STATE OF NEW YORK
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
1220 WASHINGTON AVE.
ALBANY, NEW YORK 12232
http://www.dot.state.ny.us

July 29, 2005

Regina McElroy, Director
Federal Highway Administration
Office of Transportation Operations (HOTO)
400 Seventh Street, SW
Washington, DC 20590

Dear Ms. McElroy:

The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) is requesting concurrence from the FHWA with our interpretation of the National Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) regarding the use of logos on highway guide signs.

As you can see from the attached letter, the NYSDOT recently received a request from the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area to allow the use of their unique logo on the guide signs that will be placed at the heritage area boundary. The letter includes illustrations that show the representative signs, including the logo, to be used on both freeway and conventional highway facilities.

While a few sections of the MUTCD refer to the use of symbols on guide signs, there appears to be only one reference to the use of logos:

Section 2D.48: Political jurisdiction logos may be placed on the political boundary general information signs. The logo may have different colors and shapes but should be simple, dignified, and devoid of any advertising.

Although neither the National Park Service, nor its individual units, are, technically, "political jurisdictions," we believe that,the signing of heritage area borders meets the intention of the MUTCD to provide guidance to motorists entering an area whose discrete boundaries are defined in law. As such, we feel that the proposed Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area signs are in conformance with both the State and National MUTCDs, and we support their placement at certain heritage area gateways. We are aware that several other states have already proceeded with similar signing.

We would greatly appreciate your interpretation as to whether New York will be in compliance with the National MUTCD if we allow the placement of boundary signs containing heritage area logos. We note that our allowance of the heritage area logo pertains only to heritage area boundary signs, and does .not extend to any other type of guide sign.

The NYSDOT would appreciate a response to this request by September 9, 2005. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this request, please contact Barbara Abrahamer, of our Traffic Operations Bureau, at (518) 457-2095 or babrahamer@dot.state.ny.us.

Sincerely,

BRUCE W. SMITH
Director
Traffic Engineering & Highway Safety Division

Attachments:
BWS:BSA:bsa

cc: Barnabas McHenry, Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area Mary Mangione, Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area Kevin J. Plunkett, Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area David Fasser, Sustainable Solutions
H.P. Gustafson, New York State Thruway Authority J.A. Growney, FHWA New York Division Office
M. Ivey, NYSDOT, Environmental Analysis Bureau, POD 41
N. Alexander, NYSDOT, Landscape Architecture Bureau, POD 22 G. McVoy, NYSDOT, Transportation Maintenance Division, POD 51
D. Clements, NYSDOT, Traffic Engineering & Highway Safety Division, POD 42 R.B. Vachon, NYSDOT, Traffic Engineering & Highway Safety Division, POD 42 D.C. Woodin, NYSDOT, Traffic Engineering & Highway Safety Division, POD 42