diff --git a/src/composables/useJourneySections.ts b/src/composables/useJourneySections.ts
index 0495ee6..1546036 100644
--- a/src/composables/useJourneySections.ts
+++ b/src/composables/useJourneySections.ts
@@ -6,19 +6,19 @@ import {
   shallowRef,
   watch,
   type Ref,
-} from "vue";
-import type { SectionId } from "@/content/types";
-import type { NavigationState } from "@/journey/navigation-controller";
+} from 'vue';
+import type { SectionId } from '@/content/types';
+import type { NavigationState } from '@/journey/navigation-controller';
 import {
   activationLineDocumentY,
   deriveSectionState,
   isAtDocumentEnd,
   selectActiveSection,
   type SectionHeadingGeometry,
-} from "@/journey/section-controller";
-import { nextSign } from "@/journey/sign-controller";
-import type { JourneySnapshot } from "@/journey/types";
-import { useScrollDrive } from "./useScrollDrive";
+} from '@/journey/section-controller';
+import { createSignController } from '@/journey/sign-controller';
+import type { JourneySnapshot, ScrollDriveSnapshot } from '@/journey/types';
+import { useScrollDrive } from '@/composables/useScrollDrive';
 
 const PASSIVE_LISTENER: AddEventListenerOptions = { passive: true };
 
@@ -39,61 +39,67 @@ export function useJourneySections(
 ): Readonly<Ref<JourneySnapshot>> {
   const firstId = canonicalIds[0];
   if (firstId === undefined) {
-    throw new Error("At least one canonical journey section is required.");
+    throw new Error('At least one canonical journey section is required.');
   }
+
   const drive = useScrollDrive();
+  const signController = createSignController();
   const sectionSnapshot = shallowRef<JourneySnapshot>(initialJourney(firstId));
   const snapshot = computed<JourneySnapshot>(() => ({
     ...sectionSnapshot.value,
-    ...drive.value,
-    routeProgress: sectionSnapshot.value.arrived ? 1 : drive.value.routeProgress,
+    ...drive.snapshot.value,
+    routeProgress: sectionSnapshot.value.arrived
+      ? 1
+      : drive.snapshot.value.routeProgress,
   }));
-  let scheduleMeasurement = (): void => {};
+  let requestJourneyFrame = (): void => {};
   let teardown = (): void => {};
 
   const stopNavigationWatch = watch(
     () => navigationState.value,
-    () => scheduleMeasurement(),
+    () => requestJourneyFrame(),
   );
-  const stopMotionWatch =
-    motionAllowed === undefined
-      ? (): void => {}
-      : watch(motionAllowed, () => scheduleMeasurement());
+  const stopMotionWatch = motionAllowed === undefined
+    ? (): void => {}
+    : watch(motionAllowed, () => requestJourneyFrame());
 
   onMounted(() => {
     const visualViewport = window.visualViewport;
-    let frameId: number | undefined;
     let disposed = false;
-    let previousScrollY = window.scrollY;
+    let structureDirty = true;
+    let previousScrollY = drive.snapshot.value.scrollY;
     let previousActiveId = firstId;
     let headings: readonly SectionHeadingGeometry[] = [];
 
-    const readHeadings = (): readonly SectionHeadingGeometry[] =>
+    const readHeadings = (scrollY: number): readonly SectionHeadingGeometry[] =>
       canonicalIds.flatMap((id) => {
         const heading = document.getElementById(`${id}-heading`);
         return heading instanceof HTMLElement
-          ? [{ id, top: heading.getBoundingClientRect().top + window.scrollY }]
+          ? [{ id, top: heading.getBoundingClientRect().top + scrollY }]
           : [];
       });
 
-    const measure = (): void => {
-      frameId = undefined;
-      headings = readHeadings();
-      if (headings.length === 0) return;
+    const measure = (
+      now: number,
+      driveSnapshot: ScrollDriveSnapshot,
+    ): boolean => {
+      if (disposed) return false;
+      if (structureDirty) {
+        headings = readHeadings(driveSnapshot.scrollY);
+        structureDirty = false;
+      }
+      if (headings.length === 0) return false;
 
