Srosaaz EDITION LET tla Alphabets FOR HIGHWAY SIGNS Reprinted May 1979 by U.S, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION OFFICE OF TRAFFIC OPERATIONSStandard Alphabets FOR HIGHWAY SIGNS A Reference Guide for the Standardization of Letters and Numerals Used on Highway Signs specified in THE MANUAL ON UNIFORM TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES FOR STREETS AND HIGHWAYS. as approved by AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF STATE HIGHWAY OFFICIALS. INSTITUTE OF TRAFFIC ENGINEERS NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON UNIFORM TRAFFIC LAWS AND ORDINANCES. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES This was originally printed in 1966 when the originating office was part of the Department of Commerce Reprinted May 1972 by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION. OFFICE OF TRAFFIC OPERATIONSSECTION 1 STANDARD UPPER CASE ALPHABETS for Highway SignsSTANDARD UPPER CASE ALPHABETS for Highway Signs ‘The Standard UPPERCASE Alphabet series for highway signs were prepared by the Bureau of Public Roads at the request of the National Joint Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and approved by that committee. ‘This 1966 edition has eliminated the tables of dimensions by printing the char- acters in exact detail for two-inch letter height. The characters may be enlarged to the desired letter height with any conventional enlarging process such as: photographic, shadowgraph, or by manual transfer and the letters will remain in the proper proportion. A one-quarter inch grid has been superimposed on the letters to facilitate the enlarging process. For example, to obtain six-inch letter height, enlarge the grid squares to three-quarters of one inch. A set of spacing tables is provided for each alphabet series. These tables give the letter and numeral width by direct reading for several standard letter heights. In addition, the recommended dimension for space between any combination of letters or numerals may be obtained through a two-step process described in the table. This space is the distance measured horizontally between the extreme right edge of the preceding letter and the extreme left edge of the following letter. No part of these letters may extend into this space. ‘The width of a word or name may be readily determined by adding the sum of the letter widths to the sum of the space between letters. All characters having an arc at the top or bottom are extended slightly above or below the grid lines. This isin accordwith accepted practice for rounded letters, Although the tables of dimensions have been eliminated, there is no basic change in the design or dimensions of any character. Since the Series A alphabet is no longer acceptable for use in highway signs, it is not included in this publication. If the design of a particular letter or numeral in a given size is incompatible with the manufacturing process, minor modifications may be made.10Ltt TTPTTr n4im TTT TtLETTER & NUMERAL WIDTHS and SPACE between letters or numerals Te determine the poper SPACE between letter or numeels, bialn the code number frm feble or and tnter table VI for ther code munber tothe desied letter or smeel height oo i LETTER TO LETTER CODE NUMBER Fellawing Leter BEF, | 669, HK L asx, Mn BR, EW MOTH of LETTER Later baht a inches Preceding BRE ‘ ce 0 3 s s 5 8 NUMERAL Yo KUNERAL CODE NUME MOTH of NUMERAL Preceding 5, 236 Nomar bet 8 23 Be a 338 Eeeeee a MOTH of STROKE SPACE in inches measured horsontaly frm the a parlor ‘geal the following letter (umersl Heshe in ache ” 050 ead a7s 10 Tree ight edge ofthe paceding eter tothe Later or pone! height ’ on f io" a we" oe 0.60 os | 120 00 * 125 130 225 030 | 00 aso | 080LETTER & NUMERAL WIDTHS and SPACE between letters or numerals “Te detemine the proper SPACE between letters ot numerals, obtain the code nomber rom ‘ble or Hand enter table VI for thot code aumbet ta the desired letter of menerl height nu ay LETTER TO LETTER CODE NUMBER Fellowing Leer, WIDTH of LeTTER In inher 30 3a aes 430 a2 | 46 375 | 500 az | 3 NUMERAL TO NUMERAL CODE NUM WIDTH of NUMERALS Fellowing Nome is inh Preceding 5, 2,36 Nome! 85,0 WIDTH of STROKE SPACE in inches we lot edge aoe felling leer (nomerel Stroke Width inch A a cove NONBERTeter 8.0.6, mending | HOLL, MC, LETTER & NUMERAL WIDTHS and SPACE between letters or numerals code nomber fom ine numeral heght. LETTER TO LETTER CODE NUMBER Felling Letter WioTH of LETTER , ©.6,0, x ee x 8 c E 5 6 H 1 4 x t n N ° 6 @ R T " x z NUMERAL TO NUMERAL CODE NUM WIDTH of NUMERALS Fellowing Numetl In Inches ws, 2.3, 6, 39.0, Hof STROKE. ‘Stroke Width SPACE in inches massored horizontally fom the extreme right edge of the prced xtreme Inf adge ofthe flowing lterfumera) arLETTER & NUMERAL WIDTHS and SPACE between letters or numerals Te determine the proper SPACE between le table or I nd tr Fable Vor thot cede umber tothe sired letter or manera hight LETTER TO LETTER CODE NUMBER Following Ls WIOTH of LETTER Ry] ¢ i neh ude R, B.D, Later height Preceding |W 1K, = NUMERAL TO NUMERAL CODE LET} WIDTH of NUMERALS Felling Hemel marl bight Im inches Preceding 15, pmo 178 | 238 am | 638 am | eae sss | 738 am | oe am | 638 a | ae a | eae ta | S38 aar_| 6a TH of STROKE. SPACE in aces oper onal rm he tee ih ceding eter to the Stroke Width ooee |__is inches_ NUMBER sn 8 22" 0. 