Several museums in other states have highway destination signs (i.e. IRM in Union) I checked the California qualifications (200,000 in annual visitation) Do your states have similar restrictions? If so, how do you get around them. Our visitorship this year will be more like 60-70 thousand. How do I proceed acquiring signage?

Orange Empire Railway Museum
wyld@sbcglobal.net

> Several museums in other states have highway
> destination signs (i.e. IRM in Union) I
> checked the California qualifications
> (200,000 in annual visitation) Do your
> states have similar restrictions? If so, how
> do you get around them. Our visitorship this
> year will be more like 60-70 thousand. How
> do I proceed acquiring signage?

Find out if it is possible to subsidize the signage. I recall hearing that when a freeway was named for former President Regan the interested parties had to raise the money to place the signs. That sure sounds like a subsidized system.

BLN

Orange Empire Ry Museum
bnorden49@earthlink.net

Charley -

we got hit with that requirement too for a sign to Campo. We had a large freeway sign donated for a year - that helped. We considered a box car on private property adjacent to the freeway. How about pledging to clean up the freeway once a month in trade for at least the name on the freeeway sign?

http://www.sdrm.org

Generally, there are two types of signs that would be of interest: Recreational and Cultural Interest Signs (brown and white), and Tourist-oriented Directional Signs (blue and white). The general regulations for these signs are found in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) of the Federal Highway Administration. Each state then adopts additional specific rules for placing these signs.

The "brown" signs are free and generally require some minimum annual attendance. They can be placed on interstate, U.S. and state numbered routes. I cannot give specific examples without libeling certain attractions, but I can say from observation that the attendance rules and even the definition of "recreational" and "cultural" are subject to political manipulation. You should lobby your local state representative or senator if you don't meet the State DOT's default critieria.

The "blue" signs can be bought, much as Exxon or whoever buys their logo on the blue "Gas - Next Exit" signs on the interstates. However, in general, blue signs other than gas-food-lodging are limited to Conventional Roads (as defined in the MUTCD). There are further restrictions on how far from the sign the attraction is, how often it is open, etc.

Here in Illinois we have a specific form of "blue" sign, labeled "Seasonal Tourist Activities" (apple orchards are big users). These signs are usually placed on U.S. or state routes at the junction with the county road that leads off into the farm country toward the orchard.

In general, I would think a purchased "blue" sign would be your best bet, unless you really have to have something on the Interstate. And don't forget to ask your local legislator for a favor if need be.

pnichol6@prodigy.net

I don't think it's a handout we're looking for. It's permission to place the sign on the interstate. Since Caltrans owns the easements, they determine whose signs can occupy them.

Orange Empire Railway Museum
wyld@sbcglobal.net

Is your facility by any chance a "Historical landmark recognized by the [CA] State Department of Parks and Recreation?" In that case you would qualify for a "supplemental destination sign" on the Freeway without meeting the requirement for 200,000 annual visitors, which as I understand it applies to Museums as "other traffic generators" in rural areas, per the State's Traffic Manual.

pnichol6@prodigy.net