Attachment_B_-_TM_Sign_Standards.pdf

Attachment 1-1

RECOMMENDED ROAD AND TRAIL SIGNING FOR

PUBLIC LANDS

DEVELOPED BY THE

COLORADO NATURAL RESOURCES GROUP

MARCH 2011

Introduction

Members of the Colorado Natural Resources Group (CNRG) have a desire to provide consistent signing for roads and trails across Colorado. Every agency in CNRG will use the basic guidelines in the attached paper. It is recognized that individual agencies will have specific signing requirements that may not be applicable to other agencies, but that in general, visitors to public lands in

Colorado will experience similar sign design and protocols throughout the state. These guidelines are also intended to comply with the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) standards.

These signing guidelines are a revision of the original CNRG recommendations developed in the fall of 1998 and signed in 2004.

Attachment 1-2

ROAD SIGNING

PORTAL SIGNS - TRAVEL RESTRICTED AREAS

The following three sign options are intended to alert visitors that they are entering into a travel restricted area, and that they must stay on designated routes. These signs should be used where a traveler crosses into a travel restricted area from an open area. This sign alerts the traveler that off road travel is prohibited and there may be some additional restrictions on certain routes. Install these signs where it is safe for traffic to stop to view the message.

Option 1

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

Standard Format Options

Option #1 – Basic Portal Sign (Black on White) for entering a travel restricted area. Placed at key or principal routes at the near point of restriction.

Option# 2 – Travel Restricted Area Sign. Currently, this sign option is the most frequently used in Colorado. Only the modes of travel that are restricted within the area should be shown on this sign.

Option #3 – This portal sign is similar in design to Option 1 and will be used mainly on the National Forests where travel restrictions are described on a Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM).

ENTERING MOTOR VEHICLE

RESTRICTION AREA

STAY ON ROUTES DESIGNATED

ON MOTOR VEHICLE USE MAP

ENTERING MOTOR VEHICLE

RESTRICTION AREA

STAY ON DESIGNATED

ROUTES

Attachment 1-3

TRAVEL RESTRICTED AREA SIGN

EXAMPLE - Option 2

Allowable Alterations

The word “Designated” may be changed to “Established” during travel planning when area management prescriptions are being changed from “open to off-road travel” to “restricted to roads and trails”. When the roads and trails that will be retained as the managed transportation system have been identified the word

“Established” should be changed back to “Designated.” This is intended to be an interim policy to allow for the orderly transition between “open to off-road” to “restricted to route” policy.

Lettering

For Passenger Car use roads (ML 3-5) agencies should follow the

MUTCD standards for sign lettering and height where applicable.

Minimum lettering size for “TRAVEL RESTRICTED AREA” wording will be a minimum of one half inch larger than all other lettering.

Attachment 1-4

AREA OPEN SIGN / DESIGNATED OPEN AREA

Area Open / Designated Open Area

Sign

Standard Format

The Designated Open Area sign is used for specific areas with identifiable boundaries in which travel is allowed both on and off roads. If the area name is desired, place the name at the top of the sign. The message "THIS AREA OPEN TO ALL TRAVEL ON AND

OFF ROADS AND TRAILS USING" is to be placed below the name of the area and above the recreation symbols. Agency logos and/or names are to be placed below the recreation symbols. Every sign should include at least one agency identification so the public knows where questions and comments can be directed. Areas managed by multiple agencies may show all agency logos across the bottom of the sign.

OHV Designated Areas

For areas designated OHV open areas, the sign displayed to the left would be installed at all access points into the open area in addition to the Designated Open Area sign. A similar designed sign should be installed when “Leaving” the OHV area.

Attachment 1-5

ROAD USE SIGNS

Horizontal Road Signs

These horizontal signs are recommended for gates or in a pull- out along higher standard roads (ML 3-5) where vehicles can stop to read them. As these signs do not meet size requirements of the MUTCD, do not use alongside a roadway where drivers would have to read them while moving.

Where there are travel restrictions, the road name and number may be included on this sign.

Vertical road signs, discussed later, are the normal travel management signs identifying the uses that are allowed and/or prohibited on lower standard, High Clearance/ML 2 roads.

Road Use signs are used to identify “designated routes” through a travel restricted area or other route condition changes.

Options – Horizontal Display

This sign is appropriate on roads intended for use by standard passenger cars, or on lower standard roads where the complexity of the travel management message (i.e., seasonal closures) requires the use of horizontal display. There are 3 options for this sign (see diagrams at left). They are:

OPEN TO: Is intended to show, using symbols, the modes of travel allowed on the road. Display all the symbols under “Open To.” This section may be left off of signs since most of the uses like horseback riding, hiking and biking are allowed on all roads.

CLOSED TO: Is intended to show, using symbols, the modes of travel that are not allowed on the road. This sign will first show the modes of travel that are allowed on the road under the words “Open To”. Below these, the modes of travel that are prohibited will be shown with red-slashed symbols under the words “Closed To.” The reason for the closure is optional.

