Eligibility

Sign Location Criteria

Sign Placement

The location of a tourist attraction or services business should be a primary consideration at the time of initial business planning. Roadside signing should not be expected to compensate for a poorly located business.

Signs should be carefully positioned so that:

• They do not obstruct a driver’s view of the road or intersection;
• They do not obstruct traffic or pedestrians;
• They do not form a confusing background to normal regulatory traffic signs and signals;
• They are not mounted with directional signs; and
• They do not heavily impact on visual amenity, particularly in environmentally and visually sensitive locations.

In areas where the placement of a TODS or Logo Sign causes an operational or safety problem, as determined by the District Operations Manager, the sign will not be permitted, or the request will be placed on hold until the operational or safety problem can be resolved. The Operations Manager responsible for operations and safety on Alberta highways will establish the exact location of signs on the highway, including the need for adjusting other adjacent signs at the turn or exit, where necessary.

Number of Signs

To prevent proliferation of signs and to ensure commercial equity, there is a limit to the number of tourist and services signs that will be permitted inside the highway right-of-ways. The following limitations are used for the number of signs approaching a rural intersection, exit ramp or turn:

• Maximum 2 Type A TODS (including Destination Areas, Destination Attractions, Visitor Information Centres and Attractions)
• Maximum 2 Type B TODS (Max. 3 panels for each sign)
• Maximum 1 Gas Logo Sign (Max 6 logo panels)
• Maximum 1 Food Logo Sign (Max 6 logo panels)
• Maximum 1 Lodging Logo Sign (Max 6 logo panels)
• Maximum 1 Community Attraction & Facility Signs (approaching a community access – Max. 1 for left turn and Max. 1 for right turn), Max. 4 attractions and 6 symbols placed below the community name sign.

In urban areas, a significant number of regulatory, warning and guide signs may exist. For this reason, the number of TODS signs permitted approaching an urban intersection will be determined on a caseby-case basis depending on the available space. Signage will be permitted on a first-come, first-serve basis, and at the discretion of the District Operations Manager.

Location Criteria

Tourism Signage Highway Classification System

The provincial highway network is classified according to the type of highways and its intended functions. Tourism signs are strategically placed on the network to provide directions to motorists looking for tourist destinations.

The hierarchy and purpose of each highway type is outlined below:

Major Highway (Inter-Provincial Routes)

• Consist of national and inter-provincial travel routes in Alberta, including ring roads in major cities.
• Carry significant tourist traffic between neighboring provinces, territories and the United States.
• Connect major population centres throughout the province.
• Comprise a large percentage of multi-lane high speed highways with high mobility function.
• Consist mainly of long-distance trips between origin and destination.

Major Highway (Inter-Regional Routes)

• Consist of major tourism travel routes from and to destination areas and regions within the province.
• Provide connection between major highways where mobility and land access are of equal importance.
• Include large percentage of two-lane undivided (conventional) highways.
• Provide equal importance to high mobility and land access.
• Encompass medium to long distance travel, including “back road” trips

Minor Highways (Regional Routes)

• Consist of minor routes that connect local development sites to the Major Highway network.
• Provide greater emphasis on land access and less on mobility.
• Involve short trips from the Major Highway turn-off to the local destination site.
• Comprise a high percentage of low volume two-lane undivided highways, local roads and access roads.

Tourist Highway Classification Map

TODS Placement Criteria

Sign Classification

The type of signs placed within the highway network is a reflection of the needs of the facility, as well as a function of letter height to properly read the sign at high speed. In low speed, well-developed environments, large signs with large text are not necessary or desirable. The placement criteria are broken into rural areas, small communities (less than 25,000 population) and large communities (greater than 25,000 population). For each area, consideration is also given to whether the sign is placed on a high speed road (80 km/h or greater) or a low speed road (70 km/h or less).

