HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL

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HIGHWAY

GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL

Date of Issue: October 2006

© Copyright October 2006

The Crown in the right of the Province of Alberta

as represented by the Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation Purchasers of this document are hereby given permission to reproduce all or portion of this document without modification.

If changes are made to any of the drawings, it should be made clear that the drawings have been modified and all appropriate approvals obtained

before the modified drawings are used on a public roadway.

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FOREWORD

Traffic Control Devices such as signs, signals and pavement markings provide instructions to the driver about changes in driving conditions. Of these, signs provide regulatory, warning and guidance information to the driver to allow decisions to be made on an ongoing basis.

Proper guidance though the use of guide and information signage is critical to the driving task. This task can be made safe, more efficient, convenient and comfortable by ensuring that directional route information is conveyed to motorists in clear concise, simple and understandable form. Not providing the required information in this manner can lead to driver confusion which may result in poor driving habits and increased frustration. Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation has always maintained jurisdiction over the guide and information signs on highways under its responsibility both in rural and urban areas.

The purpose of this manual is to provide guidelines and standards for the application of guide and information signs on rural and urban highways in Alberta. The manual has been prepared to provide consistency and uniformity in guide and information signage applications on rural highways throughout Alberta, as well as locations where a highway or roadway is serving a city, town or other major urban development.

National sign conventions are used throughout the manual, as outlined in the “Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Canada”. However, the Alberta Guide and Information Sign Manual includes additional guidelines and standards which are unique to Alberta’s highways. Business advertising and other miscellaneous signs are outside the scope of this manual.

Urban and rural municipalities are encouraged to use the manual to ensure a consistent approach to urban guide signage throughout Alberta.

Continuing comment is essential for regular updating of these guidelines and guide and information signage in general. Any feedback is welcomed and may be sent to Moh Lali, Director of Highway Operations, Technical Standards Branch, Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation, 4999 – 98 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, T6B 2X3.

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Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation

HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL OCTOBER 2006

PART A4

HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section Subject Page

TABLE OF CONTENTS A4-i

A4.1 INTRODUCTION ... 1

A4.1.1 Purpose... 1

A4.1.2 Jurisdiction... 1

A4.1.3 Guide Format... 1

A4.1.4 Definitions... 2

A4.2 GENERAL INFORMATION ... 3

A4.2.1 Driver Needs and Route Hierarchy... 3

A4.2.2 Classification of Guide and Information Signs ... 3

A4.2.3 Human Factors ... 4

A4.3 GUIDE SIGN DESIGN AND GENERAL PLACEMENT... 11

A4.3.1 Importance of Common Standards ... 11

A4.3.2 Shape and Colour... 11

A4.3.3 Font Type ... 13

A4.3.4 Font Size ... 14

A4.3.5 Borders ... 16

A4.3.6 Abbreviations ... 16

A4.3.7 Symbols ... 16

A4.3.8 Arrows... 17

A4.3.9 Sign Layout... 19

A4.3.10 Sign Size ... 21

A4.3.11 Placement Considerations ... 21

A4.3.12 Sign Materials... 25

A4.3.13 Signage Design Plans... 27

A4.4 ROUTE MARKERS AND IDENTIFICATION SIGNS ... 29

A4.4.1 Route Number Shield on Guide Signs ... 29

A4.4.2 Highway Route Markers... 30

A4.4.3 Route Marker Assemblies... 34

A4.4.4 Other Route Identification ... 38

A4.5 DIRECTIONAL GUIDE SIGNS ... 43

A4.5.1 Destinations, Directions, Routes and Distances... 43

A4.5.2 Advance Guide Signs ... 45

A4.5.3 Interchange Sequence Signs ... 45

A4.5.4 Exit Direction Sign on Freeways... 46

A4.5.5 EXIT ONLY Panels on Freeways ... 47

A4.5.6 Major Forks... 48

A4.5.7 Exit Gore Signs ... 49

A4.5.8 Exit Numbering Signs on Freeways ... 49

A4.5.9 Bypass Route Signing ... 50

A4.5.10 Supplementary Guide Signs... 51

A4.5.11 Ring Road Signing ... 52

A4.5.12 Destination Direction Signs for Intersections... 53

A4.5.13 Destination Distance Signs ... 54

A4.5.14 Combination Directional/ Distance Signs at Minor Intersections ... 55

A4.5.15 Kilometre Markers for Remote Highways ... 55

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A4-ii TABLE OF CONTENTS

A4.5.16 Miscellaneous Guide Signs ...56

A4.6 FACILITIES AND SERVICES SIGNS ...61

A4.6.1 Introduction ...61

A4.6.2 Emergency Services...62

A4.6.3 Transportation Services ...64

A4.6.4 Tourist Oriented Directional Signs (TODS) ...67

A4.6.5 Safety Rest Area...72

A4.6.6 Motorist Services - Logo Signs...75

A4.7 OTHER DOCUMENTS AND REFERENCE MATERIALS ...79

Index 81 Figures Figure 3.1 Tapered Arrow Dimensions ...17

Figure 3.2 Straight Shafted Arrow Dimensions...18

Figure 3.3 Down Arrow Dimensions...18

Figure 3.4 Down Arrow Placement on Sign for Two Lanes ...18

Figure 3.5 Down Arrow Placement on Sign for Three Lanes...18

Figure 3.6 Specific Traffic Lane (more than three lanes)...19

Figure 3.7 Typical Layout of an Exit Guide Directional Sign ...20

Figure 3.8 Destination Direction Sign Layout ...20

Figure 3.9 Sign Orientation ...25

Figure 4.1 Guide Sign Route Number Shield ...29

Figure 4.2 Standard Alberta Highway Route Marker for One or Two Digit Route ...30

