABLE OF CONTENTS

9 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL OCTOBER 2006 A4.1 INTRODUCTION A4.1.1 Purpose The purpose of the highway system is to provide safe comfortable convenient transportation for people and goods. Traffic control devices and signs are an integral part of this system and provide the medium for the road authority to communicate vital information to the motorist along the highway. This is accomplished through the use of regulatory and warning signs, including signs outlining speed limits and other regulations pertaining to the safe operation of the vehicle. Of equal importance are the guide signs that direct motorists to their destinations and signs that provide information on the facilities adjacent to the highway system. The purpose of this manual is to establish guidelines for the consistent and standard application of guide and information signs along the provincial highway system in Alberta. A4.1.2 Jurisdiction This manual shall be used for all roadways under management and control of Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation. Other municipalities within Alberta are encouraged to use these guidelines to ensure consistency of signage throughout the province. A4.1.3 Guide Format The guidelines set out in this manual complement the information found within the Transportation Association of Canada s (TAC s) Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Canada (MUTCDC). The Alberta Highway Guide and Information Sign Manual provides additional details that are specific to Alberta highways, and which may exceed the requirements found in the MUTCDC. These guidelines replace the Guide Signing section within the 1986 Highway Signing Manual, and includes updates to, but does not replace the 1981 Alberta Urban Guide and Information Sign Manual which some jurisdictions continue to use. This guide also includes new sections on signing practices regarding ring roads and bypasses and a new tourist information sign program. The format of this guide is as follows: Section 1 introduces the manual including the purpose, jurisdiction and format of these guidelines. Section 2 outlines the purpose and importance of highway guide signs, and develops some basic signing principles related to human factors. Section 3 describes general conditions for design, placement and materials used for guide and information signs. Section 4 describes methods of identifying travel routes to help orientate travelers. These signs include route markers and street identification in urban and rural areas. Section 5 describes methods of displaying directional and confirmation guide signage to motorists so they may easily get to their destination. Section 6 discusses signs that are used to direct motorists and tourists to roadside facilities or other locations that may be of certain interest. Regulatory, warning and construction signs are not included in this manual. Business signs, private signs, advertising signs and other miscellaneous information sign programs such as Crime Watch, Communities in Bloom, Fire Prevention Awareness, etc. are also excluded from this manual. Information and policies on these types of signs may be found in other Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation publications. INTRODUCTION A4-1

10 OCTOBER 2006 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL A4.1.4 Definitions This document uses the word shall to indicate requirements to be followed in order to conform to the document (shall equals is required to). The word should indicates that among several possibilities, one is recommended as particularly suitable without mentioning or excluding others; or that a certain course of action is preferred but not necessarily required; or that (in negative form) a certain course of action is disapproved of but not prohibited (should equals is recommended that). The word may is used to indicate a course of action permissible within the limits of the standard (may equals is permitted). A4-2 INTRODUCTION

11 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL OCTOBER 2006 A4.2 GENERAL INFORMATION A4.2.1 Driver Needs and Route Hierarchy Guide and information signs are a major element of the traffic control system. Guide signs provide the information that the driver requires to reach the intended destination, which is the reason why the driver is on the road. Guide and information signs should be consistent along different travel routes across Alberta, Canada and to a certain extent North America. Sign uniformity provides quick recognition by all drivers of a sign by its shape, colour and size. The message on the sign must be easy to read, clear to not cause confusion, and easily understood by the driver. The driver must also be given adequate time to react and respond to the sign as required. Consistent, standard signs, placed by the road authority having jurisdiction not only command attention, but also command the respect of the road user in general. Inconsistent, non-standard signs may confuse the driver, and although erected with the best of intentions, may not command the same level of attention and respect. Drivers using guide and information signs can be placed into one of three broad groups: The stranger who is a driver traveling the roadway for the first time and is totally unfamiliar with the route and area. The local stranger who may be attempting to reach some location for the first time, or may be repeating a trip that is made only occasionally. This driver is broadly familiar with the area, but not with the route or specific site of the destination. The local-local who is repeating a trip made regularly on a road and in an area that is familiar. Of these three groups, the stranger and the local-stranger categories are those most dependent upon guide and information signs to direct them to their destination. A Primary Travel Routes Primary travel routes are an integral part of the overall highway system and form the framework for the highway system. In Alberta, these include one and two digit highways, and the ring roads in Edmonton and Calgary. Highway routes connect the majority of communities (destinations) within the province and form the main travel routes for long distance trips. A Secondary Travel Routes Secondary travel routes are routes which form a sub-system of the overall highway system. Secondary travel routes include three digit highways (former secondary highways) which interconnect with the primary travel routes. These routes typically consist of short trips or provide local access between primary travel routes, particularly in rural areas. A Local Travel Routes Local travel routes are routes comprised of roads other than provincial highways, which connect to the highway system. These routes are important to ensure continuity in guidance is maintained as travelers exit or enter onto the highway system. A4.2.2 Classification of Guide and Information Signs In Alberta, various types of routes are signed using five separate sub-classes of guide signs: Class IA Destination Guide Signs - Guide signs indicate road user orientation by identifying destinations, directions, distances and locations. These signs are identified with an IA prefix. Class IB Highway Route Markers and Street Identification Signs - Highway Route Markers and Street GENERAL INFORMATION A4-3

12 OCTOBER 2006 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL Identification Signs indicate numbers, names or other destinations of streets or highways. These signs are identified with an IB prefix. Class IC Off-Road Facility Signs - Off-Road Facility Signs indicate the availability of and direction to off-road services, facilities and visitor attractions. These signs are identified with an IC prefix and include specific sign programs such as Tourist Oriented Directional Signs (TODS) and Logo (gas, food, lodging) Signs. Class ID Miscellaneous Information Signs - Miscellaneous Information Signs indicate information which is not otherwise provided in any of the foregoing subclasses of signs, but are important to highway travelers. These signs are identified with an ID prefix. Class IF Freeway Guide Signs - Freeway Guide Signs are important signs found in freeway systems that provide direction and guidance to upcoming interchange exits and destinations. The placement of these signs are critical to ensure enough time is given for proper lane changes and maneuvering safely to the exits. More details on the colour and design of these signs are found in Section A Sign tabs often supplement the primary signs and are usually smaller in size. Sign tabs consist of two types: Supplementary Sign Tabs - Supplementary sign tabs indicate additional related information which supplements the message conveyed by the primary sign. These tabs form part of the sign message. Educational Sign Tabs - Educational sign tabs indicate in legend form the same message represented by a symbol on a primary sign. Educational tabs may be used to convey the A4.2.3 meaning of symbols during an introductory period. After the introductory period has expired, any new sign installations shall exclude the educational tab. Human Factors Human factors should be a primary consideration in the design and application of all traffic control devices, but especially with guide and information signs. The driving task involves many different types of motorist vehicle interactions and one of these is the recognition of signs and responding to them. Additional information about human factors may be found in the TAC s publication Supplemental Guide for Guide and Information Signage in Canada, A Driver Response How the driver responds to a particular sign will depend upon the driver s ability in detecting, understanding and reacting to that sign. The time taken to respond to signs involves many factors, including: Target detection from a guide signing context, this involves making guide signs easily recognizable so that they can be seen amongst other sign clutter. Target identification this involves making the information easily and quickly recognizable to the driver. Driver decision once the sign has been detected and identified, the driver needs to decide whether or not to react to it. Driver reaction driver reactions can vary from nothing, if the guide sign is not relevant to the driver, to making a lane change or turning at an intersection, onto another roadway. Response of the vehicle different vehicles respond in different ways depending upon the type of vehicle. A4-4 GENERAL INFORMATION

13 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL OCTOBER 2006 The sign designer needs to consider the above driver responses when designing and placing signs along the highway. One way of achieving this is to ensure signs are easily detectable by making them of standard colour and shape. Signs should also be legible with limited information so they may be glanced at rather than read in detail. Drivers must be able to read them quickly while traveling at high speeds or when faced with other visual or operational demands in their driving task. A Positive Guidance Consistency in design is good practice, as it assists a driver to respond to conditions, situations, events and information in a consistent manner. It is therefore important that, whenever possible, signs are kept identical, or at least very similar, on travel routes throughout North America, within Canada and each province. Information should be presented clearly so that a driver can: Detect a sign in an environment that may be cluttered. Recognize the sign information. Decide upon an appropriate response Complete the maneuver safely. There are four principles of positive guidance: Primacy information should be placed in order of importance to the driver. The most important information should not necessarily be placed first. Temporary conditions, regulatory and warning signs must take precedence over guide and information signs, as driver safety is more important than navigational needs. The most critical signs should first be placed in their optimal locations, and others are fit in after in order of priority (i.e., Tourism signs relating to a freeway section typically appear first to the driver, upstream of exit direction signs). Less important signs may need to be placed at less optimum positions or eliminated altogether due to limited space for signs along the road. A hierarchy of the order that guide signs shall be displayed from most critical to least critical is identified as: a) Directional Guide Signs (either on freeway or highway) b) Emergency Services Signs (directions to Hospital/Police) c) Transportation Service Signs (directions to Airports, Bus Depots, Rail Stations) d) Motorist Services Signs e) Attractions and Points of Interest Signs f) Miscellaneous Information Signs. Spreading when information cannot be placed on one sign or at one location, it should be spread out to reduce the opportunity for the driver to become overloaded. Coding colour and shape coding of traffic signs allow representation of different types of information that are clear to the driver. An example is using a blue background to represent tourism or motorist services. Repetition providing information more than once, but ensuring the additional messages do not clutter the driver s view. A Driver Capabilities and Requirements The driver s ability to physically detect, read, understand, make a decision and react to a sign message is based primarily on the placement of the sign and the message conveyed. Visual Search drivers tend to look ahead in order to be prepared for unexpected obstructions in their driving path. For example, in advance of curves, drivers are preoccupied looking at the road for physical directional guidance, so signs should not be placed at or on the approach to curves. GENERAL INFORMATION A4-5

14 OCTOBER 2006 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL Drivers tend to move their eyes from side to side and up and down in order to detect these obstructions. Driver eye movements are less extensive under heavy traffic conditions suggesting that sign design and placement should be given special attention in urban situations. Driver Detection, Reading and Response Requirements Drivers require the necessary time to perceive, understand and safely respond to a sign message. This is known as Perception Response Time (PRT). The detection process begins when an object enters the driver's field of view. At this point in time the object is seen but not registered in the brain. The next phase is the recognition of the sign so that the driver can make a decision about what to do. Driving Maneuver Once drivers know what actions to take, they must make the appropriate maneuver which may include a number of lane changes, weaving, turns or other vehicle driving actions. The total time required to complete the above actions is found by: Total time needed = Reading Time + Reaction Time + Maneuver Time Where: Reading Time - Time required to read a sign with a given message Reaction Time - Time required to make a decision and initiate a maneuver, if one is required Maneuver Time - Time to complete any required maneuvers before reaching the route choice point. The distance traveled on the route is a function of the vehicle speed on the highway and the time required to interpret the message and make the maneuver. Tables 2.1 thru 2.4 provide the distance required to complete certain tasks when driving at various speeds. Design Example As an example, a driver s sight distance requirement is calculated for a sign with one symbol and three words, 100 km/h speed limit, medium complex environment, requires one lane change on a freeway, and the exit is on a ramp traveling the same speed as the highway. Total Distance Required = Reading Distance of 90 m (Table 2.1) + Reaction Distance of 35 m (Table 2.2) + Lane Change Distance of 200 m (Table 2.3) + Deceleration Distance of 0 m (Table 2.4) = 325 m. Based on the practice of using 25 mm text height for every 12 m of viewing distance, the required text height would need to be 325 m* 25 mm/12 m = 675 mm (26 ) in size to be viewed at a distance of 325 m. As a sign of this size is not deemed practical, the alternative is to place an advance sign having smaller text at a location upstream of the exit or turn. An advance sign having 405 mm (16 ) text height has a viewing distance of: 405 mm text * 12 m/25 mm text = 194 m, and should therefore be placed at least: 325 m 194 m = 131 m upstream of the exit. More detail can be found in TAC s Supplementary Guide for Guide and Information Signage in Canada. Typical Sign Placement In most cases the guidelines set out in this Alberta Highway Guide and Information Sign Manual provide set distances for signs in typical situations, such as placing advance signs one kilometre in advance of an interchange exit. This practice of using typical sign layouts allows consistency and uniformity in sign placement, meets driver expectations, and exceeds the minimum distance requirements. However, there are often situations where sign space on the roadside is restricted, or where close interchange spacing occurs. Under these constraints, the designer must A4-6 GENERAL INFORMATION

15 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL OCTOBER 2006 consider the basic requirements for sign placement as outlined in this section to meet driver needs. A Older Drivers Older drivers typically are defined as those 65 years and older. The older driver population has greatly increased over the past decades and will continue to increase in the future. Compared to younger drivers, older drivers typically will have more difficulty seeing, reading and understanding guide signs. The following are some difficulties that older drivers may experience while on the road: Poor visual acuity. Under poor lighting, legibility losses with age are greater. On a partially reflectorized sign when the lighting is beyond the optimum legibility, loss is more prevalent in older drivers. If the brightness of signs is very high at night, the problem of irradiation for older drivers is increased. Distractions due to irrelevant input increases sign detection time. Messages that are unclear (i.e. some symbols) take older drivers longer to understand. With age an increase in decision making time occurs. Less efficient scanning behaviour and eye movements. Diminished visual field size. Difficulty in selective attention. Slower decision making. Minor memory deficits (i.e. forgetting where to turn or what was on the traffic sign). Sign modifications that may help to improve older drivers visibility and improve sign acuity include: Increasing illumination on roads. Providing high contrast between the background and message on a sign. Constructing brighter and larger signs. In areas where a larger amount of the drivers are older drivers, longer detection, reading, reaction and maneuver time requirements should be considered. If symbols are to be used on signs they should be simple and tested for their comprehension and legibility before they are implemented. Limiting the number of signs on a roadway is also important because sign clutter may cause the driver to become overloaded. These improvements will not only help older drivers but all drivers. In 2000, AASHTO s Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices Millennium Edition modified the letter height from 15 m viewing distance for every 25 mm of text height to 12 m viewing distance for every 25 mm of text height. This change was initiated to account for the increasing number of older drivers traveling our highways. TAC s Supplemental Guide for Guide and Information Signs also adopted these guidelines for legibility distance requirements. A Use of Human Factors Typical signage layouts and designs are used throughout this manual, which exceed the minimum requirements when considering human factor requirements. Sign designers should use these typical signage layouts and designs whenever possible, for consistent sign design and placement. However, when it is not possible to conform to these typical layouts, the sign designs and positioning should be determined using basic principles based on human factors, as outlined in this section. The sign designer requires an understanding of human factors and the navigating limitations placed on various types of drivers in different driving environments. The design can then address signage needs through clear messages, appropriate letter height and proper sign placement to safely guide motorists to their destination. GENERAL INFORMATION A4-7

