SECTION 4 0 EDITION - REVISION Large Guide March 017
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Guide Sign Design Guidelines Design Guidelines There are general guidelines to follow in the design of highway signs in order to conform to basic standards. Many of these guidelines are mentioned in various sections of the Texas Manual on Traffic Control Devices (TMUTCD), while others are derived from accepted practice in sign design and layout. Standard Sign Guidelines Highway signs with standardized designs conforming to the general guidelines (like most regulatory, warning, emergency management, school, railroad-highway grade crossing, and bicycle signs), are contained in this book and are shown with different standard sizes depending on the type of highway or facility where the sign is intended to be used. Additional Guidelines for Standard Signs are: A. As a guide to choice of alphabets, tests have shown that, for any given legend, better legibility can be obtained by using a relatively wide spacing between letters than by using wider and taller letters with a cramped space. B. Use of Series B alphabet is for street names, parking signs, and other similar signs where limited breadth and stroke widths are required for design purposes. C. Lettering on street name signs should be at least inches high (TMUTCD, Section D.4). Supplementary lettering to indicate type of street or section of city may be in smaller lettering but at least inches high. D. An accepted rule-of-thumb to follow for legibility for signs other than Interstate is to have 1 inch of letter height for every 40 feet of desired legibility. Guide Sign Dimensioning Although some guide signs also have been standardized and are included in this book, most guide signs need to be designed separately because of the variability in message or legend. For most guide signs, there can be no rigid standardized sizes. Message variability controls overall sign dimensions. Whenever practicable, the overall March 017 4-1 dimensions of the sign plates should be in multiples of inches. The use of a smaller than nominal size for the various four types of roadway signs may sometimes be justified. For instance, a sign mounted over a particular roadway lane to which it applies may have to be limited in width to the lane width. In some cases, vertical clearances may limit the vertical dimension of the sign. On the other hand, a larger than nominal sign may be desirable where greater legibility or emphases is needed. When a variation in the standard size is necessary, a reduced or enlarged (as the case may be) letter height, interline, and edge spacing may be used but should be as nearly comparable to standards as possible. Guide Sign Letter Style Guide Sign lettering shall be Clearview. Sign lettering is normally all caps except the destination names may be in upper and lowercase lettering. Letter Sizes for Guide Signs For guide signs on expressways and freeways, the prescribed numeral and letter sizes, according to interchange classification and component of sign legend, appear in Tables E-1T, E-4T and E-5 of the TMUTCD. The minimum sizes specified should be exceeded where conditions indicate a need for greater legibility. For conventional roads in rural districts on major routes, the principal legend on guide signs shall be in letters to inches in height. On low-volume roads and on urban streets with speed of 5 mph, the principal legend shall be in letters at least 4 inches high. Amount of Legend on Guide Signs