Wyo. Code R. 045-0003-26
General Agency, Board or Commission Rules
Chapter 26: Specific Service Signing
Effective Date: 09/26/2014 to Current
Rule Type: Current Rules & Regulations
Reference Number: 045.0003.26.09262014
Specific Service Signing
Pursuant to W.S. 24-2-105 and W.S. 24-2-115, the Wyoming Department of Transportation is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations governing specific service signs within rights-of-way on interstate highways. These regulations shall administer specific service signs using logo panels to give specific information about gas, food, lodging, camping, attraction, and 24-hour pharmacy facilities accessible from eligible interchanges.
The Wyoming Department of Transportation Traffic Program, 5300 Bishop Boulevard, Cheyenne, WY 82009-3340, shall administer requests for signing, general inquiries, and program management for specific service signing. Any appeal of a decision relative to these rules and regulations shall be made within 30 days by writing to the Wyoming Department of Transportation to request a formal or an informal hearing in accordance with Wyoming Department of Transportation Rules and Regulations, General Section, Chapter 3, Appeals and Hearings. Failure to request a hearing shall be deemed as consent to the Department’s decision.
These regulations apply to the designated Interstate Highway System in Wyoming. Eligible interchanges shall have an exit and entrance ramp or return route signed by the Department. Interstate-to-interstate interchanges shall not have logo signing. An exception shall be made on interchanges connecting interstate-to-interstate spurs or business loops.
These regulations cover specific service signs containing individual business panels for gas, food, lodging, camping, attractions, and 24-hour pharmacies. No other facilities are eligible for consideration. Eligible service facilities shall comply with laws concerning the provisions of public accommodations without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, or national origin, and laws concerning the licensing and approval of these facilities.
General service signs may be used in conjunction with specific service signs for eligible types of services that are not represented by a specific service sign.
The Department shall fabricate and install all specific service signs and supplemental directional signs. The individual logo panels shall meet Wyoming Department of Transportation specifications as described in following Section 17, Logo Panels and Trailblazer Sign Specifications, and shall be furnished by the approved business applicant and installed by the Department. Specific service signs shall be installed as part of the Wyoming Department of Transportation's regular and routine sign installation and maintenance programs. All signing concerning motorist safety and primary guidance shall be the first priority.
To qualify for specific service signs, the eligible activity (other than pharmacies) shall be located within 15 miles of the closest interchange ramp termini. Eligible pharmacies shall be located within 3 miles of the closest interchange ramp termini.
All signs shall be erected in the following order, beginning with the sign closest to the interchange: (1) gas, (2) food, (3) lodging, (4) camping, (5) attraction, and (6) 24-hour pharmacy. When no business interest in signing exists for a particular activity at a location, and space allows, the next lower priority service may be signed. Supplemental directional signs shall be installed in the same order indicated previously.
No more than 2 specific service signs for gas, food, lodging, camping, attraction, or 24-hour pharmacy shall be located in each direction from the closest interchange to the respective eligible activity. No more than 2 supplemental directional signs for gas, food, lodging, camping, attraction, or 24-hour pharmacy shall be located along an exit ramp of the closest interchange to the respective eligible activity. Sign spacing requirements and/or terrain may prohibit the installation of additional signs. The number of specific service signs along an approach to an interchange or intersection, regardless of the number of service types displayed, shall be limited to 4.
(a) No more than 3 types of services shall be represented on any sign or sign assembly.
(i) If 3 types of services are displayed on one sign, then the logo sign panels shall be limited to 2 for each service type (for a total of 6 logo sign panels).
(ii) If 2 types of services are displayed on one sign, then the logo panels shall be limited to either 3 for each service type (for a total of 6 logo sign panels) or 4 for one service type and 2 for the other service type (for a total of 6 logo panel sign panels).
(iii) The legend and logo sign panels applicable to a service type shall be displayed so that the road user will not associate them with another service type on the same sign.
(b) No service type shall appear on more than 2 signs.
If the qualifying business is closed for 7 or more days, the participant shall notify the Wyoming Department of Transportation, Traffic Program, so the respective logo panel can be covered or removed. The Department shall charge a fee to cover, uncover, remove, or replace a logo. Businesses failing to notify the Department shall be subject to termination from the program.
(a) If a participating business is sold or changes ownership but continues the same service at the same location, the existing logo panel space may be transferred to the new owner upon approval of the Wyoming Department of Transportation, Traffic Program, providing the new owner meets all qualifying criteria for logo signing.
(b) A logo panel space shall not be sold or transferred except as described in immediately preceding Section 12(a).
(c) Should the name of the facility be changed for any reason, the participant shall notify the Wyoming Department of Transportation, Traffic Program, within 30 days.
(a) The specific service signs erected shall be no larger than necessary to display the logo panels initially requested. Approved business applicants shall pay a proportionate share, so that each approved applicant business shares equally in the sign cost.