16 OCTOBER 2006 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL Table 2.1 Reading Distance (m) No, of Speed (km/hr) Words* Notes: 1. * 1 symbol is equivalent to 2 words 2. Reading Time: 0.5 s per critical word or 1.0 s per critical symbol 3. Minimum Reading Time: 1 s 4. Glance Time: 0.75 s after every group of 4 words or equivalent Table 2.2 Reaction Distance (m) Complexity of Speed (km/hr) Environment * Low Medium High Notes: 1. * Reaction Times: 1.0 s for low complexity, 1.25 s for medium complexity, 2.5 s for high complexity Table 2.3 Lane Change Distance (m) Road Type * Speed (km/hr) Non Freeway Freeway Notes: 1. * Gap Search Times: 1.8 s for non freeway, 2.7 s for freeway. 2. Lane Change Time: 3.8 s for non freeway, 4.5 s for freeway to account for heavier truck traffic A4-8 GENERAL INFORMATION

17 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL OCTOBER 2006 Table 2.4 Speed Reduction Distance* (m) Initial Final Speed (km/h) Speed (km/h) Notes: 1. * Deceleration speed: 8.8 km/(hr*s) Note: Tables 2.1 to 2.4 are from TAC s Supplementary Guide for Guide and Information Signage in Canada. GENERAL INFORMATION A4-9

18 OCTOBER 2006 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL THIS PAGE LEFT BLANK INTENTIONALLY A4-10 GENERAL INFORMATION

19 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL OCTOBER 2006 A4.3 GUIDE SIGN DESIGN AND GENERAL PLACEMENT A4.3.1 Importance of Common Standards The application of technical standards for design, manufacture and installation of signing is necessary to ensure that: Signs are of a consistent colour and shape for ease of recognition. Legend size is the optimum for motorist comprehension at the posted traffic speed. The use and number of words and symbols is optimized for maximum information and comprehension. Signs do not present a safety hazard. Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation has patterns with sizes of symbols, borders, colours, layouts, arrows, font sizes and types preset for many common signs. These should be used without exception. The following section is provided for signs where the patterns cannot be used. The design of guide and information signs has several components: Shape and Colour Font Type Font Size Borders Abbreviations Symbols Arrows Sign Layout Sign Size Placement Considerations Sign Materials. A4.3.2 Shape and Colour The shape and colour of a sign advises the road user of the class of message before they get close enough to the sign to read the message. The recognition of signs can be simplified by enabling the driver to judge in advance the type of message expected, and to help in this regard a code of shapes and colours is adopted. Table 3.1 illustrates the shapes and colours for each sub class of guide and information sign. GUIDE SIGN DESIGN AND GENERAL PLACEMENT A4-11

20 OCTOBER 2006 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL Table 3.1 Guide and Information Sign Shapes and Colours Class Sub-Class Shape Back- Ground Colour Code Message Border Comments IA Destination Guide Signs Green White White Used for providing direction and distance to communities and large trip generators. IB Route Markers & Trail Blazers White Variable Black Variable Black Variable Used primarily for route identification. Trail Blazers may contain other custom colours. Guide and Information IC Off Road Facility Signs Blue White White Some municipalities may choose to use a brown background for roadside facilities. Some messages may also contain minor elements in other colors. ID Miscellaneous Information Signs Green White White Some miscellaneous signs also have elements in other colours. IF Freeway Guide Signs Green White White Used for providing direction and distance to exit ramps along freeways Tabs Supplementary Information Panels Colours should match the primary sign onto which the tab is attached. A4-12 GUIDE SIGN DESIGN AND GENERAL PLACEMENT

21 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL OCTOBER 2006 A4.3.3 Font Type It is important that clear and consistent font types be used on all guide signs. The Clearview font style, which includes the ClearviewHwy font, was developed through a decade of research starting in the early 1990s. The goal of the Clearview font was to increase legibility and reduce halation of highway sign legends in comparison to that of Standard Highway Signs (SHS) Alphabets (Highway Gothic font). Clearview font letters were developed specifically to address four issues with the legibility of SHS alphabets. They are: Upgrade highway signing word messages to accommodate the needs of older drivers without increasing the capital letter height and the overall length and height of word messages and the signs themselves. Improve word pattern recognition by using mixed case words of the same size composed of lower case letters designed for highway sign applications. Improve the speed and accuracy of destination recognition and the legibility distance of word messages. Control or minimize the halation of words displayed on high brightness retroreflective materials for drivers with reduced contrast sensitivity. The term ClearviewHwy font will be used to reference the Clearview type system that has the six distinct weights, with each having a version for positive contrast applications. ClearviewHwy font software is available from the developer of the Clearview font type system. For further information on the ClearviewHwy font, please refer to the website: clearviewhwy.com A general comparison guide for application to the SHS Standard Alphabet is summarized in the following table: Table 3.2 Comparison of ClearviewHwy Font to Highway Gothic Font ClearviewHwy Font Highway Gothic Font 1 W Series B 2 W Series C 3 W Series D 4 W Series E 5 W and 5 W R* Series E Modified 6 W Series F * ClearviewHwy 5 W R has tighter letter spacing than 5 W and is designed for the replacement of overhead guide signs in which the 5 W is too wide for the specific application. Key changes to the department practice for Standard Highway Signs Alphabets (Highway Gothic font) for guide signs shall be as follows: All new overhead and shouldermounted guide signs shall adopt the ClearviewHwy font type system. Guide signs that previously applied the SHS Series E shall utilize ClearviewHwy 4 W. Guide signs that previously applied the SHS Series E Modified shall utilize the ClearviewHwy 5 W. The character spacing of Clearview font shall follow the spacing tables for ClearviewHwy, and not SHS E modified. However, for overhead guide signs and for the replacement of existing guide signs where the 5 W is too wide for the specific application, the 5 W R font may be used. All guide signs shall be designed with the ClearviewHwy font type system software. GUIDE SIGN DESIGN AND GENERAL PLACEMENT A4-13

22 OCTOBER 2006 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL If the message on the guide sign does not fit on the sign due to restricted sign space then a narrower series font may be used to condense the message. One line of text, within a two or three line text message, may be reduced, but not by more than one font series. Reducing the font by more than one font series would cause the smaller text to look out of place. Facility and attraction signs belonging to Class IC typically use 3 W font, unless its placed on a multilane highway where 5 W font is used. Motorists can more easily distinguish between primary destinations such as communities and secondary destinations belonging to individual attractions and facilities. 2 W font may be used to condense long messages or on smaller tab sized signs. Destination names placed on guide signs shall use lower case letters with uppercase as the initial letter (Initcap). All other text (NORTH cardinal direction, NEXT EXIT, EXIT ONLY, etc.) is given in uppercase letters only. A4.3.4 Font Size In order for a sign to be effective, it must be legible from a distance which allows a driver to read it, react to it and carry out any required maneuvers before reaching the sign. TAC s Supplemental Guide for Guide and Information Signage in Canada and AASHTO s Manual of Uniform traffic Control Devices states that for every 12 m of desired legibility, 25 mm of text is needed. An example is provided in Section A showing how letter height is derived based on desired legibility. For guide and information signs, Table 3.3 should be used to determine the letter heights on signs on urban roadways and Table 3.4 should be used on rural roadways. Font sizes are given for several different types of messages. In fringe areas of cities the urban standard is typically used, because of higher volume and the expectancy that these highways will become urbanized. A4-14 GUIDE SIGN DESIGN AND GENERAL PLACEMENT

23 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL OCTOBER 2006 Table 3.3 Letter Sizes for Overhead and Ground Mounted Urban Freeway Guide Signs Message Detail Urban Freeway & Expressway mm (inches) Overhead Ground Mount Arterial mm (inches) Overhead Ground Mount Collector Road & Service Road mm (inches) Ground Mount Interchange Ramp & Access Road mm (inches) Ground Mount Main Destination / Name (i.e. Community Name, Route Name, Cross Street, Major Airport) Secondary Information (i.e. Shopping Centre, Zoo, Stadium, Other Major Trip Generator) 406 (16 ) 330 (13 ) 330 (13 ) 254 (10 ) 254 (10 ) 254 (10 ) 330 (13 ) 254 (10 ) Cardinal direction 330 (13 ) 254 (10 ) 254 (10 ) 203 (8 ) 203 (8 ) 203 (8 ) Distance units (i.e. km, m ) 330 (13 ) 254 (10 ) 254 (10 ) 203 (8 ) 203 (8 ) 203 (8 ) Exit number 330 (13 ) 254 (10 ) Route number in shield 330 (13 ) 254 (10 ) 254 (10 ) 203 (8 ) 203 (8 ) 203 (8 ) Notes: 1. For complex situations where there are non standard offset distances, clearance heights or large messages, refer to the TAC Supplemental Guide for Guide and Information Signage in Canada. Table 3.4 Letter Sizes for Overhead and Ground Mounted Rural Freeway/Highway Guide Signs Message Detail Major Corridor* mm (inches) Overhead mm (inches) Ground Mount Multi-Lane mm (inches) Ground Mount 2-Lane mm (inches) Main Destination / Name (i.e. Community Name, Route Name, Cross Street, 406 (16 ) 330 (13 ) 254 (10 ) 203 (8 ) Major Airport) Secondary Information (i.e. Shopping Centre, Zoo, Stadium, Other Major 330 (13 ) 254 (10 ) 203 (8 ) 152 (6 ) Trip Generator) Cardinal direction 330 (13 ) 254 (10 ) 203 (8 ) 152 (6 ) Distance units (i.e. km, m ) 330 (13 ) 254 (10 ) 203 (8 ) 152 (6 ) Exit number 330 (13 ) 254 (10 ) 203 (8 ) 152 (6 ) Route number in shield 330 (13 ) 254 (10 ) 203 (8 ) 152 (6 ) Notes: 1. For complex situations where there are non-standard offset distances, clearance heights or large messages, refer to the Supplemental Guide for Guide and Information Signage in Canada. * Major corridors include rural highways on the National Highway System within Alberta. Examples include North/South Trade Corridor, Trans Canada Highways, and route from Edmonton to Fort McMurray. GUIDE SIGN DESIGN AND GENERAL PLACEMENT A4-15

24 OCTOBER 2006 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL A4.3.5 Borders A border having the same colour as the text message shall be placed at the perimeter of all guide and information sign panels to increase the sign s conspicuity and provide an overall finished appearance. The border shall be extended to the edge of the sign panel with no background colour shown between the border and the edge. The border thickness and radius of curvature for the corners is shown in Table 3.5. Maximum Letter Height mm (inches) Table 3.5 Border Sizes Border Thickness mm (inches) Outside Corner Radii mm (inches) 150 (6ʺ) 19 (0.75 ) 100 (4 ) 203 (8 ) 19 (0.75 ) 100 (4 ) 254 (10 ) 19 (0.75 ) 100 (4 ) (12 13 ) 38 (1.5 ) 150 (6 ) 406 (16 ) 50 (2 ) 200 (8 ) Notes: (1) Borders shall extend to the perimeter edge of the sign panel. (2 Border thickness shall not exceed the stroke width of the major lettering on the sign. (3) The border corner radii should be measured to the outside edge of the border. (4) The corner radius should not exceed 1/8 of the width or height, whichever is less. (5) Trimming the sign area outside the corner radius is not required. A4.3.6 Abbreviations Abbreviations may be used to reduce message length if needed or to balance the message over the face of the sign. The unabbreviated version shall be used if there is sufficient space. Abbreviations should be used with care, ensuring that only commonly used and understood abbreviations are utilized for signs. Periods are used after abbreviations for any type of roadway (i.e. Freeway, Road, Highway, Boulevard and Junction). Periods are not used when abbreviating lengths or directions and after the abbreviations for Range and Township Roads. In Alberta, the following abbreviations (with and without periods) are recognized. Table 3.6 Standard Abbreviations Word Message Avenue Drive Freeway Highway Trail Boulevard Road Street Junction kilometre(s) metre(s) Township Road A4.3.7 Range Road Southwest Southeast Northwest Northeast Symbols Standard Abbreviation Ave. Dr. Fwy. Hwy. Tr. Blvd. Rd. St. Jct. km m TWP RD RGE RD SW SE NW NE Symbols have an advantage over word messages in that they can be seen and recognized from greater distances. If the symbols are easily recognizable, either because of their standard application across the country or because they are self explanatory, they can be understood more quickly than a word message and even by people who do not understand the English language. In order to be effective, therefore, symbols must be understood by a large percentage of the population. Consequently, when designing new symbols, the design A4-16 GUIDE SIGN DESIGN AND GENERAL PLACEMENT

25 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL OCTOBER 2006 should be thoroughly tested by a sample of representative drivers, rather than just other designers and traffic practitioners. Symbol designs should be kept simple and the elements of a symbol kept as large as possible, as small elements on a symbol cannot be distinguished at large distances. A number of recognized Alberta symbols, which may be recognized by national and international travelers, are provided on the Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation website, and the designer should check the Sign Panel Catalogue for newly developed symbols. Any symbol used on signs must be identical in design to those shown in the Sign Panel Catalogue. taper rate on the shaft of the arrow should be kept constant. The tapered arrow is illustrated in Figure 3.1. Figure 3.1 Tapered Arrow Dimensions A4.3.8 Arrows There are several types of arrows used in guide signs to provide directions of travel. These include: Tapered Shafted Arrows these are up, left, right or angled on directional signs. Straight Shafted Arrows these are up, left or right on community direction signs. Down Arrows these are only used on overhead signs in a downward direction to show lane designation. Tab Arrows these are used on tab signs Tapered Arrows Tapered arrows should be used in an up or angled direction to provide a direction of travel for the driver on both ground mounted directional exit and overhead guide signs. The actual size of this arrow depends upon the height of the letters, as shown in Table 3.7. The shaft length should be within the dimensions provided, dependent upon the amount and number of rows of text. The Table 3.7 Tapered Arrow Dimensions Letter Height (Upper Arrow Dimensions in mm Case) a b c d e* r Notes: 1. Taper of 13 mm per 300 mm should be held constant for all shaft lengths * Dependent on letter size. Slanted arrows are typically inclined at 45 or 60 from horizontal. The 60 slanted arrow is used when the tapered arrow is placed on the left or right side of the sign panel. The 45 arrow is used when the arrow is placed on a row in the center of the sign panel Straight Shafted Arrows The dimensions of the straight shafted arrow are shown in Figure 3.2 and Table 3.8. GUIDE SIGN DESIGN AND GENERAL PLACEMENT A4-17

26 OCTOBER 2006 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL Figure 3.2 Straight Shafted Arrow Dimensions Figure 3.3 Down Arrow Dimensions Table 3.8 Straight Shafted Arrow Dimensions Letter Height Arrow Dimensions in mm (Upper Case) a b c d e* r * Increase stem length by 50 mm for left and right arrow placed in the horizontal position These arrows are used horizontally pointing in either direction, or vertically to indicate the road ahead on community direction signs. See Section A4.5 for examples of how these arrows are used in signs Down Arrows Down arrows are used to show specific traffic lanes on overhead signs (often referred to as Pull Thru signs). Figure 3.3 indicates a standard size for the down arrow used on overhead signs. Down arrows located on overhead signs should be placed in the middle of the lane but may be aligned between the ¼ point and the ¾ point in the lane if necessary. Multiple down arrows should be placed at a consistent spacing. In locations where four or more down arrows are required, and there are no exit only lanes approaching the ramp, wording may be used in lieu of the down arrows (i.e. 4 Lanes instead of four down arrows). This will reduce the number of sign panels placed over each lane. Examples of these applications are provided in Figures 3.4 to 3.6. Figure 3.4 Down Arrow Placement on Sign for Two Lanes Figure 3.5 Down Arrow Placement on Sign for Three Lanes A4-18 GUIDE SIGN DESIGN AND GENERAL PLACEMENT

27 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL OCTOBER 2006 Figure 3.6 Specific Traffic Lane (more than three lanes) Tab Arrows Tab arrows are used on tab signs below route markers. These types of arrows are illustrated in Section A4.4. A4.3.9 Sign Layout Many signs have standard patterns with predefined parameters such as size, dimensions, letter sizes, etc. Others (and in particular guide signs), require a custom design dependent upon the individual message being displayed. The following are guidelines for the layout of those signs: Text and/or symbols should be ordered logically and balanced over the face of the sign. The spacing between lines and text should be such that the sign is legible from a distance. The spacing between lines for mixed case text should be increased, so that the vertical strokes down below the line do not interfere with the upward strokes of the text below. A border should always be used. Lots of background should always be used to make the sign message clearly distinguishable. It is important to note that extruded aluminum (which is used for the guide sign backing material) is manufactured in 305 mm (12 ) strips. The size of the sign and the size of the spaces between the rows of a message should be designed so that the total sign depth is an equal increment of 305 mm wherever possible. Full panel widths should be used as cutting the aluminum strips into narrower pieces is not desirable. In general, guide and information signs should be laid out according to Figures 3.7 and 3.8, with spacing above and below the message. GUIDE SIGN DESIGN AND GENERAL PLACEMENT A4-19

28 OCTOBER 2006 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL Figure 3.7 Typical Layout of an Exit Guide Directional Sign Figure 3.8 Destination Direction Sign Layout A4-20 GUIDE SIGN DESIGN AND GENERAL PLACEMENT

29 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL OCTOBER 2006 A Sign Size The size and amount of lettering is very important in sign design. The size of the sign shall be dependent upon the size of lettering required and the length of the message. The length of the message should be kept as short as possible. Signs should be sized to adequately fit the message in accordance with the sign layout guidelines provided above. Signs and Messages should be larger if: There are factors that impact the driver, such as a complex driving environment in an urban situation. In areas with a high collision rate, where the collisions can be attributed to drivers missing the sign. If there is a known challenged driver population in the area. Under certain circumstances, in city centres for example, the locations for installing signs of a certain size may be limited by boulevard space and structural limitations of the sign support structure. In these cases, it may be necessary to either redesign the sign or divide sign information over two or more signs. Other locations on highways may also have sign size restrictions such as overhead structures over travel lanes, and on exit ramps. In areas with restricted clearances the height of sign may also be restricted. A Placement Considerations Proper positioning of signs is an important element in the overall control of traffic within a roadway network. When carefully planned and applied, it significantly improves the driver s ability to navigate through the network. Conversely, when neglected it may contribute to operational and safety problems. Consequently, it is important to standardize the position of signs so the drivers can quickly locate them and spend more time reading the signs rather than looking for them. Due to the changing roadway environment, the standardization of sign position is not always attainable. As a general rule, signs should be placed in the most advantageous position and adapted to the road design and alignment. The following guidelines should be used when locating traffic signs and devices along a roadway. A Ground Mounted versus Overhead Sign Structures Ground Mounted Signs Ground mounts are used for the majority of signs in Alberta. They are reasonably economic and consistent in appearance and placement. Guide signs are normally installed on the right side of the road, as this is where the driver expects to see them. However, under certain circumstances, signs can be mounted at other locations when it is beneficial to do so. These locations can include: In the median to increase conspicuity. On the left hand side of the road if there is a sharp right turn. Overhead Signs Overhead signs are used on freeways, expressways and major arterials where there are many lanes of traffic, sightline issues, or where the sign needs to be seen from a far distance. They are not normally installed on two lane highways. Overhead signs may be installed on a bridge type structure or cantilever. There are many situations where overhead sign structures may be beneficial: Traffic volumes at or near capacity. Complex interchange design. GUIDE SIGN DESIGN AND GENERAL PLACEMENT A4-21

30 OCTOBER 2006 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL Collision experience indicates drivers having difficulty seeing the primary sign. Three or more lanes in each direction. Restricted sight distance. Closely spaced interchanges. Multi lane exits. Left hand exit. High percentage of trucks. Background street lighting. High speed of traffic. Consistency of sign message location through a series of interchanges. Insufficient space for ground mounted signs. Junction of a major route with another freeway. The existence of one or more of these conditions does not automatically justify the use of overhead signs. Some of the noted elements may be made less critical by close coordination between design and operation. Overhead sign supports, should not be installed in gore areas or other exposed locations. A Longitudinal Placement The distance of a guide sign from an intersection is dependent upon the reading reaction and maneuver time and the resultant decision sight distance. Details of the distances of signs at intersections and interchanges are provided in the TCS Drawings in Sections A4.4 and A4.5. When all the information required by the driver cannot be placed on a single sign or on a number of signs at one location, a longitudinal separation of 100 to 150 m between sets of basic signs is required for all rural areas and 50 to 100 m for urban arterials and freeways. If the guide signs contain more than basic information then the distance between them becomes a function of the amount of information that the driver must read and absorb, and must be increased. A Horizontal Placement The horizontal distance of the sign from the edge of the traveled way must trade off the safe clearance distances (and whether the sign is mounted on breakaway posts), with providing optimal sign legibility. For rural roadways the horizontal distance from the white shoulder line to the sign shall be six metres. Horizontal placement of signs on a rural roadway is illustrated in Drawing TCS A In urban situations the horizontal offset must not be less than 0.3 m and not more than two metres from the edge of curb. Refer to Drawing TCS A4 305 (for placement on an urban roadway). Ground mounted sign structures should be placed outside the clear zone whenever possible. Sign structures within the clear zone must be designed with crashworthy materials or breakaway if impacted by an errant vehicle or alternatively protected with an appropriate barrier. For more details regarding the clear zone concept reference is made to the Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation publications Highway Geometric Design Guide and the Highway Lighting Guide. A Vertical Placement The general guidelines for the vertical placement of signs are also provided in typical signage Drawings TCS A4 300 and TCS A4 305, with additional information shown in Table 3.9. A Guidelines for Sign Installation Normally, signs should be installed on separate posts except where a second sign is needed to supplement the primary sign or where route or directional signs must be A4-22 GUIDE SIGN DESIGN AND GENERAL PLACEMENT

31 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL OCTOBER 2006 grouped. Sign posts and their foundations should be able to hold signs rigidly in their proper and permanent position. Rural Areas In rural areas, signs are normally installed on a single 100 x 100 mm wooden post. In regions were strong winds are a problem, signs may be installed on a single 100 x 150 mm wooden post. For larger installations, post requirements must be determined based on the following criteria: Two posts are needed if the sign width exceeds 150 cm. Breakaway ground mounts are needed if the sign area exceeds three square metres (signs located outside the clear zone or protected by a guardrail do not need breakaway supporting structures). Signs greater than 5.5 m in width requires a three post mounting. Urban Areas In urban areas, signs should preferably be installed on existing roadway appurtenances (such as street light and power poles) to minimize the number of poles along the road. Separate sign supports, if needed, should be installed as not to create a hazard to cyclists, motorcyclists, pedestrians and drivers. If used, rigid metal posts are more appropriate than wood posts because they can better withstand the impact when struck by an errant vehicle. They are also easier to replace, if needed. In urban areas the use of posts may be minimized by co mounting two or more signs on one post (where logical and practical). The criteria for mounting large ground mounted and overhead signs are the same as the criteria for mounting signs along rural highways. GUIDE SIGN DESIGN AND GENERAL PLACEMENT A4-23

32 OCTOBER 2006 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL Table 3.9 Vertical Placement of Signs Type Local Characteristics Recommended Vertical Mounting Ground Mounted Areas with pedestrians. Two metres measured from ground elevation at the base of the signpost to the bottom of the sign, including supplemental tabs (if present). If two metres mounting height is not possible, sign should not be mounted more than three metres from the ground. Overhead Areas with no pedestrians with raised curbs. Single guide sign on high speed road. Guide sign with secondary guide sign mounted below, on high speed road. On structures such as traffic signal mast arms, bridge supports, etc. On dedicated overhead support such as a sign gantry. Two metres measured from the road surface to the bottom of the principal sign, regardless of the presence of a tab, to the top of curb. If two metres mounted height is not possible, range of permissible mounting heights is 1.5 to 2.5 m. 2.1 m measured from the road surface to the bottom of the sign. 2.4 m measured from the road surface to the bottom of the primary sign. 1.5 m from the near edge of the nearest traffic lane to the bottom of the secondary sign. Clearance requirements are 5.8 m but may need to be increased in areas having over height loads. Clearance requirements are six metres from the roadway surface to the bottom of the sign assembly, including tabs. This separation distance is recommended to reduce the probability of the sign being struck, recognizing the safety implications if the gantry were to collapse on the roadway, as per the Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation bridge clearance requirements. In high load corridors (for loads up to nine metres high) a side mounted or cantilever swivel base is used as a sign structure having a nine metres clearance is impractical. For overhead sign bridges (defined as a structure containing a sign area greater than four square metres), tubular pole structures and cantilever sign structures, the require clearance is six metres. Notes: 1. Site specific conditions may warrant greater separation distances. All signs should be placed to allow for a clear sight line over parked vehicles, or alternatively, parking should be banned. A4-24 GUIDE SIGN DESIGN AND GENERAL PLACEMENT

33 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL OCTOBER 2006 A Sign Orientation Sign orientation should take into account: The potential for glare from the vehicle headlights reflecting off the sign face. The reflectivity level of the sign provided during night time conditions. Driver line of sight relative to the sign, at the point which the sign is first read. Angling ground mounted and overhead signs slightly away from the approaching driver reduces glare caused by reflection from headlights at night. Tilting a sign away from the driver also has the negative effect of decreasing sign legibility by increasing the angle of incidence of the light emitted by the headlights. As a result, less light is reflected by the retro reflective sign sheeting and the sign loses brightness, conspicuity and legibility. Horizontal curves the orientation of the sign face relative to the traffic direction should be measured from the tangent of the curve at a point where the sign is to be first read. Vertical curves the tilt of overhead signs towards the driver should be measured from a line placed at right angles to the roadway surface and should be greater on uphill grades and reduced on downhill grades. Exact orientation of a ground mounted sign face should be measured in the field. In general, ground mounted signs should be angled approximately one to three degrees from the perpendicular, away from the traveled direction. The tilt of overhead signs should be towards the ground. Sign orientation is illustrated in Figure 3.9. Figure 3.9 Sign Orientation For small side mounted signs mounted closer to the roadway, the benefits of reduced glare are seen to outweigh the disadvantages of slightly decreasing night legibility. Therefore, the angling of ground mounted signs slightly away from the driver is recommended for these types of signs. For horizontal offset positions of four to nine metres, the need to angle the sign away from the roadway is reduced and should be verified in the field. At horizontal offset distances of greater than nine metres, the sign should be angled toward the travel lanes to improve legibility. The orientation of ground mounted and overhead guide signs should be measured relative to the direction of traffic at a location from which the sign is to be first read. Specifically, the following should be considered: A Sign Materials Good construction and installation of signs is necessary to avoid dangerous situations for GUIDE SIGN DESIGN AND GENERAL PLACEMENT A4-25

34 OCTOBER 2006 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL road users, particularly from signs that are too low, have sharp edges or are not designed to collapse on vehicle impact. Specifications for sign materials are found within the Alberta Highway Construction Specifications Manual, obtainable from Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation s Head Office or the Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation website. Sign materials fall into three categories: Retro Reflective Sheeting and Illumination Substrates Sign Supports. A Retro-Reflective Sheeting and Illumination The visibility of guide signs at night is facilitated by the use of retro reflective materials to face the signs. In some cases the signs may also be illuminated. Retro reflective sheeting uses the headlights of a vehicle at night to illuminate the sign for the driver by reflecting the light. More light will be reflected to the driver by a higher sheeting type number. The Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation Specification 5.18 Supply of Permanent Highway Signs Posts and Bases requires that Types III and IV High Intensity Retro Reflective Sheeting be used. Types VIII and IX Retro Reflective Sheeting may be used in lieu of illumination. The artwork on Logo Signs shall be either silkscreened or comprise of Type III or IV retroreflective sheeting material with or without cuttable film. Cuttable film is an acrylic film that is transparent and durable. The adhesive used is transparent, pressure sensitive and protected by a removable liner. For more information on retro reflectivity refer to the TAC Supplemental Guide for Guide and Information Signage in Canada. The illumination of overhead guide signs is based upon a number of factors, which are covered in the Highway Lighting Guide published by Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation. Ground mounted signs on roadways in Alberta are not typically illuminated, as the retro reflective sheeting provides enough brightness at night, when illuminated by the headlights of an approaching vehicle. A Backing Materials The Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation Specification 5.18 Supply of Permanent Highway Signs, Post and Bases, requires that one of the following materials be used as a sign backing material: ½ plywood ¾ plywood Extruded aluminum Two millimetre flat sheet tension leveled sign grade aluminum. Small signs including route markers and mile post markers will have ½ plywood or flat aluminum. Large ground mounted signs that are greater than one square metre will have ¾ plywood or extruded aluminum. If plywood is used on the large ground mounted signs then Gerts or bracing material may be needed to stiffen the plywood surface and provide a suitable mounting support. Overhead guide signs primarily use extruded aluminum. Refer to Drawings TCS A4 335A and TCS A4 335B at the end of this section. A Sign Supports A good sign support system should: Fail in a safe, predictable manner if struck. Have low material, installation and maintenance costs. A4-26 GUIDE SIGN DESIGN AND GENERAL PLACEMENT

35 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL OCTOBER 2006 Be easy to install. Be made of readily available material. Signs, bases and posts should be installed in conformance with Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation typical signage Drawings TCS A4 310 and TCS A4 315 and Specification 7.7. Large signs will require an angle iron wind frame as shown in Drawing TCS A4 320 on wooden posts, or Drawing TCS A4 325 for steel I beam posts. Signs shall be attached to wooden posts in accordance with Drawing TCS A4 330 and to steel breakaway posts in accordance with Drawings TCS A4 335A and TCS A4 335B. Extruded aluminum signs shall be assembled as shown in Drawings TCS A4 335A and TCS A4 335B. All of the typical signage drawings can be found at the end of this section. A Signage Design Plans All signs that are placed in a provincial highway right of way must be approved by Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation. A signage design plan must be submitted to Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation as part of the design submission package. The design involves selecting the appropriate signs, determining the locations, and estimating quantities and costs. To obtain approval on sign design from Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation the following needs to be completed and submitted: An inventory of the current signs in the highway right of way. A summary of the signs and materials required for the purposed sign design. Sign layout drawing(s). Submissions of proposed sign details may be completed with guide signing software. Contract quantities. An estimate of the contract and material costs. For overhead signs, an overhead sign structure that is supporting an overhead sign that is larger than four square metres is treated as a bridge structure. The structural design shall be approved by the Bridge Section of Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation. GUIDE SIGN DESIGN AND GENERAL PLACEMENT A4-27

