Sacramento State students will discover a new addition to their commute along Highway 50 next fall.

The university has negotiated an agreement through University Enterprises Inc. and Clear Channel Outdoors for a digital communication sign to be built on university property.

The new sign will feature the Sac State logo and will make the campus more visible from the highway.

In addition to being able to display a message on the screen, which will show up to eight messages every 64 seconds, Sac State is going to receive $750,000 when the sign is complete.

Matt Altier, executive director for University Enterprises Inc., said the messages Sac State will be able to display would Matt Altier, executive director for University Enterprises Inc., said the messages Sac State will be able to display would normally cost thousands of dollars in a location like Highway 50.

“This is a major avenue for the university to promote its educational, social and community programs at no cost to the school,” Altier said.

At the top of the sign will be a 48-foot wide message board featuring the latest LED technology to reduce glare and light leakage.

“This sign features automatic brightness controls that continuously adjust for varying ambient day, night and weather conditions so that it’s visible, but not overbearing,” Altier said.

Sac State will receive a portion of advertising revenue during the 25-year lease agreement that has been negotiated, but the amount is unknown at this time.

When construction begins in early April, the sign’s base will be built on the south side of Sac State’s campus near the recycling center and will be visible 55 feet above where the highway crosses Folsom Boulevard.

The sign will be made available to California Highway Patrol and the FBI for law enforcement emergencies and will be used as a part of the Amber Alert Program.

Officer Steve Merchant with the CHP Public Affairs Office said he believes the sign is a positive development and a good opportunity to publicize current events and safety reminders.

Amanda Pollard can be reached at [email protected].