§1912-C. Guide signs on the interstate system

1.  Definitions.  As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.

A. "Advance guide sign" means a sign described in the national standards that identifies the principal destinations and routes served by an exit and the distance to that exit.   [PL 2013, c. 549, §3 (NEW).]

B. "Authority" means the Maine Turnpike Authority.   [PL 2013, c. 549, §3 (NEW).]

C. "College or university" means an accredited institution providing postsecondary education that has authorization to confer a degree in accordance with Title 20-A, chapter 409.   [PL 2013, c. 549, §3 (NEW).]

D. "Department" means the Department of Transportation.   [PL 2013, c. 549, §3 (NEW).]

E. "Exit directional sign" means an exit sign that repeats the route and destination information that is displayed on an advance guide sign for that exit.   [PL 2013, c. 549, §3 (NEW).]

F. "Interchange guide sign" means an advance guide sign or exit directional sign.   [PL 2013, c. 549, §3 (NEW).]

G. "Military installation" means a facility that is owned by the Federal Government and is operated by a branch of the United States Armed Forces.   [PL 2013, c. 549, §3 (NEW).]

H. "National standard" means the latest version of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices approved by the United States Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration in accordance with 23 United States Code and the latest version of the Guidelines for the Selection of Supplemental Guide Signs for Traffic Generators Adjacent to Freeways published by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.   [PL 2013, c. 549, §3 (NEW).]

I. "Signing agency" means, with respect to signs proposed to be placed along the state-constructed and state-maintained interstate system, the department and, with respect to signs proposed to be placed along the Maine Turnpike, the authority.   [PL 2013, c. 549, §3 (NEW).]

J. "State park" means any area of land or an interest in land, with or without improvements, that is designated as a state park, that is acquired by or under the control of the State and that is managed primarily for public recreation or conservation purposes.   [PL 2013, c. 549, §3 (NEW).]

K. "Supplemental guide sign" means a sign used to provide information regarding destinations accessible from an exit other than places displayed on an interchange guide sign.   [PL 2013, c. 549, §3 (NEW).]

L. "Transportation facility" means a bus, train, air, ship or ferry terminal, a park and ride lot or an intermodal transportation facility.   [PL 2013, c. 549, §3 (NEW).]

M. "Veterans, police or firefighters memorial" means a veterans cemetery or a memorial honoring veterans, firefighters or police officers if the cemetery or memorial is maintained and funded by a state or federal agency.   [PL 2013, c. 549, §3 (NEW).]

[PL 2013, c. 549, §3 (NEW).]

2.  Authority to place interchange guide signs on the interstate system.  To guide travelers to destinations of local, regional and statewide interest, interchange guide signs and supplemental guide signs may be placed by a signing agency at strategic points on the interstate system beside the traffic lanes approaching an exit if the placement complies with this section and with national standards. All determinations regarding whether the placement of interchange guide signs or supplemental guide signs on the interstate system meets the standards contained in this section must be made by the signing agency.

[PL 2013, c. 549, §3 (NEW).]

3.  Interchange guide signs.  The following provisions apply to interchange guide signs.

A. The primary destination displayed on an interchange guide sign must be the municipality in which the exit is located or the street name or route adjacent to the exit, or both.   [PL 2013, c. 549, §3 (NEW).]

B. Unless otherwise allowed by the signing agency, advance guide signs must be placed from 1/2 mile to 2 miles in advance of the exit.   [PL 2013, c. 549, §3 (NEW).]

C. In addition to the primary destination, a secondary destination may be displayed on an interchange guide sign. The secondary destination must be selected by the signing agency in accordance with its judgment of how best to serve travelers and must be one of the following:

(1) The municipality with the largest population within 5 miles of the exit that has a highway that is classified as an arterial or major collector providing a direct connection from the exit to the municipality's population center or business district;

(2) A municipality with a population of at least 2,000 that is located within 5 miles of the exit, that has a highway that is classified as an arterial or a major collector providing a connection from the exit to the municipality's population center or business district if a portion of the interstate system passes through that municipality;

(3) A municipality that is located within 10 miles of the exit, that has a highway that is classified as an arterial or major collector providing a direct connection from the exit to the municipality's population center or business district and that has a population of at least 10,000;

(4) Another municipality that is considered a major destination if its inclusion would benefit travelers; or

(5) A major destination, other than a municipality, that is directly connected to the exit if its inclusion would benefit travelers.   [PL 2013, c. 549, §3 (NEW).]

