Navigating Indiana Road Signage
JOE BRUNO Traffic Administration Engineer Indiana Department of Transportation
Presentation Overview Background Logo Program (Gas, Food, Lodging, & Camping Services) Attraction Logo Program General Service Signs Guide Sign (GS) Program Outdoor Advertising Information Summary
Background The authorizing statute for the attraction signage programs is IC 9-21-4-5(b): Under criteria to be jointly established by the Indiana department of transportation and the office of tourism development, the Indiana department of transportation may authorize the posting of any of the following: (1) Limited tourist attraction signage (2) Business signs on specific information panels on the interstate system of highways and other freeways. All costs of manufacturing, installation, and maintenance to the Indiana department of transportation for a business sign posted under this subsection shall be paid by the business.
Indiana MUTCD Indiana Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (IMUTCD) Sets the standards, guidance, and options for traffic control devices (signs, pavement markings, and traffic signals). Current edition is the 2011 edition, with revisions 1, 2, and 3. The 2011 IMUTCD is based on the 2009 National MUTCD.
Indiana MUTCD (Cont d) Attraction Signs & MUTCD Sign Types Destination Signs ( 2D.37) Information Signs ( 2H.02) Specific Service Signs ( 2J.01) Community Wayfinding Signs ( 2D.50) Tourist Oriented Directional Signs ( 2K.01) General Service Signs ( 2I.03) Supplemental Guide Signs ( 2E.35) Recreational and Cultural Interest Area Signs ( 2M.02)
Attraction Signs: Logo Program Specific Service (Logo) Sign Program INDOT started pilot project on I-70 in 1984 Statewide implementation with a contractor began in 1988 885 interstate/freeway signs 3,317 mainline logo panels 1,857 participating customers Policy rules are in the Indiana Administrative Code (105 IAC 9-4)
Logo Program (Cont d) 5 Eligible Services Gas (766 Mainline Logo Panels) Food (1,478 Mainline Logo Panels) Lodging (623 Mainline Logo Panels) Camping (192 Mainline Logo Panels) Attractions (258 Mainline Logo Panels) Max. of 4 signs per interchange per direction Must have at least 800 ft spacing between signs
Logo Program (Cont d) Current Contractor Pricing Information $1,668 annually per mainline sign $276 annually per ramp or trailblazer sign Ramp / trailblazer signs optional if business is visible from exit ramp Attractions are ½ price ($834 per mainline and $138 per ramp/trailblazer sign) Prices can be adjusted for inflation
Logo Program (Cont d) Gas Services Eligibility Summary Must be within 2 miles of the interchange Require no more than 1 trailblazer sign Primary applicants must be open at least 16 hours a day, 7 days a week Secondary applicants must be open at least 12 hours a day, 7 days a week
Logo Program (Cont d) Food Services Eligibility Summary Must be within 3 miles of the interchange Require no more than 2 trailblazer signs Need to have at least 25 seats Primary applicants must serve three meals a day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) and be open at least 6 days a week. Secondary applicants must serve two meals a day and be open at least 6 days a week.
Logo Program (Cont d) Lodging Services Eligibility Summary Must have at least 10 rooms Require no more than 2 trailblazer signs Primary applicants must be within 3 miles of the interchange. Secondary applicants must be within 4 miles of the interchange.
Logo Program (Cont d) Camping Services Eligibility Summary Must be within 15 miles of the interchange No trailblazing sign limit Primary applicants must have at least 50 campsites and be open all year Secondary applicants must have at least 25 campsites and be open at least 6 months a year
Logo Program (Cont d) Attractions Eligibility Summary A substantial portion of visitors must be tourists (from at least 50 miles away). Must have off-street parking Must be within 15 miles of the interchange No trailblazing sign limit Primary applicants must be open at least 40 hours a week, all year Secondary applicants must be open at least 30 hours a week, for at least 6 months a year
Logo Program (Cont d) Attraction Categories: Agritourism Attractions (hayrides, corn mazes, etc.) Amusement or Water Parks Antique Shopping / Artisan Destination Districts Arenas or Performing Arts Centers Business District or Main Street Community Convention Centers Cultural or Educational Centers Farmers Markets and Orchards Golf Courses
Logo Program (Cont d) Attraction Categories (Cont d) Historical or Religious Sites Made in Indiana Production Facilities (includes breweries and wineries) Malls (includes outlet malls) Marinas Museums Resorts Snow Ski Areas Visitor Centers Zoos & Botanical Gardens
General Service Signs INDOT is moving away from using general service signs (except for the hospital symbol sign). Gas, Food, Lodging, and Camping service providers may request general service signs from the appropriate INDOT district office.