Figure 4.3 Anthony Henday Drive Route Marker ...30

Figure 4.4 Standard Alberta Highway Route Marker for Three Digit Route...30

Figure 4.5 Special Route Markers...31

Figure 4.6 Highway Route Marker with Trailblazer Assembly ...32

Figure 4.7 Trailblazers ...33

Figure 4.8 Typical Confirmation Route Marker Assembly...34

Figure 4.9 Cardinal Direction Tabs ...34

Figure 4.10 Directional Route Marker Assemblies...35

Figure 4.11 Arrow Tab Signs...36

Figure 4.12 Highway Connection Marker...36

Figure 4.13 Confirmation Highway Connector Route Marker Assembly ...37

Figure 4.14 Directional Highway Connector Route Marker Assembly ...37

Figure 4.15 End of Route Assembly...37

Figure 4.16 Junction Tabs ...38

Figure 4.17 Junction Route Marker Assembly for a Single Highway Approach ...38

Figure 4.18 Type II Junction Route Marker Assembly for a Dual Highway Approach...38

Figure 4.19 Rural Street Name Sign ...40

Figure 4.20 Advance Urban Street Name Sign...41

Figure 4.21 Advance Urban Street Name Sign Having Two Street Names...41

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Figure 4.22 Diagrammatic Advance Street Name Sign at Complex Junctions ... 41

Figure 5.1 Advance Guide Sign with Highway Route Marker... 45

Figure 5.2 Interchange Sequence Sign... 46

Figure 5.3 Exit Direction Sign... 46

Figure 5.4 EXIT ONLY Panel on Single Lane... 47

Figure 5.5 EXIT ONLY Panel on Two Lanes ... 47

Figure 5.6 EXIT ONLY Panel... 47

Figure 5.7 EXIT ONLY - Single Lane Advance Guide Sign... 47

Figure 5.8 EXIT ONLY - Double Lane Advanced Guide Sign ... 47

Figure 5.9 EXIT ONLY Directional Sign for Single Lane Exit ... 48

Figure 5.10 EXIT ONLY Directional Sign for Dual Lane Exit ... 48

Figure 5.11 Diagrammatic Sign at a Major Fork ... 48

Figure 5.12 Exit Gore Sign ... 49

Figure 5.13 Exit Number Tab ... 49

Figure 5.14 Numbered Exit Gore Sign ... 50

Figure 5.15 Bypass Route (Single Exit)... 50

Figure 5.16 Next Exit Sign... 51

Figure 5.17 Supplementary Directional Sign... 51

Figure 5.18 Supplementary Destination Sign... 52

Figure 5.19 Ring Road Advance Guide Sign ... 52

Figure 5.20 Ring Road Exit Direction Sign ... 52

Figure 5.21 Destination Directional Sign ... 53

Figure 5.22 Double Destination Directional Sign ... 53

Figure 5.23 Triple Destination Directional Sign... 53

Figure 5.24 Single Destination Distance Sign... 54

Figure 5.25 Double Destination Distance Sign... 54

Figure 5.26 Triple Destination Distance Sign ... 54

Figure 5.27 Single Combination Directional/Distance Sign ... 55

Figure 5.28 Double Combination Directional/Distance Sign ... 55

Figure 5.29 Triple Combination Directional/Distance Sign ... 55

Figure 5.30 Corporate Boundary Marker... 57

Figure 5.31 River Identification Sign ... 57

Figure 5.32 Lake Identification Sign ... 57

Figure 5.33 County Boundary Sign ... 58

Figure 5.34 Municipal District Boundary Sign... 58

Figure 5.35 Industrial Technical Park Sign... 58

Figure 5.36 Fingerboard Sign ... 59

Figure 5.37 Community Hall Directional Sign... 59

Figure 5.38 Sanitary Landfill/Waste Transfer Sign... 59

Figure 6.1 Hospital Marker... 62

Figure 6.2 Advanced Hospital Sign... 62

Figure 6.3 Urban Freeway Advanced Hospital Sign... 62

Figure 6.4 Police Sign... 63

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Figure 6.5 Police Sign (RCMP)...63

