2F. Toll Road Signs¶
Chapter 2F. TOLL ROAD SIGNS¶
§2F.05 Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) Account-Only Regulatory Sign and Plaque¶
Standard
In any route sign assembly providing directions to a toll facility, or to a tolled segment of a highway, where electronic toll collection (ETC) is the only payment method accepted and all vehicles are required to have a registered ETC account, the ETC Account-Only (R3-31) sign (see Figure 2F-3) shall be mounted directly below the route sign of the numbered or named toll facility. The R3-31 sign shall have a white border and purple background and incorporate the pictograph adopted by the toll facility’s ETC payment system and the word ONLY in black letters on a white panel set on the purple background of the sign.
Option
02. The NO CASH (R3-32P) plaque (see Figure 2F-3) with a black legend and border on a white background may be mounted directly below the R3-31 sign in a Directional or other sign assembly.
Note: The ETC pictograph shown is an example only. The pictograph for the toll facility’s adopted ETC system shall be used. Example route sign assembly Section 2F.06
01. Pay Toll and Take Ticket Advance Warning Signs (W9-6 and W9-6e)
Standard
The Pay Toll (W9-6) and Take Ticket (W9-6e) Advance Warning signs shall display the distance to the toll plaza and, except for toll-ticket facilities, the toll for passenger or 2-axle vehicles (see Figure 2F-4). Where the toll for passenger or 2-axle vehicles is variable by time of day, a changeable message element shall be incorporated into the W9-6 sign to display the toll in effect.
Guidance
02. The Pay Toll Advance Warning (W9-6) sign should be installed at approximately 1 mile and ½ mile in advance of mainline toll plazas at which some or all lanes are required to come to a stop to pay a toll (see Sections 2F.14 and 2F.15).
03. The Take Ticket Advance Warning (W9-6e) sign should be installed at approximately 1 mile and ½ mile in advance of mainline toll plazas at which some or all lanes are required to come to a stop to take a toll ticket (see Sections 2F.14 and 2F.15). (See FHWA Known Errors 01/24/2025)
04. The Pay Toll and Take Ticket Advance Warning signs should be mounted overhead.
Option
If there is insufficient space for the W9-6 or W9-6e sign at the 1-mile or ½-mile advance location, the Pay Toll or Take Ticket Advance Warning (W9-6bP or W9-6gP) plaque (see Section 2F.07) may be installed at those advance locations above the appropriate guide sign(s) that relate to toll payment types.
06. An additional W9-6 or W9-6e sign may be installed approximately 2 miles in advance of a mainline toll plaza. This sign may be either mounted overhead or post-mounted.
07. If the visibility of a ramp toll plaza at which some or all lanes are required to come to a stop to pay a toll or take a ticket is limited, the W9-6 or W9-6e sign may also be installed in advance of the ramp toll plaza.
05. Section 2F.07
01. Pay Toll and Take Ticket Advance Warning Plaques (W9-6bP, W9-6dP, and W9-6gP)
Option
The Pay Toll or Take Ticket Advance Warning (W9-6bP and W9-6gP) plaques (see Figure 2F-4) may be installed above the appropriate guide sign(s) relating to toll payment types at the 1-mile and/or ½-mile advance locations on the approach to a toll plaza if there is insufficient space for the W9-6 or W9-6e sign (see Section 2F.06) at those advance locations.
Standard
02. The W9-6bP and W9-6gP plaques shall display the distance to the toll plaza and, except for tollticket facilities, the toll for passenger or 2-axle vehicles. Where the toll for passenger or 2-axle vehicles is variable by time of day, a changeable message element shall be incorporated into the W9-6bP plaque to display the toll in effect.
Option
The distance to the toll plaza may be omitted from the W9-6bP and W9-6gP plaques if the distance is displayed on the guide sign that the plaque accompanies.
04. The Pay Toll (W9-6dP) plaque may be used if the toll information is displayed on the guide sign that the plaque accompanies.
