U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
400 Seventh St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590

Reply to Attn. of: HOTO-1
Date: July 27, 2006

Memorandum

Subject: INFORMATION: National Park Service Evaluation Study for NPS4 Fonts and Color Detour I style Arrows
Regina S. McElroy
From: Director, Office of Transportation
Operations

To: Mr. Arthur Hamilton
Associate Administrator
Office of Federal Lands Highway (HFL-1)

The Office of Transportation Operations has reviewed the following reports on the experimentation study conducted by the Pennsylvania Transportation Institute (PTI) for the National Park Service (NPS) to determine the legibility of the NPS Roadway 4 (NPS4) font and the Color Detour I style arrow:

1. "Development and Testing of a New Font for National Park Service Signs" by Philip Garvey, Abdulilah Zineddin, and Martin Pietrucha of PTI, Don Meeker of Meeker and Associates, and James Montalbano of Terminal Design, November 15, 2001.

2, "New Font and Arrow for National Park Service Guide Signs, "Philip Garvey, Kingston Chirwa, Donald Meeker, Martin Pietrucha, Abdulilah Zineddin, Ramy Ghebrial, and James Montalbano, Transportation Research Record No. 1862, 2004.

Based upon our review of these reports, the NPS4 fonts and Color Detour I style arrows were found to equal or exceed the legibility of the Standard Highway Signs Book standard alphabets and arrows.

The NPS may leave in place those guide signs designed and installed under this experimentation with NPS4 fonts and Color Detour I style arrows. The NPS may also increase the number of locations under this experimentation in order to expand the experience with this new lettering font and arrow design. Please note that this font can be used on roads within any park and recreation facility.

We have on file the disclaimer from the Martinez Group PLLC on behalf of James Montalbano and Terminal Design that disclaims any exclusive ownership rights either in or to the term NPS Roadway. The effect of this disclaimer is that any jurisdiction may use the term "NPS Roadway" by itself in connection with a typeface or font. For recordkeeping purposes, we have assigned the following official ruling number to this experimentation: "I-45 (E)-Request the Experiment with the National Park Service Fonts and Arrows." Please refer to this number in any future correspondence.

If you have further questions, you may contact Mr. Fred Ranck of my staff at 708-283-3545.

Cc: Mr. Roger Wentz, ATSSA