Figure 6.6 Telephone Sign ...63

Figure 6.7 Jet Service Airport...64

Figure 6.8 Airport Sign ...64

Figure 6.9 Municipal Airport...65

Figure 6.10 Parking Sign...65

Figure 6.11 Ferry...66

Figure 6.12 Access for Persons with Disabilities ...66

Figure 6.13 Tourist Region Sign ...67

Figure 6.14 Tourist Destination Area Sign (Provincial Park) ...68

Figure 6.15 Tourism Destination Area Sign (Recreation Area) ...68

Figure 6.16 Visitor Information Centre Directional Sign ...68

Figure 6.17 Destination Sign ...69

Figure 6.18 Major Resort Sign...69

Figure 6.19 Major Attraction Sign ...70

Figure 6.20 Regular Attraction Sign...70

Figure 6.21 TODS Trailblazer ...70

Figure 6.22 Classification of TODS...71

Figure 6.23 Community Facilities Sign (for communities away from Highway) ...72

Figure 6.24 Community Facilities Sign (no attractions) ...72

Figure 6.25 Community Facilities Sign (with attractions)...72

Figure 6.26 Safety Rest Area Sign (Class I and II) ...73

Figure 6.27 Roadside Turnout Sign (SRA Class III)...74

Figure 6.28 Logo Sign – Gas (6 Panel)...75

Figure 6.29 Logo Sign – Food (6 Panel) ...75

Figure 6.30 Logo Sign – Lodging (6 Panel) ...75

Figure 6.37 Combination Logo Sign...76

Figure 6.38 Ramp Logo Sign ...77

Tables Table 2.1 Reading Distance (m) ...8

Table 2.2 Reaction Distance (m)...8

Table 2.3 Lane Change Distance (m)...8

Table 2.4 Speed Reduction Distance* (m)...9

Table 3.1 Guide and Information Sign Shapes and Colours...12

Table 3.2 Comparison of ClearviewHwy Font to Highway Gothic Font...13

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TABLE OF CONTENTS A4-v

Table 3.3 Letter Sizes for Overhead and Ground Mounted Urban Freeway Guide Signs ... 15

Table 3.4 Letter Sizes for Overhead and Ground Mounted Rural Freeway/Highway Guide Signs... 15

Table 3.5 Border Sizes... 16

Table 3.6 Standard Abbreviations... 16

Table 3.7 Tapered Arrow Dimensions... 17

Table 3.8 Straight Shafted Arrow Dimensions ... 18

Table 3.9 Vertical Placement of Signs ... 24

Table 4.1 Route Marker Font Sizes and Series... 29

Table 6.1 Safety Rest Areas (Amenities)... 74 Drawings

Number Description

After Page TCS‐A4‐300 Typical Rural Sign Installation (Height & Lateral Location) A4‐28 TCS‐A4‐305 Typical Urban Sign Installation (Height & Lateral Location) A4‐28 TCS‐A4‐310 Breakaway Ground Mounted Signs on I‐Beam Posts A4‐28 TCS‐A4‐315 Breakaway Ground Mounted Bases Steel I‐Beam Posts A4‐28 TCS‐A4‐320 Typical Installation of Large Signs (on Wooden Posts) A4‐28 TCS‐A4‐325 Typical Installation of Large Signs (on Steel I‐Beam Posts) A4‐28

TCS‐A4‐330 Typical Sign Assembly Detail A4‐28

TCS‐A4‐335A Sign Assembly for Extruded Aluminum Panels A4‐28

TCS‐A4‐335B Typical T‐Stiffener Spacing for Extruded Aluminum Panels A4‐28 TCS‐A4‐400 Typical Route Marker Cluster Board Assembly A4‐42 TCS‐A4‐405 Typical Signing at the Junctions of Two Digit Highways A4‐42 TCS‐A4‐410 Typical Signing at the Junction of Two Offset Two Digit Highways A4‐42 TCS‐A4‐415 Typical Signing at the Junction of a Two Digit and Three Digit Highway A4‐42 TCS‐A4‐420 Typical Signing at the Junction of Two Three Digit Highways A4‐42 TCS‐A4‐425 Typical Signing at the Junction of Two Offset Three Digit Highways A4‐42 TCS‐A4‐430 Typical Sign Distances for Sign Locations at Intersections A4‐42

TCS‐A4‐440 Rural Address System A4‐42

TCS‐A4‐445 Rural Address Sign A4‐42

TCS‐A4‐450 Rural Address Signs Placement Details A4‐42

TCS‐A4‐455 Advance Township / Range Road Sign A4‐42

TCS‐A4‐500 Typical Rural Interchange Signing (Cloverleaf Interchange) A4‐60 TCS‐A4‐501 Typical Rural Interchange Signing (Parclo Interchange) A4‐60 TCS‐A4‐502 Typical Rural Interchange Signing (Diamond Interchange) A4‐60 TCS‐A4‐505 Typical Urban Interchange Signing (Cloverleaf Interchange) A4‐60 TCS‐A4‐506 Typical Urban Interchange Singing (Parclo Interchange) A4‐60 TCS‐A4‐507 Typical Urban Interchange Signing (Diamond Interchange) A4‐60 TCS‐A4‐508 Typical Urban Interchange Signing (Major Fork) A4‐60 TCS‐A4‐509 Successive Interchange Signs (Closely Spaced Interchanges) A4‐60

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Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation OCTOBER 2006 HIGHWAY GUIDE AND INFORMATION SIGN MANUAL

