• ♦Manual Notice 2023-1
• ►1. Introduction
  • ►1. Overview
    • ♦Purpose of this Handbook
    • ♦Importance of Uniformity
  • ►2. Authority to Install Signs
    • ♦Legal Authority
    • ♦Payment by Others for Installation of Traffic Control Devices
    • ♦Illegal Traffic Control Devices
  • ►3. Reference Sources
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦The Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (TMUTCD)
    • ♦Using the TMUTCD
    • ♦Standard Highway Sign Designs for Texas (SHSD)
    • ♦Other Resources
• ►2. Sign Location
  • ►1. Overview
    • ♦Requirements of Effective Signs
    • ♦Basic Considerations
    • ♦More Information
  • ►2. Determining Location
    • ♦Determination of Need
    • ♦Field Review
    • ♦Physical Features of Sign Placement
    • ♦Back to Back Mounting
    • ♦Mounting Height
    • ♦Lateral Clearance
    • ♦Rural Intersections
• ►3. Sign Materials and Supports
  • ►1. Roadside Sign Supports
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Foundations
    • ♦Types of Supports
  • ►2. Sign and Substrate Structure
    • ♦Substrate
    • ♦Structural Support System
    • ♦Overhead Sign Walkways
  • ►3. Retroreflectorization
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Retroreflective Sheeting Types
    • ♦Fluorescent Retroreflective Sheeting Types
    • ♦TxDOT Standard
    • ♦Deterioration of Retroreflectivity
  • ►4. Sign Legends
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Font Types
    • ♦Symbols
    • ♦Application Methods
  • ►5. Sign Identification Decal
    • ♦Decal Required
    • ♦Purpose
    • ♦Use of Decal
    • ♦Fabrication Coding
    • ♦Installation Coding
  • ►6. Storage and Transport
    • ♦Storage
    • ♦Transport
  • ►7. Special Sign Applications
    • ♦Flashing Beacons Attached to Sign
    • ♦Portable Changeable Message Signs
    • ♦Dynamic Message Signs
    • ♦Bilingual Signs
• ►4. Sign Maintenance
  • ►1. Overview
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Maintenance in Cities
    • ►Importance of Sign Maintenance
  • ►2. General Guidelines
    • ♦Sign Visibility
    • ♦When to Replace Signs
    • ♦Positioning Replaced Signs
    • ♦Aluminum Sign Recycling
    • ♦Sign Warranty
  • ►3. Sign Inspection
    • ♦General
    • ►Sign Retroreflectivity
    • ♦Inspection Report
  • ►4. Roadside Sign Supports
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Keeping Posts Straight
    • ♦Breakaway Posts
    • ♦Straightening Bent Posts
    • ♦I-beam Supports
    • ♦Repair of Large, Ground-Mounted Guide Sign Supports
  • ►5. Overhead Signs
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Special Equipment
    • ♦Supports
    • ♦Walkway
• ►5. Regulatory Signs
  • ►1. Overview
    • ♦Introduction
  • ►2. STOP and YIELD Signs
    • ♦County Road Intersections with State Highways
    • ♦Frontage Road-Ramp Intersection Control
    • ♦Ramps Intersecting Separately Numbered Highways
  • ►3. Speed Limit Sign
    • ♦Speed Limit Sign
    • ♦Reduced Speed Limit Ahead
  • ►4. Handicapped Parking
    • ♦Handicapped Parking Sign
    • ♦Parking Space Design and Restrictions
    • ♦Licenses and Permits
  • ►5. WEIGHT LIMIT Sign
    • ♦Weight Limit Sign
  • ►6. Truck Routes
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Authority
    • ♦Proposals
    • ♦Route Guidelines
    • ♦Signing Guidelines
    • ♦Process Summary
    • ♦Restricted Truck Lanes
  • ►7. Non-Radioactive Hazardous Materials Routing
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Authority
    • ♦Terminology
    • ♦Who Initiates the Process?
    • ♦Financial Responsibility
    • ♦Establishing or Revising an NRHM Route
    • ♦Route Signing Guidelines
  • ►8. Restricted Truck Lanes
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Authority
    • ♦Terminology
    • ♦Who Initiates the Process?
    • ♦Financial Responsibility
    • ♦Establishing a Lane Restriction
    • ►Single City or County Initiated Process
    • ♦TxDOT Initiated Process
    • ♦Example Signing for Left Lane Restriction
    • ♦Example Signing for Left Lane Restriction Plaques
  • ►9. Exclusive Lanes
    • ♦Authority
    • ♦Guidance
  • ►10. Left Lane for Passing Only
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Signing Guidelines
• ►6. Warning Signs
  • ►1. Overview
    • ♦Introduction
  • ►2. T-Intersections
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Advance Warning
    • ♦At the Intersection
    • ♦Use of Large Arrow Signs
  • ►3. Vertical Clearance
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Signs
    • ♦When to Measure
    • ♦How to Measure Minimum Vertical Clearance
    • ♦Signing Minimum Vertical Clearance
    • ♦Reporting Measurements
    • ♦Updating Vertical Clearance Signing
  • ►4. Advisory Speeds
    • ♦Advisory Speed Sign
    • ♦Curve Symbol
    • ♦Turn Symbol
    • ♦Advisory Exit Speed Sign
  • ►5. Flood-Related Weather Conditions
    • ♦Flood-Related Weather Conditions Sign
    • ♦Flood Gauge Assembly
  • ►6. Signing for Gravel Roads
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Signing Guidelines
• ►7. Guide Signs
  • ►1. Overview
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Purpose of Guide Signs
    • ♦Use of Brown Background
    • ♦Use of Blue Background
  • ►2. Concurrent Routes
    • ♦Avoiding Unnecessary Concurrent Routes
    • ♦Concurrent Route Confirmation Assemblies
  • ►3. Overhead Street Name Signs
    • ♦Recommended Use
    • ♦Letter Size
    • ♦Dimensions
  • ►4. Signing for County Roads
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Eligible County Roads
    • ♦Signing Standards
    • ♦When Warning Signs are Used
    • ♦Signs Provided by County
