Cultural Interest Area Guide Signs Design Guidelines

City Guidelines Regarding the Installation of “Recreational and Cultural Interest Area Guide” (RS Series) Signs
Traffic Services Division of the Department of Public Works

Governing Document Reference:

Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways (MUTCD), 2009 or latest edition and the Overland Park Municipal Code (OPMC), Title 12 – Traffic, Chapter 12.04.

MUTCD Requirements:

The purpose of “Recreational and Cultural Interest Area Guide” (RS Series) signs is to guide road users to a general area and then to specific facilities or activities within the area.

Recreational or cultural interest areas are attractions or traffic generators that are open to the general public for the purpose of play, amusement, or relaxation. Recreational attractions include such facilities as parks, campgrounds, gaming facilities, and ski areas, while examples of cultural attractions include museums, art galleries, and historical buildings or sites.

“Recreational and cultural interest area guide” signs directing road users to significant traffic generators may be used on freeways and expressways where there is direct access to these areas. “Recreational and cultural interest area guide” signs may be used off the road network, as appropriate.

City of Overland Park Guidelines for Installation:

Correspondence with the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) is required to determine if a “Recreational and Cultural Interest Area” sign is to be installed on city streets. The City guidelines require that the sign be used to orient and guide the motorist from a specific point of beginning to a specific point of ending.

To qualify for installation, there has to be an initial point from which a motorist would likely have to encounter the first sign to be able to proceed to the desired destination. This initial point shall be a recognized guide sign approved by KDOT which is placed on the interstate or a major highway. Once KDOT approves the sign installation on the interstate or major highway, the City will install additional guide signs.

The point of beginning is the intersection of the city street and the interstate ramp or highway. The point of ending is the destination or the actual location of the facility for which the directions are intended.

A minimum number of signs shall be installed to provide guidance to the traveling public via the shortest or most direct route. Signs will be placed in advance of the intersection where the motorist is required to change direction. Intermediate mid-block signs will not be installed. Signs will not be installed to direct the motorist to any private drives off of a city street.

Signing Standards:

The “Recreational and Cultural Interest Area” signs shall have a white message and border on a brown background. All messages, borders, and legends shall be retro-reflective and all backgrounds shall be retro-reflective.

For most “Recreational and Cultural Interest Area” signs, the legends are so variable that a standardized size is not appropriate. The sign size is determined primarily by the length of the message and the size of lettering and spacing necessary for proper legibility.

“Recreational or cultural interest area” signs should be rectangular in shape to match KDOT practice.