05. The toll for passenger or 2-axle vehicles may be omitted from the W9-6bP plaque if the toll information is displayed on the guide sign that the plaque accompanies.
Signs shown: W9-6, W9-6a, W9-6bP, W9-6cP, W9-6dP, W9-6e, W9-6f, W9-6gP, W9-6hP, W16-16P, W16-16aP
§2F.08 Stop Ahead Pay Toll and Stop Ahead Take Ticket Warning Signs (W9-6a and W9-6f) (See FHWA Known Errors 01/24/2025)¶
Standard
01. The Stop Ahead Pay Toll (W9-6a) warning sign (see Figure 2F-4) shall display the toll for passenger or 2-axle vehicles. Where the toll for passenger or 2-axle vehicles is variable by time of day, a changeable message element shall be incorporated into the W9-6a sign to display the toll in effect.
Guidance
02. The Stop Ahead Pay Toll (W9-6a) sign should be installed downstream from the W9-6 sign that is ½ mile in advance of a mainline toll plaza where some or all of the lanes are required to come to a stop to pay a toll (see Sections 2F.14 and 2F.15).
03. The Stop Ahead Take Ticket (W9-6f) warning sign (see Figure 2F-4) should be installed downstream from the W9-6e sign that is ½ mile in advance of a mainline toll plaza where some or all of the lanes are required to come to a stop to take a toll ticket (see Sections 2F.14 and 2F.15). (See FHWA Known Errors 01/24/2025)
04. The W9-6a and W9-6f signs should be mounted overhead. The location of the overhead sign should coincide with the approximate location where the mainline lanes begin to widen on the approach to the toll plaza lanes.
05. Where open-road tolling is used in addition to a toll plaza at a particular location, the W9-6a or W9-6f sign should be located such that the message is clearly related to the lanes that access the toll plaza and not to the open-road tolling lanes.
Option
06. If there is insufficient space for the W9-6a or W9-6f sign at the recommended location, the Stop Ahead Pay Toll (W9-6cP) or the Stop Ahead Take Ticket (W9-6hP) plaque (see Section 2F.09) may be installed at that location above the appropriate guide sign that relates to toll payment types.
07. If the visibility of a ramp toll plaza at which some or all lanes are required to come to a stop to pay a toll or take a ticket is limited, the W9-6a or W9-6f sign may also be installed in advance of the ramp toll plaza.
§2F.09 Stop Ahead Pay Toll and Stop Ahead Take Ticket Warning Plaques (W9-6cP and W9-6hP) (See FHWA Known Errors 01/24/2025)¶
Option
01. The Stop Ahead Pay Toll (W9-6cP) warning plaque (see Figure 2F-4) may be installed above the appropriate guide sign at the location specified for the Stop Ahead Pay Toll (W9-6a) sign (see Section 2F.08) if there is insufficient space for the W9-6a sign at that location and the toll information is displayed on the guide sign that the plaque accompanies.
02. The Stop Ahead Take Ticket (W9-6hP) warning plaque (see Figure 2F-4) may be installed above the appropriate guide sign at the location specified for the Take Ticket (W9-6f) sign (see Section 2F.08) if there is insufficient space for the W9-6f sign at that location. (See FHWA Known Errors 01/24/2025) Section 2F.10 LAST EXIT BEFORE TOLL (W16-16P or W16-16aP) and FREE EXIT (W90-6PT) Warning Plaques
Guidance
01. The LAST EXIT BEFORE TOLL (W16-16P or W16-16aP) warning plaque (see Figure 2F-4) should be used to notify road users of the last exit from a highway before it becomes a facility on which toll payments are required. The plaque should be installed above the appropriate guide signs for the exit (see Sections 2E.23 and 2E.25), but below the Exit Number or LEFT plaque if used. The FREE EXIT (W90-6PT) plaque (see Figure 2F-4) should be used to notify road users of an exit to a non-tolled roadway.