-      const scrollingElement =
-        document.scrollingElement ?? document.documentElement;
-      const viewportHeight =
-        visualViewport?.height ?? document.documentElement.clientHeight;
+      const scrollingElement = document.scrollingElement ?? document.documentElement;
+      const viewportHeight = visualViewport?.height ?? document.documentElement.clientHeight;
       const viewportOffsetTop = visualViewport?.offsetTop ?? 0;
-      const scrollY = scrollingElement.scrollTop;
       const activationY = activationLineDocumentY({
-        scrollY,
+        scrollY: driveSnapshot.scrollY,
         visualViewportOffsetTop: viewportOffsetTop,
         visualViewportHeight: viewportHeight,
       });
       const atDocumentEnd = isAtDocumentEnd({
-        scrollY,
+        scrollY: driveSnapshot.scrollY,
         scrollHeight: scrollingElement.scrollHeight,
         visualViewportHeight: viewportHeight,
       });
@@ -105,47 +111,46 @@ export function useJourneySections(
       const previousActiveIndex = canonicalIds.indexOf(previousActiveId);
       const activeIndex = canonicalIds.indexOf(activeSectionId);
       const crossedBoundaries = Math.abs(activeIndex - previousActiveIndex);
-      const deltaY = scrollY - previousScrollY;
-      const currentSign = sectionSnapshot.value.sign;
-      const signTargetId =
-        currentSign?.targetId ?? canonicalIds[activeIndex + 1] ?? null;
-      const signTarget = headings.find(
-        (heading) => heading.id === signTargetId,
-      );
-      const sign =
-        signTargetId === null || signTarget === undefined || viewportHeight <= 0
-          ? null
-          : nextSign(currentSign, {
-              source: navigationState.value.source,
-              deltaY,
-              viewportHeight,
-              crossedBoundaries,
-              candidateId: signTargetId,
-              distanceVh: (signTarget.top - activationY) / viewportHeight,
-              motionAllowed: motionAllowed?.value ?? true,
-            });
+      const candidateId = canonicalIds[activeIndex + 1] ?? null;
+      const candidateHeading = headings.find((heading) => heading.id === candidateId);
+      const candidateDistanceVh = candidateHeading === undefined || viewportHeight <= 0
+        ? null
+        : (candidateHeading.top - activationY) / viewportHeight;
       const sectionState = deriveSectionState(activeSectionId);
+      const sign = signController.sample({
+        now,
+        source: navigationState.value.source,
+        direction: driveSnapshot.direction,
+        acceleration: driveSnapshot.acceleration,
+        deltaY: driveSnapshot.scrollY - previousScrollY,
+        viewportHeight,
+        crossedBoundaries,
+        candidateId,
+        candidateDistanceVh,
+        activeSectionId,
+        motionAllowed: motionAllowed?.value ?? true,
+      });
+
       sectionSnapshot.value = {
-        ...drive.value,
-        routeProgress: atDocumentEnd ? 1 : drive.value.routeProgress,
+        ...driveSnapshot,
+        routeProgress: atDocumentEnd ? 1 : driveSnapshot.routeProgress,
         ...sectionState,
         sign,
       };
-      previousScrollY = scrollY;
+      previousScrollY = driveSnapshot.scrollY;
       previousActiveId = activeSectionId;
+      return signController.needsFrame();
     };
 
-    scheduleMeasurement = (): void => {
-      if (
-        !disposed &&
-        frameId === undefined &&
-        document.visibilityState !== "hidden"
-      ) {
-        frameId = window.requestAnimationFrame(measure);
-      }
+    const removeFrameSubscriber = drive.subscribeFrame(measure);
+    requestJourneyFrame = drive.requestFrame;
+    const requestMeasurement = (): void => drive.requestFrame();
+    const markStructureDirty = (): void => {
+      structureDirty = true;
+      requestMeasurement();
     };
 