SEASONAL CLOSURE (with dates): This sign will first show the modes of travel that are allowed on the road under the words “Open To”. Below these, the modes of travel that are restricted will be shown with red-slashed symbols under the words “Seasonal Restrictions”. The dates of the restricted travel will be shown below the symbols. Note: this sign would be appropriate on a seasonally opened gate in the center as an “optional” sign.

Attachment 1-6

HIGHWAY

LEGAL

VEHICLES

ONLY

Off Highway Vehicle Signs

These signs are used to designate routes where OHVs are allowed on passenger car roads. A mixed use analysis is required by all agencies prior to allowing unlicensed OHVs on passenger car roads. The road name is not required. If the road name is desired, it will be placed at the top of the sign along with the number.

Share the Road Sign (18” x 24”) and symbol (24” x 24”)

Share the Road Sign

This warning sign is used to caution road users that OHVs and full sized vehicles will be sharing the road. The use of these signs should be kept to a minimum and based on a documented engineering study or engineering judgment. They are not to be used for the sole purpose of identifying or designating an OHV route. Do not mix route ID markers or other signs with warning signs on the same post. Comply with MUTCD on size, color and retroreflectivity requirements.

Road signs prohibiting OHVs

This regulatory sign may be used on passenger car roads where unlicensed OHVs are NOT allowed. The sign is to be placed at the point on the route where the prohibition becomes effective.

Symbols

Letter size is in accordance with MUTCD but no less than 3 inches high. Sign color is black letters on a white background. Do not mix route ID markers or other signs with regulatory signs on the same post.

Attachment 1-7

Vertical Road Sign

This sign is appropriate on higher clearance roads (ML-2 roads) not intended for use by standard passenger cars. There are two options for this sign. They are:

OPEN TO: Is intended to show, using symbols, the modes of travel allowed on the road. Display all the symbols under the words “Open To.” Note:

Since hiking, biking, equestrian use, and cross-country skiing is generally permitted on all roads the “Open To” sign is optional.

CLOSED TO: Is intended to show, using symbols, the modes of travel that are not allowed on the road. This sign will first show the modes of travel that are allowed on the road under the words “Open To”. Below these, the modes of travel that are prohibited will be shown with red-slashed symbols under the words “Closed To.” The reason for the closure is optional.

The vertical road sign is not appropriate for seasonal closures (with dates):

The complexity of the travel management under this scenario requires the use of the horizontal display to convey the entire necessary message. Refer to the direction for horizontal road use sign described on page 5.

Road Identification

The road name is not appropriate on the vertical display. The number will be placed vertically at the top of the sign to distinguish these routes from trails.

Symbols

The minimum symbol size will be 2.5” x 2.5”.

Agency Logos

The agency logo(s) may be placed at the bottom of the vertical display.

Logos should be 2.5” x 2.5” or larger. Consider keeping it white on brown.

Attachment 1-8

TRAIL SIGNING

TRAIL ROUTE MARKERS

Option 2

Travel management signage for trails is critical in today's world. The trail users want to know what modes of travel are allowed on the trail they are ready to use, as well as what modes of travel are prohibited on that trail.

Trailhead Signage

All trailheads should have travel management signing regardless of the level of development at the trailhead. At a minimum, the user should see the name and number of the trail, with travel management information clearly displayed as a sign assembly. See diagram at left.

The trail name and trail number should read horizontally. The travel management direction should be displayed vertically. A destination sign is optional for the trail sign. Follow responsible agency’s manual direction on proper wording, abbreviations, and placement of text for direction signs. If night use is occurring on motorized trails, reflective sheeting material is recommended.

Placement of International Symbols

To show the travel modes allowed, use the words "Open To" and show the international symbols below. Display the modes of travel that are prohibited using the words "Closed to" with a red slash across the international symbol below.

Option 1 – Agencies have the option of providing additional information concerning the width of the trail for the mode of travel. For example, some trails may restrict

OHVs to a width of fifty (50) inches or less. In this case, a small decal with the text

50” or less may be placed below the ATV symbol.

Option 2 – For additional emphasis on trail restrictions consider using a Trail

Restriction sign (12” x 18”) similar to the one displayed to the left. This type of sign can be used to notify visitors of restrictions that are of a seasonal nature or unique to a specific trail.

Symbol Size

The size of symbols for trail usage should be 2.5” x 2.5” for each symbol.

Agency Logos

The minimum size of agency logo(s) should be 2.5” x 2.5” and may be placed at the bottom of the vertical travel management sign.

NO

MOTOR

VEHICLES

greater than

50inches in width

YEARLONG

Attachment 1-9

Placement of Travel Management Signs

Travel management signs should be placed at the trailhead and at trail junctions with roads or other trails where travel management is changing or needs reinforcement.