Interpretation Letter 2(09)-42 (I) - Design of Named Scenic Byway Signs

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U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.
Washington, D.C. 20590

July 19, 2012

In Reply Refer To: HOTO-1

Gordon Meth, P.E., P.P.
Director, Traffic Engineering
The RBA Group, Inc.
7 Campus Drive, Suite 300
Parsippany, NJ 07054

Dear Mr. Meth:

Thank you for your recent letter requesting clarification of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways (MUTCD). Specifically, you requested information on signing a State-designated, named scenic byway.

A designated scenic byway is a type of auto tour route as defined and provided for in Section 2H.07 of the MUTCD. Accordingly, the signs that display the name of a specific scenic byway must conform to the provisions of this Section. Section 2H.07 states that if shields or other similar signs are used for route guidance in following an auto tour route, they should be designed in accordance with the provisions for route signs found in Sections 2D.10 through 2D.12. In accordance with other General Information signs in Chapter 2H of the MUTCD, the designs must be simple, dignified, and devoid of complex graphics or messages that tend to mimic advertising.

Section 2D.53 of the MUTCD discusses the signing of named highways. A named highway is the officially mapped name of a highway, such as would be expected and used for primary navigational and address purposes. Secondary overlay designations, such as memorial or dedication names and auto tour route names, including scenic byway names, do not fall in the category of a "named highway."

We hope that you find this information helpful. For recordkeeping purposes, we have assigned your request the following Official Ruling number and title: "2(09)-42 (I) — Design of Named Scenic Byway Signs." Please refer to this number and title in any future correspondence on this matter. If you require additional information, please contact Mr. Kevin Sylvester at (202) 366-2161.

Sincerely yours,

Original signed by:

Mark R. Kehrli
Director, Office of Transportation Operations