-    const resizeObserver = new ResizeObserver(scheduleMeasurement);
+    const resizeObserver = new ResizeObserver(markStructureDirty);
     resizeObserver.observe(document.documentElement);
     for (const id of canonicalIds) {
       const section = document.getElementById(id);
@@ -153,89 +158,43 @@ export function useJourneySections(
       if (section !== null) resizeObserver.observe(section);
       if (heading !== null) resizeObserver.observe(heading);
     }
-    for (const media of document.querySelectorAll("img, video")) {
+    for (const media of document.querySelectorAll('img, video')) {
       resizeObserver.observe(media);
     }
 
     const handleVisibility = (): void => {
-      if (document.visibilityState === "hidden") {
-        if (frameId !== undefined) {
-          window.cancelAnimationFrame(frameId);
-          frameId = undefined;
-        }
+      if (document.visibilityState === 'hidden') {
+        signController.reset();
         return;
       }
-      previousScrollY = window.scrollY;
-      scheduleMeasurement();
+      previousScrollY = drive.snapshot.value.scrollY;
+      markStructureDirty();
     };
 
-    window.addEventListener("scroll", scheduleMeasurement, PASSIVE_LISTENER);
-    window.addEventListener("resize", scheduleMeasurement, PASSIVE_LISTENER);
-    window.addEventListener(
-      "orientationchange",
-      scheduleMeasurement,
-      PASSIVE_LISTENER,
-    );
-    visualViewport?.addEventListener(
-      "resize",
-      scheduleMeasurement,
-      PASSIVE_LISTENER,
-    );
-    visualViewport?.addEventListener(
-      "scroll",
-      scheduleMeasurement,
-      PASSIVE_LISTENER,
-    );
-    document.addEventListener("load", scheduleMeasurement, true);
-    document.addEventListener("loadedmetadata", scheduleMeasurement, true);
-    document.addEventListener(
-      "visibilitychange",
-      handleVisibility,
-      PASSIVE_LISTENER,
-    );
+    window.addEventListener('resize', markStructureDirty, PASSIVE_LISTENER);
+    window.addEventListener('orientationchange', markStructureDirty, PASSIVE_LISTENER);
+    visualViewport?.addEventListener('resize', markStructureDirty, PASSIVE_LISTENER);
+    visualViewport?.addEventListener('scroll', requestMeasurement, PASSIVE_LISTENER);
+    document.addEventListener('load', markStructureDirty, true);
+    document.addEventListener('loadedmetadata', markStructureDirty, true);
+    document.addEventListener('visibilitychange', handleVisibility, PASSIVE_LISTENER);
 
-    scheduleMeasurement();
-    void document.fonts.ready.then(() => scheduleMeasurement());
+    markStructureDirty();
+    void document.fonts?.ready.then(markStructureDirty);
 
     teardown = (): void => {
       disposed = true;
-      window.removeEventListener(
-        "scroll",
-        scheduleMeasurement,
-        PASSIVE_LISTENER,
-      );
-      window.removeEventListener(
-        "resize",
-        scheduleMeasurement,
-        PASSIVE_LISTENER,
-      );
-      window.removeEventListener(
-        "orientationchange",
-        scheduleMeasurement,
-        PASSIVE_LISTENER,
-      );
-      visualViewport?.removeEventListener(
-        "resize",
-        scheduleMeasurement,
-        PASSIVE_LISTENER,
-      );
-      visualViewport?.removeEventListener(
-        "scroll",
-        scheduleMeasurement,
-        PASSIVE_LISTENER,
-      );
-      document.removeEventListener("load", scheduleMeasurement, true);
-      document.removeEventListener("loadedmetadata", scheduleMeasurement, true);
-      document.removeEventListener(
-        "visibilitychange",
-        handleVisibility,
-        PASSIVE_LISTENER,
-      );
+      requestJourneyFrame = (): void => {};
+      removeFrameSubscriber();
+      window.removeEventListener('resize', markStructureDirty, PASSIVE_LISTENER);
+      window.removeEventListener('orientationchange', markStructureDirty, PASSIVE_LISTENER);
+      visualViewport?.removeEventListener('resize', markStructureDirty, PASSIVE_LISTENER);
+      visualViewport?.removeEventListener('scroll', requestMeasurement, PASSIVE_LISTENER);
+      document.removeEventListener('load', markStructureDirty, true);
+      document.removeEventListener('loadedmetadata', markStructureDirty, true);
+      document.removeEventListener('visibilitychange', handleVisibility, PASSIVE_LISTENER);
       resizeObserver.disconnect();
-      if (frameId !== undefined) {
-        window.cancelAnimationFrame(frameId);
-        frameId = undefined;
-      }
+      signController.reset();
     };
   });
 
diff --git a/src/composables/useScrollDrive.ts b/src/composables/useScrollDrive.ts
index a3e9f33..e3bca41 100644
--- a/src/composables/useScrollDrive.ts
+++ b/src/composables/useScrollDrive.ts
@@ -12,9 +12,23 @@ const initialSnapshot = (): ScrollDriveSnapshot => ({
   driveSpeed: 0.18,
 });
 
