About Specific Service Signs
Specific Service Signs Guide Signs are the eye-catching blue Specific Service Signs located on eligible highways that guide motorists to services such as gas, food, lodging, and camping. The signs show the exit numbers where those services are located. For businesses not visible from the highway, a directional ramp sign will guide drivers to each business.
Why Specific Service Signs?
The primary benefit of using Specific Service Signs is that a motorist will know which specific brand or providers of services are accessible from an interchange prior to exiting the limited-access highway. Travelers and potential customers will follow the widely recognized ‘blue signs’ to your business. Not only that, but the brand exposure gained with highway advertising is one of the least expensive and most cost-effective ways to leverage your brand.
Alabama Specific Service Signs
Annual Fees for Specific Service Signs
| Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Mainline Signs | (pending approval) each/year |
| Ramp Signs | (pending approval) each/year |
| Trailblazer Signs | (pending approval) each/year |
| RV Friendly Symbol | (pending approval) (one time fee) |
| Seasonal Masking | (pending approval) each/year |
Types of Services
Services are limited to gas, food, lodging, camping and attractions. To qualify, services shall be open to all persons regardless of race, religion, color, sex, or national origin. A business establishment meeting the following criteria may be considered for placement of a business or logo sign on a specific service sign panel.
Fuel Facilities
- Located no more than 2 miles from the Interstate (or other selected) highway via an all weather road.
- Appropriate licensing as required by law.
- Vehicle services of gas, oil, and tire air.
- Rest room facilities and state, county and/or local government approved drinking water available for public use.
- Year round operation at least sixteen (16) continuous hours per day, seven (7) days a week.
- Public Telephone.
- An on premise attendant to collect monies and/or make change. However, this section does not preclude the use of automatic collection fuel pumps.
Lodging Facilities
- Located not more than 3.5 miles from the Interstate (or other selected) highway via an all weather road.
- Appropriate licensing as required by law and a permit to operate issued by the State Health Department.
- Year round operation.
- Adequate sleeping accommodations consisting of a minimum of ten
- (10) units available and suitable for public occupancy.
- Off-street vehicle parking spaces for each lodging room for rent.
- Public telephone.
Food Facilities
- Located no more than 2 miles from the Interstate (or other selected) highway via an all weather road.
- Appropriate licensing as required by law and a permit to operate issued by the State Health Department as well as compliance with all local ordinances governing the provision of food to the public.
- Year round operation at least twelve (12) continuous hours per day, minimum six (6) days a week, to serve at least two (2) meals per day (Sandwich type entrees may be considered meals under this section).
- seating for at least twenty (10) persons.
- Rest room facilities available and suitable for public use.
- Public telephone.
Camping Facilities
- Located not more than 6 miles from the Interstate (or other selected) highway via an all weather road.
- Appropriate licensing as required by law including compliance with all state, county, and local health and sanitation codes. Provision of adequate water and sewer systems which have been duly inspected and approved by the appropriate health authority with documented evidence of such inspection and approval.
- A minimum of ten (10) camp sites with full backup accommodations for all types of travel trailers, tents and other camping vehicles.
- Adequate parking accommodations for each camp site available for rent.
- Continuous operation, seven days a week during the business season.
- Public telephone.
- Removal or masking of the business logo by the Department during off-seasons if operated on a seasonal basis
Attractions
- Located not more than 15 miles from the Interstate (or other selected) highway via an all weather road.
- Continuous operation at least eight (8) hours per day, six (6) days per week or forty-eight (48) hours per week. Seasonal operation of one-hundred (100) days per year, six (6) hours per day, will be considered continuous operation. Masking is required for seasonal operation unless specified otherwise herein.
- Attendants and/or tour conductor on site during operating hours.
- Restroom facilities available and suitable for public use.
- Drinking water available and suitable for public use.
- Public telephone.
- Adequate parking to accommodate the facility’s traffic with a minimum of ten (10) spaces. Must be an activity or location that is one (1) or more of the following categories:
Natural Beauty/Phenomena
- A natural phenomenon is limited to features created by nature. Examples include but are not limited to unusual rock formations, caves, fossil beds, and waterfalls.
- Areas of natural or scenic beauty that are of outstanding interest to the general public including State or National Parks, wilderness areas, mountain ranges, bays, lakes, rivers, canyons, and similar areas.
Historic Site
- A historic site is limited to a structure or site that is of definite historical significance as determined by the Alabama Historical Commission and/or listed in the National Register of Historical Places. The site must be of State and/or National significance. It must be opened to the public for regularly scheduled daily tours. Self-guided tours are permissible if attendants are on site.