36 OCTOBER 2006 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL THIS PAGE LEFT BLANK INTENTIONALLY A4-28 GUIDE SIGN DESIGN AND GENERAL PLACEMENT

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

46 THIS PAGE LEFT BLANK INTENTIONALLY

47 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL OCTOBER 2006 A4.4 ROUTE MARKERS AND IDENTIFICATION SIGNS Route markers and identification signs are placed along highways to help direct the motorists to their intended destination. They also provide confirmation of the route that is being traveled. Route markers are composed of the Highway Route Marker or Roadway Identification Signs supplemented with junction, arrow and/or cardinal direction tabs. In Alberta the majority of highways use the typical Alberta shield of black legend on white background. The shield and route number that is placed on the highway is the same as that found on the Official Alberta Road Map. Therefore, signs that are constructed in the field and the route identification that motorists read off these signs are an extension of the navigational information found on the Official Alberta Road Map. Different font types are used depending on the different number of digits needed within the highway shield, as outlined Table 4.1. Table 4.1 Route Marker Font Sizes and Series Single Digit on Shield Two or Three Digit on Shield Three Digits on Oval Route Marker Font Sizes and Series 450 x 600 mm 600 x 750 mm On Guide Signs (Shield only) Font Font Font Font Font Size Size Series Series Series (mm) (mm) Font Size 3 W W W Digit size in shield to be 75% of largest text height. 2 W W W The shield shall be scaled up proportionally to 2 W W W provide the same pattern as the Standard Route Marker Shield. A4.4.1 Route Number Shield on Guide Signs Although not considered as official route markers, the highway route shield is often placed on guide signs to guide motorists to their destination, and confirm that they are on the correct route. Figure 4.1 Guide Sign Route Number Shield When including a route marker on a guide sign, only the shield portion of the marker is included. Figure 4.1 shows an example of the freeway marker used on guide signs. The shield is typically on the top of the guide sign message and centered in a row by itself. A cardinal direction (NORTH, SOUTH, EAST or WEST) may be placed next to the route ROUTE MARKERS AND IDENTIFICATION SIGNS A4-29

48 OCTOBER 2006 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL marker (usually on the right side) to indicate the direction of that route. At exits that serve the same route number but more than one direction (i.e. EAST/WEST) it is desirable to leave off the cardinal directions and direct the motorist using the destination and route shield only. An alternate to placing the route shield at the top is to place it and the destination name on the same row of the guide sign. The route shield should be placed on the left side and the destination on the right. Note that this arrangement doesn t allow for inserting the cardinal direction on the sign. Figure 4.2 Standard Alberta Highway Route Marker for One or Two Digit Route Figure 4.3 Anthony Henday Drive Route Marker Additional details on directional guide sign layout can be found in Section A4.5. A4.4.2 A Highway Route Markers Route Number Shield All highways in Alberta are officially designated with a route number, with the exception of Sherwood Park Freeway. All highways are identified using route markers, so motorists can identify which routes they are traveling on, and relate this to maps or other navigational means. Examples of the route markers showing the shield are shown in Figures 4.2 and 4.3. The shield is used primarily for one and two digit highways. The ring roads around Calgary and Edmonton have three digit numbers, but will use the shield. For all other three digit routes, an oval of black legend on white background is used, as shown in Figure 4.4. Figure 4.4 Standard Alberta Highway Route Marker for Three Digit Route A Special Route Markers Special Route Markers are customized to show both the route number and a unique emblem that identifies a distinctive route having historical, geographical or recreational A4-30 ROUTE MARKERS AND IDENTIFICATION SIGNS

49 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL OCTOBER 2006 significance. These Special Route Markers are used in lieu of the number shields outlined in Section A Special Route Markers are applied the same as Standard Route Markers. On overhead signs, the rectangular route marker shape (shield, Trans Canada Highway, and/or Alberta name logo) is included. The route number shall be sized to the dimensions outlined in Table 3.3. The Special Route Marker is scaled proportionally to give the same pattern. Figure 4.5 Special Route Markers Trans Canada Highway There are four of these Special Route Markers in Alberta for: Trans Canada Highways (Highways 1 & 16) Crowsnest Highway (Highway 3) Mackenzie Highway (Highway 35) Bicentennial Highway (Highway 88). These are shown in Figure 4.5. Crowsnest Highway Mackenzie Highway Bicentennial Highway A Trailblazer Assemblies Trailblazers are used on specially designated highways having historical, geographical or recreational significance. Each Trailblazer Sign is unique and does not include the highway number and coexists with the standard route ROUTE MARKERS AND IDENTIFICATION SIGNS A4-31

50 OCTOBER 2006 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL marker. The size of the Trailblazer Sign is the same as for Standard Route Markers. If the Trailblazer and Route Marker are of identical size, they may be placed side by side with the Route Marker placed on the left and the Trailblazer on the right. In the special case of Highway 16 and the Yellowhead Highway, the Route Marker and the Yellowhead Trailblazer are mounted as shown in Figure 4.6. Figure 4.6 Highway Route Marker with Trailblazer Assembly The trailblazers commonly used in Alberta are shown in Figure 4.7. The locations of these special named routes can be found on the Official Alberta Road Map. Highway Route Markers, Special Route Markers and Trailblazers shall be mounted at regular intervals on the right side of the highway to provide directions to various routes and remind motorists of the route they are traveling. Route Markers and Trailblazers are typically placed at highway to highway junctions and occasionally at intersections having a major local road crossing. Details on how they are applied to intersections are described in Section If a tab is required (i.e. Cardinal Direction Tab or Supplementary Tab) or if the Trailblazer is of a different size than the route marker, then the two signs should be placed on separate posts. The Route Marker should always be placed in advance of the Trailblazer. Trailblazers shall only be installed downstream of key intersections and interchanges. Trailblazers are not intended for directional purposes (i.e. Arrow Tabs are not used on Trailblazer Signs). Cardinal Tabs (NORTH, SOUTH, EAST or WEST) are not typically shown below Trailblazers. A4-32 ROUTE MARKERS AND IDENTIFICATION SIGNS

51 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL OCTOBER 2006 Figure 4.7 Trailblazers ROUTE MARKERS AND IDENTIFICATION SIGNS A4-33

52 OCTOBER 2006 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL A4.4.3 A Route Marker Assemblies Confirmation Route Marker Assembly Confirmation Route Marker Assemblies shall be used on highways after intersections and at intervals along the route in order to identify the route and allow motorists to confirm that the route and direction they are traveling is correct. The Confirmation Route Marker Assembly consists of a route marker with a Cardinal Direction Tab placed below. A typical Confirmation Route Marker is shown in Figure 4.8. Figure 4.8 Typical Confirmation Route Marker Assembly Typical placement of the Confirmation Route Marker Assembly is found in Drawings TCS A4 405 to TCS A Assemblies should be constructed according to Drawing TCS A Confirmation Route Marker Assemblies are also placed at intermediate intervals of 30 to 50 km between major intersections to remind motorists of the highway they are traveling on. Intermediate installations should include the following signs in order, as additional confirmation to motorists: Route Marker Assembly Trailblazer Community Distance Sign Maximum Speed Limit Sign. In no case shall Confirmation Route Marker Assemblies be separated by a distance of more than 50 km. Confirmation Route Marker Assemblies, using the signs in the order above, are placed near the corporate limits when exiting a community, if no major intersections exist in this area. In rural situations, an assembly shall be located on the far side of an intersection formed by the highway route and any provincial highway or major arterial road. The assembly shall be located approximately 30 m past the far side curb or edge ofroadway. Cardinal Direction Tabs The Cardinal Direction (NORTH, SOUTH, EAST and WEST) Tabs are used to designate the direction of travel on a highway shown on the Route Marker. The Cardinal Direction Tabs are shown in Figure 4.9. Figure 4.9 Cardinal Direction Tabs In urban situations, placement may be obstructed by poles or other appurtenances. In this case, the assembly may be placed closer to the intersection but should not be placed less than 10 m downstream from major intersections. A4-34 ROUTE MARKERS AND IDENTIFICATION SIGNS

53 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL OCTOBER 2006 A Directional Route Marker Assembly Directional Route Marker Assemblies provide direction to the highway outlined by the Route Marker and by the Cardinal Direction Tab. An Arrow Tab is applied to the Confirmation Route Marker Assembly to provide motorists directions to the identified route. Directional Tabs located on the bottom of assembly are composed of a black directional arrow on a white background with black border. The width of the tab shall match the width of the shield. Typical Directional Route Marker Assemblies are illustrated in Figure Figure 4.10 Directional Route Marker Assemblies Directional Route Marker Assemblies are installed on the approach to an at grade intersection, where the crossing roadway is the route number identified in the route marker. Up to three Directional Route Marker Assemblies may be clustered together to show the route straight ahead, the route to the left and the route to the right when approaching the junction. The Directional Route Marker Assembly is installed on the right hand side of the road, not less than 50 m in advance of the intersection. These assemblies are not used for interchange approaches as ground mounted or overhead directional guide signs containing a route shield (as outlined in Section A4.4.1) are used instead. Typical placement details at intersections are provided in Drawings TCS A4 405 to TCS A Assemblies should be constructed according to Drawing TCS A Arrow Tabs Arrow Tab Signs are used with Route Markers to indicate the direction to turn to get to a particular route. These are of particular importance in areas where there are many routes intersecting at one location, and the path to the required route may not be clear. The type of arrow used will depend on the placement of the sign and the geometry of the intersection. Straight left or right immediate turn (located within 100 m). Bent left or right arrow turn is ahead (more than 100 m from sign). Possible minor access points exist before turn. Slanted left or right arrow immediate turn onto ramp or skewed road (within 100 m). Bent slanted left or right arrow turn onto ramp or skewed road ahead (more than 100 m from sign). Possible minor accesses before turn. Up arrow straight ahead. ROUTE MARKERS AND IDENTIFICATION SIGNS A4-35

54 OCTOBER 2006 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL The various types of arrow tabs are shown in Figure Figure 4.11 Arrow Tab Signs motorists at turns along the road in order to reach the highway. They are often applied to urban roadways where it may be difficult to find the direction to the closest provincial highway. In rural situations, highway connection assemblies may be used for offset highways. Typical layouts on how Highway Connector Route Marker Assemblies are applied are found in Drawings TCS A4 405 to TCS A Assemblies should be constructed according to Drawing TCS A The Highway Connection Marker shall consist of the word TO in black on a white background and is illustrated in Figure Figure 4.12 Highway Connection Marker Examples of a Confirmation Connector Route Marker Assembly, and a Directional Connector Route Marker Assembly are shown in Figures 4.13 and A Highway Connector Route Marker Assemblies Highway Connector Assemblies use a tab indicating TO at the top of the Route Marker to indicate the direction to that highway route, and that highway route is some distance away. Highway Connector Route Marker Assemblies can be used as a confirmation that the motorists is on the road leading to the highway ahead, or they can be used to direct A4-36 ROUTE MARKERS AND IDENTIFICATION SIGNS

55 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL OCTOBER 2006 Figure 4.13 Confirmation Highway Connector Route Marker Assembly Figure 4.15 End of Route Assembly Figure 4.14 Directional Highway Connector Route Marker Assembly End of Route Assemblies are used in cases where a highway route terminates but the road continues. Drivers would otherwise think they are still traveling on that route, whereas the route changed from a highway into a local road. End of Route Assemblies are not placed at T intersections where one highway terminates with another highway. An End of Route Assembly shall be installed on the approach to the end of a highway route approximately 50 m in advance of the intersection or where the highway terminates. A End of Route Assembly An End of Route Assembly consists of a Highway Route Marker and an ENDS tab placed below the Route Marker, as illustrated in Figure A Junction Route Marker Assembly The Junction Route Marker Assembly is used to identify the approach to the intersection of two or more provincial highway routes and shall be erected in advance of every intersection where a provincial highway route is intersected or joined by another provincial highway route. Junction Route Marker Assemblies consist of two types, using either a single marker or a dual marker, depending on the number of highways joined at the intersection. The Junction Route Marker Assembly is placed in ROUTE MARKERS AND IDENTIFICATION SIGNS A4-37

56 OCTOBER 2006 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL advance of the intersection to inform motorists of an intersection ahead and which route(s) join the highway. A JCT tab (abbreviation for Junction) is used at the top of a single route marker. The JUNCTION tab is used where two markers are used side by side. Examples of these signs are shown in Figure If two different highways join the route, the Junction Route Marker Assembly shown in Figure 4.18 shall be used. Cardinal Direction Tabs are not used in this case. Figure 4.18 Type II Junction Route Marker Assembly for a Dual Highway Approach Figure 4.16 Junction Tabs An example of a Highway Junction Assembly with a single route is shown in Figure A Cardinal Direction Tab is used when the highway extends in one direction only. If the crossing highway extends in two directions, a single route marker, without the Cardinal Direction Tab, is used. Figure 4.17 Junction Route Marker Assembly for a Single Highway Approach The Junction Route Marker Assembly shall be installed 100 to 150 m in advance of the intersection. In urban situations, the assembly should be in a location approximately midway in the block on the approach to the intersection. In suburban areas the Route Junction Marker Assembly should be erected on the right hand side of the road not less than 30 m in advance of the intersection. A4.4.4 Other Route Identification Local road identification can be difficult, especially if the driver is unfamiliar with the area. Rural roads are often divided into township and range roads, or may be an extension of a nearby urban community. Urban streets may be numbered or have a unique name within a subdivision. A Rural Addressing Systems The rural address system only applies to rural highways outside of urban areas. Unique rural address systems may exist in Alberta, such as M.D. of Foothills rural street numbering system, which is an extension of Calgary s urban system. The type of A4-38 ROUTE MARKERS AND IDENTIFICATION SIGNS

57 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL OCTOBER 2006 addressing system to be used should be discussed with the municipality prior to installation. The preferred address system in the province is based on Western Canada s legal survey grid, as illustrated in Drawing TCS A Townships in the province are numbered consecutively from one to 127 between the borders of the United States and the Northwest Territories. Each major township road is numbered accordingly. New township road numbers are assigned by adding a zero to the township number. The intermediate township roads (road allowances) are numbered sequentially at two mile intervals. Ranges are numbered sequentially from east to west, starting from the longitudinal meridian lines (fourth, fifth or sixth meridian). New range road numbers are assigned by adding a zero to the range number. The intermediate range roads (road allowances) are numbered sequentially at one mile intervals. While many rural roads in Alberta form part of the survey grid road system, other roads are irregular and simply follow rivers, streams or the topography of the land. These roads are usually assigned an auxiliary township road number or range road number based on the alignment of the road (i.e. Range Road 223A). There are two types of address signs used in rural areas: Rural Address Signs Advance Township/Range Road Signs A Rural Address Signs Rural address signs provide township road and range road identification for reference by passing motorists. Motorists and emergency service personnel are able to navigate to residential and commercial developments located in the area through the rural address system. Rural address signs may be placed at any rural intersection with a road allowance, except for highway to highway junctions. Intersections that intersect two highways have sufficient route marking to advise motorists of their location and Rural Address Signs should not be required. Rural Address Signs often take the form of fingerboards or blades mounted to a steel or wood pole. Typically two blades, each identifying the township and range roads are mounted at 90 onto the pole. Details on Rural Address Signs are provided in Drawing TCS A Only the name of the road intersecting the highway may be displayed. Directional signs indicating To other named roads in the vicinity are discouraged. Rural Address Signs are positioned in the corner areas of where the highway right ofway boundary meets the road allowance boundary, as shown in Drawing TCS A Up to two signs may be placed in the diagonal quadrants on the near side corner when travelling on the highway. The signs are typically placed one to two metres from the property line, inside the highway right ofway. In any case, the sign should not be placed closer than six metres from the edge of the road shoulder. A Advance Township/Range Road Signs Township/Range Road Signs may be placed in advance of the intersection to supplement ROUTE MARKERS AND IDENTIFICATION SIGNS A4-39