Attraction Signs: TODS Program Tourist Oriented Directional Signs (TODS) Program INDOT operated the program in-house until 2012 Since 2012 the program has been managed by a contractor, Indiana Logo Sign Group Currently has 307 signs (up from 211 signs in 2012)
TODS Program (Cont d) Cost is $419 annually per sign The same categories from the attraction logo program are used for TODS, along with: Bed & Breakfast Inns Cabins Cemeteries Privately Owned Parks, Nature Preserves, & Wildlife Areas
TODS Program (Cont d) Urban Areas Not Served By TODS Program Indianapolis Fort Wayne Evansville Gary South Bend Elkhart Bloomington Lafayette Jeffersonville New Albany Anderson Muncie Terre Haute Michigan City TODS Program Territory Map (Areas shown in blue are eligible for RACIAS)
Guide Sign (GS) Program The Indiana Office of Tourism Development and INDOT administer the remaining signage programs in-house Supplemental Guide Signs (SGS) Recreational and Cultural Interest Area Signs (RACIAS) Community Wayfinding Signs (WFS)
Guide Sign (GS) Program (Cont d) General Requirements Tourist Traffic (from at least 30 miles away): sliding scale based on attendance between 10% and 33%. Parking: at least 15 off-street parking spaces Restrooms: must have a public restroom (portable toilets and outhouses don t count) Distance: within 7 miles for RACIAS and 15 miles for SGS Hours of operation: at least 6 hours per day, 5 days per week Months of operation: at least 6 months per year Some categories are exempt from one or more of the general requirements.
Supplemental Guide Signs Supplemental Guide Signs (SGS) are guide signs on interstates or freeways for major traffic generators. There are 12 types of attractions eligible for SGS: Amusement Parks Arenas Cemeteries Colleges Convention Centers Fairgrounds Large Tourist Traffic Generator Park, Recreation Area, Forest, or Wildlife Refuge Park & Ride Facility Performing Arts Centers Trademark Destination Brand Visitor Centers Applications for SGS should be submitted to the Indiana Office of Tourism Development.
Recreational and Cultural Interest Area Signs Recreational and Cultural Interest Area Signs (RACIAS) are primarily for attractions in the urban areas not served by the TODS program as well as for state parks and other DNR properties. The types of attractions eligible for RACIAS are similar to the TODS program list, except that lodging is not an eligible category (no bed & breakfasts, cabins, or campgrounds). Applications for RACIAS should be submitted to the signage liaison at the Indiana Office of Tourism Development.
Community Wayfinding Signs Wayfinding Signs (WFS) are signs within a defined district, typically a downtown area, for multiple traffic generators. INDOT does not install WFS. The municipality, local chamber of commerce, or other group installs the WFS through an agreement with INDOT. Applications for WFS should be submitted to the Indiana Office of Tourism Development.
Destination Signs Destination signs are primarily used for cities, incorporated towns, and unincorporated towns having a post office Other traffic generators that are eligible for destination signs include residential colleges as well as park and ride facilities Applications for destination signs should be submitted to the signage liaison at the Indiana Office of Tourism Development.
Guide Sign (GS) Program Process Application is received by the Indiana Office of Tourism Development. Initial review by IOTD and then forwarded to INDOT for review. If the applicant meets the program eligibility requirements and there is space for signs, INDOT will prepare a contract draft. The contracts are for 4 year terms. INDOT will install destination signs, RACIAS, or SGS. Alternatively, the applicant may use an INDOT prequalified sign contractor.
Guide Sign (GS) Program Costs Destination Signs and RACIAS: Design & Sign Fabrication Fee: $150 per sign Installation Fee: $400 per sign Maintenance Fee: $300 annually Supplemental Guide Signs Design & Sign Fabrication Fee: $375 per sign Installation Fee: $40 per sft (~$200 per character) Maintenance Fee: $600 annually Fees waived for state and local government attractions.
Outdoor Advertising Information Under the Highway Beautification Act of 1965, as amended, outdoor advertising is controlled on federal-aid primary highways and national highway system routes. Section 105 IAC 7-3-5 of the Indiana Administrative Code contains a list of routes on the state highway system where outdoor advertising is controlled. New billboard permits may be issued in areas zoned for commercial land use. Billboard rental rates vary widely depending on the amount of traffic that sees the billboard. The INDOT District Permit Sections oversee this program. See the INDOT Outdoor Advertising Control Manual for additional information.
Sponsor-A-Highway Program INDOT has a Sponsor-A-Highway program for Central Indiana. Two companies arrange for litter pick-up and seek out sponsors. The sponsors get to display an acknowledgement logo panel on the highway. Rates are less than billboard rentals but more than the rates for the logo program.
Summary Takeaways The signage liaison at the Indiana Office of Tourism Development is Emily McNally. Indiana Logo Sign Group manages the Logo and TODS attraction signage programs. INDOT and the Indiana Office of Tourism Development handle the more limited SGS and RACIAS attraction signage programs: SGS are for major traffic generators and are located on interstates and freeways RACIAS are for parks and fairgrounds or attractions in major urban areas and are located on conventional state highways
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Questions? Joe Bruno, P.E. Traffic Administration Engineer INDOT Traffic Engineering Division (317) 234-7949 jbruno@indot.in.gov Emily McNally Senior Project Manager Indiana Office of Tourism Development (317) 232-8860 emcnally@visitindiana.com