What is the lettering height and spacing for a Political Boundary sign (NYI12-2)?
The sizes for the signs in the NYS Supplement to the MUTCD are shown along with a drawing in the appendix (SIGN DRAWING SD-G5 for the Political Boundary signs). The table with the drawing gives the letter heights, but not always the spacing between the lines. The dimensions vary depending upon the text, but there are a few rules that should be followed. The details can be found in the Standard Highway Signs and Markings Book which is available online. Be sure to check out the 2012 Supplement for signs with mixed-case lettering such as the Political Boundary signs.
Here is a summary of the rules for signs such as the Political Boundary signs with the most common dimension given
- Lettering height should be 6 inches for speeds above 30 mph. The speed should be the approach speed so even if the sign is in a village or hamlet with a lower speed, the typical lettering height is still 6 inches.
- The margin around the lettering should be approximately the height of the lettering.
- Interline spacing should be at least ¾ the height of the lettering but may need to be increased slightly for legibility
- Sign height is fixed by the NYS Supplement for the NYI2 signs. If a sign height is not listed, the overall height should be rounded up to the closest 6-inch increment.
- Sign width is fine if the margins are at least 4 ½ inches. Margins that are too big look as dumb as margins that are too small.
- The corner radius is near 1/8 the smaller overall dimension, but for most political boundaries, the height can be used. Typically rounding the closest ½ inch increment is fine.
Most common measurements for political boundary signs
Rule and the Most Common Measurement
- Lettering Height - 6 inches
- Margin around the lettering - 6 inches
- Interline Spacing - 4.5 inches
- Sign Height - 30 inches for 2 line sign (municipal boundaries) and 18 inches for 1 line signs (hamlets)
- Corner Radius - 3.5 for 30-inch heights and 2.5 for 18-inch height signs
Most guide and information signs use these same rules. The only exception is street name signs which allow the margins around the lettering to be ½ the letter height. This makes the most common street name signs 12 inches in height (6-inch letters) for speeds above 30 mph.
Thank you to Sally Olsen from NYSDOT for help with this Quick Answer.
Resources
Standard Highway Signs and Markings Book
Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).
NYSDOT
New York State Supplement to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways (2009 Edition).(pdf)
NYSDOT