Tourism Signage in Indiana

1
Tourism Signage in Indiana

• Tourism Signage Commission
• November 28, 2007

2
House Enrolled Act 1012

• Established 11 person Sign Study Commission to
  review current policy and provide a report.
• Established new criteria to be added to the
  Tourist Attraction Sign policy criteria.

3
Federal Rule on Signs

• National Manual of Uniformed Traffic Control
  Devices (MUTCD)
• Purpose
• Standardization to assist drivers
• Safety
• Provide consistent communication to driver
• Carried out by
• Traffic Control Devices
• Signs (traffic control, motorist services, etc.)
• Markings (yellow/white roadway lines, etc.)
• Signals (traffic signals, caution lights, etc.)

4
Federal MUTCD definition for Traffic Control
Devices

• Command attention and respect from road users
• Convey a clear, simple meaning
• Fulfill a need
• Give adequate time for proper response
• Meet set requirements

5
Traffic Control Devices Signs(In order of
importance)

• Regulatory Signs
• Warning Signs
• Guide Signs
• Specific Service Signs (LOGOS),
  Tourist-Orientated Destination Signs (TODS),
  Recreational and Cultural Interest Signs
• Emergency Management Signs

6
Federal Requirements of Specific Service Signs
(LOGOS), Tourist-Orientated Destination Signs
(TODS), Recreational and Cultural Interest Signs

• Signage for directional purposes only.
• Directional programs available
• Specific business information signs (logos)
• Limited tourist attraction signage
• Commercial advertising prohibited. Person or
  public authority can not place/maintain
  commercial advertising on U.S. (State)
  right-of-way.

7
Federal Requirements of Specific Service Signs
(LOGOS), Tourist-Orientated Destination Signs
(TODS), Recreational and Cultural Interest Signs

• A facility shall be eligible for tourist-oriented
  directional signs only if it derives its major
  portion of income or visitors during normal
  business season from road users not residing in
  the area of the facility.

8
Indiana MUTCD (IC 9-21-2)

• Must conform to the Federal MUTCD
• Indiana adopts majority of Federal MUTCD
• Must receive Federal Highway Administration
  (FHWA) approval prior to use

9
IOTD INDOT Goal

• To Satisfy the Federal MUTCD regulations
• Directional signs only
• Provide Motorists
• With reliable directional information to quality
  facilities.
• Provide Tourism Industry
• A cost-effective way to direct the motorist to
  their facility.

10
Directional Programs Allowed under Indiana MUTCD

• Indiana Logo Sign Program (105 IAC Rule 4)
• Indiana Tourist Attraction Sign Policy (IC 9-21-4)

11
Indiana Logo Sign Program (105 IAC Rule 4)

• Business Signs on Information Panels
• Blue Food, Gas, Lodging, Camping, and Attraction
  panels on Interstate
• Must meet criteria to receive i.e. hours of
  operation, distance from interchange, services
  offered, category type
• Derived from Indiana Tourist Attraction Sign
  Policy(established in 2001)
• Contracted to Indiana Logo SignGroup
  (indianalogo.com)

12
Indiana Tourist Attraction Sign Policy (IC 9-21-4)

• Tourism Attraction Signs on Information Panels
• On Interstates and State Roads/Highways
• Must meet standard criteria to receive i.e.
  hours of operation, distance, services offered,
  category type.
• Established 1982, revised 1999, 2004
• Program ran by INDOT IOTD

13
Tourist Attraction Sign Policy

• General Policy Restrictions (all signs)
• In policy
• of signs
• Sign Location (one direction)
• Facility Location
• Outside policy
• Safety issues
• Sign placement issues

14
Tourist Attraction Sign Policy

• Purpose
• Provide motorists with reliable directional
  signage to local attractions (pg. 1)
• General Requirements
• Admission charge posted, non-discrimination
  service, on-premise signs, parking, restrooms and
  drinking water (pg. 2)
• Two types of signage in policy
• TODS (Tourist Oriented Directional Signs) - State
  Roads and US Highways
• SGS (Supplemental Guide Signs) Interstates

