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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the eligibility of an establishment to be included on a |
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specific information logo sign along a highway. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 391.001(2), (9), and (12), |
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Transportation Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(2) "Eligible highway" means a highway along which an |
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information logo sign may be located as determined by the |
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commission under Section 391.092(d) [that:
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[(A) is located outside an urbanized area with a
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population of 50,000 or more and qualifies for a maximum speed limit
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of 65 miles per hour under 23 U.S.C. Section 154 or, if that law is
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repealed, qualified for a maximum speed limit of 65 miles per hour
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on the day before the effective date of the repeal; or
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[(B) is a controlled-access highway located
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inside an urbanized area with a population of 50,000 or more]. |
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(9) "Major shopping area guide sign" means a |
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rectangular guide sign panel imprinted with the name of a major |
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shopping area eligible to have its name displayed as determined by |
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the commission under Section 391.0935 [, as it is commonly known to
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the public,] and containing directional information to the major |
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shopping area. |
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(12) "Specific information logo sign" means a |
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rectangular sign imprinted with the words "GAS," "FOOD," "LODGING," |
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[or] "CAMPING," "24 HOUR Rx," or "ATTRACTION," or with a |
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combination of those words, and the specific brand names of |
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commercial establishments offering those services or attractions. |
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SECTION 2. Section 391.092, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read as follows: |
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(d) The commission shall adopt rules, in accordance with |
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applicable federal law, regulations, and guidelines, for |
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determining eligible highways along which specific information |
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logo signs and major shopping area guide signs may be located. If |
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permitted by federal law, regulations, or guidelines, the |
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commission may establish different highway eligibility criteria |
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for each type of sign. |
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(e) The commission by rule shall establish criteria for |
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determining which sites are acceptable for or excluded from |
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participation as an attraction on a specific information logo sign. |
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For a commercial establishment to qualify as an attraction, the |
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establishment must: |
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(1) be an acceptable site as determined by the |
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commission; |
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(2) be of regional interest to the traveling public; |
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(3) have any required license or approval; |
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(4) provide adequate parking accommodations; and |
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(5) provide sanitary public restrooms. |
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SECTION 3. Section 391.093(a), Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) A commercial establishment, to be eligible to have its |
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name displayed on a specific information logo sign, must provide |
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gas, food, lodging, camping, or pharmacy services or qualify as an |
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attraction as determined by the commission under Section 391.092(e) |
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and be located not more than three miles from an interchange on an |
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eligible highway. If no service or attraction participating or |
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willing to participate in the specific information logo sign |
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program is located within three miles of an interchange, the |
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commission may grant permits for commercial establishments located |
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not farther than: |
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(1) six miles from the interchange; |
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(2) nine miles from the interchange if no service or |
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attraction participating or willing to participate in the program |
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is located within six miles from the interchange; |
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(3) 12 miles from the interchange if no service or |
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attraction participating or willing to participate in the program |
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is located within nine miles of the interchange; or |
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(4) 15 miles from the interchange if no service or |
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attraction participating or willing to participate in the program |
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is located within 12 miles of the interchange. |
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SECTION 4. Sections 391.0935(a), (b), (d), and (f), |
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Transportation Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) Unless the commission determines there is a conflict |
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with federal law, the commission shall establish a program that |
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allows the erection and maintenance of major shopping area guide |
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signs at appropriate locations along eligible [urban] highways. |
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(b) The commission shall adopt rules regulating the |
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content, composition, placement, erection, and maintenance of |
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major shopping area guide signs and supports within eligible |
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[urban] highway rights-of-way. The commission by rule shall |
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establish criteria for determining if a geographic area contains a |
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sufficient concentration of retail establishments to be considered |
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a major shopping area. A major shopping area is entitled to have |
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its name displayed on major shopping area guide signs if it meets |
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the criteria established by the commission and is located not |
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farther than three miles from an interchange on an eligible [urban] |
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highway. |
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(d) Major shopping area guide signs may be included as part |
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of exit direction signs, advance guide signs, and supplemental |
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guide signs and must include guide signs for both directions of |
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traffic on an eligible [urban] highway. |
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(f) The commission may contract with an individual, firm, |
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group, or association in this state to erect and maintain major |
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shopping area guide signs at appropriate locations along an |
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eligible [urban] highway. |
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SECTION 5. Sections 391.095(a) and (c), Transportation |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The contractor installing a specific information logo |
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sign shall place the sign so that: |
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(1) the sign is at least 800 feet from the previous |
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interchange and at least 800 feet from the exit direction sign at |
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the interchange from which the services or attraction facilities |
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are available; |
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(2) two signs having the same legend are at least 800 |
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feet apart, but are not excessively spaced; and |
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(3) a motorist, after following the sign, can |
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conveniently reenter the highway and continue in the original |
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direction of travel. |
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(c) If the service or attraction facilities are not visible |
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from an interchange ramp terminal, additional signs may be placed |
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along the ramp or at the ramp terminal. |
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SECTION 6. Section 391.099(a)(2), Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(2) "Eligible highway" means a highway that: |
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(A) has noncontrolled access; and |
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(B) is outside the corporate limits of a |
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municipality with a population of 50,000 [5,000] or more. |
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SECTION 7. Sections 391.001(3) and (8), Transportation |
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Code, are repealed. |
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SECTION 8. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |