Section R17-3-901. Signing for Colleges and Universities

A.      Definitions.

“Community  College”  has  the  meaning  as  prescribed   in

A.R.S. § 15-1401.

“Department” means the Arizona Department of Transporta- tion.

“FHWA” means the Federal Highway Administration of the

U.S. DOT.

“Major metro area” means an urban area with a population of at least 50,000.

“Municipality” means an incorporated city or town.

“MUTCD” means the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, a national standard for the design and application of traffic control devices that is published by the U.S. DOT/ FHWA and that is the standard for traffic control devices on the streets and highways of this state as required by A.R.S. § 28-641.

“Nonconforming sign” means an erected sign that does not comply with this Section or A.R.S. § 28-642(D) due to changes in the statutes, rules, or changed conditions. Examples of changed conditions include the reconstruction of a highway or physical deterioration of a sign.

“Regionally accredited college or university” means a college or university accredited by a regional institutional accrediting association recognized by the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education.

“Rural area” means all areas other than a major metro area or an urban area.

“Signing” means standard highway supplemental guide signs as specified in the MUTCD.

“State highway” has the same meaning as prescribed in A.R.S.

§ 28-101.

“State University” means a university established and main- tained by the Arizona Board of Regents under A.R.S. § 15- 1601.

“Trailblazing sign” means a sign installed by a local govern- mental agency, off the state highway, to guide traffic to a col- lege or university.

“Trip” means a one-way commute to or from a college or uni- versity, calculated by the Department based on the number of students or dorm beds, using the following equivalents:

One student = 1 1/2 trips One dorm bed = three trips.

“Urban area” means a municipality having a population of at least 10,000 but less than 50,000.

“U.S. DOT” means the United States Department of Transpor- tation.

B.       Application for signing. A college or university referenced in

A.R.S. § 28-642(D) may request signing by submitting a letter on its letterhead to the Department’s State Traffic Engineer. The letter shall contain the following information:

1.        Name of college or university;

2.        Complete street address;

3.        Names of agencies granting accreditation;

4.        Number of students;

5.        Number of dormitory beds, if applicable; and

6.        Signature of a person authorized to sign for the college or university.

C.      Requirements. To be considered for signing, a college or uni- versity referenced in A.R.S. § 28-642(D) shall satisfy the fol- lowing:

1.        Is on a road that intersects a state highway. If a college or university is on a road that does not intersect a state high- way, it still may qualify if:

a.        The governing political subdivision submits to the Department, within 30 days from the Department’s receipt of the request for signing, written confirma- tion stating that the governing political subdivision will install and maintain trailblazing signs; and

b.        The governing political subdivision installs trail- blazing signs before the Department places signing on the state highway.

2.        Meets all the requirements under subsection (C)(2)(a), (b), or (c) of this Section.

a.        If in a major metro area:

i.         Generates at least 4000 trips per weekday.

ii.        Is three miles or less from a state highway, except the distance may be increased 1/4 mile for each 10% increase in the required number of trips per weekday to a maximum of five miles.

b.        If in an urban area:

i.         Generates at least 2000 trips per weekday.

ii.        Is four miles or less from a state highway, except the distance may be increased 1/4 mile for each 10% increase in the required number of trips per weekday to a maximum of five miles.

c.        If in a rural area:

i.         Generates at least 1000 trips per weekday.

ii.        Is five miles or less from the state highway, except the distance may be increased 1/4 mile for each 10% increase in the required number of trips per weekday to a maximum of 15 miles.

D.      Exceptions to standards. The Department may place supple- mental guide signs on state highways to direct traffic to col- leges and universities. The Department shall determine whether to place supplemental guide signs for a college or uni- versity based on the specific criteria and the guidelines in the MUTCD.

E.       Nonconforming signs. The Department may remove a noncon- forming sign if:

1.        Other signs have greater priority under the criteria in the MUTCD,

2.        Physical spacing of signs is limited for an upcoming interchange or intersection, or

3.        A greater number of trips are generated by the subject of other guide signs.

F.       College or university. Only the initial, main campus of a col- lege or university referenced in A.R.S. § 28-642(D) may qual- ify for signing, unless otherwise permitted by statute.

Historical Note

Adopted effective May 7, 1991 (Supp. 91-2). Amended by final rulemaking at 8 A.A.R. 3838, effective August 12, 2002 (Supp. 02-3). Amended by final rulemaking at

18 A.A.R. 1263, effective July 6, 2012 (Supp. 12-2). Amended by final rulemaking at 19 A.A.R. 1324, effec- tive July 6, 2013 (Supp. 13-2).