Three types of signs, identified as Types A, B and C are provided for Tourist Oriented Directional Signs (TODS) to suit the environment in which they are placed. Type A, B and C signs are outlined below. The placement of each type of TODS sign, based on the driving environment in which they are placed, is outlined in Table 3.

Classification of TODS Signs

Table 3: TODS Sign Type Placement

Notes:

1. Facility signs may be incorporated into overhead or ground-mounted directional (green) guide signs.
2. Limited to the selected attractions/facilities displayed on the Community Attractions and Facility Sign.
3. For attractions located in large communities:
   • Edmonton / Calgary / Red Deer / Lethbridge / Medicine Hat / Grande Prairie / Airdrie / Leduc / Ft. McMurray / Sherwood Park / St. Albert – not eligible under the Tourism Highway Signage Program. All signing would fall under city jurisdiction.
   • All communities with population bases exceeding 25,000 are not eligible for signage under the Tourism Highway Signage Program.
4. Major / Minor highways are shown in the Tourism Highway Map outlined in Figure 1.

TODS

Distance Criteria for Attractions

The TODS distance criteria is outlined in Table 4. The distance criteria consider whether the attraction is located in a rural area or within a community. Attractions are categorized into Destination Areas &
Attractions, and Attractions. The maximum distances shown in the table are the radial distances (as the crow flies) from the attraction to the first directional sign encountered by the motorist. Directional signs must be placed at all turns to the attraction between these two points, including local roads. Note: The owner of the attraction will require approval from the local road authority for placing signs at turns on local roads.

Signing is permitted in each direction at any highway within 15 kms of the attraction. If there are numerous highways within 15 km, signage may be placed at each if desired by the facility owner.
Where no highways are within 15 km, signage may be placed in each direction at the closest highway junction only, regardless of the distance from the facility.

Table 4: Distance from Attraction for TODS

Notes: All distances from attractions are calculated on a ‘radial’ basis, except in the case of Secondary Signing for Major Attractions – this second distance will be taken as a ‘cardinal’ direction – (point of compass).
 * Inter-Provincial Highways are highways; 1, 2, 3, 4, 16, 43, 49 & 63/28

1. Facility signs may be incorporated into overhead or ground-mounted directional (green) sign systems.
2. Limited to the attractions displayed on the Community Attraction & Facility Sign, located at the community limits
   or community access.
3. Tourist destination areas located within 1 km of an Inter-Provincial Highway are allowed advance signs on the
   Inter-Provincial Highway up to 10 km in advance of the highway access, in each travel direction.
4. If there are no Major Highways within 15 km of a Major Attraction, directional signs may be placed at the closest
   Major Highway within 40km.
5. If there are no major highways within 15 km of a Regular Attraction, directional signs may be placed at the closest
   Major Highway within 40 km from the attraction site, in one direction only (this being a cardinal direction). If there
   are no Major Highways within 40 km of a Regular Attraction, directional signs are permitted at each Minor
   Highway access within 15 km of the facility site, in each direction.
6. For Major Attractions, the majority of customers must reside greater than 80 km for the attraction.

Logo Sign Placement Criteria

Logo signs are placed inside the highway right-of-way at the entrance to communities, in advance of community access roads, and at commercial service roads located adjacent to the highway. Logo signs advise motorists of gas, food and lodging services next to the highway. Generally, logos are only permitted in advance of small communities. In large communities and in rural areas, logos may be placed at commercial service road entrances. The criteria for Logo Sign placement are outlined in Table 5.

Table 5: Logo Signs Placement on Highways

Notes:

1. Logo signs are permitted on highways for communities within 8 km from an major highway, that have Community Attraction Facility signs in place.
2. Logo Signs only are only permitted on a Minor Highway, that has Community Attractions and Facility signs in place in advance of the community, if the community is more than 8 km from a major highway.
3. Service Centre must have at least two services available in the FOOD, GAS or LODGING categories, and must be located within one kilometre from the a highway that is posted greater than 70 km/h. The facility location must clearly fall within a rural area outside any corporate/municipal boundary.
4. Signs in rural areas approaching communities are included under “Small Communities” in the table.
5. No Logos signs are permitted on ring roads (Highway 201 and Highway 216) or Deerfoot Trail.

