MUTCD Chapter 2GUIDE SIGNS

2D – Conventional Roads2E – Freeways & Expressways

Jason Hyatt

GUIDE SIGNSCONVENTIONAL ROADS

CHAPTER

2D

• Guide signs that have standardized designs shall have sizes as shown in Table 2D-1

Size of Signs2D.04

• Can no longer use all upper-case letters for names of places, streets, and highways. Must be combination of lower-case letters with initial upper-case letter.

Lettering Style2D.05

FRANKLIN DR Franklin Dr

• Guide signs should be limited to 3 lines of destinations, which include:• Place names• Route numbers• Street names• Cardinal directions

Amount of Legend2D.07

Amount of Legend• Guide signs should be limited to 3 lines of

destinations, which include :• Place names• Route numbers• Street names• Cardinal directions

• A distance message or action info can be provided in addition to the destinations• Exit #• “Next Right”• Directional arrows

2D.07

Amount of Legend• Guide signs should be limited to 3 lines of

destinations, which include :• Place names• Route numbers• Street names• Cardinal directions

• A distance message or action info can be provided in addition to the destinations• Exit #• “Next Right”• Directional arrows

2D.07

• Arrows shall be positioned approximately over the center of the lane and point vertically downward. If this cannot be achieved, then don’t use arrows.

Arrows2D.08

Arrows• New information regarding use of curved-stem

arrows for circular intersections.• Guidance on other variations of arrows.

2D.08

Arrows

• On post-mounted signs the directional arrow may be placed below the legend if placing it to the side creates an unusually wide sign.

2D.08

Alexandria Alexandria

• New Section. A lane designation auxiliary sign can be mounted below an advance route sign.

• Can only be used for mandatory movement.

Lane Designation Auxiliary Signs2D.27

• New Section.• This sign can only be used for mandatory lane

movements.• Shall not be used for lanes with optional

movements• Shall be green with destination on top and lane-

use at bottom

Combination Lane-Use/Destination Overhead Guide Sign

2D.33

• Horizontal lines separating destinations with different directions

Destination Signs2D.37

NEW

OLD

• New Section. Provides Standards, Guidance, and Options regarding destination signs at circular intersections.

Destination Signs at Circular Intersections

2D.38

• Shall not depict the number of lanes within, approaching, or exiting the roundabout.

Destination Signs at Circular Intersections

2D.38

• Option to incorporate a route shield with the street name

Street Name Signs2D.43

Street Name Signs

• New table with recommended letter heights

2D.43

Street Name Signs

• Alternate background colors can be used if it is deemed necessary to assist drivers in determining jurisdictional authority for roads

• Alternative background colors shall not be used for Advance Street Name signs

• The only acceptable alternate colors are:

• If used, the alternative background color should be used on all Street Name signs under the jurisdiction of a particular highway agency

2D.43

BLUE BROWN

WHITE

• This section was previously located in Chapter 2E

Signing on Conventional Roads on Approaches to Interchanges

2D.45

Signing on Conventional Roads on Approaches to Interchanges

• On multi-lane conventional roads approaching an interchange, guide signs shall be provided to indicate direction of turn and lane to use for ramp access to each direction on the freeway or expressway

2D.45

Signing on Conventional Roads on Approaches to Interchanges

• Action message suggestions on Advance Entrance Direction signs changed:

• LEFT LANE

• KEEP LEFT

2D.45

Signing on Conventional Roads on Approaches to Interchanges

• New diagrammatic sign that can be used to depict the location of an entrance ramp that is in close proximity to an intervening intersection where signing only for the ramp might cause confusion

2D.45

Signing on Conventional Roads on Approaches to Interchanges

2D.45

• New Section

• Signs with a common color or ID scheme that lead tourists to civic, cultural, visitor, and recreational destinations within a city

• These signs shall be limited to conventional roads

• Can have an information sign entering the city identifying the color codes of multiple routes

• Cannot use standard red, orange, yellow, purple, or the fluorescent versions thereof, fluorescent yellow-green, or fluorescent pink to avoid confusion with higher-priority regulatory and warning signs

Community Wayfinding Signs2D.50

Community Wayfinding Signs2D.50

Community Wayfinding Signs2D.50

Community Wayfinding Signs2D.50

Community Wayfinding Signs2D.50

Incorrect arrow placement andorder of destinations

Not for primary destinations

Incorrect use of boundary sign (excessive info)

Community Wayfinding Signs2D.50

BONUS: No lines separating destinations by direction

BONUS: No lines separating destinations by direction

Community Wayfinding Signs2D.50

CHAPTER

2ECHAPTER

2EGuide Signs

Freeways

Guide Signs

Expressways

337

Amount of Legend on Guide Signs2E.10

• No more than 2 destinations on one sign• Avoid a city name and street name on same sign

