903.11 Specific Service Signs - Logos
903.9.1 Eligibility (MUTCD Section 2F.01)
Support. This is commonly referred to as the Logo Program. See Signing Policy 7 CSR 10-9 for the Logo rules. Pursuant to 7 CSR 10-9 of the Missouri Code of State Regulations (C.S.R.), and based on the standards and guidelines noted herein, MoDOT has established a program that “provides signing that contains a logo for a business if it qualifies in a category. These signs are erected only in advance of interchanges on state system.”
This program is administered by an outside contractor and is governed by a set of rules and regulations that are contained in the Missouri Code of State Regulations (CSR). The current CSRs for the Logo program are contained in this article.
Standard. Specific Service signs shall be defined as guide signs that provide travelers with business identification and directional information for services and for eligible attractions.
Guidance. The use of Specific Service signs should be limited to areas primarily rural in character or to areas where adequate sign spacing can be maintained.
Option. Where an engineering study determines a need, Specific Service signs may be used on any class of highways, according to the CSR.
Guidance. Specific Service signs are not to be installed at an interchange where the traveler cannot conveniently reenter the freeway or expressway and continue in the same direction of travel.
Standard. Eligible service facilities shall comply with laws concerning the licensing and approval of service facilities and laws concerning the provisions of public accommodations without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex or national origin.
Distances to eligible 24-hour pharmacies shall not exceed 3 miles in either direction of an interchange on the federal-aid system.
Guidance. Distances to eligible services should not exceed 3 miles in either direction.
Option. If, within the 3-mile limit, facilities for the services being considered are not available or choose to not participate in the program, the limit of eligibility may be extended in 3-mile increments until one or more facilities for the services being considered chooses to participate or until 6 miles is reached for gas, food and lodging services, 15 miles is reached for camping services or 30 miles is reached for tourist attractions, whichever comes first.
903.9.2 Application (MUTCD Section 2F.02)
Standard. The number of Specific Service signs along an approach to an interchange or intersection, regardless of the number of service types displayed, shall be limited to a maximum of four. In the direction of traffic, successive Specific Service signs shall be for 24-hour Pharmacy, attraction, camping, lodging, food and gas services, in that order.
A Specific Service sign shall display the word message GAS, FOOD, LODGING, CAMPING, ATTRACTION or 24-HOUR PHARMACY, an appropriate directional legend such as the word message EXIT XX, NEXT RIGHT, SECOND RIGHT or directional arrows, and the related logo sign panels. No more than three types of services shall be represented on any sign or sign assembly. If three types of services are shown on one sign, then the logo panels shall be limited to two for each service (for a total of six logo panels). The legend and logo panels applicable to a service type shall be displayed such that the road user will not associate them with another service type on the same sign. No service type shall appear on more than one sign. The signs shall have a blue background, a white border, and white legends of upper-case letters, numbers and arrows.
Guidance. The Specific Service signs should be located to take advantage of natural terrain, to have the least impact on the scenic environment and to avoid visual conflict with other signs within the highway right of way.
Option. General Service signs (refer to 903.7.49 and 903.8.60) may be used in conjunction with Specific Service signs for eligible types of services that are not represented by a Specific Service sign.
Support. Examples of sign locations are shown in Figure 903.9.10.1.
903.9.3 Logos and Logo Panels (MUTCD Section 2F.03)
Standard. A logo shall be either an identification symbol/trademark or a word message. Each logo shall be placed on a separate logo panel that shall be attached to the Specific Service sign. Symbols or trademarks used alone for a logo shall be reproduced in the colors and general shape consistent with customary use, and any integral legend shall be in proportionate size. A logo that resembles an official traffic control device shall not be used.
Guidance. A word message logo, not using a symbol or trademark, should have a blue background with white legend and border.
Option. Where business identification symbols or trademarks are used alone for a logo, the border may be omitted from the logo panel.
A portion at the bottom of a GAS logo panel may be used to display the legends for alternative fuels (refer to 903.8.60) available at the facility. A portion at the bottom of a FOOD logo panel may be used to display the word CLOSED and the day of the week when the facility is closed.
903.9.4 Number and Size of Logos and Signs (MUTCD Section 2F.04)
Guidance. Sign sizes should be determined by the amount and height of legend and the number and size of logo panels attached to the sign. All logo panels on a sign should be the same size.
Standard. Each Specific Service sign or sign assembly shall be limited to no more than six logo panels. There shall be no more than four logo panels for one of the two service types on the same sign or sign assembly.
Support. Refer to 903.9.8 for information about Specific Service signs for double-exit interchanges.
Standard. Each logo panel attached to a Specific Service sign shall have a rectangular shape with a width longer than the height. A logo panel on mainline signs for freeways and expressways shall be 48 in. wide and 36 in. tall. A logo panel on signs for ramps shall not exceed 30 in. wide and 18 in. tall. The vertical and horizontal spacing between logo panels shall not exceed 8 in. and 12 in., respectively.
Support. Refer to 903.1.22, 903.8.14and 903.8.15 for information regarding borders, interline spacing and edge spacing.
903.9.5 Size of Lettering (MUTCD Section 2F.05)
Standard. All letters and numerals on Specific Service signs, except on the logo panels, shall be a minimum height of 10 in. and 6 in. for signs on ramps.