58 OCTOBER 2006 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL Rural Address Signs. An Advance Township/ Range Road Sign can be placed in addition to, or in lieu of, the Rural Address Sign to help motorists to locate rural local roads. These signs are not typically found on urban highways. Details about the Advance Township/Range Road Signs are shown in Drawing TCS A Advance Township/Range Road Signs may be placed minimum six metres from the highway shoulder line, 150 to 300 m in advance of the intersection, as shown in Drawing TCS A 455. Alternatively, Advance Township/Range Road Signs could be placed on the backslope near the fence line, particularly if signage space approaching the intersection is limited. A Rural Road Names Signs Advance signs are often placed on highways to provide motorists with advance warning of the upcoming intersection of a named roadway. For eligibility, the road name must be officially designated through a motion passed by the municipal council, and the name of the road must be included on official maps and/or publications that are commonly distributed to non local motorists. The signs provide advance notice of an upcoming road allowing the driver to initiate the appropriate turn prior to reaching the intersection. Where the intersection has two named roads that intersect with the highway, the sign panels may be mounted on a single structure. Only the name of the road intersecting the highway may be displayed. Directional signs indicating To other named roads in the vicinity are discouraged. The Combination Sign may show an Advance Township/Range Road Sign in addition to the road name sign. The township sign is placed at the top while the named road is placed below. Each panel shall have the same width, and the long version, Township Road 522 or Range Road 233 is used. Officially designated road name signs may be placed on any highway, 150 to 300 m in advance of the intersection. A Urban Street Name Signs Urban areas may have numbered or named streets that are somewhat similar to those in rural areas. Typically two blades, each identifying the crossing street number or name are mounted at 90 onto the pole. The sign is typically placed on the near right corner of the intersection. The primary requirement is to provide good visibility and a consistent location throughout the municipality. The sign is typically 150 mm in the vertical dimension with the length of the sign determined by the length of message, as shown in Figure The height of the letters and numerals are 100 mm to fit onto the sign. Supplementary descriptions (i.e. Avenue, Road, etc.) or city area (i.e. N.W.) may be displayed in smaller text, but not less than 50 mm. Conventional abbreviations using Ave., Rd., Blvd., etc. are acceptable. Figure 4.19 Rural Street Name Sign It is important to note that road names must be formally recognized through city council approval and then referenced to publish documents and maps. A4-40 ROUTE MARKERS AND IDENTIFICATION SIGNS

59 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL OCTOBER 2006 A Advance Urban Street Name Signs Large street name signs may be placed in advance of an intersection, or mounted on a traffic signal pole located at an intersection. The height of the letters and numerals shall be 150 mm. An example is shown in Figure Supplementary descriptions (i.e. Avenue, Road, etc.) or city area (i.e. N.W.) may be in a smaller text, but not less than 80 mm. Conventional abbreviations such as Ave., Rd., Blvd., etc.) are acceptable. advance signs should be consistent throughout the municipality to meet drivers expectations. For intersections that have different street names in the left and right direction, a larger sign showing the street names in each direction may be placed in advance of the intersection. An example is shown in Figure Figure 4.21 Advance Urban Street Name Sign Having Two Street Names Figure 4.20 Advance Urban Street Name Sign The Advance Street Name Sign is used on highways approaching important arterial road intersection within the urban area. The advance signs assist motorists to identify their location relative to an urban map. They also provide advance notice of the upcoming intersection so the drivers can make their necessary maneuver before they reach the intersection. Minor urban roads are identified using street name signs outlined A , and do not usually require Advance Road Name Signs. Two street name signs may be installed on each arterial road approach with one on the far right and one on the far left side of the intersection, mounted in a position to ensure that their visibility is not obstructed by other devices or street appurtenances. Suspension from a mast arm which supports a traffic signal is also an effective means to provide good visibility. The placement of At complex or confusing intersections where a driver may require more directional information than a street name sign, a diagrammatic sign may be used to identify a series of upcoming streets. An example is shown in Figure The minimum letter heights for the diagrammatic sign shall meet the dimensions outlined in Table 3.3. Figure 4.22 Diagrammatic Advance Street Name Sign at Complex Junctions The Advance Street Name Sign shall normally be ground mounted at the side of the road and shall be installed at a minimum distance of 50 m in advance of the intersection to which the sign applies, or a minimum distance of 30 m in advance of the beginning of an exclusive turn lane. ROUTE MARKERS AND IDENTIFICATION SIGNS A4-41

60 OCTOBER 2006 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL The Advance Street Name Sign, should not be placed where there is an intersection between the sign and the designated intersection. Where such a situation cannot be avoided, the Diagrammatic Advance Street Name Sign should be used. The Diagrammatic Street Name Sign shall normally be ground mounted at the side of the road and shall be installed at a minimum distance of 50 m in advance of the nearest intersection identified on the sign. A4-42 ROUTE MARKERS AND IDENTIFICATION SIGNS

61

62

63

64

65

66

67

68

69

70

71

72 THIS PAGE LEFT BLANK INTENTIONALLY

73 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL OCTOBER 2006 A4.5 DIRECTIONAL GUIDE SIGNS A4.5.1 Destinations, Directions, Routes and Distances Directional guide signage is comprised of four components, the: Destination Direction Route Distance. The combination of signs at each decision point on the roadway, be it an interchange or an intersection, must convey these four pieces of information in a consistent manner. New destination information should not be introduced nor should it be dropped out of sequence. Supplemental guide signing, such as service signs, should be used sparingly. Decision points on the roadway should be introduced far enough in advance that the driver has ample time to react. The Destination Destination signs are typically erected in advance of a major decision point such as an interchange or intersection. Since the primary purpose of guide signing is to provide direction to specific destinations to motorists unfamiliar with the area, the hierarchy of destinations is an important factor. It is not possible to indicate all destinations on all intersecting routes, so to provide the optimum guidance to the motorist, a hierarchy of traffic generators has been established throughout the province. This has regard to the nature of the traffic on each particular section of highway. Community size, geographical location and relationship to the highway network were considered in establishing the hierarchy. The elements of this hierarchy in order of rank are as follows: 1. Destinations these are the major traffic generators, terminal points or nodes along a particular route. They are typically centres which are of importance or interest to the majority of motorists and usually are separated by a considerable distance. 2. Key Points these are the traffic generators which rank next in importance and are intermediate to the destinations on the highway system. They are of importance or interest to a large proportion of the motorists. 3. Next Communities these are communities or centres that are incorporated or have a population in excess of 100 and are located along or near the highway. These centres are generally of importance to a smaller proportion of the motorists. 4. Other Places these are communities with a population of less than 100, lakes, camps, certain industrial sites, and other small places that generate trips. These places are generally of local interest and important to a small proportion of motorists. The provincial practice for guide signing on rural highways has been established in relation to the various functions of the provincial highways (i.e. one and two digit highways serve inter provincial and interregional demands and three digit highways serve local travel demands). Typically, on higher classes of highways (one and two digit highways), Destinations and Key Points are signed along the route and motorists receive direction and distance information to these destinations at each major junction and along the route itself. On DIRECTIONAL GUIDE SIGNS A4-43

74 OCTOBER 2006 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL lower classes of collector, three digit highways most trips are local and it is usually sufficient to provide motorists with the information about direction and distance to the next community. There is usually no need to sign for distant destinations along collector routes. The Destination and Keypoint Table provided in Appendix A identifies each of the Destinations and Keypoints in the province. Table A.1 also provides the names of communities that should be used in conjunction with placing Destination and Key Point information on guide signs. The next community, key point and destination philosophy is typically applied only in the rural context. In large urban centres having an arterial street system accessing the highway, the destination placed on the sign is typically the next cross street (i.e. McKnight Boulevard, 34 Street, etc.). At major junctions within the urban area where two highways intersect, directions may be provided to both a cross street destination and a community destination (i.e. 67 Street/ Stettler). Care is used in placing the information on the sign so it does not appear the road name for the next cross street is located at the community destination. Direction The direction to destinations is shown using arrows. Freeway and major roadways have large signs that need to be read at high speeds, and consequently larger tapered shafted arrows are used. For intersections, straight shafted arrows are used on direction signs. For more details regarding the size and shape of arrows, refer to Section A Route In the application of the guide sign system, Route Markers are used to delineate each route and changes in route. The size and style of Route Markers are explained in Section A4.4. On freeways and major highways, specialized signing should be used due to the driver s ability to absorb and comprehend a finite amount of information in a short period of time. It is usual in these situations to combine the Route Marker Shield with the Advance Guide Sign and the Exit Direction Sign so that both the destination and route appear on one sign. This is typically accomplished by incorporating a cut out shield or shields to indicate the route on the Directional Guide Sign. In Alberta, the Route Markers are white signs with black messages. Trailblazers are not used on these guide signs. Distance The last piece of information to be conveyed at an interchange or intersection is the distance to the destination provided on the Destination Distance Sign. This information is typically given after the interchange or intersection to provide the driver with confirmation that the correct route has been selected. On minor roadways this information is combined with the destination and direction information. Interchange signing for rural and urban locations are similar other than spacing in an urban setting may be closer. In order to display consistent messages to drivers, interchange guide signing should be similar for similar types of interchanges. Drawings TCS A4 500 to 502 and TCS A4 505 to TCS A4 507 show typical layouts for rural and urban interchanges. For unique ramp layouts discretion and judgment will be required to adequately sign the destinations along the highways intersecting at that interchange. A4-44 DIRECTIONAL GUIDE SIGNS

75 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL OCTOBER 2006 A4.5.2 Advance Guide Signs Advance Guide Signs are placed prior to an interchange to provide information about the routes and destinations at that interchange. Advance Guide Signs are typically made up of three components: A Route Marker Shield showing the route of the interchange access road. The destination or destinations served by that interchange. The distance to that interchange. The message on the sign is white on a green background. Layout details for an Advance Guide Sign can be found in Figure 3.7. A typical Advance Guide Sign is shown in Figure 5.1. Figure 5.1 Advance Guide Sign with Highway Route Marker Advance Guide Signs may be posted on the side of the freeway or on overhead structures. The primary Advance Guide Sign should be placed at a distance of one kilometre prior to the exit gore. If the interchange is a major junction point having multiple lanes, another Advance Guide Sign may be placed at two kilometres from the gore. In any event, or in cases where it is not possible to place the sign at the one or two kilometres points, distances should be shown to the nearest 0.5 km. In the special case of left exists, the Advance Guide Signs should be placed at one and two kilometres in advance of the exit gore on any multilane highway. When overhead signing is justified, such as at interchanges with traffic at or near capacity or when there is a complex interchange layout, the overhead sign should be placed one kilometre prior to the gore. If this cannot be achieved due to close interchange spacing, the actual placement of overhead signs will be dependent upon a number of factors such as the design speed of the road, sight distance restrictions and the complexity of the interchange layout. The minimum distance requirements for placement, using basic principles, is found in Section A The designer should strive for optimal distance to allow for driver reaction and maneuver time, while maintaining adequate spacing of information along the route. An example of how these signs should be placed is provided for rural and urban interchanges in Drawings TCS A4 500 to 502 and TCS A4 505 to 507. A4.5.3 Interchange Sequence Signs In urban areas when there are multiple interchanges in close proximity, Interchange Sequence Signs are used to show the next two or three interchanges and their locations along a particular route. This gives the driver advance information of how many exits until the desired one and the travel distance to each destination. The distances indicated on the signs shall follow the following guidelines: For a distance over 10 km, it shall be given to the nearest whole number (i.e. 12 km). If the distance is less than 10 km then it shall be given to the nearest 0.5 of a kilometre (i.e. 3.5 km). DIRECTIONAL GUIDE SIGNS A4-45

76 OCTOBER 2006 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL If the distance is less than one kilometre it shall be given to the nearest 100 m (i.e. 500 m). An Interchange Sequence Sign has white font on a green background. An example of a typical Interchange Sequence Sign is shown in Figure 5.2. Figure 5.2 Interchange Sequence Sign clearly and consistently mark which exit is which to avoid confusion and assist the driver in making the correct choice. The Exit Direction Sign typically contains the following pieces of information: The route number (or numbers if more than one). The cardinal direction (in capitals). The names of destinations (with the first letter capital). An applicable upward sloping tapered arrow. A typical Exit Direction Sign is shown in Figure 5.3. Typically, Interchange Sequence Signs should be used along the entire length of a freeway or highway section rather than only at isolated interchanges. Interchange Sequence Signs are intended to supplement the overhead or ground mounted directional signs along the highway. They are typically placed upstream of the on ramp and downstream of the offramp, approximately midway between interchanges. Drawing TCS A4 509 details where these signs should be placed for signing a group of interchanges. A4.5.4 Exit Direction Sign on Freeways The Exit Direction Sign repeats the route and/or destination information provided on the Advance Guide Sign or Interchange Sequence Sign, to give assurance to the driver that the exit is the one being sought. There are typically two directions of travel for a driver exiting at an interchange onto an intersecting roadway, and it is important to Figure 5.3 Exit Direction Sign There are two basic lane configurations that provide decisions that have to be made by the driver. These are: Single Exit Interchange, with two directions from one ramp. Multi Exit Interchange, with two ramps, with one beyond an overpass. Refer to Drawings TCS A4 500 to 502 and TCS A4 505 to 507 for details of the positioning of these different types of exit direction signs. Exit Direction Signs can be either ground mounted or overhead. Ground mounted signs should be used in the majority of rural interchanges and the position should be A4-46 DIRECTIONAL GUIDE SIGNS