§2F.10A TOLL Route Signs (M90 Series) and Auxiliary Plaques (M3-1P through M3-4P and M6 Series)¶
Guidance
TOLL Route (M90 series) signs should be used on guide signs or route sign assemblies as necessary for guidance on toll roads and approaches to toll roads. The TOLL Route sign designs should be as shown in Figure 2F-4A and detailed in the “Standard Highway Sign Designs for Texas” publication (see Section 1A.05).
02. Cardinal direction auxiliary plaques (M3-1P through M3-4P) and directional arrow auxiliary plaques (M6 series) used for route sign assemblies on U.S. highways should have a black legend
01. and border on a white background. For all other highways, including Interstates, auxiliary plaques should have a white legend and border on a blue background (see Figure 2F-4A).
Section 2F.11 TOLL Warning Plaque (W16-17P)
Standard
01. The TOLL (W16-17P) warning plaque (see Figure 2F-3) shall have a black legend and border on a yellow background and shall be mounted directly above the route sign of a numbered toll highway or, if used, above the cardinal direction and alternative route auxiliary signs, in any route sign assembly providing direction to a toll highway or to a segment of a highway on which the payment of a toll is required. Section 2F.12 Toll Facility and Toll Plaza Guide Signs – General
Support
Toll plazas are used on many toll highways, bridges, and tunnels for collection of tolls from road users. Electronic toll collection and/or open-road tolling might also be used on such facilities, either in addition to or in place of collecting toll payments at toll plazas.
02. Chapter 2G contains information regarding signs for preferential and managed lanes that are applicable to toll roads.
03. Chapter 3E contains information regarding pavement markings for certain toll plaza applications.
Standard
04. Directional assemblies for entrances to a toll highway, or to a road leading directly to a toll highway with no opportunity to exit before paying or being charged a toll, shall clearly indicate that the facility is a toll facility. Except where the State Toll Route sign (see Paragraph 9 of this Section) is used, the TOLL (W16-17P) warning plaque (see Section 2F.11) shall be used above the route sign of a numbered toll facility in any route sign assembly that provides directions to the toll route from another highway (see Figure 2F-3).
05. Except where the State Toll Route sign (see Paragraph 8 of this Section) is used and on Exit Gore signs or destination guide (D1 series) signs, a rectangular panel with the black legend TOLL on a yellow background shall be incorporated into the guide signs leading road users to a tolled highway. Except for signs leading to an ETC Account-Only toll highway, if a TOLL Route sign is used on a guide sign, a TOLL panel (W90-11T) shall be used (see Figures 2F-6 through 2F-8).
07. Guide signs for toll highways, toll plazas, and tolled or priced managed lanes (see Chapter 2G) shall have white legends and borders on green backgrounds, except as specifically provided by Sections 2F.12 through 2F.16.
Option
A State Toll Route sign (see Paragraph 9 of this Section) may be used in lieu of the State Route (M1-5) sign in combination with the TOLL (W16-17P) warning plaque or the TOLL panel (see Paragraphs 11 and 12 of this Section).
Standard
08. A State Toll Route sign shall incorporate into its design the word TOLL using the same letter height, legend, background colors, and overall plaque dimensions specified for the W16-17P warning plaque.
09. The Interstate, Off-Interstate, and U.S. Route signs shall not be modified for tolled facilities except as provided in Section 2F.10A.
Option
10. Where conditions do not accommodate separate signs, or where it is important to associate a particular regulatory or warning message with specific guidance information, regulatory and/or warning messages may be combined with guide signs for toll plazas using plaques, header panels, or rectangular regulatory or warning panels incorporated within the guide signs, as long as the proper legend and background colors are preserved.
Standard
11. When regulatory messages are incorporated within a guide sign, they shall be on a rectangular panel with a black legend on a white background. When warning messages are incorporated within a guide sign, they shall be on a rectangular panel with a black legend on a yellow background.