-export function useScrollDrive(): Readonly<Ref<ScrollDriveSnapshot>> {
+export interface ScrollDriveBinding {
+  snapshot: Readonly<Ref<ScrollDriveSnapshot>>;
+  requestFrame(): void;
+  subscribeFrame(
+    listener: (now: number, snapshot: ScrollDriveSnapshot) => boolean,
+  ): () => void;
+}
+
+export function useScrollDrive(): ScrollDriveBinding {
   const controller = createScrollDriveController();
   const snapshot = shallowRef<ScrollDriveSnapshot>(initialSnapshot());
+  const subscribers = new Set<(
+    now: number,
+    snapshot: ScrollDriveSnapshot,
+  ) => boolean>();
+  let requestFrame = (): void => {};
+  let disposed = false;
   let teardown = (): void => {};
 
   onMounted(() => {
@@ -32,21 +46,29 @@ export function useScrollDrive(): Readonly<Ref<ScrollDriveSnapshot>> {
       };
     };
 
+    let scheduleFrame = (): void => {};
+
     const runFrame = (now: number): void => {
       frameId = undefined;
       const input = readSample(now);
-      snapshot.value = resetOnNextFrame
+      const nextSnapshot = resetOnNextFrame
         ? controller.reset(input)
         : controller.sample(input);
+      snapshot.value = nextSnapshot;
       resetOnNextFrame = false;
-      if (snapshot.value.acceleration > 0) scheduleFrame();
+      let keepRunning = false;
+      for (const subscriber of [...subscribers]) {
+        keepRunning = subscriber(now, nextSnapshot) || keepRunning;
+      }
+      if (nextSnapshot.acceleration > 0 || keepRunning) scheduleFrame();
     };
 
-    const scheduleFrame = (): void => {
+    scheduleFrame = (): void => {
       if (frameId === undefined && document.visibilityState !== 'hidden') {
         frameId = requestAnimationFrame(runFrame);
       }
     };
+    requestFrame = scheduleFrame;
 
     const handleVisibilityChange = (): void => {
       if (document.visibilityState === 'hidden') {
@@ -70,6 +92,8 @@ export function useScrollDrive(): Readonly<Ref<ScrollDriveSnapshot>> {
     document.addEventListener('visibilitychange', handleVisibilityChange, PASSIVE_LISTENER);
 
     teardown = (): void => {
+      disposed = true;
+      requestFrame = (): void => {};
       window.removeEventListener('scroll', scheduleFrame, PASSIVE_LISTENER);
       window.removeEventListener('resize', scheduleFrame, PASSIVE_LISTENER);
       visualViewport?.removeEventListener('resize', scheduleFrame, PASSIVE_LISTENER);
@@ -79,10 +103,19 @@ export function useScrollDrive(): Readonly<Ref<ScrollDriveSnapshot>> {
         cancelAnimationFrame(frameId);
         frameId = undefined;
       }
+      subscribers.clear();
     };
   });
 
   onUnmounted(() => teardown());
 
-  return readonly(snapshot);
+  return {
+    snapshot: readonly(snapshot),
+    requestFrame: () => requestFrame(),
+    subscribeFrame(listener) {
+      if (disposed) return () => {};
+      subscribers.add(listener);
+      return () => subscribers.delete(listener);
+    },
+  };
 }
diff --git a/src/journey/sign-controller.ts b/src/journey/sign-controller.ts
index ff77238..792ce42 100644
--- a/src/journey/sign-controller.ts
+++ b/src/journey/sign-controller.ts
@@ -1,53 +1,187 @@
-import type { SectionId } from "@/content/types";
-import type { JourneySource, SignSnapshot } from "./types";
+import type { SectionId } from '@/content/types';
+import type {
+  SignController,
+  SignControllerSample,
+  SignSnapshot,
+} from '@/journey/types';
 
