Sign Guidelines and Applications Manual: Overhead Street Name Signs

♦Manual Notice 2023-1
►1. Introduction
►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
- ►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
- ►3. Speed Limit Sign
  - ♦Speed Limit Sign
  - ♦Reduced Speed Limit Ahead
- ►4. Handicapped Parking
- ►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
- ►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

Section 3: Overhead Street Name Signs

Recommended Use

Overhead or illuminated street name signs should be mounted on signalized intersection mast arms or span wires where possible.

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Letter Size

The minimum recommended letter height for overhead street names is 12 inches as shown in the Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (TMUTCD), Table 2D-2 in Chapter 2D. Smaller letter heights may be used if the following circumstances exist:

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10 inches where space limitations restrict the overall size of the sign.

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8 inches on dual street names at intersections

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Dimensions

See Standard Highway Sign Designs for Texas (SHSD) for recommended dimensions for oversized street name signs.