Guidance
12. Guide signs for toll plazas should be designed in accordance with the general principles of guide signs and the specific provisions of Chapter 2E.
13. Signs for toll plazas should systematically provide road users with advance and toll plaza lane-specific information regarding:
- A. The amount of the toll, the types of payment accepted, and the type(s) of registered ETC accounts accepted for payment;
- B. Which lane or lanes are required or allowed to be used for each available payment type; and
- C. Restrictions on the use of a toll plaza lane or lanes by certain types of vehicles (such as cars only or no trucks).
Standard
14. Signs for attended lanes at toll plazas shall incorporate the Toll Collector (M4-17) symbol panel (see Figure 2F-9).
Option
15. Signs for attended lanes at toll plazas may also display word legends, such as FULL SERVICE, CASH, CHANGE, or RECEIPTS (see Figure 2F-9), to supplement the required symbol panel when lanes have different services available through them.
Standard
16. Signs for Exact Change lanes at toll plazas shall incorporate the Exact Change (M4-18) symbol panel and, except for ticketed systems, display the amount of the toll for passenger vehicles (see Figure 2F-9).
Option
17. Signs for Exact Change lanes at toll plazas may include an appropriate word legend, such as EXACT CHANGE (see Figure 2F-9), to supplement the required symbol panel.
Standard
18. When used, the M4-17 and M4-18 symbol panels shall be used only as panels within guide signs. The M4-17 and M4-18 symbols or panels shall not be used as an independent sign or within a sign assembly.
19. If only vehicles with registered ETC accounts are allowed to use a toll plaza lane, the signs for such lanes shall incorporate the pictograph adopted by the toll facility’s ETC payment system and the regulatory message ONLY (see Figures 2F-1 and 2F-8 through 2F-11). The use, size, and placement of the ETC pictograph shall comply with the provisions of Sections 2F.02 and 2F.03.
20. An Overhead Arrow-per-Lane guide sign (see Figure 2F-10) shall be used in advance of a location where the mainline lanes split to separate traffic entering Open-Road ETC lanes from lanes entering a toll plaza where other methods of payment are accepted and an option lane is provided at the split (see Figure 2F-11). An Overhead Arrow-per-Lane guide sign shall not be used if there is no option lane at the split.
Option
21. The ETC payment system’s pictograph, without a purple underlay or purple header panel, may be used on signs for Exact Change or attended lanes at toll plazas to indicate that vehicles with registered ETC accounts may also use those lanes. Section 2F.13
02. Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) System Signs – General
Support
Figure 2F-8 shows examples of guide signs for entrances to various types of toll highways and for ETC system Account-Only entrances to non-toll highways.
Standard
Signing for entrances to toll highways where an ETC system is employed only through license plate character recognition such that road users are not required to establish a toll account or register their vehicle equipment shall comply with the provisions of Paragraphs 4 and 6 of Section 2F.12.
Support
03. Figure 2F-12 shows examples of guide signs for the entrance to a toll highway on which tolls are collected electronically only and registration in a toll-account program is not required.
Standard
If only vehicles with registered ETC system accounts are allowed to use a toll highway, the guide signs for entrances to such facilities shall incorporate the pictograph adopted by the toll facility’s ETC system payment system and the regulatory message ONLY (see Figures 2F-1 and 2F-8 through 2F-12). The use, size, and placement of the ETC system pictograph and the use and color of the background and underlay panel shall comply with the provisions of Sections 2F.02 and 2F.03.
Support
05. Sections 2F.05, 2F.11, and 2F.17 contain additional provisions regarding signs for toll highways that only accept ETC system payments. Sections 2G.16 through 2G.19 contain additional provisions regarding signs for priced managed lanes that only accept ETC system payments.
07. Figure 2F-13 shows an example of guide signs for alternative toll and non-toll ramp connections to a non-toll highway (see Section 2F.18).
