State Launches New Tourism Sign Program

SNOW HILL – A new state program could lead to additional guide and attraction signs throughout Worcester County.

On Tuesday, officials from Maryland’s State Highway Administration (SHA) outlined the new Tourist Area and Corridor Signing program for the Worcester County Commissioners. The new program is being implemented by SHA throughout the state.

“It’s going to provide signage to more attractions than have been allowed in the past,” said SHA representative Stephen Hollie. “We’re basically trying to give directions to tourists.”

He said the new sign program was primarily designed to provide signs for non-retail attractions that have recreational, cultural and historic qualities. The highway administration will pay for the signs throughout the state as long as local jurisdictions agree to maintain them when they’re not on state roads. Hollie said that while traditional wayfinding signs often led to “chaos,” the SHA program would set up the signs regionally to guide motorists to particular corridors.

“This program is meant to eliminate existing sign programs,” Hollie said.

He said attractions eligible to participate in the program would have to be open to random daily visitation and would have to appeal to visitors from outside the area. They also must be open at least 30 hours and meet a number of other requirements.

Those interested in seeking signs for their attractions have until March to apply to SHA. After an eligibility committee determines which attractions will receive signs, a county-wide concept plan will be developed. Final plans, Hollie said, should be in place by 2017.

Hollie said in spite of the requirements attractions had to meet to become subjects of signs, the new program was less restrictive than the sign system SHA used in the past.

“There’s an increased demand for tourism signs and this new program does accommodate a larger population of signs,” he said.

He told the commissioners that statewide 10 counties had already agreed to participate in the new program.

Lisa Challenger, Worcester County’s director of tourism, said she thought the program could prove beneficial. She said in Pocomoke, in particular, signs along Route 113 could direct drivers to attractions such as the Delmarva Discovery Center and the Sturgis One Room School Museum.

The commissioners voted 5-0 to endorse the program.