77 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL OCTOBER 2006 dependent on whether the exit ramp can be seen from the freeway approaches. The Exit Direction Sign should be placed either at the beginning of the deceleration lane or 100 m to 300 m from the gore. Overhead Exit Direction Signs should be located close to the gore point and above the appropriate lane. The decision to place guide signs overhead or ground mount is outlined in A Sign configurations using Exit Directional Signs for multi exit interchanges is illustrated in Drawings TCS A4 500 and 503 as well as TCS A4 505 and 507. For a single exit only lane adjacent to an optional exit/thru lane approaching a two lane exit ramp, an EXIT ONLY Panel with a downward pointing arrow is placed on the Advance Guide Sign, as shown in Figure 5.7. Figure 5.7 EXIT ONLY - Single Lane Advance Guide Sign A4.5.5 EXIT ONLY Panels on Freeways EXIT ONLY panels are used on urban and rural freeways when a lane is dropped at an interchange and the lanes are for exit only. They are used on overhead Exit Direction Signs and Advanced Guide Signs. There are three types of EXIT ONLY panels typically used in Alberta as seen in Figures 5.4, 5.5, and 5.6. All panels have 5 W series lettering, a white border on a yellow background and are located at the bottom of the guide sign. An EXIT ONLY Panel with two down arrows is used for a double lane exit, where two lanes end at the interchange ramp as shown in Figure 5.8. Figure 5.8 EXIT ONLY - Double Lane Advanced Guide Sign Figure 5.4 EXIT ONLY Panel on Single Lane Figure 5.5 EXIT ONLY Panel on Two Lanes Figure 5.6 EXIT ONLY Panel An EXIT ONLY Panel as shown in Figure 5.9 is used at the bottom of a typical Exit Direction Sign to provide confirmation that a single lane ahead is being dropped. DIRECTIONAL GUIDE SIGNS A4-47

78 OCTOBER 2006 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL Figure 5.9 EXIT ONLY Directional Sign for Single Lane Exit by allowing the arrow to point down at the ¼ to ⅓ distance point of the travel lane. The placement of EXIT ONLY Signs is illustrated in Drawing TCS A4 515 to 517. A similar EXIT ONLY Panel as shown in Figure 5.10 is used when two lanes are being dropped, or where a single lane is dropped and an optional exit/thru lane exists at a dual exit ramp. Figure 5.10 EXIT ONLY Directional Sign for Dual Lane Exit EXIT ONLY Panels are to be placed on the bottom of exit direction or advanced guide signs with arrows centered above the lane or lanes that are being dropped at the interchange ramp. The exception is the Advance Guide Sign for the optional exit/thru lane, in which the sign area may be reduced A4.5.6 Major Forks The diagrammatic sign shown in Figure 5.11, may be used at major forks where both highway directions are given equal directional importance. Examples of major forks include: Highway 2 northbound approaching Macleod Trail in Calgary. Major highway approaching a ring road. The diagrammatic sign will generally show the highway representation using dashed lines to illustrate the number of lanes and how they split. Only the advance sign has a diagrammatic representation that informs motorists of the upcoming fork in the highway. Directional Guide Signs placed at the gore point should show down arrows designating each lane and destination. The layout for a major fork can be found in Drawing TSC A Figure 5.11 Diagrammatic Sign at a Major Fork A4-48 DIRECTIONAL GUIDE SIGNS

79 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL OCTOBER 2006 A4.5.7 Exit Gore Signs Exit Gore Signs are typically placed at the beginning of a physical gore and show the point of departure from the freeway to the interchange ramp. In Alberta, the ground mounted gore signs show the word EXIT and a white arrow on a green background. A typical Exit Gore Sign is shown in Figure A4.5.8 Figure 5.12 Exit Gore Sign Exit Numbering Signs on Freeways Exit numbering is installed at interchanges and major at grade intersections along high priority provincial routes such as Highway 2 and Highway 1 as authorized by Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation. Major atgrade intersections are classified as those which facilitate the crossing of an expressway/ freeway with another primary or secondary highway (major or minor arterial) where exit signage is existing or warranted. Applying exit numbers can provide a means to identify the location of incidents and emergencies. Exit Number Tabs consist of a white message on a green background, and are attached to a parent sign (Advance Guide or Exit Directional Sign). An Exit Number Tab is shown in Figure Figure 5.13 Exit Number Tab Each expressway/freeway where exit numbering has been provided, has its own system of exit numbers. Where an expressway/ freeway originates in Alberta, the westernmost or southernmost terminus should be the beginning point of numbering, with exit numbers increasing in the east direction for east west expressways/freeways and in the north direction for north south highways. Exits should be numbered according to the nearest kilometre measured from the start of the expressway/freeway (in Alberta) to the centre of the interchange/ intersection. On sections where two or more expressways/freeways with exit numbers overlap, the numbering for one of the highways should be continuous. The expressway/freeway of highest classification should have continuous numbering. Where the expressways/freeways are of equal classification, the route that was established first or the route that is of higher status should be kept continuous. In the case of Alberta, and the high status of the North South Trade Corridor, highways that compose the North South Trade Corridor should be given precedence. Where several exits are within the same kilometre, a suffix letter (A, B, C, D, E, etc.) is used to mark multi exit interchanges or multiple interchange exits within the same exit number zone. If used, the suffix letter is displayed with the exit number. The suffix progression follows a consecutive order south to north or west to east without any gaps, beginning with the letter A. DIRECTIONAL GUIDE SIGNS A4-49

80 OCTOBER 2006 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL To be considered for exit numbering the expressway/freeway must be sufficiently access controlled. Sufficient access control is defined as a density of 10 interchanges in an 80 km section along the highway under consideration. Exit Gore Signs used with exit numbering consist of a white message with the exit number as shown in Figure Figure 5.14 Numbered Exit Gore Sign Exit Numbering Tabs on guide signs are placed in advance of the exit. There should be a minimum of three signs marking each exit: an Advance Guide Sign, an Exit Direction Sign, and an Exit Gore Sign. Exit Numbering Tabs should be installed on top of existing Advance Guide and Exit Directional Signs to be flush with the vertical edge of the parent sign on whichever side the exit is located. Extruded Aluminum Exit Numbering Tabs should be attached to the parent sign structure according to standard extrude aluminum sign attachment procedures (with bolts and fasteners). Refer to Drawing TCS A4 520 for how an interchange should be signed with exit numbers. A4.5.9 Bypass Route Signing Many communities in Alberta are bypassed by a highway or freeway. Two examples of bypass routes are Highway 16 adjacent to Vegreville and Highway 2 adjacent to Red Deer. Communities that have been bypassed and have only one exit off the highway will be signed similarly to any other community. The through and bypass route are both signed as illustrated in Figure When there is more than one exit to a bypassed community Next Exit Signs will be used. Next Exit Signs are composed of a white message on a green background. The message states the next location (the bypassed community) on the roadway and the number of exits available to reach the location. A Next Exit Sign is illustrated in Figure If the bypass route is accessed using interchanges, interchange sequence signs showing the crossroad names and distances (Section A4.5.3) should be used in lieu of Next Exit Signs. On Alberta highways, there is no distinction placed on the sign regarding which route is the business route. Figure 5.15 Bypass Route (Single Exit) A4-50 DIRECTIONAL GUIDE SIGNS

81 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL OCTOBER 2006 Figure 5.16 Next Exit Sign Figure 5.17 Supplementary Directional Sign Next Exit Signs are typically placed one kilometre in advance of the first Advance Guide Sign. A Supplementary Guide Signs A Supplementary Directional Signs There are locations on the highway system where it is desirable to provide the motorist with additional route information. This would include locations where it is necessary to leave the main route to reach a number of indirect major destinations on connecting highways. These signs may also be necessary at locations where additional guidance is required because of the complexity of the intersection or roadway system. Supplementary Guide Signs should be used sparingly as they usually contain a lot of information and must be very large to be read at high speeds. Diagrammatic representations of the highway system in the vicinity of a major intersection showing the routes to be followed to various Key Points and Destinations is shown in Figure The directional information on the supplementary directional sign shall be shown as a white legend on a green background. Supplementary Guide Signs are to be located not nearer than one kilometre in advance of the intersection or interchange and preceding the normal directional signs. Ideally these signs will be placed on roadside turnouts near the intersection so that drivers may pull over and look at the sign carefully and decide on an appropriate route. A Supplementary Destination Signs Supplementary Destination Signs are informal guides used to advise motorists of the route to be followed to reach a particular Destination or Key Point and which requires the use of a connecting highway link. These signs may be necessary when the particular destination is important but is not located on the highway being travelled on, and it is necessary to use other highways to reach it. When Supplementary Directional Signs are used, Supplementary Destination Signs are not required. A typical Supplementary Destination Sign is shown in Figure Supplementary Destination Signs have white text on a green background. The message on the sign includes the word TO, the location to be reached and which route must be taken to arrive at the location. DIRECTIONAL GUIDE SIGNS A4-51

82 OCTOBER 2006 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL Figure 5.18 Supplementary Destination Sign bordering it, then the community shall be included on the guide signs. When approaching an interchange on the ring road, signs to both the major urban centre and an adjacent community showing both destinations and routes must be present. Ring Road Advance Guide Signs should show both destinations as shown in Figure Supplementary Destination Signs are located not nearer than one kilometre in advance of the intersection or interchange and preceding the normal directional signs. Figure 5.19 Ring Road Advance Guide Sign A Ring Road Signing A ring road is defined as a circumferential route around a major urban centre. Traffic wishing to bypass the major urban centre can use the ring road to go around the community without having to negotiate local streets. However, traffic whose destination is the urban centre will need to know where to exit the ring road to get to the section of the community that is their destination. Anthony Henday Drive in Edmonton and Stoney Trail in Calgary are examples of ring roads around major cities. Once at the interchange, a similar ring road exit direction sign with both communities and routes is shown, similar to that in Figure On the exits from the interchange the confirmation signs will be similar to those placed at other interchanges. Figure 5.20 Ring Road Exit Direction Sign Guide signing on ring roads around major urban centres needs to be handled differently than other guide signing situations. The major centre is signed, as well as the adjacent communities that can be accessed by highways connected to the ring road. To determine which communities should appear on the guide signs as an adjacent community, the proximity of the community to the major urban centre must be determined. If the community is within the ring road or For ring roads, or circumferential routes, around a community, the cardinal direction placed on the sign is the travel direction the A4-52 DIRECTIONAL GUIDE SIGNS

83 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL OCTOBER 2006 motorist is driving upon leaving the interchange. For exit numbering on ring roads the starting location will be at the interchange closest to the 6:00 clock position and will then proceed clockwise. The numbers established for the exit will be the measured distance around the ring road in a clockwise direction, measured to the nearest km. An example of typical exit numbering scheme is shown in Drawing TCS A4 525 at the end of this section. Figure 5.21 Destination Directional Sign Figure 5.22 Double Destination Directional Sign Placement of ring road signs will be similar to that on other highways. Refer to Drawings TCS A4 530 to TCS A4 540 for the location of these signs and examples of interchange signing involving adjacent communities. A Destination Direction Signs for Intersections Destination Direction Signs are used on all provincial roadways in Alberta to provide the name and direction to community destinations along the route. Messages should be restricted to a maximum of three destinations, each being either the destination in each direction (the destination at the end of the control section may not always be a city) or, on certain occasions, the key point. Destinations should be shown in the order of straight ahead, left turn destination and right turn destination as shown in Figures 5.21 to A white horizontal bar of half the thickness of the border shall be placed between the different direction legends. The Direction Guide Sign will indicate the direction to the first Destination in each direction. Figure 5.23 Triple Destination Directional Sign Normally only one destination for any direction will be shown but in special circumstances, two destinations in one direction may be required. These special circumstances include offset intersections of a continuous highway and locations where a community, which is not a destination as defined previously, is located very near the intersection. If two Next Communities are within 10 km to each other an extra Next Community may be added to the sign, thus DIRECTIONAL GUIDE SIGNS A4-53

84 OCTOBER 2006 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL allowing a maximum of four place names on one structure. At complex locations where more than four place names are necessary in advance of an intersection, an additional structure should be used, or use of a Supplementary Guide Sign can be considered (See Section A4.5.10, Supplementary Guide Signs for all roadways). A white separator bar is not required when indicating two destinations in the same direction. Directional Guide Signs are only placed on one and two digit highways where they have at grade intersections which join with one, two and triple digit highways. Guide signs for the intersection of two three digit highways is outlined in Section A Drawings TCS A4 405 to TCS A4 425, illustrate the placement of Directional Guide Signs at various at grade intersection configurations. A Destination Distance Signs Destination Distance Signs are used in conjunction with the Directional Guide Signs, and provide confirmation to the driver that the correct route has been selected and the distance to the selected destination. Destinations shown on Directional Guide Signs must be shown on Confirmation Distance Signs along that route until the community has been reached. Confirmation Distance Signs should also be erected at intervals of not more than 30 to 50 km where there is a long distance between major intersections. When intermediate installations occur, they are accompanied by the following sequence of signs to remind them of the route, distance to communities, and speed limit: Confirmation Route Marker/ Trailblazer Destination Distance Sign Speed Limit Sign. Confirmation Route Marker Assemblies, using the signs in the order above, are placed near the corporate limits when exiting a community, if no major intersections exist in this area. Typically, up to three destinations may be placed on a Destination Distance Sign. These are, in order from the top to the bottom of the sign, the Next Community along the route is placed on the sign first followed by the next Key Point and the Destination community that is at the terminal of the route. The distance should be provided to the nearest kilometre. Examples of Destination Distance Signs are illustrated in Figures 5.24 to Figure 5.24 Single Destination Distance Sign Figure 5.25 Double Destination Distance Sign Figure 5.26 Triple Destination Distance Sign A4-54 DIRECTIONAL GUIDE SIGNS

85 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL OCTOBER 2006 Where the distance to more than three communities is needed a second sign should be erected which may show up to three additional communities. A second sign should only be erected if there are more communities near by that classify as a Next Community or if they are a larger community just beyond a smaller community. For example, the second sign may be used to indicate places on a major connecting route. Again, continuity of signing must be established so that all of these communities may be reached by following the highway signing and the names of the communities are continued along the route and not simply dropped off or added. Refer to Drawing TCS A4 300 for sign installation location and to Drawings TCS A4 405 to TCS A4 430 for intersection placement. A Combination Directional/ Distance Signs at Minor Intersections Combination Directional/Distance Signs are typically used in lieu of separate Directional and Distance Signs. The junction of two triple digit highways uses a single sign with both direction and distance included in the message, as illustrated in Figure 5.27 to In situations where there are centres which do not qualify as a Next Community, but which need to be signed, a Combination Directional/ Distance Sign is also used. Where a centre is located off the highway but is not a Next Community, within the definition, a Combination Directional/Distance Sign may be erected in advance of the appropriate turnoff. These signs shall not be used to indicate a centre beyond another primary highway. A Combination Directional/Distance Sign may also be required where a Next Community is served by an access road. An example of how these signs are used is provided in Drawing TCS A Communities between two major highways will be signed from each highway in each direction approaching the access road. However, communities beyond the furthest highway will not be signed from the nearest one. A white horizontal bar of half the thickness of the border shall be placed between the different direction legends. Figure 5.27 Single Combination Directional/Distance Sign Figure 5.28 Double Combination Directional/Distance Sign Figure 5.29 Triple Combination Directional/Distance Sign A Kilometre Markers for Remote Highways Kilometre Markers are permitted on highways located in remote areas of the province where the number of significant crossroads averages less than one access every 10 km for a minimum distance of 100 km. Significant crossroads consist of numbered highways, DIRECTIONAL GUIDE SIGNS A4-55