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Number Description

After Page

TCS‐A4‐515 Exit Only (With Single Exit Lane) A4‐60

TCS‐A4‐516 Exit Only (With Optional Thru Exit Lane) A4‐60

TCS‐A4‐517 Exit Only (Dual Exit Lanes) A4‐60

TCS‐A4‐520 Typical Interchange Signing with Exit Numbering A4‐60

TCS‐A4‐525 Typical Ring Road Signing with Numbering A4‐60

TCS‐A4‐530 Typical Ring Road Signing (Cloverleaf Interchange) A4‐60 TCS‐A4‐535 Typical Ring Road Signing (Parclo Interchange) A4‐60 TCS‐A4‐540 Typical Ring Road Signing (Diamond Interchange) A4‐60 TCS‐A4‐545 Use of Combination/Directional Distance Signs A4‐60

TCS‐A4‐550 Kilometre Markers A4‐60

List of Appendices

Appendix Description Page

A Destination and Key Point Chart E‐APP‐A‐1

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INTRODUCTION A4-1

A4.1 INTRODUCTION

A4.1.1 Purpose

The purpose of the highway system is to provide safe comfortable convenient transportation for people and goods. Traffic control devices and signs are an integral part of this system and provide the medium for the road authority to communicate vital information to the motorist along the highway.

This is accomplished through the use of regulatory and warning signs, including signs outlining speed limits and other regulations pertaining to the safe operation of the vehicle.

Of equal importance are the guide signs that direct motorists to their destinations and signs that provide information on the facilities adjacent to the highway system.

The purpose of this manual is to establish guidelines for the consistent and standard application of guide and information signs along the provincial highway system in Alberta.

A4.1.2 Jurisdiction

This manual shall be used for all roadways under management and control of Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation. Other municipalities within Alberta are encouraged to use these guidelines to ensure consistency of signage throughout the province.

A4.1.3 Guide Format

The guidelines set out in this manual complement the information found within the Transportation Association of Canada’s (TAC’s) “Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Canada”(MUTCDC). The “Alberta Highway Guide and Information Sign Manual”

provides additional details that are specific to Alberta highways, and which may exceed the requirements found in the MUTCDC.

These guidelines replace the Guide Signing section within the 1986 “Highway Signing Manual”, and includes updates to, but does not replace the 1981 “Alberta Urban Guide and Information Sign Manual” which some jurisdictions continue to use. This guide also includes new sections on signing practices regarding ring roads and bypasses and a new tourist information sign program. The format of this guide is as follows:

• Section 1 introduces the manual including the purpose, jurisdiction and format of these guidelines.

• Section 2 outlines the purpose and importance of highway guide signs, and develops some basic signing principles related to human factors.

• Section 3 describes general conditions for design, placement and materials used for guide and information signs.

• Section 4 describes methods of identifying travel routes to help orientate travelers. These signs include route markers and street identification in urban and rural areas.

• Section 5 describes methods of displaying directional and confirmation guide signage to motorists so they may easily get to their destination.

• Section 6 discusses signs that are used to direct motorists and tourists to roadside facilities or other locations that may be of certain interest.

Regulatory, warning and construction signs are not included in this manual. Business signs, private signs, advertising signs and other miscellaneous information sign programs such as “Crime Watch”,

“Communities in Bloom”, “Fire Prevention Awareness”, etc. are also excluded from this manual. Information and policies on these types of signs may be found in other Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation publications.

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A4-2 INTRODUCTION

A4.1.4 Definitions

This document uses the word shall to indicate requirements to be followed in order to conform to the document (shall equals is required to). The word should indicates that among several possibilities, one is recommended as particularly suitable without mentioning or excluding others; or that a certain course of action is preferred but not necessarily required; or that (in negative form) a certain course of action is disapproved of but not prohibited (should equals is recommended that). The word may is used to indicate a course of action permissible within the limits of the standard (may equals is permitted).

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GENERAL INFORMATION A4-3

A4.2 GENERAL INFORMATION

A4.2.1 Driver Needs and Route Hierarchy

Guide and information signs are a major element of the traffic control system. Guide signs provide the information that the driver requires to reach the intended destination, which is the reason why the driver is on the road. Guide and information signs should be consistent along different travel routes across Alberta, Canada and to a certain extent North America.

Sign uniformity provides quick recognition by all drivers of a sign by its shape, colour and size. The message on the sign must be easy to read, clear to not cause confusion, and easily understood by the driver. The driver must also be given adequate time to react and respond to the sign as required.

Consistent, standard signs, placed by the road authority having jurisdiction not only command attention, but also command the respect of the road user in general.

Inconsistent, non-standard signs may confuse the driver, and although erected with the best of intentions, may not command the same level of attention and respect.

Drivers using guide and information signs can be placed into one of three broad groups:

• The “stranger” who is a driver traveling the roadway for the first time and is totally unfamiliar with the route and area.

• The “local stranger” who may be attempting to reach some location for the first time, or may be repeating a trip that is made only occasionally.

This driver is broadly familiar with the area, but not with the route or specific site of the destination.

