Chapter 663 Oregon Laws 1999

Session Law

AN ACT

HB 3295

Relating to highway directional signs; amending ORS 377.727.

Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:

SECTION 1. ORS 377.727 is amended to read:

377.727. In addition to the provisions of ORS 377.725, directional signs shall meet the following requirements:

(1) The maximum area shall be 150 square feet; the maximum height shall be 20 feet; and the maximum length shall be 20 feet. Dimensions and area under this subsection shall be computed to include border and trim, but exclude supports.

(2) No directional sign may be located within 2,000 feet of an interchange or intersection at grade along the interstate system or other freeway measured along the interstate highway or freeway from the nearest point of the beginning or ending of pavement widening at the exit from or entrance to the main traveled ways.

(3) No directional sign may be located within 2,000 feet of a rest area, park land or scenic area.

(4) No directional sign shall be located within one mile of any other directional sign facing the same direction of travel.

(5) No more than two directional signs pertaining to the same attraction or activity and facing in the same direction of travel may be erected along a single route approaching the attraction or activity.

(6) No directional signs located adjacent to the interstate system shall be located more than 75 air miles from the attraction or activity.

(7) The message on a directional sign shall be limited to identification and name of the attraction or activity and directional information useful to the traveler in locating the attraction, such as mileage, route number or exit numbers. Descriptive words or phrases describing the activity or its environs are prohibited. However, one standard size graphic may be placed on each sign if not prohibited by federal statutes or regulations.

(8) Privately owned activities or attractions eligible for directional signing are limited to the following: Natural phenomena, scenic attractions, historic, educational, cultural, scientific and religious sites, and outdoor recreational areas.

(9) To be eligible for directional signing, privately owned attractions or activities must be nationally or regionally known, and of outstanding interest to the traveling public. The Department of Transportation shall, by rule, develop specific selection methods and criteria to be used in determining whether or not an activity qualifies for [this type of] directional signing. Because viticultural areas defined by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms are scenic attractions and cultural sites that are regionally known and of outstanding interest to the traveling public, viticultural areas meet the qualifications under this subsection and subsection (8) of this section for directional signing.

(10) The Department of Transportation shall adopt such rules as it deems necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.

Approved by the Governor July 13, 1999

Filed in the office of Secretary of State July 14, 1999

Effective date October 23, 1999

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