The TMUTCD states that regardless of letter size, the legend on a guide sign must be kept to a minimum to be instantly legible. For example, on expressways, the legend on a guide sign should only have two destinations and the directional copy. Directional copy, not exceeding three lines, may include symbols, route numbers, arrows, cardinal directions, interchange number(s), and other exit instructions. Conventional road guide signs should be limited to three lines of principal legend which includes only place names, route numbers, and street names. 0 Edition-Revision
Guide Sign Arrows The Type A, Type B and Down arrows are to be used for guide signs and recommended applications are stated in Sections D. and E.1 of the TMUTCD. Guide Sign Borders Border widths should not exceed the stroke width of the major lettering of the sign. For guide signs, smaller than 0 square feet, a width of 1 to 1¼ inch may be used; for those exceeding 0 square feet the border should be inches wide; and for unusually large signs, a border of inches wide is appropriate. The corner radii of guide sign borders should be approximately one-eight of the lesser side dimension except the radii should not exceed inches on any sign. The area outside the corner radius on large signs may need to be trimmed, except for signs made from extruded aluminum panels. Spacing on Guide Signs Interline spacing should be approximately threefourths the average of the capital and/or uppercase letter heights in adjacent lines. Interline spacing shall not be reduced to less than ½ the average height. Spacing between a route marker and the line of text below should be equal to three-fourths the average height of the numeral in the route marker and the tallest letter in that adjacent line. Measurement shall be from the lowest point of the route marker and the top of the tallest letter in the line of text. Interline spacing between an upward sloping arrow and a line of text and/or a route marker should be approximately three-fourths the letter height of the line of text or the numeral inside the marker. Lateral spacing to the inside edge of the vertical borders shall be the same as the height of the largest letter on the sign. Each line of copy should be centered within the sign borders. Spacing to the inside edge of the top and bottom borders should be approximately equal to the average of the letter and/or numeral height of the adjacent line of text. When a downward pointing arrow is part of the last line of text, spacing should be equal to the average of the arrow and letter height. If an arrow is the only item in the last line, spacing shall be measured from the lowest point of the arrow and be the same as the spacing at the top of the sign. Lateral spacing between each item (words, route markers, numbers and/or arrows) in any given line of text should be approximately 1 to 1½ times the capital and/or uppercase letter height used in that line. If or more route markers are in the same line of text they shall be optically centered on the sign with spacing between the markers at not less than the height of the numeral within the route markers. Examples of the design of guide signs using the above guidelines are shown on the following pages. Diagrammatic Guide Signs Design of diagrammatic signs follow the same principles and guidelines previously covered plus additional guidelines necessary for the details related to graphic components. Diagrammatic signs shall be designed in accordance with the following criteria: 1. The graphic legend shall be a plan view showing a simplified off-ramp arrangement.. Only one destination may be shown for each arrowhead, with a maximum of two destinations per sign.. The graphic should not depict deceleration lanes. A black on yellow EXIT ONLY panel should be used to supplement a lane drop graphic. 