(b) If a vacancy occurs on an existing sign that was full, or if a second service sign is added, the Department may announce the vacancy by publishing a notice in the local newspaper where the service sign is located. The public notice shall run once a week for 2 successive weeks, and applications shall be accepted for 15 days following the last public notice. After the closing date for applications, a random drawing shall be held to determine the replacement logo applicant. Unsuccessful applicants shall have their applications and application fees returned. The cost of the vacant panel space shall be a proportionate share of the entire sign cost.
(c) If there is no vacancy on an existing sign and it is necessary to install a larger or additional sign to accommodate a new participant, the new participant shall pay a proportionate cost of the new sign. The new participant shall also pay a fee to remove and reinstall the existing logo panels.
(a) A business wishing to discontinue participation in the logo signing program shall submit a written cancellation notice to the Department. A fee shall be assessed to remove each logo panel. Upon payment, the logo panels may be returned to the participant.
(b) When a business chooses to cancel participation on a sign, the vacant space shall become available to other qualified applicants. The canceling business shall relinquish all rights to future rebates of any kind.
Gas, food, lodging, camping, attraction, or 24-hour pharmacy facilities and establishments desiring specific service signing shall be eligible subject to the following criteria. For the purposes of this section, “should” is defined as in the 2009 Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) (http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/index.htm) as an engineering term that provides guidance of “recommended, but not mandatory, practice in typical situations, with deviations allowed if engineering judgment or engineering study indicated the deviation to be appropriate” and as adopted December 8, 2011, by the Department through the Transportation Commission of Wyoming, and not including any later amendments. This resolution may be viewed at the following address: http://www.dot.state.wy.us/home/administration/rules_regs/MUTCD.html. Copies of the MUTCD and the resolution are available for public inspection at the WYDOT Traffic Program, 5300 Bishop Boulevard, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82009-3340.
(a) All services, in addition to the following requirements, shall possess all licenses or permits required by state or local authority before applying for specific service panels.
(b) For gas services, the facilities should:
(i) Offer vehicle services including gas or alternative fuels, oil, and water;
(ii) Maintain modern sanitary facilities and drinking water; and
(iii) Operate continuously at least 16 hours per day, 7 days per week.
(c) For food services, the facilities should:
(i) Operate continuously to serve at least 2 meals per day, at least 6 days per week; and
(ii) Maintain modern sanitary facilities.
(d) For lodging services, the facilities should:
(i) Maintain adequate sleeping accommodations; and
(ii) Maintain modern sanitary facilities.
(e) For camping services, the facilities should:
(i) Maintain adequate parking accommodations; and
(ii) Maintain modern sanitary facilities and drinking water.
(f) For attractions, the facilities:
(i) Shall have the primary purpose of providing amusement, historical, cultural, or leisure activities to the public;
(ii) Should derive the major portion of their income or visitors during the normal business season from motorists not residing in the immediate area;
(iii) Should be open to the general public during regular and reasonable hours and not by appointment or reservation only; and
(iv) Should maintain adequate parking accommodations.
(g) For 24-hour pharmacies, the facilities shall:
(i) Be continuously operated 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, and have a state-licensed pharmacist on duty at all times; and
(ii) Be located within 3 miles of the closest interchange ramp termini.
(a) Lateral Clearance, Mainline Interstate—Specific service signs shall normally be installed 50 feet from the edge of the highway shoulder to the near edge of the sign. Where narrow highway right-of-way exists or the terrain does not allow the normal lateral clearance, the sign may be moved closer to the highway. The Department shall determine the specific location of all specific service signs.
(b) Relationship to Interchange and Mainline Interstate—Specific service signs shall be erected not less than 1,000 feet in advance of the interchange ramp gore point. A minimum spacing of 800 feet is required between the information signs. A minimum spacing of 500 feet is required between the service sign and other existing signs at the respective interchange. All specific service signs shall be erected between the previous interchange and 1,000 feet in advance of the ramp gore. If the signs cannot be erected within this area, the installation shall not be approved.
(c) Exit Ramps—Exit ramp signs shall be located along the interchange ramps where the services are not visible by approaching traffic from either the main travel way or interchange exit ramp. The logo panel shown on the specific service signs shall be duplicated on the exit ramp signs. The Department shall determine the need for ramp signing.
(d) Lateral Clearance, Exit Ramps—Supplemental directional signs shall normally be installed 30 feet from the edge of the ramp to the near edge of the sign. Where narrow highway right-of-way exists or the terrain does not allow the normal lateral clearance, the sign may be moved closer to the ramp. The Department shall determine the specific location of supplemental directional signs.
(e) Relationship to Crossroad—Supplemental directional signs shall be installed with a minimum spacing of 200 feet from the edge of crossroad to the sign. A minimum spacing of 100 feet shall be maintained between supplemental directional signs or existing ramp signs.