-export interface SignSample {
-  source: JourneySource;
-  deltaY: number;
-  viewportHeight: number;
-  crossedBoundaries: number;
-  candidateId: SectionId | null;
-  distanceVh: number;
-  motionAllowed: boolean;
+const ANTICIPATE_MS = 300;
+const APPROACH_MS = 900;
+const APPROACH_REDUCTION_MS = 250;
+const DWELL_MS = 1_400;
+const DEPART_MS = 700;
+const COOLDOWN_MS = 350;
+const ELIGIBLE_DISTANCE_VH = 1.2;
+const JUMP_DISTANCE_VH = 0.75;
+
+interface VisibleState {
+  kind: 'visible';
+  targetId: SectionId;
+  latchedAt: number;
+  approachDuration: number;
+  departStartedAt: number | null;
 }
 
+type State =
+  | { kind: 'idle' }
+  | VisibleState
+  | { kind: 'cooldown'; until: number };
+
 const clamp01 = (value: number): number => Math.min(1, Math.max(0, value));
 
-export function nextSign(
-  current: SignSnapshot | null,
-  input: SignSample,
-): SignSnapshot | null {
-  const eligible =
-    input.motionAllowed &&
-    input.source === "passive-scroll" &&
-    Number.isFinite(input.deltaY) &&
-    Number.isFinite(input.viewportHeight) &&
-    Number.isFinite(input.distanceVh) &&
-    input.viewportHeight > 0 &&
-    input.deltaY > 0 &&
-    input.deltaY <= input.viewportHeight * 0.75 &&
-    input.crossedBoundaries <= 1;
+const smoothstep = (minimum: number, maximum: number, value: number): number => {
+  const progress = clamp01((value - minimum) / (maximum - minimum));
+  return progress * progress * (3 - 2 * progress);
+};
 
-  if (!eligible || input.distanceVh > 1.2 || input.distanceVh <= -0.25) {
-    return null;
-  }
+const isFiniteSample = (input: SignControllerSample): boolean =>
+  Number.isFinite(input.now) &&
+  Number.isFinite(input.acceleration) &&
+  Number.isFinite(input.deltaY) &&
+  Number.isFinite(input.viewportHeight) &&
+  Number.isFinite(input.crossedBoundaries) &&
+  input.viewportHeight > 0 &&
+  (input.candidateDistanceVh === null || Number.isFinite(input.candidateDistanceVh));
 
-  const targetId = current?.targetId ?? input.candidateId;
-  if (targetId === null) return null;
+const canLatch = (input: SignControllerSample): input is SignControllerSample & {
+  candidateId: SectionId;
+  candidateDistanceVh: number;
+} =>
+  input.motionAllowed &&
+  input.source === 'passive-scroll' &&
+  input.direction === 1 &&
+  input.deltaY > 0 &&
+  input.deltaY <= input.viewportHeight * JUMP_DISTANCE_VH &&
+  input.crossedBoundaries <= 1 &&
+  input.candidateId !== null &&
+  input.candidateId !== input.activeSectionId &&
+  input.candidateDistanceVh !== null &&
+  input.candidateDistanceVh > 0 &&
+  input.candidateDistanceVh <= ELIGIBLE_DISTANCE_VH;
 