08. Many different ETC payment systems are used by the various toll facility operators. Some of these systems accept payment from other systems’ accounts.
Option
Where a facility will accept payments from other systems’ accounts in addition to its primary ETC-account payment system(s), such information may be displayed on a separate information sign near the entrances to such a facility or in advance of a toll plaza or open-road tolling lanes, as space allows between primary signs.
Signs shown: W16-17P, M3-1P, M90-1T, M6-1P, M3-3P, M6-3P, M2-1P
Signs shown: W16-17P, M3-1P, M90-1T, W90-11T, M6-1P, M5-1P, M3-3P, M6-3P, M2-1P
(mounted overhead) (optional) (optional) (mounted overhead) (optional) (optional)
Signs shown: W90-11T
connection provided in the vicinity) (an alternate non-toll entrance is provided in the vicinity) Note: The ETC pictographs shown are examples only. The pictograph for the toll facility’s adopted ETC system shall be used.
Note: The ETC pictograph that is shown is only an example. The pictograph for the toll facility’s adopted ETC system shall be used.
(see the “Standard Highway Sign Designs for Texas” publication for details) Note: The ETC pictograph that is shown is only an example. The pictograph for the toll facility’s adopted ETC system shall be used.
Signs shown: W12-1
800 ft MIN. Beginning of lane diverge Notes:
- 1. Additional advance guide signs are not shown.
- 2. The ETC pictograph that is shown is only an example. The pictograph for the toll facility’s adopted ETC system shall be used. Match Line A Match Line B
on which Tolls are Collected Electronically Only (Sheet 1 of 3) A – All tolls are billed through a license plate character recognition system Note: Registration in an ETC toll account or use of an ETC device is not part of the system. 1/2 mile 800 ft 1/2 mile 800 ft For managed toll highways only (see Chapter 2G) Optional if toll rates sign is not used Optional 800 ft
on which Tolls are Collected Electronically Only (Sheet 2 of 3) B – Registration in an ETC account program is required for using the tollway Notes:
- 1. Tolls are processed though an ETC device and/or license plate recognition for vehicles registered in the ETC program.
- 2. The ETC pictographs shown are only examples. The pictograph for the toll facility’s adopted ETC system shall be used. 1/2 mile 800 ft MIN. 1/2 mile For managed toll highways only (see Chapter 2G) 800 ft MIN.
on which Tolls are Collected Electronically Only (Sheet 3 of 3) C – Tolls are billed through either a license plate character recognition system or an ETC account device Notes:
- 1. Registration in an ETC account is not required. Vehicles registered in a toll account program may receive a discounted toll rate.
- 2. The ETC pictographs shown are only examples. The pictograph for the toll facility’s adopted ETC system shall be used. 1/2 mile Show only non-discounted rates 800 ft MIN. For managed toll highways only (see Chapter 2G) 1/2 mile
Note: The ETC pictographs shown are only examples. The pictograph for the toll facility’s adopted ETC system shall be used.
Figure 2F-13TA. Non-Toll Roadway Converts to Toll Roadway
Signs shown: R90-3T, R90-1T
Section 2F.14 Advance Signs for Conventional Toll Plazas
Guidance
01. For conventional toll plazas (those without a divergence onto a separate alignment from mainline-aligned open-road tolling or ETC-Only lanes), one or more sets of overhead advance guide signs complying with the provisions of this Section should be provided. The advance guide signs for multi-lane toll plazas should provide information regarding which lanes to use for all of the toll payment methods accepted at the toll plaza. These signs should include toll plaza lane numbers (if used), or action messages or lane-use information such as LEFT LANE(S), CENTER LANE(S), RIGHT LANE(S), or down arrows over the approximate center of each applicable lane. These signs should also incorporate regulatory messages indicating any restrictions or prohibitions on the use of the lanes associated with the various types of payment methods by certain types of vehicles. For mainline toll plazas, these signs should be at least ½ mile in advance of the toll plaza, and farther if practical.
