Definitions, Standards, Design, Installation

RULE CHAPTER NO.: RULE CHAPTER TITLE:

14-51 Florida’s Highway Guide Sign Program

RULE NOS.: RULE TITLES:

14-51.011 Definitions

14-51.051 Standards

14-51.052 Design

14-51.053 Installation

CHANGE NOTICE, WITHDRAWAL OF ONE RULE, AND
SCHEDULING OF ADDITIONAL HEARING

The notice of rulemaking was published in Florida Administrative Weekly, Volume 31, Number 42, dated October 21, 2005. A notice of hearing was published in Florida Administrative Weekly, Volume 31, Number 47, dated November 23, 2005. A notice of correction (correcting the rule listing) was published in Florida Administrative Weekly, Volume 31, Number 50, dated December 16, 2005.

CHANGE NOTICE, WITHDRAWAL OF ONE RULE, AND SCHEDULING OF ADDITIONAL HEARING

The notice of rulemaking was published in Florida Administrative Weekly, Vol. 31, No. 42, dated October 21, 2005. A notice of hearing was published in Florida Administrative Weekly, Vol. 31, No. 47, dated November 23, 2005. A notice of correction (correcting the rule listing) was published in Florida Administrative Weekly, Vol. 31, No. 50, dated December 16, 2005.

THE ADDITIONAL HEARING IS SCHEDULED AS FOLLOWS:

DATE AND TIME: April 4, 2006, 1:30 p.m.

PLACE: Department of Transportation, Haydon Burns Building Auditorium, 605 Suwannee Street, Tallahassee, Florida

SUMMARY OF CHANGES: In response to comments presented at the December 8, 2005, public hearing and comments received from the Joint Administrative Procedures Committee, changes are being made to the amendment to Rule 14-51.011 and to proposed Rules 14-51.051 and 14-51.052, and proposed new Rule 14-51.053 is being withdrawn in its entirety.

•         Rule 14-51.011: In 14-51.011(19) “Wayfinding Signs” definition, change “directional sign” to “directional guide sign.”

•         Rule 14-51.051: In 14-51.051(1), change “rule section will provide” to “rule chapter provides” and add a new sen­tence relating to deviations requiring a Federal Highway Administration Request for Experiment.

•         Rule 14-51.051: 14-51.051(3), is substantially reworded, including: deletion of the phrase “On the State Highway System” and adding new language regarding destinations shown on Wayfinding signs.

•         Rule 14-51.051: In 14-51.051(5) the previously set date of October 14, 2005, is changed to March 31, 2006, and the ending period is changed from January 1, 2012, to January 1, 2013.

•         Rule 14-51.051: In 14-51.051(6) is changed to delete the entire second sentence regarding concerns over directional signing confusion.

•         Rule 14-51.051: In 14-51.051(7) is changed to edit cross references.

•         Rule 14-51.051: New 14-51.051(9) is added to address the permit process for Wayfinding Signs since proposed Rule 14-51.053 is withdrawn.

•         Rule 14-51.052: 14-51.052(4) regarding enhancement markers “shall be allowed” is changed to “may be used, at the option of the applicant”.

•         Rule 14-51.052: 14-51.052(5) regarding pictographs “shall” is changed to “may.”

•         Rule 14-51.052: 14-51.052(7) is changed to delete the last two sentences in their entirety and “must” is changed to “shall.”

•         Rule 14-51.052: 14-51.052(8) is changed to delete the word “minimum” when referring to the lettering size.

•         Rule 14-51.052: In 14-51.052(11), “reflective” is changed to “retroreflective”.

•         Rule 14-51.053 is withdrawn in its entirety.

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED NEW RULES IS CHANGED TO READ AS FOLLOWS:

 

PART I GENERAL

 

14-51.011 Definitions.

As used in this rule chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings.

(1) “Applicant” means the person or entity seeking permission for a sign under this rule chapter.

(2) “Department” means the Florida Department of Transportation.

(3) “Enhancement Marker” means a sign or portion of a sign where shape, color, or pictograph is used as an aesthetic identifier for a Wayfinding Sign.

(4) “AFHWA” means the Federal Highway Administration.

(5)(3) “Guide Sign” means a sign that shows route designations, destinations, directions, distances, services, points of interest, or other geographical, recreational, or cultural information.

(6)(4) “Limited Access Facility” means as defined in Section 334.03(13), Florida Statutes.

(7) “Local Government” means the county or city having jurisdiction in the subject area, including the area involving the State Highway System.

(8)(5) “Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)” is a federal publication, which is incorporated by reference under Rule 14-15.010, F.A.C., and is used to establish the uniformity of traffic control devices, such as sign placement, color of sign backgrounds and letters, and sign messages. The Department has adopted the use of this manual in order to provide a uniform system of traffic control devices on the State Highway System.

(9)(6) “Non-Limited Access Facility” means an arterial or collector road as these terms are defined in Sections 334.03(1) and (4), Florida Statutes, respectively, and which is not a limited access facility.

(10) “Pictograph” means the distinctive use of color(s), symbol(s), or copy as a brand identifier for Wayfinding Sign system areas and attractions. They are non-commercial graphics as opposed to commercial logos.

(11) “Official Traffic Control Devices” means as defined in Section 316.003(23), Florida Statutes.

(12)(7) “Place Name Sign” means a sign identifying the geographic boundary of a city or county, lying on or along a road on the State Highway System.