-  if (input.distanceVh > 0.55) {
-    return {
-      targetId,
-      phase: "approach",
-      progress: clamp01((1.2 - input.distanceVh) / 0.65),
-    };
-  }
-  if (input.distanceVh > 0.15) {
-    return { targetId, phase: "stabilized", progress: 1 };
-  }
-  return {
-    targetId,
-    phase: "pass",
-    progress: clamp01((0.15 - input.distanceVh) / 0.4),
+export function createSignController(): SignController {
+  let state: State = { kind: 'idle' };
+  let lastNow: number | null = null;
+
+  const reset = (now?: number): void => {
+    state = { kind: 'idle' };
+    lastNow = now !== undefined && Number.isFinite(now) ? now : null;
   };
+
+  const enterCooldown = (now: number): void => {
+    state = { kind: 'cooldown', until: now + COOLDOWN_MS };
+  };
+
+  const snapshotVisible = (visible: VisibleState, now: number): SignSnapshot | null => {
+    if (visible.departStartedAt !== null) {
+      const progress = clamp01((now - visible.departStartedAt) / DEPART_MS);
+      if (progress >= 1) {
+        state = {
+          kind: 'cooldown',
+          until: visible.departStartedAt + DEPART_MS + COOLDOWN_MS,
+        };
+        return null;
+      }
+      return {
+        targetId: visible.targetId,
+        phase: 'depart',
+        progress,
+        opacity: 1 - smoothstep(0.1, 1, progress),
+      };
+    }
+
+    const elapsed = Math.max(0, now - visible.latchedAt);
+    if (elapsed < ANTICIPATE_MS) {
+      return {
+        targetId: visible.targetId,
+        phase: 'anticipate',
+        progress: clamp01(elapsed / ANTICIPATE_MS),
+        opacity: 0,
+      };
+    }
+
+    const approachElapsed = elapsed - ANTICIPATE_MS;
+    if (approachElapsed < visible.approachDuration) {
+      const progress = clamp01(approachElapsed / visible.approachDuration);
+      return {
+        targetId: visible.targetId,
+        phase: 'approach',
+        progress,
+        opacity: smoothstep(0, 0.42, progress),
+      };
+    }
+
+    return {
+      targetId: visible.targetId,
+      phase: 'dwell',
+      progress: 1,
+      opacity: 1,
+    };
+  };
+
+  const sample = (input: SignControllerSample): SignSnapshot | null => {
+    if (!isFiniteSample(input) || (lastNow !== null && input.now < lastNow)) {
+      reset();
+      return null;
+    }
+    lastNow = input.now;
+
+    const suppressed =
+      !input.motionAllowed ||
+      input.source !== 'passive-scroll' ||
+      input.crossedBoundaries > 1 ||
+      Math.abs(input.deltaY) > input.viewportHeight * JUMP_DISTANCE_VH;
+    if (suppressed) {
+      if (!input.motionAllowed) reset(input.now);
+      else if (state.kind === 'visible') enterCooldown(input.now);
+      return null;
+    }
+
+    if (state.kind === 'cooldown') {
+      if (input.now < state.until) return null;
+      state = { kind: 'idle' };
+    }
+
+    if (state.kind === 'idle') {
+      if (!canLatch(input)) return null;
+      state = {
+        kind: 'visible',
+        targetId: input.candidateId,
+        latchedAt: input.now,
+        approachDuration: APPROACH_MS - APPROACH_REDUCTION_MS * clamp01(input.acceleration),
+        departStartedAt: null,
+      };
+      return snapshotVisible(state, input.now);
+    }
+
+    if (input.direction < 0) {
+      const elapsed = input.now - state.latchedAt;
+      const dwellStartedAt = state.latchedAt + ANTICIPATE_MS + state.approachDuration;
+      if (elapsed < ANTICIPATE_MS + state.approachDuration) {
+        state = { kind: 'idle' };
+        return null;
+      }
+      if (state.departStartedAt === null && input.now >= dwellStartedAt) {
+        state.departStartedAt = input.now;
+      }
+    }
+
+    if (state.departStartedAt === null) {
+      const dwellStartedAt = state.latchedAt + ANTICIPATE_MS + state.approachDuration;
+      const dwellComplete = input.now >= dwellStartedAt + DWELL_MS;
+      if (dwellComplete && input.activeSectionId === state.targetId) {
+        state.departStartedAt = input.now;
+      }
+    }
+
+    return snapshotVisible(state, input.now);
+  };
+
+  const needsFrame = (): boolean => {
+    if (state.kind !== 'visible' || lastNow === null) return false;
+    if (state.departStartedAt !== null) return true;
+    return lastNow < state.latchedAt + ANTICIPATE_MS + state.approachDuration + DWELL_MS;
+  };
+
+  return { sample, reset, needsFrame };
 }
diff --git a/src/journey/types.ts b/src/journey/types.ts
index 864eff9..3e8745f 100644
--- a/src/journey/types.ts
+++ b/src/journey/types.ts
@@ -30,10 +30,33 @@ export type EnvironmentChapter =
   | "pre-dawn"
   | "destination";
 