02. Additional guide signs with lane information for the toll payment types should be provided between approximately ¼ mile and 800 feet in advance of the toll plaza at a location that avoids or minimizes obstruction of toll plaza canopy signs (see Section 2F.16) and lane-use control signals.
03. The number, mounting, and/or spacing of sets of advance signs for approaches to toll plazas on ramps, toll bridges, or tunnels, to accommodate a limited distance to the plaza from an intersection or from the start of the approach road to the bridge or tunnel, should be based on an engineering study or engineering judgment.
Support
Figure 2F-14 shows examples of advance signs for a conventional toll plaza.
(no automatic or electronic collection equipment) B – Exact change and attended toll lanes 114x66 W9-6a 96x66
§2F.15 Advance Signs for Toll Plazas on Diverging Alignments from Open-Road ETC Account-Only Lanes¶
Support
01. Open-Road ETC lanes are sometimes located on the normal mainline alignment while the lanes for other toll payment methods are located at a toll plaza on a separate alignment (see Figure 2F-15). Since road users paying cash tolls must diverge from the mainline alignment, similar to a movement for an exit, it is important that the guide signs in advance of and at the point of divergence clearly indicate the required lane use and/or movements.
Guidance
For toll plazas located on a separate alignment that diverges from mainline-aligned Open-Road ETC lanes where vehicles are required to have a registered ETC account to use the Open-Road Tolling lanes, overhead advance signs should be provided at approximately 1 mile and ½ mile in advance of the divergence point. Both the 1-mile and ½-mile advance signs should include:
- A. The ETC (pictograph) Account-Only guide sign (see Figures 2F-9 and 2F-15) with a down arrow over the approximate center of each lane that will become an Open-Road ETC lane;
- B. For the lane or lanes which will diverge to a toll plaza, guide signs conforming to the provisions of Section 2F.12, indicating which lane or lanes will diverge to the toll plaza for the various cash toll payment methods; and
- C. Regulatory signs, plaques, or panels within the guide signs, indicating any restrictions or prohibitions of certain types of vehicles from toll plaza lanes associated with the various types of payment methods.
03. At or near the theoretical gore of the divergence point, an additional set of overhead guide signs should be provided and should include:
- A. The ETC (pictograph) Account-Only guide sign (see Figures 2F-9 and 2F-15) with a down arrow over the approximate center of each Open-Road ETC lane;
- B. Guide signs conforming to the provisions of Section 2F.12 and 2F.13, with diagonally upward-pointing directional arrow(s) over the approximate center of each lane indicating the direction of the divergence, and providing lane information for all types of payment methods accepted at the toll plaza; and
- C. Regulatory signs, plaques, or panels within the guide signs, indicating any restrictions or prohibitions on the use of the toll plaza lanes associated with the various types of payment methods by certain types of vehicles.
04. Approximately 800 feet in advance of the toll plaza at a location that avoids or minimizes any obstruction of the toll plaza canopy signs (see Section 2F.16) and lane-use control signals, an additional set of overhead advance signs with lane information for the toll payment types should be provided.
Standard
05. The use of down and directional arrows on the signs at the locations described in Paragraphs 2 through 4 of this Section shall comply with the provisions of Section 2D.08.
Support
Figure 2F-15 shows an example of advance signs for toll plazas on a diverging alignment from Open-Road ETC Account-Only Lanes.
07. Section 4R.02 contains information regarding the use of lane-use control signals for Open-Road ETC lanes for temporary lane closure purposes.
Note: The ETC pictograph that is shown is only an example. The pictograph for the toll facility’s adopted ETC system shall be used.
