24VAC30-551-40: General criteria for the Supplemental Guide Signs Program

A. The following requirements shall apply to signs in the Supplemental Guide Signs Program:

1. Supplemental guide signs shall be limited to two structures per interchange or intersection per direction with no more than two destinations per sign structure, except as noted in subdivision 2 of this subsection. When there is excessive demand over available space for new supplemental guide signing, VDOT, in consultation with the affected jurisdiction, shall determine which facilities will be listed on the signs.

2. All supplemental guide signs in place as of September 15, 2004, will be "grandfathered" into the program and may be repaired or replaced as necessary, except if the facility closes, relocates, or fails to comply with the criteria under which it originally qualified, the signs will be removed.

3. Additional structures over the two-structure limit may only be installed when the Commissioner of Highways or his designee determines that such installation is in the public interest.

B. To qualify for supplemental guide signing, a facility shall:

1. Be open to the general public on a continuous basis either year-round or during the normal operating season for the type of facility. Closings for the observance of official state holidays are allowed;

2. Comply with all applicable laws concerning the provision of public accommodations without regard to age, race, religion, color, sex, national origin, or accessibility by the physically handicapped;

3. Agree to abide by all rules, regulations, policies, procedures and criteria associated with the program; and

4. Agree that in any cases of dispute or other disagreement with the rules, regulations, policies, procedures and criteria or applications of the program, the decision of the State Traffic Engineer shall be final and binding.

C. All facilities shall be located within 15 miles of the initial supplemental guide sign.

D. Additional criteria and considerations apply to wineries participating in the Winery Signage Program (24VAC30-551-80).

E. The following table lists acceptable sites for supplemental guide signs:

SUPPLEMENTAL GUIDE SIGNS PROGRAM

Acceptable Sites(3)

Cultural

Historic building(1), (2)

Historic site(1), (2)

Historic district(1), (2)

Governmental

Correction facility

Courthouse

Department of Game and Inland Fisheries facility

Department of Motor Vehicles facility

Landfill/transfer station

Government office

Regional jail

Prison

Local police/sheriff's office(1)

State Police facility(1)

Recycling facility

Military (1)

Military facility

Recreational

Boat landing (public)

Natural attraction

Park - national(1)

Park - municipal(1)

Park - regional(1)

Park - state(1)

Schools

Colleges and universities(1) (main campus only)

High school

Junior high school

Virginia educational institution(1)

Middle school

Elementary school

Miscellaneous(1)

Arlington National Cemetery

Virginia Veterans Cemetery

Special events

Tourist information center

Welcome center

(1) Permitted on Interstate and limited access highways.

(2) If supplemental guide signs are installed for a historic district, separate signs for individual historic sites within the historic district shall not be allowed.

(3) VDOT shall waive requirements and conditions of participation in the supplemental signage program as may be necessary to provide adequate signage for facilities maintained by the agencies within Virginia's Natural Resources Secretariat.

F. The following sites are excluded from being displayed on official supplemental guide signs. The exclusion only relates to qualification under these categories. These facilities may participate if qualifying under another acceptable category.

SUPPLEMENTAL GUIDE SIGNS PROGRAM

Excluded Sites

Business/Commercial

Adult entertainment facility

Funeral home

Industrial park or plant

Landfill - private

Media facility

Movie theater

Office park

Radio station

Shopping center

Television station

Transfer station - private

Tree nursery

Truck terminal

Colleges and Universities

Satellite campus and individual on-campus facilities of main campuses on limited access highways

Governmental

Fairgrounds

Local jail

Post office

Medical

Drug rehabilitation facility

Extended care facility

Fraternal home

Hospital

Humane facility

Infirmary

Mental healthcare facility

Nursing home

Retirement home

Sanitarium

Treatment center

Veterans facility

Recreational

Arcade

Boat landing - private

Camp - church, civic, 4-H, Scout, YMCA/YWCA, other

Religious

Cathedral

Chapel

Church

Mosque

Shrine

Synagogue

Temple

Other religious sites

Miscellaneous

Animal shelter

Cemetery/columbarium (except those noted as acceptable)

Mobile home park

Subdivision

Veterinary facility

Museum