Signing

Specific Information Signs (SIS)

The SIS logo program is designed to direct motorists to services located up to five miles from Interstate highways, Road Sign - Foodfreeways, and conventional highways designated by the legislature as of May 8, 1990, as SIS highways. The program is designed to be self funded without any state or federal support.

SIS may only include the following categories of motorist services AND meet the following standards for the respective category.

  • Gasoline
    • Must have vehicle services including fuel, oil and water. Provide restroom facilities, drinking water, and a public telephone. Be in continuous operation for at least 16 hours a day, seven days per week for freeways and expressways. Be in continuous operation for at least 12 hours a day, seven days per week for other highways, provided automotive fuel is available under the emergency fuel allocation program.
  • Food
    • Must have licensing or approval where required. Regular operation at least five days a week, opening for service no later than 10 a.m. and remaining open until at least 7 p.m. Also 50 percent of the gross receipts are from meals, food, food products and non-alcoholic beverage sales. Must also provide restrooms and a public telephone.
  • Lodging
    • Must have licensing or approval where required. Adequate sleeping accommodations, restrooms, and a public telephone.
  • Camping
    • Must have licensing or approval where required. Adequate parking accommodations, restrooms, drinking water, and a public telephone must also be available.
  • Attractions
    • Must have the primary purpose of providing amusement, historical, cultural or leisure activities to the public. Be of regional significance and provide adequate parking to accommodate normal traffic volumes for the facility. Not be identified on any supplemental signing or guidance sign on the same route as the specific information sign and comply with the laws concerning the provisions of public accommodations without regard to race, color, age, sex, or national origin, and laws concerning the licensing and approval of service facilities. The SIS Program Advisory Council reviews applications under the "Attractions" category. Must be open a minimum of 8 hours per day, 5 days per week, for at least 3 consecutive months.

To Apply for SIS

If you would like more information on the SIS program, please contact Wisconsin Logos, LLC:

Related information:

Tourist-oriented directional signs (TODS)

TODS provide motorists with directional information for qualifying tourist-related businesses, services or activities. Tourist-related businesses, whose major portion of income or visitors is derived from visitors who do not reside in the immediate area where the business is located, qualify for TODS. The business cannot have direct access to a state or U.S. highway, but must be located within five miles of the state or U.S. highway on which TODS are to be installed.

Qualifying businesses

Businesses qualify for TODS in five categories:​

  • Gasoline
    • Must have vehicle services including fuel, oil and water. Must be open at least 12 hours per day, seven days per week if located on a conventional highway, or at least 16 hours per day, seven days per week if located on an expressway. Must also provide restrooms, drinking water and a public telephone.
  • Food
    • Must be open five days per week from at least 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and have at least 50 percent of gross receipts from food and non-alcoholic beverage sales. Must have licensing or approval where required, and provide a restroom, drinking water, and a public telephone.
  • Lodging
    • Includes hotels, motels, resorts, boarding houses or bed & breakfast establishments. Must have adequate sleeping and parking accommodations, and have licensing or approval where required. Must provide restrooms, drinking water, and a public telephone.
  • Camping
    • Must have adequate parking accommodations, and have licensing or approval where required. Must provide restrooms, drinking water and a public telephone.
  • Tourist attraction
    • Must be open at least eight hours per day, five days per week for at least three consecutive months and provide restrooms and drinking water. The attraction must also be of significant interest to the traveling public and have licensing or approval where required.

TODS prohibited in some cases

  • TODS are prohibited from being posted inside federal urban areas, and for businesses located inside federal urban areas. Contact your county highway department.
  • Highways designated as Specific Information Sign (SIS) highways (most freeways and expressways) prohibit TODS.
  • Businesses with illegal outdoor advertising, or with permitted outdoor advertising within 1000' of the intersection where TODS would be installed, cannot be permitted TODS​.

Costs
The TODS program is self-funded. No state or federal funds support the program. All administration, manufacturing and installation costs are paid by applicants.

The TODS sign life is estimated to be 10 years, but administrative fees are collected for permit renewals on 5-year basis. Total estimated costs over the 10-year period are around $550 per sign ($55 per year or about one dollar per week for each sign.

Estimated costs over 10 years:

  • Administration fee $100 per sign for a 5-year permit ($20 per year fee)
  • Estimated manufacturing costs approximately $100-150 per sign (costs vary based on sign and manufacturer)
  • Installation fee $250 per sign
  • Total estimated cost $550-600 per sign

To obtain a TODS

  1. Contact the county highway department in which the sign will be located to obtain a TODS application (form DT1864).
  2. Complete the application and attach a check for $100 payable to the county (this is the administration fee for a 5-year period). If you don’t qualify for the program, or there isn’t room for a TODS at the desired location, the check will be returned.
  3. Businesses that qualify for a TODS will receive a list of qualified TODS sign manufacturers. Contact as many manufacturers as you wish to get the best price.
  4. Bring or ship the signs to the county highway department and provide a check for $250 per sign payable to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (this is the installation fee).
  5. The county highway department will install the sign.

Frequently Asked Questions

For more information on TODS, contact:

Casey Amans
Wisconsin Department of Transportation
Bureau of Traffic Operations
(608) 245-5344
casey.amans@dot.wi.gov

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