15
Tourist Attraction Sign Policy

• Standard requirements for both types of signs
• Hours of Operation Open at least 5 days/wk, 6
  hrs/day, 8 months/yr. Some exceptions. (pg. 5
  8)
• Minimum Attendance
• TODS - 1,500 or as stated in Table 1 (pg. 5)
• SGS - as stated in Table 2 (pg. 8)
• 50 of annual attendance must be from actual
  Tourist Traffic (pg. 2).
• Attraction distance from intersection
• TODS 7 miles or as in Table 1 (pg. 5, 6)
• SGS 10 miles or as in Table 2 (pg. 8, 9)

16
Tourist Attraction Sign Policy

• Sign guidelines/limitations for both types of
  signs
• Maximum number of signs at an intersection (pg.
  5, 8)
• 2 signs per attraction
• TODS - 6 attractions per sign location
• SGS - 2 attractions per sign location
• Signs are placed on the most direct route to the
  facility (pg. 6, 8)
• Color-coded by category (brown, blue or green),
  but all categories can be green. (pg. 3-4, 7)
• Signs not permitted to direct to or beyond
  another state highway or freeway (pg. 6, 8)

17
Tourist Attraction Sign Policy

• TODS (Tourist Oriented Directional Signs)
• Categories available (pg. 3-4)
• Agri-tourism/education attraction, u-pick/farmers
  market, winery, zoological/botanical facility
• Amusement parks, main street communities, visitor
  center
• Airport, arena, convention center, cultural
  center, fairground
• Campgrounds
• Cemetery, college/university, military
  base/armory/reserve center
• Educational center, historical site, museum,
  religious site
• Golf course, park, recreation area/forest/refuge,
  resort area, snow ski area

18
Tourist Attraction Sign Policy

• Additional TODS items
• Seasonality (pg. 5)
• Located within 5 miles of intersection
• Text designates months of operation (i.e.
  March-October) would be added to signs
• Attraction location (pg. 6)
• Not permitted for facilities located on state
  highway.
• If on-premise signs visible from highway, TODS
  not normally needed.
• If approved (pg. 12)
• INDOT creates, installs and maintains TODS (pg.
  5).
• Initial cost 350 per sign. Maintenance 50/yr
  (pg. 12)
• If government-owned INDOT bares cost and labor.

19
Tourist Attraction Sign Policy

• SGS (Supplemental Guide Signs)
• Categories available (pg. 7)
• Agri-tourism/education attraction
• Airport, arena, convention center, cultural
  center, fairground
• College/university, military base
• Park, recreation area/forest/refuge
• Visitor center

20
Tourist Attraction Sign Policy

• Additional SGS items
• Attraction location (pg. 8)
• Not permitted in areas where INDOT does not
  install signs (SGS or Logo).
• Trailblazing signage should be installed prior to
  SGS.
• If approved (pg. 12)
• INDOT approved consultant hired by applicant to
  create and install SGS. INDOT maintains
  afterwards (pg. 12).
• Initial cost approx. 3,000-5,000 per sign.
  Maintenance 300/yr (pg. 12)
• If government-owned INDOT bares cost and labor.

21
Tourist Attraction Sign Policy

• Wayfinding/Consolidated Sign Program (pg. 10)
• Local county/organization propose
• Must meet all requirements of policy
• IOTD/INDOT approve
• Locals handle sign fabrication, installation,
  and maintenance

22
Break Time(10 minutes)

• Tourism Signage Commission
• November 28, 2007

23
Tourist Attraction Sign Policy

• Application Process (pg. 11)
• Applicant should review policy prior to filling
  out application.
• Must include requested materials (map of
  location, brochure, etc.)
• Send to IOTD
• IOTD reviews (30 days)
• If approved, moves to INDOT.
• If denied, if reason for denial is addressed then
  applicant can re-apply.

