14-51.021. General Service Signs

(1) General Criteria.

(a) General service signing is used when the general services provided are infrequent and not within sight of the interchange.

(b) Requests for general service signing (except Logo signing) shall be directed to the District Traffic Operations Engineer.

(c) General service signing is considered supplemental to overall signing.

(d) General service signs, including signing for state agency buildings, have a white legend on blue background, excluding multi-modal facilities.

(e) The name or pictograph representing the operating agency, community, group, individual, or enterprise shall not appear on the general service sign, except for state agency buildings and other facilities meeting the criteria established in this rule chapter. If a pictograph is used, it shall be installed through the Department’s permit system.

(f) Symbol signs for hospital, airport, Amtrak, Greyhound, cruise-based seaports, commuter rail, and multi-modal terminals can be used in urban or rural areas, when the criteria established in Rule 14-51.013, F.A.C., are met.

(g) In no case shall general service signing be erected that would function primarily as advertisements for businesses.

(h) In no case shall information relating to general services be displayed until trailblazer signing has been installed to direct motorists from the exit to the service.

(2) Standards.

(a) Except as otherwise specified in Chapter 14-85, F.A.C., where logo signs are utilized, general service signs shall not be used. General service signing off the Department’s right of way shall not be provided when those services are conveniently located off an interchange.

(b) Except as otherwise specified in Chapter 14-85, F.A.C., only symbol signs will be used to advise of the availability of gas, food, lodging, camping, hospital, and telephone on rural limited access facilities.

(c) When three or fewer general services are available at a given interchange, and it is unlikely that more than three general services will be provided in the near future, the symbol signs denoting these general services will be attached to the advance guide sign. At locations where the “NEXT EXIT 00 MILES” panel is attached to the advance guide sign, the symbol signs will be attached to the exit direction sign. If four or more general services are available at an interchange, or are anticipated in the near future, a supplemental roadside sign denoting the available general services and reading “NEXT RIGHT” or the interchange exit number shall be installed.

(3) Guidelines. Each general service sign has its own set of criteria that must be met in order for signing to be provided on limited access facilities.

(a) Gas.

1. The service station facility shall be located within 1 mile of the exit ramp terminal;

2. Is open for continuous service a minimum of 16 hours, 7 days a week;

3. Provides vehicle services including fuel and oil;

4. Provides public rest rooms; and

5. Has a telephone available for public use.

(b) Food.

1. The restaurant facility is located within 1 mile of the exit ramp terminal;

2. Serves a complete meal and is open for continuous service a minimum of 14 hours, 7 days a week;

3. Provides public rest rooms;

4. Has a telephone available for public use; and

5. Is licensed by the Florida Department of Business Regulation, Division of Hotels and Restaurants, and the local County Health Department.

(c) Lodging.

1. The lodging facility is located within 1 mile of the exit ramp terminal;

2. Is equipped with 20 or more units for rent;

3. Has a telephone available for public use; and

4. Is licensed by the Florida Department of Business Regulations, Division of Hotels and Restaurants, and the local County Health Department.

(d) Camping.

1. The camping facility is located within 5 miles of the exit ramp terminal;

2. Is equipped with a minimum of 25 rental camp sites (RV and tent not just one or the other);

3. Is equipped with indoor sanitary toilet and bathing facilities;

4. Has a telephone available for public use; and

5. Is licensed by the local County Health Department.

(e) Hospital Emergency Room Service:

1. General service signs for hospital emergency room services will be erected in rural and urban areas in advance of an interchange to provide direction to motorists in need of immediate medical services.

2. Hospitals and stand-alone emergency rooms that meet the following criteria will be eligible for general service signs in advance of the interchange which provides the most practical route to the emergency room:

a. The hospital must have an onsite emergency room open 24 hours, 7 days a week.

b. Stand-alone emergency rooms must be open 24 hours, 7 days a week and must have onsite emergency medical transportation available to immediately transport patients to the hospital’s inpatient facility.

c. The hospital emergency room shall not be located more than 10 miles from the exit ramp terminal.

3. Where more than one hospital has an emergency room open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, only the hospital with the most direct route will be eligible for signing or trailblazing.

4. In the event a hospital or stand-alone emergency room meets the criteria, but another hospital is closer by continuing along the limited access facility to another exit, the first emergency room will not be signed.

(f) Tourist Information Centers;

1. Tourist information centers shall be signed as a general service with the word legend “INFO”; and

2. Signs for tourist information centers will be erected when the center is located on a direct route from the limited access facility and not more than 1 mile from the exit ramp; and

3. Tourist information center signs will be erected when:

a. The general service signing requests are received from local government; and

b. The destination provides continuous, professionally staffed service for a minimum of 8 hours, 7 days a week; and

c. The destination, located within 1 mile of the interchange, is operated exclusively by a non-profit organization, or is approved by local government to operate as a tourist information center.

4. If the tourist information center is operated on a seasonal basis, the general service signs shall be removed during the off season.

5. All trailblazers on the non-limited access facility shall be installed by the local government agency through the Department’s permit system.

(g) Telephone. Symbol signs will be erected when:

1. The telephone is a public telephone available for use 24 hours, 7 days a week; and

2. The telephone is located within the immediate interchange area, not more than 1/2 mile from the interstate or exit ramp, and the immediate interchange is located in an isolated rural area; and

3. The interchange does not have gas, food, lodging, or camping (located within 1 mile of the interchange) identified.

(h) Pari-mutuels associated with jai-alai, horse tracks, or dog tracks shall display word legend JAI-A’LAI, HORSE TRACK, or DOG TRACK. The state standard symbol shall not be displayed on limited access facilities. The registered name of a qualifying pari-mutuel facility shall only be displayed with documentation that a distinction is necessary for safe navigation and travel confirmation for its patrons.

(i) Park and Ride areas shall qualify for general service on limited access facilities when they are governmentally owned and operated as part of a car pool, van pool, or other public transportation program. The facility shall have parking spaces available for patron use.

Rulemaking Authority 316.0745 FS. Law Implemented 316.0745 FS. History–New 3-27-05, Amended 11-24-11, 1-12-16.