    • ♦Existing Signs
  • ►5. Interstate Highway Numbering
    • ♦Original Numbering System
    • ♦Current Numbering System
    • ♦Loops
  • ►6. Special Route Markers
    • ♦Evacuation Route Signing (EM-1 series)
    • ♦Texas Travel Trails (Texas Heritage Trails Program)
    • ♦Texas Travel Trail Signing Standards
  • ►7. Destination and Distance Signing
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Combination of Routes Between Major Destinations
    • ♦Additional Distance Signing
    • ♦Spacing Additional Destination and Distance Signs
  • ►8. Destination Signing for Border Cities in Mexico
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Types of Border Crossings
    • ♦Sign Content
    • ♦Sign Placement
  • ►9. Traffic Generators
    • ♦Signing for Traffic Generators
    • ♦Local Authority Requests for Traffic Generator Signs
    • ♦Signing for Traffic Generator Within the City Limits
    • ♦Commercial Names
    • ♦Seasonal and Special Events Signing
    • ♦Airports
    • ♦Cemeteries
    • ♦Veterans Facilities
    • ♦Emergency Medical Services
    • ♦Eligibility Requirements for Licensed General Hospitals
    • ♦Sign Design
    • ♦Sign Placement
    • ♦Eligibility Requirements for Signing of Licensed Free-Standing Emergency Medical Care Facilities
    • ♦Sign Design
    • ♦Sign Placement
    • ♦Exemptions from Licensing Requirements for Free-Standing Emergency Medical Care Facilities
  • ►10. Elected Officials
    • ♦Offices of Elected US and State Officials
  • ►11. State and National Parks
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Sign Placement
  • ►12. Public Beaches
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Access Roads
    • ♦Parking Lots
    • ♦Funding of Signs
  • ►13. Wildlife Viewing Areas
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Signing Standards
  • ►14. General Services Signs
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Expanded Use on Conventional Highways
    • ♦Verification
  • ►15. Travelers’ Information Radio Signs
    • ♦Background
    • ♦Signing
  • ►16. Memorial Designated Highways and Structures
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Records Management
    • ♦Designation Through Local Action
    • ♦Designation Through Legislative Action
    • ♦Policy Guidance for Signing
  • ►17. Street-Named Highways
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Legal Basis for Naming
    • ♦Records Management
    • ♦Designation by a City
    • ♦Payment for Street-Named Signs
    • ♦Signing Practices
  • ►18. Historic Routes
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Legal Basis for Naming and Signing
    • ♦Records Management
    • ♦Agreement with County
    • ♦Sign Placement and Standards
  • ►19. Historical Markers
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Historical Marker Process Overview
    • ♦Marker Placement
    • ♦Design and Installation of Markers
    • ♦Maintenance of Markers
    • ♦Marker Numbers
    • ♦Booklet Available
    • ♦Advance and Directional Signing Standards
    • ♦Advance and Directional Sign Details
  • ►20. City Limit Signs
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Requirements
    • ♦Freeways and Conventional Roads
    • ♦Population
  • ►21. County Line Signs
    • ♦Expressways and Freeways
    • ♦Placement
  • ►22. WELCOME TO TEXAS Signs
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Standards
    • ♦Placement
  • ►23. Alternative Fuel Facilities
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦General Eligibility Requirements
    • ♦Sign Placement
    • ♦Sign Design
  • ►24. Accessibility Signing for Rest and Picnic Areas
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Use of the Accessibility Plaque
    • ♦Historic Picnic Areas
• ►8. Miscellaneous Signs
  • ►1. Overview
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦General Guidelines
  • ►2. Temporary Signs and Banners Not Placed by TxDOT
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Authorized Temporary Signs
    • ♦Political Campaign Signs
    • ♦Unauthorized Signs
  • ►3. Fatality Memorial Markers and Signs
    • ♦Introduction
  • ►4. Adopt a Highway Signs
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Signing Guidelines
    • ♦Sign Details
    • ♦Traffic Control During Litter Pickup
  • ►5. Rest Area Signs
    • ♦DWI - YOU CAN’T AFFORD IT (D72T) Sign
  • ►6. Municipal and Road Utility District Signs
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Responsibility
    • ♦Signing Guidelines
  • ►7. City Pride Signs
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Program Application and Approval
    • ♦Agreement
    • ♦Cooperation with Contractors
    • ♦Sign Installation and Maintenance
    • ♦Sign Removal or Relocation
    • ♦Participation of Civic Organizations
    • ♦Sign Specifications
    • ♦Sign Placement
    • ♦Existing Signs
    • ♦Program Operation
    • ♦Examples of Signs Under the CPSP
    • ♦Other Structures
  • ►8. Cell Phone Use Prohibited Sign
    • ♦Statewide Texting While Driving Prohibition
    • ♦Cell Phone Use Prohibited Signs (Within School Zone)
    • ♦Cell Phone Use Prohibited (Within City Limits)
  • ►9. Burn Ban Sign
    • ♦Burn Ban Sign
  • ►10. Recharging Zones and Watershed Boundaries Signs
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Edwards Aquifer
  • ►11. Prohibiting Fireworks in Rest Areas
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Process

Sign Guidelines and Applications Manual

August 2023

Copyright © 2023 by Texas Department of Transportation
All rights reserved.

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