4. The shaft for the exit ramp movement should be shorter than, but not separated from, the through movement graphic. 5. Arrow shafts should contain lane lines where appropriate and route shields shall not be used as a substitute for arrowheads.. Route shields, cardinal directions, and destinations should be clearly related to the arrowhead, and the arrowhead should point toward the route shield for the off movement. 7. The cardinal direction should generally be placed adjacent to the route shield and the destination should be placed below and justified with the route shield.. Exit number panels should be located toward the top left edge of the sign for a left exit and toward the top right edge for right exits. The above guidelines were based upon the results of a research project conducted by the Federal Highway Administration. This research generated ideals for various diagrammatic design features. 0 Edition-Revision 4- March 017
These ideal features have been modified so more economical designs could be obtained. Specific design standards for graphic components are presented in the table below and other recommended features are shown in the design illustrations in the following pages. The illustrations shown were designed through a trial and error procedure and will provid e the designer with the guides and elements needed to design an economical diagrammatic sign while maintaining a clear and simple message. GRAPHIC COMPONENT SIZE Lane Width 5 Lane Lines 1 x Space between Lane Lines Arrowheads Stand Up Arrow Stem Height (to upper point of departure-minimum) 0 Space between arrowhead and route shield Space between route shield and cardinal direction, should be equal to the largest letter/number height in that line. Wider lane widths appear to better meet the needs of older drivers. Minimum Letter and Numeral Sizes for Advance Guide and Exit Direction Signs Type of Sign and Sign Elements Minimum Size in inches Exit Panel Word CV 4W Numeral and Letter 15 CV 4W Interstate Route Sign Numeral (see note 1 below) 1 D Series Shield (1- Digit) x Shield ( Digit) 45 x U.S. or State Route Sign, Business, Loop or Spur Interstate Route Sign Numeral (see note 1 below) 1 D Series Shield (1- Digit) x Shield ( Digit) 45 x U.S. or State Route Text Identification (Example: US 5) Numerals & Letters 15 CV 5WR (1 CV 5WR ) Cardinal Direction First Letter Rest of Word 15 CV 5WR (1 CV 5WR) CV 5WR (15 CV 5WR) Auxiliary and Alternative Route Legends (Examples: JCT, TO, ALT, BUSINESS) Word Name of Place, Street or Highway CV 5WR (15 CV 5WR) Word 1 CV 5WR (0 CV 5WR) Distance Message Numeral 15 CV 5WR (1 CV 5WR) Fraction CV 5 WR ( CV 5WR) Word CV 5WR ( CV 5WR) Exit Gore Word CV W Numerals & Letters 1 CV 4W March 017 4-0 Edition-Revision
See following pages for detail dimensions. EXIT SAMPLE SIGN 0 Edition-Revision 4-4 March 017
Guideline Adjust to have " increments 14.75 1 1CV-5WR 15CV-5WR 14 1 45 1 15CV-5WR CV-5WR March 017 4-5 0 Edition-Revision
CV-5WR 14 15CV-5WR 0 0 1 x inch lane lines with inch gaps 14 0 o See Symbol section for arrow design 0 Edition-Revision 4- March 017
45 1 15CV-5WR 1 CV-5WR Adjust to have " increments 17 1 1CV-5WR 15CV-5WR 14 Guideline.75 March 017 4-7 0 Edition-Revision
