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Express Lanes
The Expert Panel recommended providing toll plaza advance signs at distances of approximately 2, 1 and ½ mile from the point at which the mainline lanes diverge resulting in express lanes and conventional plaza lanes, typically located to the right of the express lanes. Although Tables 3.4 and 3.5 require advance sign placement at approximately 2 miles upstream from the reference point, after further analysis this sign placement was deemed optional because of implementation difficulty, particularly for ramp, tunnel and bridge plazas. This sign is commonly used to provide advance notice of a toll plaza the driver is approaching, such as “Toll Plaza Ahead 2 Miles”.
The panel recommended the advance sign located 2 miles from the divergence point be placed overhead. However, this sign could be installed as a roadside ground-mounted sign. The 1 and ½ mile signs were also recommended to be placed overhead. The distances of 2, 1 and ½ mile were chosen as desirable locations, although local conditions would dictate the specific placement distance of these signs from the divergence point. In addition, the panel recommended provisions for toll rate information on the 2, 1 and ½ mile signs be considered optional.
At the gore (i.e. the divergence point of express and conventional plaza lanes), it was recommended that overhead signs be installed. These signs would indicate the payment methods accepted and vehicle restriction information in the express lanes and conventional plaza lanes. To minimize confusion, the lanes in conventional plaza should be grouped by accepted payment type (e.g. “Automatic Lanes”, Manual Lanes”, “Exact Change Cars Only”, “Change Receipts All Vehicles”) for display on signs at the divergence point.
The panel recommended a sign be placed a minimum of 800 feet from the canopy that provides information on payment methods accepted at the plaza lanes. This distance was selected to ensure that the sign did not obstruct plaza canopy signing and lane use signals.
Detailed toll rate information was recommended to be provided only on a toll schedule sign, placed close to the plaza. The optional toll rate information on the 2, 1 and ½ mile signs should only be provided as brief messages for the highest volume vehicle type, with detailed toll rate information provided on a separate toll schedule sign.
It should be noted that the expert panel recommendations are specific to mainline plazas. Out of necessity advance signing for ramp plazas may involve less discrete advance signing locations because of limited ramp length. Signs providing notification of an approaching plaza for a closed ticket system are the sign types that can be eliminated with little or no expected impact on operational performance.
Conventional Plazas
For the conventional plaza, the Expert Panel recommended providing toll plaza advance signs at distances of approximately 2, 1 and ½ mile from the plaza. On the 2 mile sign, the panel recommended including messages warning of the toll plaza ahead, with optional toll rate information. To minimize confusion, the lanes in conventional plaza should be grouped by accepted payment type, e.g. “Automatic Lanes”, “Manual Lanes”, “Exact Change Cars Only”, “Changes Receipts All Vehicles”) for display on signs at the divergence points. Overhead sign placement was preferred, although ground-mounted roadside signs could be used instead. The plaza centerline was considered the baseline for measuring distances for sign placement at the conventional plaza while the survey used the front edge of the canopy because it represented the closest possible placement for an overhead sign to be visible to approaching traffic and is independent of the canopy dimensions.
The recommended placement of the 1 and ½ mile signs is overhead, with sign content composed of messages warning of a toll plaza ahead, the payment methods accepted, vehicle restrictions, and toll rate information as an option.
The panel recommended a sign be placed a minimum of 800 feet from the canopy that provides information on payment methods accepted at the plaza lanes. This distance was selected to ensure that the sign did not obstruct plaza canopy signing and lane use signals.
An optional sign was also proposed at a distance of ¼ mile from the plaza canopy that provides payment method/lane type information, and lane-speed restrictions. Payment methods/lane type and lane-speed restrictions messages are optional.
Detailed toll rate information was recommended to be provided only on a toll schedule sign, placed close to the plaza. The optional toll rate information on the 2, 1 and ½ mile signs should only be provided as brief messages for the highest volume vehicle type, with detailed toll rate information provided on a separate toll schedule sign.
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