+export type SignPhase = 'anticipate' | 'approach' | 'dwell' | 'depart';
+
 export interface SignSnapshot {
   targetId: SectionId;
-  phase: "approach" | "stabilized" | "pass";
+  phase: SignPhase;
   progress: number;
+  opacity: number;
+}
+
+export interface SignControllerSample {
+  now: number;
+  source: JourneySource;
+  direction: -1 | 0 | 1;
+  acceleration: number;
+  deltaY: number;
+  viewportHeight: number;
+  crossedBoundaries: number;
+  candidateId: SectionId | null;
+  candidateDistanceVh: number | null;
+  activeSectionId: SectionId;
+  motionAllowed: boolean;
+}
+
+export interface SignController {
+  sample(input: SignControllerSample): SignSnapshot | null;
+  reset(now?: number): void;
+  needsFrame(): boolean;
 }
 
 export interface JourneySnapshot extends ScrollDriveSnapshot {
diff --git a/src/scene/create-scene-controller.ts b/src/scene/create-scene-controller.ts
index dd0911c..2dd6b8c 100644
--- a/src/scene/create-scene-controller.ts
+++ b/src/scene/create-scene-controller.ts
@@ -573,6 +573,7 @@ function copyJourneySnapshot(snapshot: JourneySnapshot): JourneySnapshot {
       targetId: snapshot.sign.targetId,
       phase: snapshot.sign.phase,
       progress: finite(snapshot.sign.progress),
+      opacity: finite(snapshot.sign.opacity),
     } : null,
     arrived: Boolean(snapshot.arrived),
   };
diff --git a/src/scene/world/sign.ts b/src/scene/world/sign.ts
index 6d1ab34..a21db85 100644
--- a/src/scene/world/sign.ts
+++ b/src/scene/world/sign.ts
@@ -68,11 +68,18 @@ export function createSign(resources: SceneResourceBag) {
   return {
     group,
     update(sign: SignSnapshot | null) {
-      group.visible = sign !== null;
+      group.visible = sign !== null && sign.opacity > 0;
       if (!sign) return;
       updateTexture(sign.targetId);
-      const phaseOffset = sign.phase === 'approach' ? -26 : sign.phase === 'stabilized' ? -5 : 8;
-      group.position.set(7.2, 4.1, phaseOffset + sign.progress * 8);
+      material.opacity = sign.opacity;
+      const phaseOffset = sign.phase === 'anticipate'
+        ? -30
+        : sign.phase === 'approach'
+          ? -26 + sign.progress * 21
+          : sign.phase === 'dwell'
+            ? -5
+            : -5 + sign.progress * 18;
+      group.position.set(7.2, 4.1, phaseOffset);
       group.rotation.y = -0.12;
     },
   };
diff --git a/tests/unit/scene-lifecycle.test.ts b/tests/unit/scene-lifecycle.test.ts
index 15cee27..35a1afa 100644
--- a/tests/unit/scene-lifecycle.test.ts
+++ b/tests/unit/scene-lifecycle.test.ts
@@ -214,7 +214,10 @@ describe('scene controller lifecycle', () => {
     const harness = createHarness();
     const controller = createSceneController(harness.options);
     await controller.start();
-    const input = journey({ routeProgress: 0.25, sign: { targetId: 'selected-builds', phase: 'approach', progress: 0.2 } });
+    const input = journey({
+      routeProgress: 0.25,
+      sign: { targetId: 'selected-builds', phase: 'approach', progress: 0.2, opacity: 0.5 },
+    });
 
     controller.update(input);
     input.routeProgress = 0.9;
diff --git a/tests/unit/scroll-drive-controller.test.ts b/tests/unit/scroll-drive-controller.test.ts
index ab6693c..2d72ddb 100644
--- a/tests/unit/scroll-drive-controller.test.ts
+++ b/tests/unit/scroll-drive-controller.test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { mount } from '@vue/test-utils';
-import { createSSRApp, defineComponent, h, nextTick } from 'vue';
+import { createSSRApp, defineComponent, h, nextTick, shallowRef } from 'vue';
 import { renderToString } from '@vue/server-renderer';
 import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest';
 import { createScrollDriveController } from '@/journey/scroll-drive-controller';
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ describe('useScrollDrive', () => {
     const app = createSSRApp(defineComponent({
       setup() {
         const drive = useScrollDrive();
-        return () => h('output', drive.value.driveSpeed.toString());
+        return () => h('output', drive.snapshot.value.driveSpeed.toString());
       },
     }));
 