0.6 hos 2 14 248 18 in os Las 2.06 a og 1 155 30“To detemion the proper SPACE betwen | LETTER & NUMERAL WIDTHS and SPACE between letters or numerals ror mamerals,abain the code number fom Able {ort ond enter table Vi for het cade number tothe dsived letter ot namerl height. WIOTH of LETTER oo WIDTH af STROKE, SPACE in inches BEF, | 6.6.0, AT, Late height In inches Preceding | HK LL | Sx | HY, fa fi 7 : 7 7 Tener | WNP 8 Zz - jr re 2 2 4 a} aso | soa | 625 | 900 | nas | 1950 | 2025 1 2 2 a} se | aa | sso | 73a | oz | nio6 | 1659 2 2 3 ec | ae | ae | 55 | 738 | om | mas | iss 1 2 2 5 | se | ast | 550 | 735 | 922 | nos | tes 2 2 a e| a | am | a7 | ea | 797 | 956 | Mae 2 2 a F| a | 3% | 47 | sae | 797 | oss | lame 1 2 2 co] ae | «a | 53 nos | 1659 1 1 2 #] ae | ae | 53 11.06 | 1659 1 1 2 1 | 75 | os | 12 225 | 3.38 1 1 2 3 | 335 | 40 | «se ois | wa 2 2 a kK] ae | aa | 553 vite | 1659 2 2 4 C | 330 | am | 506 wor | 1519 1 1 2 wm] 42s | sa | 63 uazs | 19.12 1 1 2 Nn] ae | ca | 533 N06 | 1659 1 2 2 of az | sis | ow 238 | Te6 1 2 2 P| ae | an | sss vias | 1659 1 2 2 a| an | sts | ow naa | tess 1 2 2 r| 30 | as | ss 10s | 1659 1 2 2 S| a0 | «a | ss mos | 1659 2 2 4 Y | sie | am | soe won | 6.19 1 1 2 | ae) ae | 53 vias | 1659 2 2 4 van | sis | aie 1238 | tess 2 2 4 w| 4a | sz | soe aaa) 2081 2 2 3 x | 400 | S00 | 60 1200 | 18.00 2 | 2 4 y| 450 | se | 675 naso | 20.25 2 | 2 3 zi se | ca | so mig | 1659 [NUMERAL TO NUMERAL CODE LETTER WIOTH of NUMERALS Following Nuneral Nema beight i ches Preceding us, 2,3 47, ener as a 1 1 1 2 2 1 2 2 3 1 2 2 ‘ 2 2 4 5 1 2 2 ‘ 1 2 2 7 2 2 4 a 1 2 2 ° 1 2 2 ° 1 2 2section 2 STANDARD lower case ALPHABETS for Highway SignsSTANDARD lower case ALPHABETS for Highway Signs The Standard LOWERCASE Alphabet for Highway Signs has been prepared by the Bureau of Public Roads for the American Association of State Highway Officials. It is based on the research and development of the California Division of High- ways. The alphabet is the approved standard for directional signs on the Na= tional System of Interstate and Defense Highways, ‘The letters are printed in exact detail for two-inch letter height, having a nomi- nal loop height of one and one-half inches, These letters may be enlarged to the desired letter height with any conventional enlarging process such as: photo- graphic, shadowgraph or by manual transfer and the letters will remain in the Proper proportion, A one-quarter inch grid has been superimposed on the letters to facilitate the enlarging process. For example, to obtain six inch letters, en- large the grid squares to three-quarters of one inch, ‘The"Manual for Signing and Marking of the National System of interstate and Defense Highways" specifies that all names of places and highways on guide signs shall be in lowercase letters with initial capitals. The initial capital letters shall be one~ third higher than the nominal lowercase loop height. Also, the "Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways" states that lowercase letters are an equally acceptable alternate to capital letters for guide signs on other high- ways. It is recommended that the initial capitals and numerals used with these lower- case letters be Series E uppercase, but with the stroke width widened to ap- proximately one-fifth of the letter height. A spacing table is provided at the end of the lowercase alphabet series. The recommended dimension for space between any combination of letters may be obtained directly for most standard letter heights. This space is the distance measured horizontally between the extreme right edge of the preceding letter and the extreme left edge of the following letter. No part of these letters may be extended into this space. All letters having anarc at the top or bottom are extended slightly above or below the grid lines. This is in accord with accepted practice for rounded letters. If the design of a particular letter ina given size is incompatible with the manu- facturing process, minor modifications may be made.emer CYLMT or tt 4 —- 7 T T T iaed -t ss mx | se] ws] oon ox or) os | on ace | me] oo) efor lw | oex[ ox [ae] oelan)axlex|arlaslor cmfoclasfer] ‘am woes wt We dom mie HH oR Hm enna nr Bear ‘a1 Buymojfoy ou) 4026p yo] swore 041 pu seus] Buyporsid oy) Jo oBpe i461 ouiosixs oy usomieg hilowony out seeds e141 “AlDoup uorsuoWp a>0ds ays poss ‘uusnjo> 1yBI9y 291/] puD sa4.e| GuLmolfoy posisop out oF poes oud pun s9119} Sulporsid ays jo ous] yoiuezsioy ayi uo 404 “ssoua] Ueomieq s>0ds sudo aut autaorop Of ARVHdTV 3SV> Y3MO1 wOd a1aVL ONIDVES