Signs shown: R91-5T
(if applicable) R90-2bT Section 2F.16 Toll Plaza Canopy Signs
Standard
01. A sign complying with the provisions of Section 2F.12 shall be provided above the approximate center of each lane that is not an Open-Road ETC lane, mounted on or suspended from the toll plaza canopy, or on a separate structure immediately in advance of the plaza located such that each sign is clearly related to an individual toll lane, indicating the payment type(s) accepted in the lane and any restrictions or prohibitions of certain types of vehicles that apply to the lane. Except for toll-ticket systems, the toll for passenger or 2-axle vehicles shall be included on the canopy sign or on a separate sign mounted on the upstream side of the tollbooth.
02. The background color of a canopy sign for an ETC Account-Only toll plaza lane shall be purple (see Figure 2F-16).
Option
03. Where vehicles are required to have a registered ETC account to use the lane, one or two flashing yellow beacons (see Section 4R.03) may supplement a canopy sign over an ETC Account-Only lane to call special attention to the location of the ETC Account-Only lane within the plaza.
04. The canopy sign for an ETC Account-Only toll plaza lane in which a regulatory speed limit is not posted and in which vehicles are not required to stop may display an advisory speed within a horizontal rectangular panel with a black legend and yellow background within the bottom portion of the canopy sign.
Standard
05. Flashing beacons supplementing a canopy sign over an ETC Account-Only lane shall be mounted directly above or alongside the sign in a manner that is separated from any lane-use control signals for that lane (see Figure 2F-16).
06. For multi-lane toll plazas, lane-use control signals (see Section 4R.02) shall be provided above the approximate center of each toll plaza lane that is not an Open-Road ETC lane to indicate the open or closed status of each lane. Lane-use control signals shall not be used to call attention to a lane for a specific toll payment type such as ETC Account-Only lanes.
Support
Part 6 contains information regarding the closing of a lane for temporary traffic control purposes.
08. Figure 2F-16 shows examples of toll plaza canopy signs.
Optional flashing yellow beacons that are separated from any lane-use control signals for the lane (see Section 2F.16) The ETC pictographs that are shown are only examples. The pictograph for the toll facility’s adopted ETC system shall be used. Section 2F.17 Guide Signs for Entrances to Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) Only Facilities
Support
01. Some toll highways, bridges, and tunnels are restricted to use only by vehicles with a specific registered ETC account, referred to as ETC Account-Only facilities. Other facilities collect tolls electronically using license plate character recognition in which the registered vehicle owner is then billed by postal mail and registration in an ETC account program is not required but could be an optional payment method. These facilities are commonly referred to as All-Electronic Tolling (AET) or Cashless Tolling.
Standard
Guide signs for facilities that only collect tolls electronically shall comply with the applicable provisions of Chapter 2E and Section 2F.13.
03. Guide signs for the entrance ramps to ETC Account-Only facilities shall incorporate the pictograph of the toll facility’s primary ETC payment system and the word ONLY in a header panel or plaque designed in accordance with the provisions of Section 2F.13 (see Figure 2F-8).
Option
A separate information sign displaying the route number, the TOLL warning panel (see Section 2F.11), and the legend NO CASH may be located within the sequence of the Advance guide signs on the approach to the entrance to an ETC Account-Only or AET facility. (See FHWA Known Errors 01/24/2025)
05. Exit Gore signs for entrance ramps to such ETC Account-Only facilities may incorporate the pictograph of the toll facility’s ETC payment system and the word ONLY in a header panel or plaque designed in accordance with the provisions of Section 2F.13 (see Figure 2F-13 and Drawing B in Figure 2F-12).
06. If more than one ETC account program is accepted for toll payments on an ETC Account-Only facility, the additional accepted ETC account program pictographs may be displayed on a separate informational guide sign with the legend, ACCEPTED, within the sequence of advance guide signs for the entrance to the facility.
Support
Section 2F.05 contains information regarding ETC Account-Only signs and plaques for use with route signs in route sign assemblies.
Standard
08. Where vehicles are not required to have a registered ETC account to use an ETC-Only facility, guide signs for the facility shall comply with the applicable provisions of Chapter 2E and specifically with the applicable provisions of Section 2F.13.
