N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 17 § 150.14

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 51, December 18, 2024

Section 150.14 - Directional signs

(a) The provisions of this section establish the criteria for directional signs, as allowed under section 88 of the Highway Law and consistent with the National Standards as found in subpart B, part 750, chapter 1, 23 Code of Federal Regulations. Directional signs will be categorized into public directional signs and private directional signs. For the purposes of application of the provisions of section 150.15 of this Part, all public directional signs will be defined as official signs.

(b) The following requirements apply to the erection and maintenance of directional signs:

(1) General. The following signs are prohibited:

(i) signs advertising activities that are illegal under Federal or State laws or regulations in effect at the location of those signs or at the location of those activities;

(ii) signs located in such a manner as to obscure or otherwise interfere with the effectiveness of an official traffic sign, signal or device, or obstruct or interfere with the driver's view of approaching, merging or intersecting traffic;

(iii) signs which are erected or maintained upon trees or painted or drawn upon rocks or other natural features;

(iv) obsolete signs;

(v) signs which are structurally unsafe or in disrepair;

(vi) signs which move or have any animated or moving parts;

(vii) signs located in rest areas, parklands or scenic areas.

(2) Size. No sign shall exceed the following limits:

(i) maximum area--150 square feet;

(ii) maximum height--20 feet; and

(iii) maximum length--20 feet.

All dimensions include border and trim, but exclude supports.

(3) Lighting. Signs may be illuminated, subject to the following:

(i) Signs which contain, include, or are illuminated by, any flashing, intermittent or moving light or lights are prohibited.

(ii) Signs which are not effectively shielded so as to prevent beams or rays of light from being directed at any portion of the traveled way of an interstate or primary highway, or which are of such intensity or brilliance as to cause glare or to impair the vision of the driver of any motor vehicle, or which otherwise interfere with any driver's operation of a motor vehicle, are prohibited.

(iii) No sign may be so illuminated as to interfere with the effectiveness of, or obscure, an official traffic sign, device or signal.

(4) Spacing.

(i) Each location of a directional sign must be approved by the New York State Department of Transportation.

(ii) No directional sign may be located within 2,000 feet of an interchange, or intersection at grade along with the interstate system or other freeways (measured along the interstate or freeway from the nearest point of the beginning or ending of pavement widening at the exit from or entrance to the main-traveled way).

(iii) No directional sign may be located within 2,000 feet of a rest area, parkland or scenic area.

(iv)

(a) No two directional signs facing the same direction of travel shall be spaced less than one mile apart.

(b) Not more than three directional signs pertaining to the same activity and facing the same direction of travel may be erected along a single route approaching the activity.

(c) Signs located adjacent to the interstate system shall be within 75 air miles of the activity.

(d) Signs located adjacent to the primary system shall be within 50 air miles of the activity.

(5) Message content. The message on directional signs shall be limited to the identification of the attraction or activity and directional information useful to the traveler in locating the attraction, such as mileage, route numbers or exit numbers. Descriptive words or phrases, and pictorial or photographic representations including trade-name logos of the activity or its environs, are prohibited.

(6) Selection method and criteria.

(i) Privately owned activities or attractions eligible for directional signing are limited to the following: natural phenomena; scenic attractions; historic, educational, cultural, scientific and religious sites; and outdoor recreational areas. To be eligible, privately owned attractions or activities must be nationally or regionally known, and of outstanding interest to the traveling public.

(ii) The following requirements must be met in order for a sign to be classified as a directional sign:

(a) no private directional signs will be permitted to be erected in protected areas;

(b) public directional signs shall be limited to those erected by the Department of Transportation or under authorization by the Department of Transportation given to a public officer, department or agency;

(c) public directional signs will be permitted to be erected only if such a sign conveys the permitted type of information and is in conformance with the Federal requirements for directional signs;

(d) all directional signs must be of such a nature as to provide necessary information to the traveling public about goods and services available to such traveling public;

(e) a directional sign and the information contained thereon must be functionally and aesthetically compatible with its surroundings; and

(f) all directional signs must meet the national standards as are found in subpart B, part 750, chapter I, title 23 of the Code of Federal Regulations, "National Standards for Directional and Official Signs", as may be amended. Such a directional sign is limited to a maximum of 150 square feet and must give directional information about natural phenomena, historic, cultural, scientific, educational and religious sites and areas of natural scenic beauty or naturally suited for outdoor recreation. Both public and privately owned attractions which are qualifying activities must be of outstanding interest to the traveling public, and nationally or regionally known, as well as meet the State selection criteria. The State Department of Transportation has the responsibility for establishing such selection criteria and obtaining the approval of same from the United States Department of Transportation.

(7) If a sign meets all of the requirements set forth in this section, the Department of Transportation will determine whether an individual sign qualifies as a private directional sign after the submission of data relative to such sign to the Department of Commerce, Department of Environmental Conservation and the Outdoor Advertising Council established by subdivision 13 of section 88 of the Highway Law, for review, comment and recommendation.

N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 17 § 150.14