(f) Trailblazer Signs—To adequately direct motorists to the respective business, the Wyoming Department of Transportation shall require trailblazer signs as it deems appropriate. The participant shall furnish the trailblazer sign. The Department shall install trailblazer signs to be located on the State Highway System. No more than 2 trailblazer signs shall be installed on the State Highway System. If the route to the respective business cannot be adequately marked on the State Highway System with 2 trailblazer signs, the Department may elect to deny specific service signing for that business. If additional trailblazer signs are needed off the State Highway System, the participant shall arrange with the proper local authority (such as the city or county) to install the additional trailblazer signs as the Department requires. All required trailblazer signs shall be installed before the Department erects any signing.
(a) Participants shall furnish logo panels and trailblazer signs.
(b) An image showing the design of the logo message with dimensions and colors shall be submitted for approval with the application.
(c) Logo panels shall be fabricated with reflective sheeting applied to an aluminum backing having a minimum thickness of 0.032 inches to a maximum thickness of 0.080 inches. Trailblazer signs shall be 0.080-inch aluminum. Aluminum and reflective sheeting shall meet Wyoming Department of Transportation standard specifications (effective May 1, 2014, and not including later amendments). Copies are available for public inspection at the WYDOT Traffic Program, 5300 Bishop Boulevard, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82009-3340, and on the Department's Internet website at: http://www.dot.state.wy.us/home/engineering_technical_programs/manuals_publications.default.html.
(d) Logo panels and trailblazer signs shall be professionally fabricated by silk screen or direct applied method to develop the sign face.
(e) Panels having identification symbols or trademarks may be reproduced in the colors, shape, and design customarily used.
(f) Panels not displaying a logo symbol or trademark shall have a blue reflectorized background with a white reflectorized legend border. Lettering for the primary business name shall be a minimum of 10 inches high.
(g) Messages, symbols, and trademarks that resemble any official traffic control device are prohibited.
(h) Freehand painting shall not be permitted on any part of the finished panel.
(i) The legend or logo on the supplemental directional information sign used on ramps shall be a duplicate of the legend or logo used on the specific service sign. Trailblazer signs shall also duplicate the legend or logo with an appropriate arrow.
(j) Logo panels and trailblazer signs shall be delivered to the Traffic Program, Building No. 6188, Wyoming Department of Transportation, 5300 Bishop Boulevard, Cheyenne, WY 82009-3340 for installation.
(k) A portion of a logo sign panel may be used to display no more than one supplemental message horizontally along the bottom of the logo sign panel, provided the message displays essential motorist information. Typical supplemental messages may include alternative fuels such as diesel, LP gas, or natural gas; or 24 hours; or closed and the day of the week when the facility is closed; or RV access. The height of the supplemental message shall be 6 inches for a 60-inch by 36-inch logo and 3 inches for a 30-inch by 18-inch logo.
(l) The legend may contain the months of operation for seasonal businesses. When the months are displayed, the letters shall be 6 inches for a 60 inch by 36 inch logo and 4 inches for a 30 inch by 18 inch logo.
(a) The approved applicant business shall pay fees for erecting, maintaining, and administrating specific service signs in advance. Application fees and costs for erecting service signs, supplemental directional signs, and trailblazer signs are a one-time charge. Administration and maintenance fees shall be charged annually. Fees shall be assessed whenever a logo panel is covered, removed, replaced, or field installed.
(b) All fees shall be due upon receipt of the invoice, and no fees shall be refundable.
(c) Failure to pay fees within 30 days from the date of billing shall cause participation to be terminated and the logos for the respective participant’s business to be removed. The participant shall also relinquish all rights to future rebates.
(d) All fees shall be evaluated each year and adjusted to cover actual costs.
A separate application and application fee are required for each service at each interchange.
Sign costs are based on the signs constructed and installed by the Department and mounted on wood posts. These costs shall be evaluated each year and adjusted to cover actual costs. If the fabrication or installation of the signs is done by an entity other than the Department, the sign cost shall be based on actual cost to the Department.
(a) An annual administration fee shall be charged for each type of service on the same route, regardless of the number of specific service signs, supplemental direction signs, or trailblazer signs installed. The first year's fee shall be prorated on a monthly basis depending on the application approval date. Thereafter, the applicant shall be billed at the beginning of each calendar year.
(b) An annual maintenance fee shall be charged to cover the cost to replace or repair specific service signs and supplemental directional signs because of natural wear, acts of nature, or vandalism as determined by the Department. The Department shall not be responsible for damaged, lost, or faded logo panels regardless of the cause. Delivery and replacement costs for any damaged, lost, or faded logo panel are the participant's responsibility.
A fee shall be charged for replacing logo panels because of damage, change of logo, general maintenance, temporary business closure, or other undetermined reasons.