09. Advance and Exit Direction guide signs for the entrances to facilities that do not require registration in an ETC toll account program shall not display a pictograph of an accepted ETC payment system or use purple as a background color on any portion of the signs.
10. Except as described in Paragraphs 11 and 12 of this Section, information on accepted toll payment methods for a facility that does not require registration in an ETC toll account program shall only be provided on a separate informational guide sign, if used, that displays one of the following legends (see Drawing C in Figure 2F-12):
- A. PAY BY MAIL ONLY, if there is no alternative payment method; or
- B. PAY BY MAIL OR [ETC Account Pictograph], if the facility also accepts payments from registered users of an ETC account program.
Option
11. Pictograph(s) of accepted ETC payment system(s) may be displayed as plaques and used with advance guide and exit direction signs leading to a tolled facility that does not require vehicles to have a registered ETC account.
Standard
12. If pictograph(s) of accepted ETC payment system(s) are displayed with a guide sign leading to a tolled facility that does not require vehicles to have a registered ETC account, they shall be displayed only in combination with a Pay By Mail plaque (see Figure 2F-1A).
Option
13. If there is more than one ETC toll account program accepted, all ETC account program pictographs of the accepted ETC accounts may be displayed on the separate informational guide sign below the PAY BY MAIL OR legend. A plaque with the legend NO CASH may be added below the signs described in Paragraph 10 of this Section.
Guidance
14. The signs described in Paragraph 10 of this Section should be located within the sequence of Advance Guide signs for the entrance to the facility and/or at a location along the facility itself (see Drawing C in Figure 2F-12).
Option
15. If the ETC-Only facility also accepts payments from multiple ETC account programs, but does not require registration in the primary ETC account program associated with the facility in order to use the facility, then the pictographs of the other accepted ETC account programs may be displayed on the separate information sign beneath the legend PAY BY MAIL and the word OR.
16. If, in addition to a toll, a nominal surcharge (not a fine, penalty, or violation) is assessed road users not registered in the toll account program, or registered toll account users are assessed a discounted toll, such information may be displayed on a separate information sign on the approach to the entrance to the facility. Section 2F.18
01. Guide Signs for ETC-Only Entrance Ramps to Non-Toll Highways
Support
In some cases, access to or from a non-toll route might be provided by a ramp on which a toll is charged in order to manage congestion, limit access, or for other reasons. The toll ramp might be provided as an alternative to or in lieu of a ramp providing similar access without charging a toll. Figures 2F-8 and 2F-13 show examples of guide signs for a ramp on which a toll is charged to enter a non-toll route.
Standard
02. Guide signs for ETC-Only Entrance Ramps to non-toll highways shall comply with the provisions of Section 2F.17.
Option
A NO TOLL panel with a black legend and a yellow background may be included on the top section of the Exit Gore sign for an exit that provides access to the facility without charging a toll. (See FHWA Known Errors 01/24/2025) Section 2F.19
01. ETC Account Program Information Signs
Standard
Except as provided in Paragraph 2 of this Section, signs that inform road users of telephone numbers, Internet addresses, including domain names and uniform resource locators (URLs), or e-mail addresses for enrolling in an ETC account program of a toll facility or managed lane, obtaining an ETC transponder, and/or obtaining ETC account program information shall only be installed in rest areas, parking areas, or similar roadside facilities where the signs are viewed only by pedestrians or occupants of parked vehicles.
Option
02. ETC account program information signs displaying telephone numbers that have no more than four characters may be installed on roadways in locations where they will not obscure the road user’s view of higher priority traffic control devices and that are removed from key decision points where the road user’s view is more appropriately focused on other traffic control devices, roadway geometry, or traffic conditions, including exit and entrance ramps, intersections, toll plazas, temporary traffic control zones, and areas of limited sight distance.