The principle legend on the business (logo) sign shall be a minimum 4 in. tall on supplemental direction signs and 10 in. tall on specific service signs. When a symbol or trademark is used alone for the business sign, any legend on the symbol or trademark shall be proportioned to the size.
903.9.6 Signs at Interchanges (MUTCD Section 2F.06)
Standard. The Specific Service signs shall be installed between the previous interchange and at least 800 ft. in advance of the Exit Direction sign at the interchange from which the services are available (see Figure 903.9.10.1).
Guidance. There should be at least 800 ft. between the Specific Service signs, except for Specific Service ramp signs. However, excessive spacing is not desirable. Specific Service ramp signs should be spaced at least 100 ft. from the exit gore sign, from each other and from the ramp terminal.
903.9.7 Single-Exit Interchanges (MUTCD Section 2F.07)
Standard. At single-exit interchanges, the name of the service type followed by the exit number shall be displayed on one line above the logo panels. At unnumbered interchanges, the directional legend NEXT RIGHT (LEFT) shall be used.
At single-exit interchanges, Specific Service ramp signs shall be installed along the ramp or at the ramp terminal for facilities that have logo panels displayed along the main roadway if the facilities are not readily visible from the ramp terminal. Directions to the service facilities shall be indicated by arrows on the ramp signs. Logo panels on Specific Service ramp signs shall be duplicates of those displayed on the Specific Service signs located in advance of the interchange, but shall be reduced in size.
Guidance. Specific Service ramp signs should include distances to the service facilities.
Option. The reduced size logo panels and signs also may be installed along the crossroad.
903.9.8 Double-Exit Interchanges (MUTCD Section 2F.08)
Guidance. At double-exit interchanges, the Specific Service signs should consist of two sections, one for each exit (see Figure 903.9.10.1).
Standard. At a double-exit interchange, the top section shall display the logo panels for the first exit and the bottom section shall display the logo panels for the second exit. The name of the service type and the exit number shall be displayed above the logo panels in each section. At unnumbered interchanges, the word message NEXT RIGHT (LEFT) and SECOND RIGHT (LEFT) shall be used in place of the exit number. The number of logo panels on the sign (total of both sections) or the sign assembly shall be limited to six.
Option. At a double-exit interchange where there are four logo panels to be displayed for one of the exits and one or two logo panels to be displayed for the other exit, the logo panels may be arranged in three rows with two logo panels per row.
At a double-exit interchange, where a service should be signed for only one exit, one section of the Specific Service sign may be omitted, or a single exit interchange sign may be used. Signs on ramps and crossroads as described in 903.9.7 may be used at a double-exit interchange.
903.9.9 Signs at Intersections (MUTCD Section 2F.09)
Standard. Where both tourist-oriented information (refer to 903.10) and specific service information would be needed at the same intersection, the design of the tourist-oriented directional signs shall be used and the needed specific service information shall be incorporated.
Guidance. If Specific Service signs are used at intersections on expressways, they should be installed between the previous interchange or intersection and at least 300 ft. (90 m) in advance of the intersection from which the services are available.
The spacing between signs should be determined on the basis of an engineering study.
Logo panels should not be displayed for a type of service for which a qualified facility is readily visible.
Standard. If Specific Service signs are used on conventional roads or at intersections on expressways, the name of each type of service shall be displayed above its logo panel(s), together with an appropriate legend such as NEXT RIGHT (LEFT) or a directional arrow on the same line.
Option. The NEXT RIGHT (LEFT) or other applicable directional legend or action message may be displayed below instead of above the logo panels.
Signs similar to Specific Service ramp signs as described in 903.9.7 may be provided on the crossroad.
903.9.9.1 Contractor’s Role. (MUTCD Section 2F.09a)
Support. It is the contractor’s role to administer the day-to-day operations of the Logo program. The current contractor for this program is Missouri Logos, Inc. Missouri Logos makes contacts with prospective customers, proposes sign layouts for MoDOT review and arranges for the erection of new signs.
903.9.9.2 MoDOT’s Role. (MUTCD Section 2F.09b)
Support. MoDOT’s primary role in the Logo program is to assure that sign installations follow our guidelines. Missouri Logos will provide to the district a proposed layout of any new sign installation.
Guidance. District traffic personnel should field check each installation to be sure there is sufficient spacing for the signs and they do not interfere with any existing signs. Any requests for Logo signing should be referred to Missouri Logos for handling. Missouri Logo’s phone number is (573) 893-6662 or 800-666-3514. See Figure 903.9.10.2.
903.9.9.3 Maintenance. (MUTCD Section 2F.09c)
Support. Missouri Logos is responsible for the initial erection and maintenance of the logo signs. MoDOT, as part of our contract with Missouri Logos, pays them for this installation and maintenance includes knockdowns and removal of logo panels.
Guidance. Knockdowns and damages should be reported to Missouri Logos as soon as noticed. Interchange, location and direction damaged should be reported. See Process for Logo Maintenance Flowchart, Figures 903.9.10.3 and 903.9.10.4.
903.9.10 Signing Policy 7CSR 10-9 (MUTCD Section 2F.10)
Guidance. The rules and regulations on how to obtain information and materials about the Logo Signing Program, including guidelines for its administration, are available at the Code of State Regulations link below: http://www.sos.missouri.gov/adrules/csr/current/7csr/7c10-9.pdf
