2011 Louisiana Laws
Revised Statutes
TITLE 48 — Roads, bridges and ferries
RS 48:274.3 — Placing of major shopping area guide signs on interstate highways

§274.3. Placing of major shopping area guide signs on interstate highways

A. Definitions. When used in this Section, the following words and phrases have the meaning ascribed to them in this Section, unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

(1) "Eligible highway" means a highway that:

(a) A portion of which is located outside an urbanized area with a population of fifty thousand or more; and

(b) Qualifies for a maximum speed limit as established by Louisiana law.

(2) "Eligible urban highway" means an interstate highway, a portion of which is located inside an urbanized area with a population of two hundred thousand or more.

(3) "Major shopping area" means a geographic area that meets either of the following criteria:

(a) Consists of thirty acres or more of land and includes an enclosed retail shopping mall that contains five hundred thousand square feet or more of gross building area.

(b) Includes strip-style outdoor shopping plazas and outlet shopping centers that contain no less than two hundred forty thousand square feet of gross leasable space.

(4) "Major shopping area guide sign" means a rectangular guide sign panel imprinted with the name of a major shopping area, as it is commonly known to the public, and containing directional information to such major shopping area.

B. If an establishment in a major shopping area provides food, the establishment must provide the following in order to be eligible for a listing on a guide sign:

(1) A license or other evidence of compliance with public health or sanitation laws, if required by applicable other law.

(2) Continuous operation at least ten hours a day.

(3) Seating capacity for at least sixteen people.

(4) Public restrooms.

(5) A telephone for use by the public.

C. The department shall establish a program that allows the erection and maintenance of major shopping area guide signs at appropriate locations along eligible highways and eligible urban highways. The department shall promulgate rules in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act regulating the content, composition, placement, erection, and maintenance of major shopping area guide signs and supports within eligible highway and eligible urban highway rights-of-way and establish appropriate and reasonable fees to implement the provisions of this Section; however, a major shopping area shall be entitled to have its name displayed on major shopping area guide signs if it is located not farther than three miles from an interchange on an eligible highway or an eligible urban highway. A major shopping area that has its name displayed on a major shopping area guide sign shall reimburse the department for all costs associated with the composition, placement, erection, and maintenance of the sign.

D. Major shopping area guide signs may be included as part of exit direction signs, advance guide signs, and supplemental guide signs and shall include guide signs for both directions of traffic on an eligible highway or eligible urban highway. If the service facilities are not visible from an interchange ramp terminal, additional signs may be placed along the ramp or at the terminal.

E. All fees collected pursuant to the provisions of this Section shall be considered as self-generated revenues and deposited by the secretary of the Department of Transportation and Development into the state treasury for credit to the Department of Transportation and Development. After compliance with the requirements of Article VII, Section 9(B) of the Constitution of Louisiana relative to the Bond Security and Redemption Fund, the monies so deposited shall be appropriated as self-generated revenues to the Department of Transportation and Development.

F. The procedures for obtaining approval for programming, project authorizations, and other actions for federal-aid projects which include these signs shall follow the same procedures as other federal-aid projects in this state.

Acts 1997, No. 552, §1; Acts 1999, No. 606, §1, eff. June 30, 1999; Acts 2001, No. 34, §1.