The commission must create and regulate a program for major shopping area guide signs on eligible highways, and qualifying major shopping areas can have their names shown on those signs.
Sec. 391.0935. MAJOR SHOPPING AREA GUIDE SIGNS. (a) Unless the commission determines there is a conflict with federal law, the commission shall establish a program that allows the erection and maintenance of major shopping area guide signs at appropriate locations along eligible highways. (b) The commission shall adopt rules regulating the content, composition, placement, erection, and maintenance of major shopping area guide signs and supports within eligible highway rights-of-way. The commission by rule shall establish criteria for determining if a geographic area contains a sufficient concentration of retail establishments to be considered a major shopping area. A major shopping area is entitled to have its name displayed on major shopping area guide signs if it meets the criteria established by the commission and is located not farther than three miles from an interchange on an eligible highway. (c) A major shopping area that has its name displayed on a major shopping area guide sign shall reimburse the commission for all costs associated with the composition, placement, erection, and maintenance of the sign unless the commission has entered into a contract under Subsection (f). (d) Major shopping area guide signs may be included as part of exit direction signs, advance guide signs, and supplemental guide signs and must include guide signs for both directions of traffic on an eligible highway. (e) Sections 391.093(b)-(e) do not apply to major shopping area guide signs. (f) The commission may contract with an individual, firm, group, or association in this state to erect and maintain major shopping area guide signs at appropriate locations along an eligible highway. (g) A contract under this section shall provide for: (1) the assessment of fees to be paid to a contractor by a major shopping area; and (2) remittance to the department of at least 10 percent of the fees collected by the contractor. Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 30.22(d), eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 743, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 2003. Amended by: Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 935 (H.B. 3441), Sec. 3, eff. June 15, 2007.