D. An interchange guide sign may bear the name of a specific destination if the primary purpose of the exit is to provide access to that destination.   [PL 2013, c. 549, §3 (NEW).]

[PL 2013, c. 549, §3 (NEW).]

4.  Supplemental guide signs.  The purpose of a supplemental guide sign is to provide directional guidance to travelers and not to promote commercial or economic interests. Supplemental guide signs must be limited in number and restricted in location to avoid driver distraction and impairment to traffic.

The following provisions apply to supplemental guide signs.

A. A supplemental guide sign may be used only if it does not conflict or interfere with required signs or with other permitted signs already in place. Whether sufficient space exists for a supplemental guide sign must be determined by the signing agency with reference to national standards. Supplemental guide signs for municipalities and transportation facilities take precedence over supplemental guide signs for other destinations.   [PL 2013, c. 549, §3 (NEW).]

B. A supplemental guide sign must be located in advance of the exit that provides the most direct or convenient route to the destination, except that the signing agency may allow a different location if there is more than one exit in the municipality or if another location is warranted to facilitate traffic.   [PL 2013, c. 549, §3 (NEW).]

C. A supplemental guide sign for a destination is permitted only if there are sufficient signs off the interstate highway to direct travelers from the interstate highway to the destination with minimal confusion.   [PL 2013, c. 549, §3 (NEW).]

D. A sign for a destination that meets the criteria for logo signs under section 1912-B or in rules adopted pursuant to section 1965, subsection 1, paragraph U is not eligible to be placed as a supplemental guide sign under this section unless that destination's name is readily recognized as the principal attraction in a major recreational area as described in subsection 5, paragraph C and it is necessary to include it on a supplemental guide sign to avoid traveler confusion.   [PL 2013, c. 549, §3 (NEW).]

[PL 2013, c. 549, §3 (NEW).]

5.  Destinations qualifying for supplemental guide signs.  The following destinations may appear on a supplemental guide sign:

A. A college or university that:

(1) Is located within 15 miles of an exit and has an enrollment of 300 or more students attending classes on site; or

(2) Has an enrollment of 1,000 or more students attending classes on site;   [PL 2013, c. 549, §3 (NEW).]

B. A national park or state park that:

(1) Is located within 10 miles of an exit and has a minimum annual attendance of 25,000 recorded visitors; or

(2) Is between 10 and 120 miles from an exit and has a minimum annual attendance of 75,000 recorded visitors;   [PL 2013, c. 549, §3 (NEW).]

C. A major recreational area that is a geographic region that is served by a highway that is classified as an arterial or a major collector. The geographic region must:

(1) Contain a beach or lake access that is open to the public, allows swimming for all ages, provides parking for more than 100 vehicles, has rest rooms on or adjacent to the beach or lake access and, with respect to a beach, maintains lifeguards on duty during July and August;

(2) Contain a ski area open to the public that:

(a) Has a minimum vertical drop of 1,000 feet with 40 or more maintained trails; or

(b) Is within 10 miles of the exit, has a minimum vertical drop of 200 feet with 10 or more maintained trails and has an aerial lift servicing groomed trails; or

(3) Have generated at least 1% of the State's total sales subject to the taxes under Title 36, section 1811 on the value of liquor sold in licensed establishments as defined in Title 28-A, section 2, subsection 15, prepared food and rental of living quarters in any hotel, rooming house or tourist or trailer camp over the previous 3 years and must offer recreational opportunities of sufficient traffic significance to warrant signs in accordance with criteria developed by the signing agency;   [PL 2013, c. 549, §3 (NEW).]

D. A military installation to which at least 2,000 employees and military personnel are permanently assigned, as long as the distance from the applicable exit to the installation does not exceed one mile for every 200 employees and military personnel permanently assigned to the installation;   [PL 2013, c. 549, §3 (NEW).]

E. A municipality that qualifies for but has not been included on an interchange guide sign;   [PL 2013, c. 549, §3 (NEW).]

F. A transportation facility if signs for the facility significantly benefit the transportation system; and   [PL 2013, c. 549, §3 (NEW).]

G. A veterans, police or firefighters memorial that is located within 20 miles of an exit.   [PL 2013, c. 549, §3 (NEW).]

[PL 2013, c. 549, §3 (NEW).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 2013, c. 549, §3 (NEW).