Outdoor Advertising Control Program Tacoma Billboard Community - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Outdoor Advertising Control Program

Tacoma Billboard Community Workgroup October 20, 2014

• WSDOT OAC Program
• Type 4/5 Off premise Signs

Outdoor Advertising Control Layers of the Laws

Federal Law Sec. 131 23 USC Federal Regulations 23 CFR Part 750 S/F Agreements RCW 47.42 (1961 & 1971) WAC 468-66 Other RCW/WAC Local Agency Controls

What Does the Program Do?

• The Program regulates advertising signs

visible to most state highways.

– Signs may be permitted at lawful locations – Illegally maintained signs are abated

• Majority of our cases involve signs on private

property

• We do deal with a number of signs in the r/w

Highway Advertising Control Brief Program History

• Program has been around for 50+ years
• Federal Requirement – 50 States Comply
• Why/What For ?????

– Public Safety - Mitigate Distraction to Motorist – Federal Legal Requirement – 10% Sanction – Protect highway facilities (electrical,etc) – Protect Scenic Environment

Why - Before

Why - After

Why - Before

Why – After

Why? Federal Law Grant-in-Aid Program

Penalties – 10% of WSDOT Federal Aid Funds

• 2010 FFY $32,682,862.90
• 2011 FFY $33,161,490.80
• 2012 FFY $33,639,289.50
• 2013 FFY $34,589,156.90
• 2014 FFY $34,105,890.70
• 2015 FFY $35,059,916.50
• 6-Year Total $203,238,607.30

Why? – State Auditor Investigation & Finding Circa 2000

• Program was investigated by the State Auditors Office

and a finding was issued - sanctioning the department. This finding stated that the department was not removing illegal signs in an expeditious manner, and putting 10 percent of WSDOT’s federal-aid highway money at risk

• In response, the department made a commitment to

dedicate resources and focus on the advertising control program to mitigate the State Auditor findings

• Over the years, the dedicated focus ebbed and flowed

and measureable results were highly variable across the department’s 6 Regions.

OAC - Program Operations Recent History

• 2009 - OAC Budget cut as this Program was included on

Governor Directed Freeze List

• Looking at the unpredictable performance of the regions,

and in light of the budget cut, a new strategy was initiated

• As of 09-11biennium, the program was centralized at

WSDOT HQ Traffic Office = My assistant and I, plus one part-time floating FTE to cover the entire state. – So with 6000 miles of regulated highways, we’re challenged to find ways to keep on top of the illegal signs and permit review requirements . . .

2013 Amendments to RCW 47.42 - Scenic Vistas Act

• Law now allows permit tags up to 28 s.i.; allowing

us to move forward with the new tag project

• Law now requires WSDOT to collect an annual

permit renewal fee - $150. Rental income signs

• Law now directs WSDOT to invoke a $100/day

fine for noncompliance if a sign remains in place following the 15-day opportunity for voluntary compliance

Legal Off-Premise Advertising Signs - Permits

Tags on Signs

Old Tags on Signs

New Permit Tags Coming in 2014

New Tag in Place

8 Permissible Sign Types

• Type 4/5 Signs
• Type 4/5 signs are defined as off-premise

advertising signs.

• Type 4 signs are w/in 12 air miles of the

advertise activity. Old Federal language

• Type 4/5 signs require WSDOT permits

along state highways.

Type 4/5 Signs

• Type 4/5 permit requirements -

– Must meet size, spacing, lighting & zoning criteria – Must provide consent of underlying property

• wner

– $300 permit application review fee

• Permits are issued by sign face

– Back to back and flanking sign faces are allowed in some locations. One structure could potentially have up to four permits.

Type 4/5 Signs

• Specific regulations for Interstate, Primary

and Scenic Highways.

• Interstate – Max size is 150 sf. Spacing

requirements protects interchanges.

• Primary – Max size is 672 sf. Spacing

varies between limited and nonlimited access highway segments; and, between incorporated/unincorporated areas.

Type 4/5 Signs

• Scenic – Blanket prohibition on off premise
• signs. Exemptions from Scenic system in

City/Towns – reverts to underlying system. ___________________________________

• Currently, there are 1850 permits statewide
• Around 1600 rental income signs

Type 4/5 Signs

Tacoma

• Regulated State Highways in Tacoma are:
• I-5, I-705
• SR 7, SR 16, SR 163, SR 509
• SR 163 and part of SR 509 were added to

NHS as part of MAP 21

• 21 Billboard structures w/ 38 permits in

Tacoma – predominantly SR 7

Questions

Pat O’Leary WSDOT Highway Advertising Control Program (360) 705-7296

• learyp@wsdot.wa.gov