86 OCTOBER 2006 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL township roads, range roads and local named roads. The markers begin with kilometre 0 at the most westerly limit for west east routes and begin at the most southerly limit for southnorth routes. Kilometre markings increase with increasing chainage along the highway. Motorists in the opposite direction will see the kilometre markings displayed in descending order. Refer to Drawing TCS A4 450 at the end of this section for description details. Kilometre markings shall be applied to substantial lengths of highway rather than several short sections. Substantial lengths means distances of not less than 100 km where the markers fully cover the length of highway between major highway junctions or major population centres. Kilometre Markers will be installed on a request basis only. Any local government or private business organization may request authorization to install Kilometre Markers on the highway. An organization or private industry will require authorization from Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation to install Kilometre Markers on a remote highway. Kilometre Markers are placed at the edge of the highway to assist motorists in determining their location, and provide a means to identify the location of incidents and emergencies. Using Kilometre Markers, motorists are able to determine relative positions along the highway for checking their travel progress. Where the significant crossroad count is greater than one access per 10 km on average, Rural Address Signs will be used instead of Kilometre Markers. Rural Address Signs are preferred over Kilometre Markers as they not only provide useful references along the route, but also serve to show rural addresses for locating businesses. Kilometre Markers are placed every four kilometres along the route. The marker may be adjusted by moving a maximum of 200 m in either direction along the highway to clear any obstacles, without incurring any correction to the kilometre postings. In the event, that a marker must be moved more than 200 m, the Kilometre Marker may be moved to the next or preceding kilometre posting, or the Kilometre Marker can be omitted. Kilometre Marker spacing may be increased to two kilometre intervals in locations having complex vertical or horizontal alignments. For two lane undivided highways, the kilometre marker posts are placed on the right side of highway in the direction of increasing kilometres with back to back signs placed on a single post. For divided highways, the signs are placed on the right side of the travel lane for both directions of travel. An example of these signs is illustrated in Drawing TCS A A Miscellaneous Guide Signs Miscellaneous signs that may be placed along the provincial highway right of way include: Corporate Limit Signs Lake and River Identification Signs County and Municipal, District Boundary Signs Industrial and Technical Park Signs Fingerboards. A Corporate Limit Signs The corporate limits of a municipality may be identified using a Corporate Limits Sign. The Cooperate Boundary Marker Sign ID 205 shall have a border, the city name and A4-56 DIRECTIONAL GUIDE SIGNS

87 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL OCTOBER 2006 CORPORATE LIMITS in black on a white background as seen in Figure 5.30 This sign is used to show the location of the corporate limits belonging to a urban municipality. Figure 5.30 Corporate Boundary Marker Figure 5.31 River Identification Sign Figure 5.32 Lake Identification Sign A sign indicating the corporate limits of a municipality is installed at each location at which the municipal boundary intersects a highway route. The sign shall be installed facing motorists approaching the municipality. A Lake and River Identification Lakes and rivers visible from the highway are identified by Lake and River Identification Signs. The Lake and River Identification Signs may be installed to identify lakes and rivers of historic, geographic or economic interest and which are visible from the road on which the sign is placed. In rural areas where many lakes in the province include developed recreational and unincorporated residential areas that generate substantial amounts of traffic, the department will provide directional signs to these lakes when requested to do so based on the volumes of traffic generated. The River and Lake Identification Signs shall have the name of the lake or river in white on a green background as in Figures 5.31 and Lake and River Identification Signs will be erected for all rivers and streams officially designated by Alberta Environment (Sustainable Resources & Development) and shall be placed in accordance with the following: Where a road crosses a river the sign shall be placed approximately 20 m in advance of the crossing location facing approaching traffic. Where a river runs parallel to but is not crossed by the road, signs may be installed on a single support, back toback, on the same side of the road as the river. Where a lake is adjacent to a road, signs may be installed on a single support back to back on the same side of the road as the lake. Lakes that generate large volumes of traffic will get one directional sign installed for each direction of travel in advance of the main access road turnoff. In those instances where the highway closely parallels the lake or a town, village, provincial park or other similar development is located adjacent to the lake the signing for these developments usually is sufficient to direct motorists to the area and may eliminate the need for any additional signs. DIRECTIONAL GUIDE SIGNS A4-57

88 OCTOBER 2006 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL A County and Municipal District Boundary The signs for County and Municipal District Boundaries have black text and border on a white background. The first line of the message indicates whether the boundary is for a County or a Municipal District (M.D.). The second line of message indicates the name of the County or M.D. boundary. A line divides the first line of message from the second as shown in Figures 5.33 and These signs are used to show the location of the County or M.D. boundary. Figure 5.33 County Boundary Sign A Guide Signs for Large Trip Generators The department will consider requests for directional signs for large developments or groups of developments such as large industrial plants, industrial parks, mobile home parks, and socio recreational facilities such as public sports facilities that generate sufficient volumes of traffic to justify the sign request. These will be standard guide signs having white text on a green background, and the message may be incorporated into other signing systems on the highway. Refer to Figure 5.35 for a typical Industrial and Technical Park Sign. Figure 5.35 Industrial Technical Park Sign Figure 5.34 Municipal District Boundary Sign The County and Municipal District Boundary signs shall be installed at each location at where a boundary of a County or M.D. interests a highway route. The sign shall be installed facing motorists approaching the County or M.D. Directional Signs should be placed prior to the access of the facility. If the facility is not on the highway, directional signs may be required to direct motorists. The type of facility should be checked against the guidelines for Motorists Facility and Service Signage in Section A4.6 of this manual to determine which type of signs should be used. A Fingerboards Fingerboards combine both direction and name of a facility into one sign. Black on white fingerboards are only used to indicate the direction to rural churches, cemeteries, municipal landfill sites and waste transfer stations. A typical fingerboard is shown below in Figure A4-58 DIRECTIONAL GUIDE SIGNS

89 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL OCTOBER 2006 Figure 5.36 Fingerboard Sign Figure 5.38 Sanitary Landfill/Waste Transfer Sign No more than three fingerboards should be installed on any one post. Community Halls use fingerboards having a green background and white message to show the direction and distance to the facility. These signs are placed in advance of the access road to the highway in each approach direction to the access. An example of a Community Hall Directional Sign is shown in Figure Figure 5.37 Community Hall Directional Sign A Sanitary Landfill/Waste Transfer Sign A rural transfer station is a facility where solid waste materials, including yard waste, demolition materials, and household refuse, are transferred from small vehicles to large trucks for efficient transport to landfills, recycling centers, and other disposal sites. A Sanitary Landfill or Waste Transfer Station Sign (see Figure 5.38) is installed on provincial highways to guide motorists to these rural community facility sites for the disposal of their waste materials. The standard size of a fingerboard sign is variable width and 600 mm height. The facility name on the sign can be either the name of the private owner or municipality, or it could be a special name in likeness to some local geographic feature or nearby settlement. The distance to the facility from the highway may be included on the sign as shown, rounded to the nearest kilometre. The facility should be accessible from the provincial highway and located within a reasonable distance from that highway (preferably, not exceeding 25 kilometres). Where the facility can be accessed from more than one highway, signs should only be placed at the nearest highway access. Fingerboard signs should be placed within the highway right of way. Only one sign should be placed per direction of travel on the highway. The signs should be placed 150 to 250 m in advance of the access, or at the start of the taper if one exists. A development permit is required to have one of these types of signs installed next to the highway. The facility owner is required to contact the Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation District Office to obtain authorization for installing a sign. DIRECTIONAL GUIDE SIGNS A4-59

90 OCTOBER 2006 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL THIS PAGE LEFT BLANK INTENTIONALLY A4-60 DIRECTIONAL GUIDE SIGNS

91

92

93

94

95

96

97

98

99

100

101

102

103

104

105

106

107

108

109 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL OCTOBER 2006 A4.6 FACILITIES AND SERVICES SIGNS A4.6.1 Introduction Drivers unfamiliar with an area depend on facilities and services signs to direct them to amenities and attractions along the highway. Facilities and services signage should facilitate an efficient and effective tourist and service information system throughout the province, which meets the needs of the traveling public, the tourism industry and government by: Providing high quality, regulatory, directional and traveler related signing. Displaying visually appealing messages and installing safe structures. Promoting attributes and advantages of Alberta through supporting marketing material. Facilities and services signing should: Provide protection of the landscape, promote safe structures and provide an effective way finding system for travelers. Provide an overall hierarchy of traveler directions, through directing motorists to commercial centres and business areas, then individual attractions, destinations and traveler services. Emphasize that tourist signing is directional, not promotional (i.e. not for advertising purposes). Provide standardized and uniform, tourism related directional signage within the highway right of way. Reduce roadside clutter and visual pollution created by uncontrolled and inappropriate signs. Provide consistent application and administration procedures across the province. Symbols are often used on facilities and service signs or community signs, to quickly and easily display the available services for that attraction or community. For example, an attraction sign having a tent, picnic table, grocery cart, and wheelchair symbols would signify the facility has tent camping, day use picnic area, grocery store and is wheelchair accessible. Similarly, a police shield symbol and question mark symbol placed below the community name sign indicates that a police station and information centre is available in that community. A listing of provincially recognized approved symbols for facilities and services signs are updated regularly on Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation s website at Symbols are grouped in the following categories. Recreational Attractions Heritage and Historical Attractions Cultural Attractions Natural Attractions Alternative Tourist Accommodation Recreational Facilities and Services Motorist Services General Information Tourist Retail. Service symbols are produced as white symbols on a blue background. Hospital and Airport symbols are exceptions, where they are nationally recognized as having a white symbol on green background. For more information on symbols refer to Section A FACILITIES AND SERVICES SIGNS A4-61

110 OCTOBER 2006 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL Several types of facilities that require signing exist along Alberta highways. These are: Emergency Services Transportation Services Tourist Facility TODS Highway Facility TODS Motorist Service Logo Signs. A4.6.2 A Emergency Services Introduction Emergency services signs are the most important service facility sign. Drivers requiring emergency services are often distracted and agitated and require clear and concise directions to hospital, police or telephone facilities. These signs should be used in isolation from other signs and the direction they provide must be kept unambiguous. Hospitals, because they provide medical emergency treatment are the most significant service which should be identified for the motorist. Hospital locations are usually known to residents of the area, however the precise location may not be known by an unfamiliar motorist. Directions to the hospital are provided from the community entrance and all turns along the travel route. The Hospital Marker is illustrated in Figure 6.1 as specified in TAC s MUTCDC. Only hospitals that are prepared to accept emergency cases are to be signed. In small community towns and villages this marker is added to the Community Facility Sign at the community entrance or access (see Section A ). If a community facility sign does not exist, the symbol can be used standalone with directional arrow tabs placed below the symbol to show straight, left and right directions along the travel route. In large towns having All Services and in cities, a larger Advance Warning Sign may be installed at the entrance to the community and/or off a freeway that leads to a hospital. The message on the Advance Hospital Sign may indicate to motorists which exit or intersecting road should be taken and the distance to reach the closest hospital providing emergency services. Examples of Advance Hospital Signs are illustrated in Figure 6.2 and Figure 6.3. The words HOSPITAL, EXIT and FOLLOW shall be in upper case letters. Figure 6.2 Advanced Hospital Sign Figure 6.3 Urban Freeway Advanced Hospital Sign Figure 6.1 Hospital Marker A4-62 FACILITIES AND SERVICES SIGNS

111 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL OCTOBER 2006 One directional sign is erected at each main highway entrance to the community. Additional directional signs are to be installed along the travel route within the community to provide wayfinding from the community entrance to the hospital. The desired route to each hospital is to be determined in consultation with the community officials. A Police Signs Two sign patterns exist for police in Alberta. The Municipal Police has a white message on a blue background as shown in Figure 6.4. The RCMP has a symbol of a helmet on a blue background as illustrated in Figure 6.5. Figure 6.4 Police Sign A Telephone Signs With increased use of cellular phones, public telephones are becoming less used. However, specific locations exist where telephones are available specifically for emergency use. In urban areas, where access to public telephones is readily available, signing all facilities with a telephone would lead to unnecessary sign clutter. Therefore, these signs should be used sparingly in urban areas. In rural areas, telephones are usually available as part of a larger group of services such as rest stop areas and the telephone symbol will be incorporated into a larger sign. This advance sign consists of a telephone symbol will be supplemented by an auxiliary tab indicating the distance to the access road. The standard symbol indicating a telephone will be used as shown in Figure 6.6. Figure 6.6 Telephone Sign Figure 6.5 Police Sign (RCMP) The Police Sign may be placed on the highway to direct the motorist to the local police station. The Police Symbol may be placed on Community Facility Signs. Directional signs will also be placed on major roadways near the police station to direct motorists. On rural roadways, signs will be erected only at telephone turnout sites to indicate the availability of telephones. On urban roadways telephone signs may be placed where a phone is available and in a location that does not cause sign clutter. On rural roadways one sign will be erected one kilometre in advance of the access to the telephone for each direction of travel. An additional sign will be erected 200 m in advance of the telephone access for each direction of travel. FACILITIES AND SERVICES SIGNS A4-63

112 OCTOBER 2006 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL A4.6.3 A Transportation Services Introduction Transportation services signs are used to direct motorists to transportation facilities such as airports, ferries and parking. A Airport Signs Airports can generate a considerable amount of traffic including passengers and truck traffic servicing the airport facilities or delivering cargo. Most airports are located outside urban areas close to major provincial highway routes. The locations of airport facilities are primarily of interest to persons visiting the city other than by automobile, although the identification of these locations is also of concern to the local stranger motorist, who may have only a general knowledge of the location of the facility. It has been established that directional guidance to airports is essential. The directional requirements are determined in relation to the needs of the stranger who may be transporting persons to or picking up persons from the terminal and, as stated previously, customarily uses the highway route system. The route to the airport and the classification of the airport are identified by the Airport Signs, which are 900 x 900 mm in size. The Airport Marker used for airports servicing jets shall be the sign specified in the MUTCDC and shall have a white airplane symbol on a green background, as illustrated in Figure 6.7. This is typically part of an assembly that includes the jet symbol, a name tab and a directional or distance tab. The name tab is usually placed above the jet symbol and indicates the airport name. The distance tab is mounted below the jet symbol. The symbol on the airport sign should always be oriented towards the route leading to the airport. Figure 6.7 Jet Service Airport It is also necessary to provide route guidance to these transportation terminals along local roads starting from the nearest highway route. The following modified directional sign in Figure 6.8 may also be used to help direct motorist on freeways to the right exit for an airport. Instead of an angled arrow, an aeroplane symbol is used to indicate the direction of the exit. Figure 6.8 Airport Sign Consideration must be given to such factors as regularly scheduled passenger service, the frequency of trips and the number of outbound passengers departing from the various terminals, when determining the need for signage to these facilities. Any airport which provides regularly scheduled passenger flights will qualify for the installation of signs along any designated route to the airport. Municipalities which currently have airports with jet passenger service include: Edmonton Calgary Lethbridge Medicine Hat Grande Prairie A4-64 FACILITIES AND SERVICES SIGNS