• Sign legends should not exceed three lines of copy, exclusive of the exit number and action or distance info

Size and Style of Letters and Signs

2E.14

• Standardized freeway and expressway guide signs shall have sizes as shown in Table 2E-1

• Option: Larger signs may be used

Abbreviations2E.17

• Words like:

• Street• Boulevard• Avenue

should be abbreviated to expedite recognition of the sign legend

Abbreviations2E.17

• Use a hyphen instead of a solidus (slanted line), which should only be used for fractions

CARS/TRUCKS

CARS – TRUCKS

Symbols2E.18

• Symbol designs shall be unmistakably (previously “essentially”) like those shown in this Manual and in the Standard Highway Signs and Markings book

Arrows for Interchange Guide Signs

2E.19

• On post-mounted signs the directional arrow may be placed below the legend if placing it to the side creates an unusually wide sign.

AlexandriaAlexandri

a

Arrows for Interchange Guide Signs

2E.19

• Arrows shall be placed over the center of the lane to which it applies

• Down arrows shall only be used for lanes restricted to one direction of travel

• Cannot have multiple down arrows pointing to the same lane

Arrows for Interchange Guide Signs

2E.19

Avoid ambiguous placement of down arrow

?

Signing for Option Lanes at Splits and Multi-Lane Exits

2E.20

• New Section

• Introduces the Arrow-per-Lane guide sign design

• Arrow-per-Lane or Diagrammatic guide signs shall be used for all multi-lane exits at major interchanges with an option lane

• Arrow-per-Lane and Diagrammatic guide signs shall not be used on freeways and expressways for any other type of exits or splits that do not have an option lane

• Arrow-per-Lane should be considered for intermediate interchanges. Conventional guide signing can be used at minor interchanges if Arrow-per-Lane is not warranted

Arrow-per-Lane Guide Signs2E.21

Diagrammatic Guide Signs2E.22

• Diagrammatic guide signs have been shown to be less effective than conventional or overhead Arrow-per-Lane guide signs at conveying the destination/direction that each lane serves, regardless of whether dedicated or option lanes are present

Arrow-per-Lane Guide Signs2E.21

• Arrow-per-Lane guide signs shall be used on all new or reconstructed freeways and expressways

Arrow-per-Lane Guide Signs2E.21

• APL sign at the exit shall be located where the lanes begin to diverge from one another – NOT at the theoretical gore

Not here!

Here!

Arrow-per-Lane Guide Signs2E.21

• Option:

• At existing, non-reconstructed locations, an existing structure at the theoretical gore can be used with Exit Direction and Pull Through signs in conjunction with APL advance signs

Arrow-per-Lane Guide Signs2E.21

Arrow-per-Lane Guide Signs2E.21

• Option:

• At existing, non-reconstructed locations, an existing structure at the theoretical gore can be used with Exit Direction and Pull Through signs in conjunction with APL advance signs

• Cannot use APL at the gore in this situation

Arrow-per-Lane Guide Signs2E.21

Arrow-per-Lane Guide Signs2E.21

• Option:

• At existing, non-reconstructed locations, an existing structure at the theoretical gore can be used with Exit Direction and Pull Through signs in conjunction with APL advance signs

• Cannot use APL at the gore in this situation

• If being reconstructed, cannot use Exit Direction sign at the gore – must use standard APL signing sequence

Intermediate and Minor Interchanges with Option Lane

2E.23

• For non-major multi-lane interchanges with an option lane, it may be suitable to use post-mounted guide signs.

Signing for Interchange Lane Drops2E.24

Guide Signs for a Splitwith Dedicated Lanes

Signing for Interchange Lane Drops2E.242009 2003

Diagrammatics replaced with Down

Arrows

Signing for Interchange Lane Drops2E.242009 2003

Exit Directional

down arrows replaced with

upward-pointing arrows

Signing for Interchange Lane Drops2E.242009 2003

2 Mile sign moved from

post-mounted to overhead

Signing for Interchange Lane Drops2E.242009 2003

Confirmation Route

Assemblies added

Signing for Interchange Lane Drops2E.242009 2003

Center lane line changed

to “urban skip”

Advance Guide Signs2E.33

• A left exit plaque shall be added to the top-left edge of signs for left-hand exits

• COMPLIANCE DATE

December 31, 2014

Exit Direction Signs2E.36

• An “EXIT XX MPH” sign panel may be placed at the bottom of the Exit Direction sign to supplement, but not replace, the exit or ramp advisory speed warning signs.

Exit Gore Signs2E.37

• Type 1 object markers may be installed on sign supports below Exit Gore sign to improve visibility

Exit Gore Signs2E.37

• Narrow Exit Gore sign may be used when necessary

CHAPTER

2EGuide Signs

Freeways and Expressways