(13)(8) “Rural Interchange” means a grade separated intersection between streets or roadways outside the limits of any urban or urbanized area, as such areas are defined both in Sections 334.03(32) and (36), Florida Statutes. Where either the immediate right of way of a limited access facility or the right of way of an intersecting roadway is within the boundary of an urban or urbanized area, the interchange or intersection shall be considered urban.

(14)(9) “Sign” means any traffic control device that is intended to communicate specific information to road users through a word or symbol legend. Signs do not include traffic control signals, pavement markings, delineators, or channelization devices.

(15)(10) “Supplemental Guide Sign” means a sign placed or erected to provide information regarding destinations accessible from an interchange, other than places shown on the standard interchange signing. The standard guide signs are called “exit direction” signs. These signs usually contain information about the route number, nearest cities, and sometimes the local street name. The purpose of a supplemental guide sign is to provide direction to destinations for motorists unfamiliar with the local area.

(16)(11) “Tourist Attraction” means facilities that principally provide recreation, amusement, or leisure activities to the general public, with the majority of its visitors not residing in the immediate area of the attraction, and traveling over 100 miles to enjoy what the facility offers. Tourist attractions are publicly or privately owned, but derive the major portion of their income from these non-resident visitors.

(17)(12) “Trailblazers” means signs erected at strategic locations, usually along major urban arterials in conjunction with the signing of a major destination, tourist attraction, or general service facility on a limited access facility.

(18)(13) “Unincorporated Area” means as defined in Section 153.53(1), Florida Statutes.

(19) “Wayfinding Sign” means a directional guide sign that guides the traveling public to key civic, cultural, visitor, and recreational destinations within a specific region.

(20) “Wayfinding Sign System Plan” means the location area, design, engineering, and sign plan submitted to the Department for approval.

Specific Authority 316.0745 FS. Law Implemented 316.0745 FS. History–New 3-27-05, Amended________.

 

PART V WAYFINDING SIGNS

 

14-51.051 Standards.

(1) This rule chapter provides statewide criteria for Wayfinding Signs to be installed on the State Highway System. Any deviation from the standards referenced herein shall require the local government to submit a Request to Experiment to the FHWA as referenced in Section 1A.10 of the MUTCD.

(2) All regulatory, warning, and general service signs shall conform to the MUTCD.

(3) The local government shall develop and approve through local resolution the criteria for the destinations shown on Wayfinding Sign System Plan. The local government may use the criteria established in Rule 14-51.030, F.A.C.

(4) Communities eligible for Wayfinding Signs shall be on the Official Florida Transportation Map. Wayfinding Signs for either an incorporated or unincorporated area not appearing on the Official Florida Transportation Map are eligible upon written request of the local government. Such requests shall follow the process outlined in subsection 14-51.041(2), F.A.C.

(5) Wayfinding Signs installed on the State Highway System prior to March 31, 2006, shall be allowed to remain or be replaced until January 1, 2013. As of that date, all existing Wayfinding Signs that are on the State Highway System, and which are not in compliance with this rule chapter, must be removed or be brought into compliance.

(6) Wayfinding Signs are not allowed within the right of way of limited access facilities, including ramps and frontage roads.

(7) Wayfinding Signs shall be designed, installed, and maintained in accordance with the standards referenced in subsections 14-51.014(7) and (8), F.A.C.

(8) The planning, design, installation, and maintenance of all Wayfinding Signs and their assemblies is the responsibility of the local government, including on the State Highway System.

(9) The local government shall submit its Wayfinding Sign System Plan to the appropriate District Traffic Operations Office to initiate the Department’s permit process.

Specific Authority 316.0745 FS. Law Implemented 316.0745 FS. History–New________.

 

14-51.052 Design.

(1) Red, yellow, orange, fluorescent yellow-green, or fluorescent pink shall not be used as background colors for Wayfinding Signs, in order to minimize confusion with regulatory, warning, construction, or incident management signs.

(2) Background colors, other than those stated in subsection 14-51.052(1), F.A.C., shall be allowed on Wayfinding Signs.

(3) A minimum contrast value of legend color to background color of 70 percent is required for Wayfinding Signs (ADA minimum contrast value).

(4) Enhancement markers may be used, at the option of the applicant, as a means of aesthetically identifying the Wayfinding Signs. The size and shape of an enhancement marker shall be smaller than the Wayfinding Signs in order to avoid confusion with traffic control devices.

(5) A pictograph may be incorporated into the overall design of a Wayfinding Sign.

(6) There shall be a maximum of three destinations shown on each Wayfinding Sign.

(7) All lettering used on Wayfinding Signs on the State Highway System shall be highway gothic fonts or other FHWA approved fonts.

(8) The lettering size on Wayfinding Signs shall be in accordance with Section 2D.06 of the MUTCD.

(9) Arrows shown on Wayfinding Signs shall be designed in accordance with Section 2D.08 of the MUTCD. The positioning of arrows relative to the destinations shown shall be in accordance with Section 2D.34 of the MUTCD.

(10) Wayfinding Signs and their supporting structures shall be designed, constructed, and installed to meet the Department's clear zone and safety criteria, including breakaway features. The design shall be signed and sealed by a Professional Engineer registered in the State of Florida.

(11) Sign panels shall be retroreflective and in accordance with Section 994 (Retroreflective and Nonreflective Sign Sheeting) of the Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction 2004, referenced in subsection 14-51.014(8), F.A.C.

Specific Authority 316.0745 FS. Law Implemented 316.0745 FS. History–New ________.

 

NOTE: As stated earlier, Proposed Rule 14-51.053 is withdrawn.