113 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL OCTOBER 2006 Lloydminster Ft McMurray Peace River High Level Rainbow Lake. A different airplane symbol is used for smaller airports which can be either private or publicly owned. These airports typically offer various aviation activities to the general public including: Chartered flights Industrial or cargo flights Recreational flying Flying schools. These types of airports are signed with the municipal airport sign shown in Figure 6.9. These airport signs are typically included in assemblies similar to those for jet airport signs. to 350 m in advance of the access road on the highway system. A Parking Signs Each municipal jurisdiction should establish minimum standards relating to parking fee structures, supervision, surfacing and illumination which should apply to any offstreet parking facility whether municipality or privately owned. Any off street parking facility which provides public parking and meets the minimum standards shall qualify for signs providing the off street parking facility is not abutting on an arterial road or is not in the central business district of a large urban centre. The Off street Parking Marker Sign shall have a white P on a green background and be 750 x 750 mm, as shown in Figure Figure 6.10 Parking Sign Figure 6.9 Municipal Airport Signs shall be installed to designate routes to the airport from the closest primary highway route and any primary highway route which is within five kilometres (airline distance) of the airport. The route should be via arterial roads to the facility and from the nearest eastwest oriented and north south oriented arterial roads. Directional signs will be installed to mark the location of publicly licensed airports. One sign will be erected for each direction of travel 300 In urban areas parking signs are provided for off road facilities only where parking is discouraged on the highway. The route to a nearby public off street parking facility is identified by the Off street Parking Marker Assembly. The Off street Parking Marker Assembly consisting of an Off street Parking Marker and the appropriate arrow tabs shall be installed facing both directions of travel on the arterial road closest to the off street parking facility. The assembly shall be placed at the FACILITIES AND SERVICES SIGNS A4-65

114 OCTOBER 2006 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL intersection of the road on which the facility abuts and the arterial road. A Ferry The Ferry Sign is to be used at any location where ferry service is provided. The symbol consists of a vehicle on a ferry in white on a green background. Supplemental tabs may be used to indicate the name, direction, distance and hours of operation. An example is illustrated in Figure Figure 6.11 Ferry A directional sign shall be placed in both directions of travel 300 m before the ferry or access road. A Access for Persons with Disabilities In 1992, Alberta Transportation and Utilities (now Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation), established the Advisory Committee on Barrier Free Transportation. Through the Advisory Committee, Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation facilitates work on initiatives brought forward by the stakeholders to promote barrier free transportation. The Advisory Committeeʹs objective is ʺto have barrier free transportation systems within the province that meet needs for local and intra provincial travel, as well as barrier free pedestrian environments within municipalities.ʺ Eligible businesses that provide essential services and roadside facilities are encouraged to keep in mind the needs of motorists who may have physical disabilities, through: Meeting current building codes. Consider installing public access to a Teletype Telephone. Provide a wheelchair accessible facility including designated stalls in the parking area, easy access into the building and accessible washroom facilities. It is also recommended that they maintain national uniformity in addressing accessibility needs and access. More information on accessibility is available on the Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation website. The sign consists of a symbol of a person in a wheel chair on a blue background as illustrated in Figure The sign is used in conjunction with facility signs to indicate that the facility meets access requirements for persons with disabilities. Figure 6.12 Access for Persons with Disabilities This sign may be used with any off road service signs. A4-66 FACILITIES AND SERVICES SIGNS

115 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL OCTOBER 2006 A4.6.4 A Tourist Oriented Directional Signs (TODS) Introduction Tourist attractions are considered a tourism business or facility if tourism is clearly the core business activity. The tourism attraction must be listed in an official travel guide, entered into Travel Alberta s Tourist Information System, or is a legitimate operation recognized by the relevant industry association. their region locally, nationally and internationally. Currently, there are 23 Destination Marketing Organizations (DMO s) in Alberta whose key role is to market tourism in their area. Examples of DMO s include: Kalyna Country, Mighty Peace Tourist Association and Chinook Country Tourist Association. An example of a tourist destination sign is provided in Figure Figure 6.13 Tourist Region Sign Many of the TODS have symbols included on the sign. Only symbols that have been approved by Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation are used on tourist and services signing. TODS are subdivided into five categories. These categories include: Tourist Region Signs Tourist Destination Area Signs Visitor Information Centre Signs Tourist Attraction Signs Community Attraction & Facility Signs. TODS signs are administered through a provincial sign program. Application, installation and removal of TODS signs shall be coordinated through the sign program administrator. A Tourist Region Signs Tourist Region Signs provide recognition of Alberta s key tourism marketing regions. There are Tourism Destination Regions (TDR s) which include: Alberta Central, Alberta North, Alberta South, Calgary, Edmonton, and the Canadian Rockies. In these TDR s there are Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOʹs) active in marketing Signs will be permitted within the highway right of way on arterial highways at each entrance into the DMO area, welcoming travelers who are entering this new tourist area. Tourist area signs will also be permitted signifying other government recognized tourist areas in the province. A Tourist Destination Area Signs These signs are utilized to direct travelers to significant, tourism destination areas within the province. Signs are placed at determined locations to direct motorists. Significant Provincial Parks and Recreation Areas are considered to be in this category of TODS. Examples of Tourist Destination Area Signs are provided in Figures 6.14 and FACILITIES AND SERVICES SIGNS A4-67

116 OCTOBER 2006 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL Figure 6.14 Tourist Destination Area Sign (Provincial Park) Figure 6.15 Tourism Destination Area Sign (Recreation Area) directions of travel along the appropriate highway. Directional Signs are installed 200 m from the access road turnoff. A Visitor Information Centre Signs Visitor Information Centres serve as important venues in promoting attractions, accommodations and services to visitors who are entering the province, tourist region or municipality. They are generally located at critical highway access points at provincial gateways, entering tourism regions and areas, and within municipalities that are formally recognized by Travel Alberta marketing literature. Visitor Information Centres provide a one stop location for motorists to become educated on the various tourism attractions and services available in the area. Directional signs provide direction to provincially and privately owned Visitor Information Centres that provide motorists with information about the available attractions and services within their area or around the province. An example of a Visitor Information Centre Directional Sign is provided in Figure These signs will vary in size dependent upon whether they are placed on a conventional or multi lane highway. Directional information is placed on the highway to direct motorists to significant parks and recreation areas in the province. Signs will be erected to mark the various recreational facilities operated by Alberta Environment. The signs provided for each location will consist of an advance sign and a Directional Sign with appropriate symbols used on each sign. These signs will be installed for both Figure 6.16 Visitor Information Centre Directional Sign Signing for Visitor Information Centres shall consist of an advance sign erected two kilometres in advance of the highway access. Additional symbols with the appropriate directional arrow tabs may be required to direct motorists through interchanges or along service roads. A4-68 FACILITIES AND SERVICES SIGNS

117 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL OCTOBER 2006 A Tourist Attraction Sign There are four categories of tourist attraction that may warrant signing: Destination Attractions Major Resorts Major Attractions Regular Attractions. The eligibility criteria for each type of tourist attraction may be obtained through the TODS and Logo Sign program administered by the province Destination Attractions Destination attraction sites are world renown or must see attractions that are formally recognized by the province and/or Travel Alberta. Specific examples of destination attraction sites include: UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as Dinosaur Provincial Park and Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump West Edmonton Mall Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology An example of these signs is provided in Figure Figure 6.17 Destination Sign Major Resorts Destination resort areas are self contained developments that provide visitor oriented fixed roof accommodations and developed recreational/attraction facilities in a setting with high natural amenities. Examples of a destination resort include Three Sisters Resort and Silver Tip Resort in Canmore. An example of a Major Resort Sign is provided in Figure Figure 6.18 Major Resort Sign Major Attractions Major attractions are businesses and facilities that generate a minimum of 15,000 annual visitations with the majority of those visitations generated by visitors residing more than 80 km away. Major Attraction Signs provide direction to businesses that provide an experience rather than a service for travelers. These attractions draw a significant number of visitors outside the immediate area. An example of a Major Attraction Sign is provided in Figure FACILITIES AND SERVICES SIGNS A4-69

118 OCTOBER 2006 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL Figure 6.19 Major Attraction Sign Major Attractions Regular Attractions. If a particular attraction is off the main highway and one or more different minor roads needs to be taken to reach the attraction, a Trailblazer is used to direct the motorist to it. An example of a Trailblazer is provided in Figure Regular Attractions Regular Attraction Signs provide direction to businesses that provide an experience rather than a service for a limited number of travelers. Regular Attractions are businesses that have less than 15,000 annual visits, and/or attractions that serve mostly the local customer base. Figure 6.21 TODS Trailblazer An example of a Regular Attraction Sign is illustrated in Figure Figure 6.20 Regular Attraction Sign The location of all tourist attractions or services business should be a primary consideration at the time of initial business planning. Roadside signing should not be expected to compensate for a poorly located business. TODS Trailblazers Four different categories of Tourist Attraction Signs (TODS) have been described in this section: Destination Attraction Major Resort Signs should be carefully positioned so that they: Do not obstruct a driver s view of the road or intersections. Do not obstruct traffic or pedestrians. Do not form a confusing background to normal regulatory traffic signs and signals. Are not mounted with directional signs. A4-70 FACILITIES AND SERVICES SIGNS

119 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL OCTOBER 2006 Do not heavily impact on visual amenity, particularly in environmentally and visually sensitive locations. In areas where the placement of a TODS causes an operational or safety problem either the sign will not be permitted, or the operational or safety problem must be resolved. The distances from the facility and the location of signs within the highway network, inside and outside urban areas, can be found within the TODS program guidelines. For the purposes of placement, the TODS described in the previous sections may be classified as shown in Figure To prevent proliferation of signs, there is a limit to the number of tourist and services signs that are permitted in the highway rightof ways. Figure 6.22 Classification of TODS FACILITIES AND SERVICES SIGNS A4-71

120 OCTOBER 2006 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL A Community Attraction and Facility Signs A community sign is designed to advise the motorist of the upcoming community or community access, and provides information of the available attractions and facilities within that community. Figure 6.25 Community Facilities Sign (with attractions) Facilities that are displayed are generally public or community oriented in nature. A blue ALL SERVICES panel may be used in lieu of the six facility tabs, if the community has the following services available: Hospital, Police, Information, Gas, Food, Lodging and Camping. Examples of community facilities signs are provided in Figures 6.23 and A maximum of four attractions may be placed on a sign as shown in Figure Figure 6.23 Community Facilities Sign (for communities away from Highway) Figure 6.24 Community Facilities Sign (no attractions) The signs will be erected, one for each direction of travel one or two kilometres in advance of the corporate limits where the highway passes through the community and one or two kilometres in advance of the intersection with the access road where the community is not on the highway. In the case of communities which are not on the highway, a directional sign will be erected 200 m in advance of the access road. Where Logo Signs are placed on the highway, the Community Attractions and Facility Signs are placed immediately downstream to indicate the name of the community in which motorists can expect the gas, food and lodging services displayed on the Logo Signs. A4.6.5 Safety Rest Area Safety Rest Areas (SRA) come in different sizes and have different services and facilities available onsite. SRA Signs are applied to rest areas as outlined in the Alberta Highway Geometric Design Guide. A4-72 FACILITIES AND SERVICES SIGNS

121 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL OCTOBER 2006 All SRA Signs have a white message, border and symbols on a blue background. Standard facility symbols are used to show the available amenities. An example of a SRA Sign is shown in Figure Figure 6.26 Safety Rest Area Sign (Excludes Roadside Turnouts) Advance Guide Signs are posted two kilometres prior to the SRA and a directional sign is placed at the beginning of the taper of the deceleration lane to the SRA. Symbols of dimension 600 x 600 mm are used on conventional two lane highways. Symbols having dimension of 750 x 750 mm are used on high speed multi lane highways. Roadside Turnouts (SRA Types A, B, C and L) also offer travelers a place to stop and rest, but these areas have less opportunity for motorists to get out of their vehicles as they are too close to the highway. It is undesirable to have children and pets exiting vehicles near the highway. Safety Rest Areas are placed along the highway system to encourage safety by providing a safe place for weary travellers to stop and rest. Safety Rest Areas are accessed via deceleration lanes off the highway and/or via an interchange. Signage is provided for only one direction of travel (right turn direction) in order to eliminate/discourage traffic from crossing and recrossing the highway (safety/operational concern). No passing barrier lines, cable fencing or other means may be used to prevent motorists from crossing the median or driving on the wrong side of the centreline. The rest area implementation strategy will have rest areas staggered on both sides of the highway so crossing over is not needed. The facilities provided on Roadside Turnouts are basic, which may include only litter bins or telephone access. As such they are signed as Roadside Turnouts rather than rest areas. An example of a Roadside Turnout Sign is shown in Figure Their placement is the same as Rest Area Signs. Over time, some of these Roadside Turnouts may be expanded into rest areas through provision of washrooms outside the widened pavement area. In these cases, the turnout sign could be upgraded to a rest area sign. The amenities found on SRA and Roadside Turnouts are summarized in Table 6.1. FACILITIES AND SERVICES SIGNS A4-73

122 OCTOBER 2006 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL Figure 6.27 Roadside Turnout Sign (SRA Types A, B, C and L) Table 6.1 Safety Rest Areas (Amenities) Type Facility Litter Picnic Table Basic Services Phone Washrooms Optional Services Major Rest Area Freeway/ Expressway and/or Multi Lane Highway X X X Typically flush type Major Building with Information may be provided Municipal Rest Area Services vary depending on Municipality Agreement Minor Rest Area Major / Minor Two Lane Highways X X Typically dry chemical type Historical marker, tourist area map or information sign may be provided * Note: Roadside turnouts that have been modified with washrooms off the widened pavement area can be signed using the Rest Area Sign. In this case, a smaller Rest Area Sign may be used (limited to three facility service symbols). A4-74 FACILITIES AND SERVICES SIGNS

123 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL OCTOBER 2006 A4.6.6 Motorist Services - Logo Signs Logo panels showing a business logo or company name are placed along the highway and in advance of communities, community accesses and commercial service roads. These signs show the availability of essential gas, food and lodging services near the highway or within the community. Figure 6.29 Logo Sign Food (6 Panel) Businesses are considered an essential service provider if their main commercial venture is the provision gas, food or lodging services to travelling tourists. Examples of logo signs for gas, food and lodging are provided in six, four and two panel formats in Figures 6.28 to An example of a combination panel and ramp signs are provided in Figures 6.37 and Figure 6.30 Logo Sign Lodging (6 Panel) Figure 6.28 Logo Sign Gas (6 Panel) Figure 6.31 Logo Sign Gas (4 Panel) FACILITIES AND SERVICES SIGNS A4-75

124 OCTOBER 2006 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL Figure 6.32 Logo Sign Food (4 Panel) Figure 6.35 Logo Sign Food (2 Panel) Figure 6.33 Logo Sign Lodging (4 Panel) Figure 6.36 Logo Sign Lodging (2 Panel) Figure 6.34 Logo Sign Gas (2 Panel) Figure 6.37 Combination Logo Sign A4-76 FACILITIES AND SERVICES SIGNS

125 Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL OCTOBER 2006 Figure 6.38 Ramp Logo Sign In areas where the placement of a Logo Sign causes an operational or safety problem, as determined by the District Operations Manager, the sign will not be permitted, or the request will be placed on hold until the operational or safety problem can be resolved. Logo Signs are placed inside the highway right of way at the entrance to communities, in advance of community access roads, and at commercial service roads located adjacent to the highway. Further details of the TODs and Logo Signs program are found at SignUpAlberta.com. FACILITIES AND SERVICES SIGNS A4-77