Adjust to have " increments Guideline 14 1 15CV-5WR CV-5WR.75 14 1CV-5WR 1 0 1 VAR SAMPLE SIGN VAR 1. CV-5WR.7 54 CV-5WR 15 CV-5WR NEXT EXITS SIGN 0 Edition-Revision 4- March 017
Adjust to have " increments Guideline 1 1 15 14 Metropolis 1 min. Utopia EXITS VAR MILES CV-5WR 1CV-5WR 1CV-5WR 1 15CV-5WR 15.75 11.5 14 E1-1a 1 1 14 1 min. Newport EXIT 1 MILE CV- 5WR 1CV-5WR 1 15CV-5WR 14.75 11.5 VAR E1- COLORS: LEGEND - WHITE BACKGROUND - GREEN March 017 4-0 Edition-Revision
.75 1.5 C L SIGN 1.75 1.75 0 E 7 E1-5aP Increase character spacing 5% COLORS: LEGEND - BLACK BACKGROUND - YELLOW 0 Edition-Revision 4- March 017
0 7.5 1 E 4.75 1.75 54.5 CV-4W EXIT 7 15CV-4W 7.5 1. VAR MIN 7 for 1-Digit Exit Number 4 for -Digit Exit Number for -Digit Exit Number 0 7.5 1 E 4.75 1.75 54.5 CV-4W EXIT 4 A 15CV-4W 7.5 1. VAR 7.5 VAR MIN 0 for 1-Digit Exit Number with single letter suffix for -Digit Exit Number with single letter suffix 0 for -Digit Exit Number with single letter suffix E1-5bP COLORS: LEGEND, BORDER - WHITE BACKGROUND - GREEN March 017 4-11 0 Edition-Revision
for -Digit Exit Number 4 for -Digit Exit Number 7 for 1-Digit Exit Number 7.5 0 CV-4W 15CV-4W 7.5 Equal Spacing 0 VAR Equal Spacing 0 for -Digit Exit Number with single letter suffix for -Digit Exit Number with single letter suffix 0 for 1-Digit Exit Number with single letter suffix 7.5 0 CV-4W 15CV-4W 7.5 Equal Spacing 0 VAR 7.5 VAR Equal Spacing 144 for -Digit Exit Number with dual letter suffix 1 for -Digit Exit Number with dual letter suffix 114 for 1-Digit Exit Number with dual letter suffix 7.5 0 CV-4W 5 15CV-4W 7.5 Equal Spacing.5 VAR 7.5 5 (max.) E1-5P Equal Spacing () Max number length for -Digit Number is 41 COLORS: LEGEND - WHITE BACKGROUND - GREEN 0 Edition-Revision 4- March 017
54 for 1-, - or -Digit Exit Number 4 CV-W 4. 15CV-4W VAR 4 7 for -Digit Exit Number with single letter suffix 0 for 1- or -Digit Exit Number with single letter suffix 4 CV-W 4. 15CV-4W VAR 7.5 VAR 4 for -Digit Exit Number with dual letter suffix 4 for -Digit Exit Number with dual letter suffix for 1-Digit Exit Number with dual letter suffix 4 CV-W 4. 5 15CV-4W VAR 7.5 5 (max.) 4 E1-5TP COLORS: LEGEND - WHITE BACKGROUND - GREEN March 017 4-1 0 Edition-Revision
1 Standard Highway Sign Designs for Texas 4 CV-4W VAR E-1 1 CV-4W 4 CV-4W 1 E-1a 7 4 CV-4W 0 TYPICAL, MAY VARY TO MATCH PARENT SIGN E- 7 E- Typical dimensions as per E- E-4 Typical dimensions as per E- COLORS: LEGEND - WHITE BACKGROUND - GREEN OR BLUE 0 Edition-Revision 4-14 March 017
1.5 41.5 CV-W 0 A- (45 ) 7 E5-1 See Symbol section for arrow design COLORS: LEGEND - WHITE BACKGROUND - GREEN March 017 4-15 0 Edition-Revision
7 CV-W 0 5 1 E- 1 E5-1aT 7 CV-W 5 0 17 E-4 E5-1bT See Symbol section for arrow design COLORS: LEGEND - WHITE BACKGROUND - GREEN 0 Edition-Revision 4-1 March 017
1.5 1.5 41.5 41.5 CV-W min. VAR min. 4 min. VAR (41 max.) VAR 4 min. 0 1CV-4W 1.5 1.5 A- (45 ) 4.5 4.5 A- (45 ) 0 1-, - or -Digit Exit Number 1- or -Digit Exit Number with a single letter suffix 7 - or -Digit Exit Number with a single letter suffix E5-1c See Symbol section for arrow design March 017 4-17 COLORS: LEGEND - WHITE BACKGROUND - GREEN 0 Edition-Revision
Adjust to have " increments Guideline 14 15CV-5WR CV-5WR 11.5 1.75 1CV-5WR 14 VAR E- 1 14 15CV-5WR CV-5WR 0 1.75 1CV-5WR 14 VAR E-a COLORS: LEGEND - WHITE BACKGROUND - GREEN 0 Edition-Revision 4-1 March 017