24
Tourist Attraction Sign Policy

• Application process continues (pg. 11)
• INDOT conducts site visit and final determination
  of application. (60 days)
• If approved, INDOT applicant sign a contract
  regarding payment for signs. Signs installed.
  (approx. 2-3 months)
• If denied, if reason for denial is addressed then
  applicant can re-apply.

25
Application Examples

• Performance Art Center Wants TODS. Facility
  meets general requirements, category
  requirements. Located in small town, where three
  state roads converge. The Art Center is located 2
  blocks from one, 4 blocks from another and 1
  block from the last. Facility would like to be
  signed on all 3 roads.

• Approved, but only 2 signs on the state road
  nearest the facility allowed.

26
Application Examples

• Agri-tourism business - Wants TODS. Meets general
  requirements, category requirements. Facility
  entrance is on state road.

• Denied because located on state road and property
  signs are readable from state road. (Signs may be
  considered if there is a safety issue when
  entering exiting the state road.)

27
Application Examples

• Snow ski resort - Wants TODS. Meets general
  requirements, category requirements.

• Approved, facility is only open 4 months per
  year, so months open will be added to the sign.

28
Application Examples

• Historic Downtown/District Wants SGS. Meets
  general requirements, category requirements,
  district/town already has a town sign at the
  interstate exit.

• Denied. Category is no longer under this policy,
  referred to Logo Sign Group.

29
House EA 1012 New Criteria

• Definition of a Trademark Destination Brand
• Trademark
• Fee reasonable for inclusion in requirement -
  10.
• Destination Brand
• Proposed definition A community, city or
  geographic location that has unique tourism
  message to communicate.

30
House EA 1012 New Criteria

• Historical Sites
• Current definition
• A structure or district listed on DNR, Historic
  Preservation and Archeology Divisions Indiana
  Register of Historic Sites and Structures as
  being of historical significance and open to the
  public. (pg. 4)

31
House EA 1012 New Criteria

• Historical Sites
• Amendment Proposed
• A structure or district listed on the National
  Register of Historic Places and/or DNR, Historic
  Preservation and Archeology Divisions Indiana
  Register of Historic Sites and Structures as
  being of historical significance and open to the
  public. Distance requirement does not apply to
  trademarked destination brand sites. Applicant
  must provide copy of trademark certificate to
  satisfy this portion of the requirement.

32
Tourist Attraction Sign Policy -Changes/Additions
?

• Change requirements?
• Distance from intersection
• Current TODS - 7 miles SGS 10 miles
• Change to what? Need statewide standard.
• Sign on more than one state road
• Different directions (US 24 and SR 421)
• Same direction (SR 43 to SR 225)
• Add Categories?
• Breweries
• Should they be part of the policy?
• Who gets added/Who doesnt?
• What are the statewide requirements?

33
Tourist Attraction Sign Policy -Changes/Additions
?

• Add Categories? Continued
• Community entertainment venues (Drive-Ins,
  miniature golf complexes, laser-tag facilities,
  movie theaters, etc)
• Should they be part of the policy?
• Who gets added/Who doesnt?
• What are the statewide requirements?
• Destination shopping (Outlet malls, artisans
  shops, antique shops/districts, sporting good
  stores, etc)
• Should they be part of the policy?
• Who gets added/Who doesnt?
• What are the statewide requirements?

34
Tourist Attraction Sign Policy -Changes/Additions
?

• Add Categories? Continued
• Non-tourism destination (community buildings,
  human societies, etc.)
• Should they be part of the policy?
• Who gets added/Who doesnt?
• What are the statewide requirements?
• Trails (Wine trails, historical trails, etc.)
• Should they be part of the policy?
• Who gets added/Who doesnt?
• What are the statewide requirements?

35
Tourist Attraction Sign Policy -Changes/Additions
?

• Revise category requirements
• Visitors Center
• Staffed vs. non-staffed
• Hours of operation
• Revise hours of operation
• Revise sign policy to include new tourism
  business less than a year old.

36
Question and Answer

• Next meeting
• December 12, 2007
• 1 N. Capitol, Ste. 110
• Indianapolis