Tourist Oriented Directional (TOD) Signs

TOD signs consist of a blue sign panel with white letters giving the name of a qualified tourist oriented business or activity, or a qualified historical or cultural feature, together with directional information.

TOD signs may be installed along non-interstate, rural highways, but not in urban areas.

Naturally, the signs are not only valuable to the motorist, but also to the businesses featured on the signs. While businesses may look at highway signs as a form of advertising or promotion, the signs are in fact classified as official traffic control devices and are regulated by Federal and State laws.

The Travel Information Council initiated this sign program in 1983 and was given permission by the Federal Highway Administration to try them on an experimental basis. Two other states also participated in the experimental stages from 1983-1988. In 1989, Oregon’s standards were adopted into the Federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and this program is now permitted for use by all states.