• The “local-local” who is repeating a trip made regularly on a road and in an area that is familiar.

Of these three groups, the “stranger” and the

“local-stranger” categories are those most dependent upon guide and information signs to direct them to their destination.

A4.2.1.1 Primary Travel Routes

Primary travel routes are an integral part of the overall highway system and form the framework for the highway system. In Alberta, these include one and two digit highways, and the ring roads in Edmonton and Calgary. Highway routes connect the majority of communities (destinations) within the province and form the main travel routes for long distance trips.

A4.2.1.2 Secondary Travel Routes Secondary travel routes are routes which form a sub-system of the overall highway system.

Secondary travel routes include three digit highways (former secondary highways) which interconnect with the primary travel routes. These routes typically consist of short trips or provide local access between primary travel routes, particularly in rural areas.

A4.2.1.3 Local Travel Routes

Local travel routes are routes comprised of roads other than provincial highways, which connect to the highway system. These routes are important to ensure continuity in guidance is maintained as travelers exit or enter onto the highway system.

A4.2.2 Classification of Guide and Information Signs

In Alberta, various types of routes are signed using five separate sub-classes of guide signs:

• Class IA – Destination Guide Signs - Guide signs indicate road user orientation by identifying destinations, directions, distances and locations. These signs are identified with an IA prefix.

• Class IB – Highway Route Markers and Street Identification Signs - Highway Route Markers and Street

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A4-4 GENERAL INFORMATION

Identification Signs indicate numbers, names or other destinations of streets or highways. These signs are identified with an IB prefix.

• Class IC – Off-Road Facility Signs - Off-Road Facility Signs indicate the availability of and direction to off-road services, facilities and visitor attractions. These signs are identified with an IC prefix and include specific sign programs such as Tourist Oriented Directional Signs (TODS) and Logo (gas, food, lodging) Signs.

• Class ID – Miscellaneous Information Signs - Miscellaneous Information Signs indicate information which is not otherwise provided in any of the foregoing sub- classes of signs, but are important to highway travelers. These signs are identified with an ID prefix.

• Class IF – Freeway Guide Signs - Freeway Guide Signs are important signs found in freeway systems that provide direction and guidance to upcoming interchange exits and destinations. The placement of these signs are critical to ensure enough time is given for proper lane changes and maneuvering safely to the exits.

More details on the colour and design of these signs are found in Section A4.3.2.

Sign tabs often supplement the primary signs and are usually smaller in size. Sign tabs consist of two types:

• Supplementary Sign Tabs - Supplementary sign tabs indicate additional related information which supplements the message conveyed by the primary sign. These tabs form part of the sign message.

• Educational Sign Tabs - Educational sign tabs indicate in legend form the same message represented by a symbol on a primary sign. Educational tabs may be used to convey the

meaning of symbols during an introductory period. After the introductory period has expired, any new sign installations shall exclude the educational tab.

A4.2.3 Human Factors

Human factors should be a primary consideration in the design and application of all traffic control devices, but especially with guide and information signs. The driving task involves many different types of motorist vehicle interactions and one of these is the recognition of signs and responding to them.

Additional information about human factors may be found in the TAC’s publication

“Supplemental Guide for Guide and Information Signage in Canada, 2003”.

A4.2.3.1 Driver Response

How the driver responds to a particular sign will depend upon the driver’s ability in detecting, understanding and reacting to that sign. The time taken to respond to signs involves many factors, including:

• Target detection – from a guide signing context, this involves making guide signs easily recognizable so that they can be seen amongst other sign clutter.

• Target identification – this involves making the information easily and quickly recognizable to the driver.

• Driver decision – once the sign has been detected and identified, the driver needs to decide whether or not to react to it.

• Driver reaction – driver reactions can vary from nothing, if the guide sign is not relevant to the driver, to making a lane change or turning at an intersection, onto another roadway.

• Response of the vehicle – different vehicles respond in different ways depending upon the type of vehicle.

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The sign designer needs to consider the above driver responses when designing and placing signs along the highway. One way of achieving this is to ensure signs are easily detectable by making them of standard colour and shape. Signs should also be legible with limited information so they may be glanced at rather than read in detail. Drivers must be able to read them quickly while traveling at high speeds or when faced with other visual or operational demands in their driving task.

A4.2.3.2 Positive Guidance

Consistency in design is good practice, as it assists a driver to respond to conditions, situations, events and information in a consistent manner. It is therefore important that, whenever possible, signs are kept identical, or at least very similar, on travel routes throughout North America, within Canada and each province.

Information should be presented clearly so that a driver can:

• Detect a sign in an environment that may be cluttered.

• Recognize the sign information.

• Decide upon an appropriate response

• Complete the maneuver safely.

There are four principles of positive guidance:

Primacy – information should be placed in order of importance to the driver. The most important information should not necessarily be placed first. Temporary conditions, regulatory and warning signs must take precedence over guide and information signs, as driver safety is more important than navigational needs.

The most critical signs should first be placed in their optimal locations, and others are fit in after in order of priority (i.e., Tourism signs relating to a freeway section typically appear first to the driver, upstream of exit direction signs). Less important signs may need to be placed at less optimum positions or

eliminated altogether due to limited space for signs along the road.

