The following words and terms, when used in the sections under this subchapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

1. (1) Business logo--A separate sign panel of specified dimensions attached to a specific information logo sign and containing the commercial establishment name, symbol, brand, trademark, or combination.
2. (2) Close proximity interchanges--Sequential interchanges in a direction of travel where exit ramp spacing or existing regulatory, guide, or warning signs preclude placement of a minimum of two specific information logo signs between exits.
3. (3) Commercial establishment--A privately owned business or corporation offering one or more of the primary motorist services.
4. (4) Commission--The Texas Transportation Commission.
5. (5) Contractor--A person, firm, group, or association in the State of Texas that acts as the authorized agent of the department in the operation of the specific information logo sign program.
6. (6) Department--The Texas Department of Transportation.
7. (7) Driveway access--A vehicle entrance, built in compliance with state and local standards and regulations, for use by the public providing access from a public street or highway to a commercial establishment or major shopping area.

8. (8) Dual logo--A panel on a specific information logo sign containing the names of either:

   1. (A) two food establishments in a shared space under common ownership; or
   2. (B) a gas and food establishment in a shared space under common ownership.

9. (9) Eligible highway--A highway that:

   1. (A) is located outside an urbanized area with a population of 50,000 or more and qualifies for a maximum speed limit of 65 miles per hour under 23 U.S.C. §154, or if that law is repealed, qualified for a maximum speed limit of 65 miles per hour on the day before the effective date of the repeal; or
   2. (B) is a controlled-access highway located inside an urbanized area with a population of 50,000 or more.
10. (10) Eligible urban highway--An interstate highway located inside an urbanized area with a population of 200,000 or more.
11. (11) Gross building area--Square footage of usable area within a building, or series of buildings under one roof, that is considered usable by the retail businesses and the public; if a building is multi-level, this includes the square footage available on each level.
12. (12) Information logo sign--A specific information logo sign or a major shopping area guide sign.
13. (13) Interchange--The intersection of the centerlines of an eligible highway or eligible urban highway and a crossroad.
14. (14) Interstate highway--Any highway which is part of the national system of interstate and defense highways designed to be a multi-lane and divided full control access roadway.
15. (15) Major shopping area--An enclosed retail shopping mall offering goods and services for sale to the public located on a minimum 30 acres of land that contains 1 million square feet or more of gross building area.
16. (16) Major shopping area guide sign--A rectangular supplemental sign panel imprinted with the name of the retail shopping area as it is commonly known to the public and containing directional information.
17. (17) Major shopping area ramp sign--A supplemental sign with the common name of the retail shopping mall, directional arrows, and/or distances placed near an eligible urban highway exit ramp or access road.
18. (18) Multiple crossroad interchange--An interchange in which one exit in a direction of travel from an eligible highway provides the only point of access for two or more crossroads; the center of a multiple crossroad interchange is the mid-point of the intersection of the centerline of the eligible highway and centerlines of the affected crossroads.
19. (19) Primary motorist service--Gas, food, lodging, or camping available to the traveling public.
20. (20) Ramp business logo--A reduced size separate sign panel of specified dimensions attached to a ramp and containing the commercial establishment name, symbol, brand, trademark, or combination.
21. (21) Ramp sign--A supplemental sign with ramp business logos or the name of the major shopping area, directional arrows, and distances placed near an eligible highway or eligible urban highway exit ramp.
22. (22) Retail shopping mall--Retail businesses located within a building, or a series of buildings, connected by a common continuous roof and walls, and enclosing and covering all inner pedestrian walkways and common areas.
23. (23) Specific information logo sign--A rectangular supplemental sign imprinted with the words "GAS," "FOOD," "LODGING," or "CAMPING," or with a combination of those words, and the names (or business logos) of commercial establishments offering those services.
24. (24) State--The State of Texas.
25. (25) Texas MUTCD--Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways, latest edition, issued by the Texas Department of Transportation.

Source Note:The provisions of this §25.401 adopted to be effective October 21, 1992, 17 TexReg 7106; amended to be effective October 27, 1995, 20 TexReg 8485; amended to be effective March 19, 1998, 23 TexReg 2830; amended to be effective November 20, 2003, 28 TexReg 10289; amended to be effective January 9, 2005, 29 TexReg 12242.