Office of Traffic, Security, and Technology
Guide Sign Design
June 18-19, 2013
Arden Hills, MN
Office of Traffic, Security, and Technology
General Design Process
1. First, use the guidelines for Font Sizes
(Section 3.3.2 on page 3-5) to determine
correct letter size and overlay size, based on
speed, number of lanes, and roadway type
(freeway or non-freeway)
2. The matching arrow size can be found in
Section 3.8 on page 3-16
3. Vertical spacing between lines: ½ to ¾ of
letter height
–
This requirement may not be feasible with all overheads
due to restrictions caused by existing mounting structures
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Office of Traffic, Security, and Technology
General Design Process
4. Vertical spacing between text and inside of
border: ½ to ¾ of letter height
5. Horizontal spacing between objects
(fractions, overlays, arrows): ¾ to full letter
height
6. Horizontal spacing between text and inside
of border: ½ to ¾ of letter height
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Office of Traffic, Security, and Technology
General Design Process
7. The appropriate arrow will be larger than the
matching font height, and spacing around it
will be less than the vertical spacing
between lines (½ to ¾ letter height)
–
Due to the shapes of arrows, compressing space around
them doesn't make them appear crowded
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Office of Traffic, Security, and Technology
General Design Process
8. Vertical spacing around fractions can be
compressed somewhat because fractions are
much taller than the rest of the legend on
the same line
9. Whenever possible, allow no more than three
destinations or street names on a guide sign
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Office of Traffic, Security, and Technology
General Design Process
 Calculating the vertical size of the sign panel
Use the following formulas and equivalents to determine the
specific dimension:
A = Letter height
B = Vertical spacing from wording to wording, or from wording to
inside border (½ A to ¾ A)
C = Arrow/fraction height
D = Horizontal spacing from inside border to legend (½ to ¾ A)
E = Vertical spacing from arrow to wording, or from arrow to
inside border (less than B)
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Office of Traffic, Security, and Technology
Example #1
Supplemental Guide Sign
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Office of Traffic, Security, and Technology
General Design Process
 Calculating the Vertical size of the Sign
Panel
1. Add the heights of all objects in the sign, including
border thicknesses
– The border thickness may have to be estimated if the length of the panel’s
shortest side – height or width – is not known (typical borders widths are
summarized in Exhibit 3-2)
– Add the thickness of horizontal lines, which will be the same as the value
given for border thickness
– On signs with Font size combinations on the same line, use the largest size
when determining component spacing
2. Add the heights of the spaces between legend lines as
well as the spaces between legend lines and border
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Office of Traffic, Security, and Technology
General Design Process
3. Add the two totals from Steps 1 and 2, rounding to the
nearest number divisible by 6 (6” increments)
– This figure is the panel height
– Bear in mind that an adjustment may have to be made in border and
horizontal line thickness to achieve the right size
4. Because of the rounding of the panel height in Step 3,
spacing likely will need to be adjusted
– To do this, find the difference between the rounded panel height and the
actual total from Step 3
– Then distribute this difference between the spaces on the panel, ensuring
to keep ‘B’ measurements equivalent, ‘D’ measurements equivalent, and ‘E’
measurements equivalent
– Exceptions to this rule may be necessary in some cases to account for
words containing low-hanging letters, such as g, j, p, q, and y, or in other
situations
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Office of Traffic, Security, and Technology
General Design Process
 Calculating the Horizontal size of the
Sign Panel
– Horizontal spacing is fairly automatic in most cases
– Primarily, it involves maintaining proper spacing from borders to
legend and from legend to vertical lines
– The example problems illustrate this in more detail
• In the few complicated instances instructions are given as to how horizontal
spacing can be done
– Spacings from legends to borders and vertical lines should be
between ½ and ¾ letter height in most cases
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Office of Traffic, Security, and Technology
General Design Process
 Review Panel Structure for Proper
Supports
 Once the panel has been sized using vertical and
horizontal spacing guidelines refer to section 3.12.1
on page 3-25 to ensure U-Posts will be used versus
I-beams
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Office of Traffic, Security, and Technology
Example #1
Supplemental Guide Sign
 Problem Statement
– Using the given conditions listed above and the sign
components illustrated below, develop the guide sign using
SignCAD paying particular attention to component location,
justification, and spacing.
 Purpose of Example
–
–
–
–
Color selection
Font, font size, and arrow selection
Vertical spacing
Horizontal spacing
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Office of Traffic, Security, and Technology
Example #1
Supplemental Guide Sign
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Office of Traffic, Security, and Technology
Example #1
Supplemental Guide Sign
1.
Given Conditions
a.
b.
c.
2.
Posted speed limit = 35 mph
Number of basic lanes = 4 lanes
Non-Freeway
Sign Components
a.
b.
Proper Name Font A: 6” – 4.5”
Arrow Head: 13 (13-14 Arrow)
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Office of Traffic, Security, and Technology
Example #1
Supplemental Guide Sign
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Office of Traffic, Security, and Technology
Example #1
Supplemental Guide Sign
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Office of Traffic, Security, and Technology
Example #1
Supplemental Guide Sign
3.
Sketch Panel & Create in SignCAD
a.
Create Sign Components
i.
Text
1)
2)
ii.
Arrow
1)
2)
b.
c.
d.
Font: E Modified
Size: 6-4.5
Angle: 0 degrees
Head: 13
Create Panel
Drop Objects in Panel
Alignment – none required
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Office of Traffic, Security, and Technology
Example #1
Supplemental Guide Sign
Determine Vertical Dimension of Panel
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Office of Traffic, Security, and Technology
Example #1
Supplemental Guide Sign
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Office of Traffic, Security, and Technology
Example #1
Supplemental Guide Sign
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Office of Traffic, Security, and Technology
Example #1
Supplemental Guide Sign
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Office of Traffic, Security, and Technology
Example #1
Supplemental Guide Sign
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Office of Traffic, Security, and Technology
Example #1
Supplemental Guide Sign

Final Sign Panel
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Office of Traffic, Security, and Technology
Example #1
Supplemental Guide Sign
Post Structure

–
Use 2U-2A post structure
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Office of Traffic, Security, and Technology
Example #1
Supplemental Guide Sign
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