Policy For Trail Signs On Conventional Highways

(1) This policy establishes standards for trail signs to be installed within the rights-of-way of conventional highways on the state highway system and sets forth criteria and procedures for selecting trails to be signed. MANUAL ON UNIFORM TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES ─ SUPPLEMENTAL CHAPTER 1680-03-02 RULES FOR GUIDE SIGNS ON FREEWAYS, EXPRESSWAYS AND CONVENTIONAL HIGHWAYS (2) Where specific differences occur, the special provisions of this policy shall supersede provisions of the MUTCD. (3) Trail signs are informational signs, plaques, or shields designed to provide road users with route guidance in following a trail of particular cultural, historical, or educational significance. (4) Trail signs may be installed only on conventional highways. Trail signing will not be allowed on any freeway, expressway, or the ramps of such highways. (5) A conventional highway is a highway characterized by at-grade intersections and a lack of control of access. A freeway, such as an interstate highway, is a divided highway with full control of access and grade-separated interchanges. An expressway is a divided highway with partial control of access and generally having grade-separated interchanges. (6) In establishing this policy, the Department assumes that a road user’s primary guidance for identifying trails will be in the form of printed literature and maps rather than trail signing. (7) The information displayed on trail signs should be clear and concise, the legend should be kept to a minimum, and the signs should be adequately spaced from other signs to avoid driver confusion. Where sign space is limited, other signs – including without limitation, regulatory signs, warning signs, major guide signs, or other existing signs – will take priority over trail signs. (8) To be considered for trail signing on a conventional state highway, the designated or proposed trail must link together individual sites that have a clearly common theme of historical, social, or cultural significance. Individual tourist destinations having no clearly apparent common theme or relationship shall not be eligible for trail signing. (9) In addition, all individual sites along the designated or proposed trail must be properly interpreted, with a sign or other appropriate means of communication, to explain the historical, social or cultural significance of the site, and they shall be identified in readily available printed literature or brochures with maps, prior to the installation of any trail signs along conventional state highways. Each site must be accessible to the public for visitation or viewing, and it must have adequate off-road parking for visitors. (10) A conventional state highway may be considered for signing as a designated trail where the route itself or the route generally followed by the highway has a particular historical, social, or cultural significance, as for example, the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail and the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail. Trails of this type should also provide convenient access to individual sites of related historic, social, or cultural significance. (11) All trail signs shall comply with the MUTCD and are subject to the Department’s approval. Trail signs of the same type must be signed with a common trail sign. For example, all Civil War trails must be signed with the same type of trail sign throughout the State. Trail signs shall not be copyright protected. (12) There shall be no identification of individual sites on trail signs installed along state highways. Trail signs shall identify only the trail name and a directional arrow for guidance to individual sites having related historic, social, or cultural significance. The identification and description of individual sites should be available in printed literature relating to the trail. (13) To be considered for trail signing, the designated or proposed trail must be sponsored by a governmental agency or private organization having the legal authority and capability to enter into contracts and finance the installation and maintenance of trail signs. MANUAL ON UNIFORM TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES ─ SUPPLEMENTAL CHAPTER 1680-03-02 RULES FOR GUIDE SIGNS ON FREEWAYS, EXPRESSWAYS AND CONVENTIONAL HIGHWAYS (14) A governmental agency or private organization requesting to sign a designated or proposed trail along a conventional state highway shall submit the following to the Department’s Traffic Engineering Office: (a) Adequate evidence that the agency or organization has the legal authority and capability to enter into contracts and finance the installation and maintenance of trail signs (e.g., an ordinance or resolution authorizing the expenditure of funds for trail signing or articles of incorporation that allow the expenditure of corporate funds for trail signing); (b) A clearly marked map depicting the designated or proposed trail, including the beginning and ending points of the trail, and showing related individual sites along or conveniently accessible from the trail; (c) A copy of the available or proposed literature or brochure that describes the common historical, social, or cultural significance of the individual sites along the trail; and (d) A proposed design for the trail sign. (15) Designated or proposed trails related to the Civil War and their related individual sites must be sponsored or approved by the Tennessee Wars Commission, and the documentation for such sponsorship or approval shall be submitted to the Department’s Traffic Engineering Office. (16) If the Department approves a request to sign a trail, the Department will provide the requesting agency or organization with the following: (a) The number and approximate location of the trail signs to be installed by the Department on conventional state highways; (b) The approved design, dimensions and other specifications for fabrication of the trail signs; (c) An estimate of the costs to be incurred by the Department in the installation of the trail signs; and (d) A letter agreement setting forth the obligations of the requesting agency or organization as described below. (17) The requesting agency or organization shall execute and fulfill the terms of a letter agreement setting forth the obligations of the agency or organization, including without limitation as follows: (a) The agency or organization shall be responsible for all costs associated with the fabrication, installation, and maintenance of the trail signs; (b) The agency or organization, at its own expense, shall have the trail signs fabricated in accordance with the approved design, dimensions and other specifications provided by the Department, and these signs shall be delivered to the Department; (c) The agency or organization shall provide to the Department a cashier’s check, letter of credit, or similar method of payment acceptable to the Department in the amount of the Department’s estimate of the costs of installation; and MANUAL ON UNIFORM TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES ─ SUPPLEMENTAL CHAPTER 1680-03-02 RULES FOR GUIDE SIGNS ON FREEWAYS, EXPRESSWAYS AND CONVENTIONAL HIGHWAYS (d) The agency or organization shall provide replacement trail signs as necessary whenever a sign is damaged or destroyed and it shall replace all trail signs at regular intervals, not to exceed ten (10) years, in the same manner as it provides for the initial fabrication and installation of the trail signs. (18) Upon receipt of the foregoing, the Department will inspect the signs and, if acceptable, install them along the state highway system. If the actual costs of installation are less than the estimated amount, the Department will reimburse the difference to the requesting agency or organization. If the actual costs of installation exceed the estimated cost, the Department shall invoice the agency or organization, and the agency or organization shall pay, the full amount of the difference. (19) Some trails may be ended before entering areas that have an unusually high number of sites within a relatively confined geographic area and where the Department’s Traffic Engineering Office has determined that signing such areas would be confusing to motorist. (20) Trails that enter incorporated cities whose population exceeds 40,000 persons may be discontinued within the city limits where it has been determined by the Department that such signing would be unreasonably circuitous and/or confusing to motorists. Also, trails entering cities whose populations exceed 40,000 persons may only be approved with the concurrence of the local government. (21) If questions arise in the interpretation of these rules, the Commissioner of Transportation, or the Commissioner’s designee, will make the final administrative determination.