A hierarchy of the order that guide signs shall be displayed from most critical to least critical is identified as:

a) Directional Guide Signs (either on freeway or highway)

b) Emergency Services Signs (directions to Hospital/Police)

c) Transportation Service Signs (directions to Airports, Bus Depots, Rail Stations)

d) Motorist Services Signs

e) Attractions and Points of Interest Signs

f) Miscellaneous Information Signs.

Spreading – when information cannot be placed on one sign or at one location, it should be spread out to reduce the opportunity for the driver to become overloaded.

Coding – colour and shape coding of traffic signs allow representation of different types of information that are clear to the driver.

An example is using a blue background to represent tourism or motorist services.

Repetition – providing information more than once, but ensuring the additional messages do not clutter the driver’s view.

A4.2.3.3 Driver Capabilities and

Requirements

The driver’s ability to physically detect, read, understand, make a decision and react to a sign message is based primarily on the placement of the sign and the message conveyed.

Visual Search – drivers tend to look ahead in order to be prepared for unexpected obstructions in their driving path. For example, in advance of curves, drivers are preoccupied looking at the road for physical directional guidance, so signs should not be placed at or on the approach to curves.

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Drivers tend to move their eyes from side to side and up and down in order to detect these obstructions. Driver eye movements are less extensive under heavy traffic conditions suggesting that sign design and placement should be given special attention in urban situations.

Driver Detection, Reading and Response Requirements – Drivers require the necessary time to perceive, understand and safely respond to a sign message. This is known as Perception Response Time (PRT).

The detection process begins when an object enters the driver's field of view. At this point in time the object is “seen” but not registered in the brain. The next phase is the recognition of the sign so that the driver can make a decision about what to do.

Driving Maneuver – Once drivers know what actions to take, they must make the appropriate maneuver which may include a number of lane changes, weaving, turns or other vehicle driving actions.

The total time required to complete the above actions is found by:

Total time needed = Reading Time + Reaction Time + Maneuver Time

Where:

Reading Time - Time required to read a sign with a given message

Reaction Time - Time required to make a decision and initiate a maneuver, if one is required

Maneuver Time - Time to complete any required maneuvers before reaching the route choice point.

The distance traveled on the route is a function of the vehicle speed on the highway and the time required to interpret the message and make the maneuver. Tables 2.1 thru 2.4 provide the distance required to complete certain tasks when driving at various speeds.

Design Example – As an example, a driver’s sight distance requirement is calculated for a sign with one symbol and three words, 100 km/h speed limit, medium complex environment, requires one lane change on a freeway, and the exit is on a ramp traveling the same speed as the highway.

Total Distance Required = Reading Distance of 90 m (Table 2.1) + Reaction Distance of 35 m (Table 2.2) + Lane Change Distance of 200 m (Table 2.3) + Deceleration Distance of 0 m (Table 2.4) = 325 m.

Based on the practice of using 25 mm text height for every 12 m of viewing distance, the required text height would need to be 325 m*

25 mm/12 m = 675 mm (26”) in size to be viewed at a distance of 325 m. As a sign of this size is not deemed practical, the alternative is to place an advance sign having smaller text at a location upstream of the exit or turn.

An advance sign having 405 mm (16”) text height has a viewing distance of:

405 mm text * 12 m/25 mm text = 194 m, and should therefore be placed at least:

325 m – 194 m = 131 m upstream of the exit.

More detail can be found in TAC’s

“Supplementary Guide for Guide and Information Signage in Canada”.

Typical Sign Placement – In most cases the guidelines set out in this “Alberta Highway Guide and Information Sign Manual” provide set distances for signs in typical situations, such as placing advance signs one kilometre in advance of an interchange exit. This practice of using typical sign layouts allows consistency and uniformity in sign placement, meets driver expectations, and exceeds the minimum distance requirements.

However, there are often situations where sign space on the roadside is restricted, or where close interchange spacing occurs.

Under these constraints, the designer must

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consider the basic requirements for sign placement as outlined in this section to meet driver needs.

A4.2.3.4 Older Drivers

Older drivers typically are defined as those 65 years and older. The older driver population has greatly increased over the past decades and will continue to increase in the future.

Compared to younger drivers, older drivers typically will have more difficulty seeing, reading and understanding guide signs. The following are some difficulties that older drivers may experience while on the road:

• Poor visual acuity.

• Under poor lighting, legibility losses with age are greater.

• On a partially reflectorized sign when the lighting is beyond the optimum legibility, loss is more prevalent in older drivers.

• If the brightness of signs is very high at night, the problem of irradiation for older drivers is increased.

• Distractions due to irrelevant input increases sign detection time.

• Messages that are unclear (i.e. some symbols) take older drivers longer to understand.

• With age an increase in decision making time occurs.

• Less efficient scanning behaviour and eye movements.

• Diminished visual field size.

• Difficulty in selective attention.

• Slower decision making.

• Minor memory deficits (i.e. forgetting where to turn or what was on the traffic sign).

