Section 17: Street-Named Highways
Introduction
Street-named highways bear names that only appear on the cross
streets or intersecting highways. These commonly appear as street
signs mounted at intersection corners or on traffic signal mast arms.
However, when a freeway or expressway crosses a street-named highway,
the name may appear on guide signs directing motorists to the street-named
highway. These street names never appear on or are visible to the
street-named highway itself.
Legal Basis for Naming
Texas Transportation Code,
contains "General Provisions Relating to Municipal Streets."
Sections 311.001-003 grant municipalities control over their streets.
This control extends to assigning street names to highways within
their jurisdiction.
Counties are not allowed to “street
name” numbered highways.
The Texas Department of Transportation
(TxDOT) is specifically prohibited from naming or otherwise designating
a highway, street, or bridge with any name or symbol other than the
regular highway number.
Records Management
Street-named highways are not tracked by the TxDOT Traffic
Operations Division (TRF). Each district should keep track of street-named
highways within its boundaries.
Designation by a City
A city may assign a street name to a portion of highway within its limits. Counties may not assign street names to numbered highways.
The process by which a city normally names a portion of a highway within its limits with a street name is as follows:
Step | Responsible Party | Action |
|---|---|---|
1 | City | Enacts a resolution or ordinance naming the highway with a street name and sends the TxDOT district office a letter of notification and a copy of the official document. If more than one jurisdiction is involved, then each jurisdiction must provide a notification letter and copy of the official document. |
2 | District Office | Sends the document to TRF-Traffic Engineering Section (TE) for review. |
3 | TRF | Reviews the name for possible problems. |
4 | District Office | May change out guide signs on crossing freeways, expressways, etc. in accordance with payment conditions outlined following this table and after the execution of any necessary agreement. For details on signing see "Signing Practices" later in this section. |
Payment for Street-Named Signs
The city is responsible for all costs associated with street-named
signs including those along advanced overhead pole structures, traffic
signals and all guide signs or structures along intersecting freeways
and expressways. Modifications under this chapter can be completed
by the city under the existing Municipal Maintenance Agreement (MMA)
with TxDOT.
Signing Practices
Details for freeway and expressway guide signing for street-named highways are shown in Figures 7-8 through 7-10.
Crossing Street Names on Bridges.
On freeways and expressways in large urban areas, the crossing street name may appear on the crossing roadway bridge. This practice is allowed to assist motorists in using maps. These signs are usually a little smaller than the vertical clearance signs on the bridges and located so they won't interfere with the vertical clearance signs. These are not guide signs, but simply street signs mounted on bridges and paid for, installed, and maintained by TxDOT.If a city initiated street name change requires existing signs to be modified, the city will be responsible for all costs.
Figure 7-8. Typical signing on an expressway or freeway for an intersected highway route that is a named city street (For information on oversize street named signs at intersections, see Section 3 of this chapter.)
Figure 7-9. Special case signing on an expressway or freeway for an intersected highway route that is a named city street
Figure 7-10. Street signs on city street for named freeway route
Street named signs are usually the city’s responsibility under a standard maintenance agreement.