1.5 Adjust to have " increments Guideline.5 4 Greenville 40 min St Louis 5 CV-5WR CV-5WR.5 VAR E7-T 1.5.5 CV-5WR 54 min CV-5WR CV-5WR.5 VAR E7-T One line expressway destination sign shall use a 4 inch sign blank. COLORS: LEGEND - WHITE BACKGROUND - GREEN March 017 4-1 0 Edition-Revision
VAR. 144 min min min 4 0 E Parallel Parent Sign Radius 1 E11-1 See Symbol section for DOWN arrow design COLORS: LEGEND - BLACK BACKGROUND - YELLOW 0 Edition-Revision 4-0 March 017
C L SIGN 1.75 1.57 1.57 1 E E11-1a C L SIGN 1.75.401 4.5 1 E E11-1b C L SIGN.5.174.401 47.01 1 E E 1.75 0 E11-1c Increase character spacing 40%. COLORS: LEGEND - BLACK BACKGROUND - YELLOW NO BORDER March 017 4-1 0 Edition-Revision
VAR. min Standard Highway Sign Designs for Texas min 0 E Parallel Parent Sign Radius 1 E11-1aT VAR. 144 min 0 15 E Parallel Parent Sign Radius 1 E11-1TR See Symbol section for B arrow design VAR. 144 min 0 15 E Parallel Parent Sign Radius 1 E11-1TL COLORS: LEGEND - BLACK BACKGROUND - YELLOW 0 Edition-Revision 4- March 017
Parent sign VAR. 4 min 15 0 E 1 E11-1dT See Symbol section for DOWN arrow design 144 Parallel Parent Sign Radius Parent sign VAR. 4 min 15 0 15 E 1 144 Parallel Parent Sign Radius E11-1eT See Symbol section for B arrow design COLORS: LEGEND - BLACK BACKGROUND - YELLOW March 017 4-0 Edition-Revision
VAR. min 15 min 0 E Parallel Parent Sign Radius 1 E11-1f See Symbol section for DOWN arrow design VAR. min 15 min 0 15 E Parallel Parent Sign Radius 1 E11-1gT See Symbol section for B arrow design COLORS: LEGEND - BLACK BACKGROUND - YELLOW 0 Edition-Revision 4-4 March 017
C L SIGN 1.75 1.75 1.75 1 E 0 E11- Increase character spacing 5%. VAR. min min 0 E Parallel Parent Sign Radius 1 E11-aT VAR. min min 0 E E11-cT 7 E11-dT E COLORS: LEGEND - BLACK BACKGROUND - YELLOW March 017 4-5 0 Edition-Revision
.5 min max 7 0.5 min 7 4 E E 7.75.5 7 E1-1P COLORS: LEGEND - BLACK BACKGROUND - YELLOW VAR 4.47 VAR 5. VAR 1.75 4 E 4.5 15E 4.5 1 E1- VAR - OR -.7 15 VAR 15 5. VAR 1.75 4 E 4.5 15E 4.5 1 E1- COLORS: LEGEND - BLACK BACKGROUND - YELLOW NO BORDER 0 Edition-Revision 4- March 017
CV-W 0 15CV-W CV-W E1-1T 0 CV-W 0 CV-W E1-T 7 CV-W 7 CV-W 7.5 See Symbol section for arrow design 7.5 E1-T COLORS: LEGEND - WHITE BACKGROUND - BLUE March 017 4-7 0 Edition-Revision
0 CV-W 0 15CV-W CV-W E1-4T 0 CV-W 0 CV-W E1-5T 7 7 E1-T COLORS: LEGEND - WHITE BACKGROUND - BLUE CV-4W CV-W 7.5 7.5 See Symbol section for arrow design 0 Edition-Revision 4- March 017
7 CV-W 1 CV-W 7 E1-7T 0 1 1 5 CV-W 5 E1-T COLORS: LEGEND - WHITE BACKGROUND - BLUE March 017 4-0 Edition-Revision
CV-W CV-W CV-W 15CV-W CV-W 144 E1-T Alternate text E1-T COLORS: LEGEND - WHITE BACKGROUND - BLUE 0 Edition-Revision 4-0 March 017
CV-W CV-W CV-W CV-W 0 E1-11T See Symbol section for arrow design COLORS: LEGEND - WHITE BACKGROUND - BLUE March 017 4-1 0 Edition-Revision
Standard Highway Sign Designs for Texas REST AREA TRAVEL INFO CENTER A- (45 ) 17 CV-W CV-W CV-W CV-W 1 E1-T See Symbol section for arrow design REST AREA TRAVEL INFO CENTER MILES 15CV-W CV-W CV-W CV-W CV-W 1 E1-1T E1-14T Alternate text COLORS: LEGEND - WHITE BACKGROUND - BLUE 0 Edition-Revision 4- March 017
1 7 Veterans Affairs Hospital NEXT RIGHT.7 1.CV-5WR 1.CV-5WR CV-5WR.7 E-1T 4 1 Veterans Affairs Hospital CV-5WR EXIT 5 1.CV-5WR 1.CV-5WR 15CV-5WR.4 E-T Alternate text: Cemetery Medical Clinic COLORS: LEGEND - WHITE BACKGROUND - GREEN March 017 4-0 Edition-Revision
.5 Variable in increments of inches 1CV-5WR 1CV-5WR 1 CV-5WR 15CV-5WR.5 Variable in increments of inches 1CV-5WR 0 1CV-5WR CV-5WR COLORS: LEGEND - WHITE BACKGROUND - BROWN 0 Edition-Revision 4-4 March 017