Sign modifications that may help to improve older drivers’ visibility and improve sign acuity include:

• Increasing illumination on roads.

• Providing high contrast between the background and message on a sign.

• Constructing brighter and larger signs.

In areas where a larger amount of the drivers are older drivers, longer detection, reading, reaction and maneuver time requirements should be considered. If symbols are to be used on signs they should be simple and tested for their comprehension and legibility before they are implemented. Limiting the number of signs on a roadway is also important because sign clutter may cause the driver to become overloaded. These improvements will not only help older drivers but all drivers.

In 2000, AASHTO’s “Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices – Millennium Edition” modified the letter height from 15 m viewing distance for every 25 mm of text height to 12 m viewing distance for every 25 mm of text height. This change was initiated to account for the increasing number of older drivers traveling our highways. TAC’s “Supplemental Guide for Guide and Information Signs” also adopted these guidelines for legibility distance requirements.

A4.2.3.5 Use of Human Factors

Typical signage layouts and designs are used throughout this manual, which exceed the minimum requirements when considering human factor requirements. Sign designers should use these typical signage layouts and designs whenever possible, for consistent sign design and placement.

However, when it is not possible to conform to these typical layouts, the sign designs and positioning should be determined using basic principles based on human factors, as outlined in this section.

The sign designer requires an understanding of human factors and the navigating limitations placed on various types of drivers in different driving environments. The design can then address signage needs through clear messages, appropriate letter height and proper sign placement to safely guide motorists to their destination.

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Table 2.1 – Reading Distance (m) Speed (km/hr) No, of

Words* 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110

2 11 14 17 19 22 25 28 31

3 17 21 25 29 33 38 42 46

4 22 28 33 39 44 50 56 61

5 36 45 54 63 72 81 90 99

6 42 52 63 73 83 94 104 115

7 47 59 71 83 94 106 118 130

8 53 66 79 92 106 119 132 145

9 67 83 100 117 133 150 167 183

10 72 90 108 126 144 163 181 199

11 78 97 117 136 156 175 194 214

12 83 104 125 146 167 188 208 229

13 97 122 146 170 194 219 243 267

14 103 128 154 180 206 231 257 283 15 108 135 163 190 217 244 271 298 Notes:

1. * 1 symbol is equivalent to 2 words

2. Reading Time: 0.5 s per critical word or 1.0 s per critical symbol 3. Minimum Reading Time: 1 s

4. Glance Time: 0.75 s after every group of 4 words or equivalent

Table 2.2 – Reaction Distance (m) Speed (km/hr) Complexity of

Environment * 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110

Low 11 14 17 19 22 25 28 31

Medium 14 17 21 24 28 31 35 38

High 28 35 42 49 56 63 69 76

Notes:

1. * Reaction Times: 1.0 s for low complexity, 1.25 s for medium complexity, 2.5 s for high complexity

Table 2.3 – Lane Change Distance (m) Speed (km/hr) Road Type *

40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110

Non‐Freeway 62 78 93 109 124 140 156 171 Freeway 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 220 Notes:

1. * Gap Search Times: 1.8 s for non‐freeway, 2.7 s for freeway.

2. Lane Change Time: 3.8 s for non‐freeway, 4.5 s for freeway to account for heavier truck traffic

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Table 2.4 – Speed Reduction Distance* (m) Final Speed (km/h)

Initial Speed

(km/h) 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0

110 33 63 90 114 134 152 166 177 185 189 191

100 30 57 80 101 118 133 144 152 156 158

90 27 51 71 88 103 114 122 126 128

80 24 44 62 76 87 95 99 101

70 21 38 52 63 71 76 77

60 17 32 43 51 55 57

50 14 25 33 38 39

40 11 19 24 25

Notes:

1. * Deceleration speed: 8.8 km/(hr*s)

Note: Tables 2.1 to 2.4 are from TAC’s “Supplementary Guide for Guide and Information Signage in Canada”.

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GUIDE SIGN DESIGN AND GENERAL PLACEMENT A4-11

A4.3 GUIDE SIGN DESIGN AND GENERAL

PLACEMENT

A4.3.1 Importance of Common Standards

The application of technical standards for design, manufacture and installation of signing is necessary to ensure that:

• Signs are of a consistent colour and shape for ease of recognition.

• Legend size is the optimum for motorist comprehension at the posted traffic speed.

• The use and number of words and symbols is optimized for maximum information and comprehension.

• Signs do not present a safety hazard.

Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation has patterns with sizes of symbols, borders, colours, layouts, arrows, font sizes and types preset for many common signs. These should be used without exception. The following section is provided for signs where the patterns cannot be used.

The design of guide and information signs has several components:

• Shape and Colour

• Font Type

• Font Size

• Borders

• Abbreviations

• Symbols

• Arrows

• Sign Layout

• Sign Size

• Placement Considerations

• Sign Materials.

A4.3.2 Shape and Colour

The shape and colour of a sign advises the road user of the class of message before they get close enough to the sign to read the message. The recognition of signs can be simplified by enabling the driver to judge in advance the type of message expected, and to help in this regard a code of shapes and colours is adopted. Table 3.1 illustrates the shapes and colours for each sub‐class of guide and information sign.