Community Attractions and Facility Signs (Small Communities < 25,000 Population)

Small communities with population less than 25,000 (but greater than 100) are permitted to erect a sign at their highway entrance or at their highway access, depicting the significant attractions and facilities within their community. The community administration chooses which attractions and facilities will represent their community. The Community Attractions and Facility Sign consists of a blue panel where up to four (4) attractions may be displayed, representing the main attractions within the community that visitors should see while visiting. Examples may include historic sites, unique displays (world’s largest egg), cultural centers, significant tours, etc.

Small communities have the option to place up to six (6) general facility tabs, blue in colour, to represent the facilities available within the community. Facilities that are displayed are generally
public or community oriented in nature (example; community recreation centre). Police (blue) and hospital (green) service symbols must be shown on the sign if they exist within the community, and Alberta Transportation will provide the hospital and police service symbols at no cost. The community may choose the remaining facilities to be displayed on the sign. A blue “All Services” panel may be used in lieu of the six facility tabs, if the community has the following services available: Hospital, Police, Information, Gas, Food, Lodging, Camping, Propane, and Trailer Dump.

Where Logo Signs are placed on the highway, the Community Attractions and Facility Sign is placed immediately upstream of the Logo Signs to indicate the name of the community in which
motorists can expect the gas, food and lodging services displayed on the Logo Signs.

Community Attraction and Facility Signs may be placed on any highway, 1 km in advance of the community limits. If placement is difficult due to the abundance of signs in the entrance area, the sign may be placed 2 km in advance of the community.

Community Attraction and Facility Signs may be placed on major highways in advance of a community access, for communities within 8 km of a major highway. Signage is only permitted on the closest major highway in these cases.

Supplementary TODS Sign Placement Within Communities

Communities may request supplementary signs for services/attractions within their respective community. Typically these supplementary signs are the Type C sign configuration displaying the appropriate IC symbol with a directional arrow. Where a provincial highway enters the community, Police, Hospital, Tourist Information facilities and tourist attractions displayed on the middle panel board of the CAF sign would qualify for supplementary signage along the provincial highway right of way within the community at the intersection leading to the facility.

Supplementary signs will also be permitted for stand-alone facilities (mainly of interest to tourists and unfamiliar drivers) that request directional guidance. The location of this facility shall not be visible from the highway. Supplementary signs will be restricted to the intended facilities on the symbol panel board and tourist attractions displayed on the middle panel board of the Community Attractions and Facility (CAF) sign. If the CAF sign contains an “All Services” panel, there is no limit to the number of qualifying facility types. The eligible facilities will be restricted to the approved symbols/services found in the Alberta Transportation sign catalogue of highway signs. The local municipality and/or attraction owner will be the applicant for all the supplementary sign requests.

Approvals for the supplementary signs will follow the Tourism Highway Signage Program process. As per normal, operational and safety issues will need to be addressed/reviewed prior to any approvals being issued. In the areas where the placement of TODS causes an operational or safety problem, as determined by the District Operations Manager, the sign will not be permitted, or the request will be placed on hold until the operational or safety problem can be resolved.

Businesses qualifying for signage under the Logos program will not be eligible for supplementary signs.

Tourist Areas

Currently, there are 23 Tourist Destination Marketing Organizations (DMO’s) in Alberta whose key role is to market tourism in their area. Each DMO has distinct tourist attractions and facilities within their area that are actively marketed through tourism publications and travel brochures.

Blue signs will be permitted within the highway right-of-way on major highways at each entrance into the Destination Marketing Organization area, welcoming travelers who are entering this new tourist area. Tourist area signs will also be permitted signifying other government recognized tourist areas in the province.