Cultural Site/Museum
- A cultural site is limited to any facility for the performing arts, exhibits, or concerts that is open to all age groups.
- A museum is limited to a facility, open to the public at least one hundred (100) days per year, in which works of artistic, historical, or scientific value are cared for and exhibited to the public.
Educational Site
- Zoological or Botanical Park – A facility in which living animals, insects, or plants are kept and exhibited to the public.
- Winery or Brewery – A licensed site which produces a minimum of five hundred (500) gallons of wind and/or beer per year, produced commercially packaged for off-premise sales. Open to public for tours a minimum of three hundred twenty (320) hours per year and provides an educational format for informing visitors about wine and beer processing.
- Facility Tour Location – A facility such as a factory, institution, or plant, which conducts regularly, scheduled daily public tours year-round.
- Science Centers offering a state-of-the-art learning environment such as quality educational programs, hands-on type exhibits, theater presentations, etc., which is open to all age groups.
Recreation Site
- Recreational Area – An area that offers four (4) or more of the following activities: Cycling, boating, camping, fishing, hiking, skating, picnicking, swimming, field sports, horseback riding, rock climbing.
- Amusement Park – A permanent area which is open to the general public for three (3) or more of the following activities: Picnicking, water activities, entertainment rides, live shows, food services, etc., in operation more than three (3) months per year.
- Golf Course – A facility open to the public and offering at least nine (9) holes of play. Miniature golf courses, driving ranges, chip-and-putt courses, and indoor golf shall not be eligible.
- Arena – A stadium, sports complex, auditorium, fairground, or civic or convention center which has a capacity of at least five thousand (5,000) seats and is holding events on at least twenty-eight (28) days of the year.
Distance to Services and Facilities
The maximum distance that eligible services can be located from the end of the exit ramp to qualify for a business sign should not exceed three (3) miles in either direction, except that within the 3-mile limit, services of the type being considered are not available, the limit of eligibility may be extended in 3 mile increments until one (I) or more services of the type being considered are reached. The maximum distance that these eligible services can be located from the main traveled way to qualify for a business sign shall not exceed fifteen (15) miles in either direction.
| Fuel Facilities | Located no more than 2 miles from the Interstate (or other selected) highway |
| Food Facilities | Located no more than 2 miles from the Interstate (or other selected) highway |
| Lodging Facilities | Located not more than 3.5 miles from the Interstate (or other selected) highway |
| Camping Facilities | Located not more than 6 miles from the Interstate (or other selected) highway |
| Attractions | Located not more than 15 miles from the Interstate (or other selected) highway |
Application Form
FAQs
How many business logo panels can be displayed on one sign?
No more than six (6) business logo panels shall be displayed on any background sign.
How much do Specific Service Signs cost?
Mainlane Specific Service Signs cost $450 per year, and Ramp Specific Service Signs cost $250 per year.
How big is a mainline panel?
A mainlane panel is 48″ wide and 36″ tall.
What type of highway is eligible?
A controlled-access highway on the designated state highway system. These typically have on and off ramps and are grade separated.
Do I get to choose position and placement of sign assembly?
Panel position will be determined by a first-come, first-served basis of qualified applicants. In the event of multiple qualifiers, a lottery system for placement will be utilized.
Can I get a ramp sign without a mainline sign?
No, you must have a contract for a mainlane panel. Ramps signs are not contracted separately.
When is a ramp sign required?
Whenever the motorist must make a change in the original direction of travel in order to receive service. ALDOT does not allow ramp signs to be placed without a mainlane sign.
How long will it take for my Specific Service Signs to be installed?
For new structures, it will take about six months from the day we receive your application to the date of installation. For existing structures, it will take about five weeks from the day we receive your application to the date of installation.
Do you offer screen printing?
Yes, screen printing is available upon request. Please call our office for more information.
Mainlane Specific Service SignsS cost: $250 for the first color; $50 for each additional color
Ramp Specific Service SignsS cost: $175 for the first color; $50 for each additional color
What attractions do not qualify under any category?
Flea Markets, Trade Days, Junkyards, Yard Sales, Etc. Primary Retail Center, Outlet Malls, Shopping Centers, Etc. Any facility or site currently signed as a Supplemental Guide Sign Location (See MUTCD Sec. 2E ). Any facility which is not open to the traveling public or motorists per On-Demand basis. (On-Demand basis shall be the non-reservation accommodation of drop-in visitors. Exceptions are scheduled tours/ showings, tee times, etc).