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A4-12 GUIDE SIGN DESIGN AND GENERAL PLACEMENT

Table 3.1 – Guide and Information Sign Shapes and Colours Colour Code

Class Sub-Class Shape Back-

Ground Message Border Comments

IA Destination

Guide Signs Green White White

Used for providing direction and distance to communities and large trip generators.

IB Route Markers &

Trail Blazers

White Variable

Black Variable

Used primarily for route identification.

Trail Blazers may contain other custom colours.

IC Off Road Facility Signs

Blue White White

Some municipalities may choose to use a brown background for roadside facilities. Some

messages may also contain minor elements in other colors.

ID Miscellaneous Information Signs

Green White White Some miscellaneous signs also have elements in other colours.

Guide and Information

IF Freeway Guide

Signs Green White White

Used for providing direction and distance to exit ramps along freeways

Tabs Supplementary Information Panels

Colours should match the primary sign onto which the tab is attached.

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GUIDE SIGN DESIGN AND GENERAL PLACEMENT A4-13

A4.3.3 Font Type

It is important that clear and consistent font types be used on all guide signs.

The Clearview font style, which includes the ClearviewHwy font, was developed through a decade of research starting in the early 1990s.

The goal of the Clearview font was to increase legibility and reduce halation of highway sign legends in comparison to that of Standard Highway Signs (SHS) Alphabets (Highway Gothic font).

Clearview font letters were developed specifically to address four issues with the legibility of SHS alphabets. They are:

• Upgrade highway signing word messages to accommodate the needs of older drivers without increasing the capital letter height and the overall length and height of word messages and the signs themselves.

• Improve word pattern recognition by using mixed case words of the same size composed of lower case letters designed for highway sign applications.

• Improve the speed and accuracy of destination recognition and the legibility distance of word messages.

• Control or minimize the halation of words displayed on high brightness retroreflective materials for drivers with reduced contrast sensitivity.

The term ClearviewHwy font will be used to reference the Clearview type system that has the six distinct weights, with each having a version for positive contrast applications.

ClearviewHwy font software is available from the developer of the Clearview font type system. For further information on the

ClearviewHwy font, please refer to the website: clearviewhwy.com

A general comparison guide for application to the SHS Standard Alphabet is summarized in the following table:

Table 3.2 – Comparison of ClearviewHwy Font to Highway Gothic Font

ClearviewHwy Font Highway Gothic Font

1‐W Series B

2‐W Series C

3‐W Series D

4‐W Series E

5‐W and 5‐W‐R* Series E‐Modified

6‐W Series F

* ClearviewHwy 5‐W‐R has tighter letter spacing than 5‐W and is designed for the replacement of overhead guide signs in which the 5‐W is too wide for the specific application.

Key changes to the department practice for Standard Highway Signs Alphabets (Highway Gothic font) for guide signs shall be as follows:

• All new overhead and shoulder‐

mounted guide signs shall adopt the ClearviewHwy font type system.

Guide signs that previously applied the SHS Series E shall utilize ClearviewHwy 4‐W. Guide signs that previously applied the SHS Series E‐

Modified shall utilize the ClearviewHwy 5‐W.

• The character spacing of Clearview font shall follow the spacing tables for ClearviewHwy, and not SHS E‐

modified. However, for overhead guide signs and for the replacement of existing guide signs where the 5‐W is too wide for the specific application, the 5‐W‐R font may be used.

• All guide signs shall be designed with the ClearviewHwy font type system software.

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A4-14 GUIDE SIGN DESIGN AND GENERAL PLACEMENT

If the message on the guide sign does not fit on the sign due to restricted sign space then a narrower series font may be used to condense the message. One line of text, within a two or three line text message, may be reduced, but not by more than one font series. Reducing the font by more than one font series would cause the smaller text to look out of place.

Facility and attraction signs belonging to Class IC typically use 3‐W font, unless its placed on a multilane highway where 5‐W font is used. Motorists can more easily distinguish between primary destinations such as communities and secondary destinations belonging to individual attractions and facilities. 2‐W font may be used to condense long messages or on smaller tab sized signs.

Destination names placed on guide signs shall use lower case letters with uppercase as the initial letter (Initcap). All other text (NORTH cardinal direction, NEXT EXIT, EXIT ONLY, etc.) is given in uppercase letters only.

A4.3.4 Font Size

In order for a sign to be effective, it must be legible from a distance which allows a driver to read it, react to it and carry out any required maneuvers before reaching the sign.

TAC’s “Supplemental Guide for Guide and Information Signage in Canada” and AASHTO’s

“Manual of Uniform traffic Control Devices”

states that for every 12 m of desired legibility, 25 mm of text is needed. An example is provided in Section A4.2.3.3 showing how letter height is derived based on desired legibility.

For guide and information signs, Table 3.3 should be used to determine the letter heights on signs on urban roadways and Table 3.4 should be used on rural roadways. Font sizes are given for several different types of messages. In fringe areas of cities the urban standard is typically used, because of higher volume and the expectancy that these highways will become urbanized.