Section 40. General criteria for the Supplemental Guide Signs Program  


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  • 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

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 22, Issue 24, eff. September 6, 2006; amended, Virginia Register Volume 28, Issue 04, eff. November 23, 2011.

Statutory Authority

§ 33.2-210 of the Code of Virginia.