@@ -207,13 +207,14 @@ describe('useScrollDrive', () => {
     const documentAdd = vi.spyOn(document, 'addEventListener');
     const viewportAdd = vi.spyOn(visualViewport, 'addEventListener');
 
+    let binding!: ReturnType<typeof useScrollDrive>;
     const wrapper = mount(defineComponent({
       setup() {
-        return { drive: useScrollDrive() };
+        binding = useScrollDrive();
+        return () => h('output', binding.snapshot.value.routeProgress.toString());
       },
-      template: '<output>{{ drive.routeProgress }}</output>',
     }));
-    const drive = () => wrapper.vm.drive;
+    const drive = () => binding.snapshot.value;
 
     expect(drive()).toMatchObject({
       scrollY: 250,
@@ -306,4 +307,117 @@ describe('useScrollDrive', () => {
     document.dispatchEvent(new Event('visibilitychange'));
     expect(callbacks).toHaveLength(0);
   });
+
+  it('keeps the shared frame bus alive only while a subscriber requests frames', async () => {
+    const { useScrollDrive } = await import('@/composables/useScrollDrive');
+    Object.defineProperty(document, 'visibilityState', {
+      configurable: true,
+      value: 'visible',
+    });
+    Object.defineProperties(document.documentElement, {
+      scrollTop: { configurable: true, writable: true, value: 0 },
+      scrollHeight: { configurable: true, value: 1000 },
+      clientHeight: { configurable: true, value: 500 },
+    });
+    Object.defineProperty(window, 'visualViewport', {
+      configurable: true,
+      value: undefined,
+    });
+    Object.defineProperty(document, 'fonts', {
+      configurable: true,
+      value: { ready: Promise.resolve() },
+    });
+
+    const callbacks = new Map<number, FrameRequestCallback>();
+    let nextFrameId = 1;
+    vi.stubGlobal('requestAnimationFrame', vi.fn((callback: FrameRequestCallback) => {
+      const id = nextFrameId++;
+      callbacks.set(id, callback);
+      return id;
+    }));
+    vi.stubGlobal('cancelAnimationFrame', vi.fn((id: number) => callbacks.delete(id)));
+    vi.spyOn(performance, 'now').mockReturnValue(100);
+
+    let binding!: ReturnType<typeof useScrollDrive>;
+    const wrapper = mount(defineComponent({
+      setup() {
+        binding = useScrollDrive();
+        return () => h('output', binding.snapshot.value.driveSpeed.toString());
+      },
+    }));
+    let subscriberFrames = 0;
+    const unsubscribe = binding.subscribeFrame((_now, frameSnapshot) => {
+      expect(frameSnapshot).toEqual(binding.snapshot.value);
+      subscriberFrames += 1;
+      return subscriberFrames < 3;
+    });
+
+    binding.requestFrame();
+    for (const now of [116, 132, 148]) {
+      expect(callbacks).toHaveLength(1);
+      const requested = [...callbacks.entries()][0]!;
+      callbacks.delete(requested[0]);
+      requested[1](now);
+      await nextTick();
+    }
+
+    expect(subscriberFrames).toBe(3);
+    expect(callbacks).toHaveLength(0);
+    unsubscribe();
+    binding.requestFrame();
+    expect(callbacks).toHaveLength(1);
+    wrapper.unmount();
+    expect(callbacks).toHaveLength(0);
+  });
+
+  it('owns the only raw window scroll listener used by the complete journey binding', async () => {
+    const { useJourneySections } = await import('@/composables/useJourneySections');
+    Object.defineProperty(document, 'visibilityState', {
+      configurable: true,
+      value: 'visible',
+    });
+    Object.defineProperties(document.documentElement, {
+      scrollTop: { configurable: true, writable: true, value: 0 },
+      scrollHeight: { configurable: true, value: 2000 },
+      clientHeight: { configurable: true, value: 800 },
+    });
+    Object.defineProperty(window, 'visualViewport', {
+      configurable: true,
+      value: undefined,
+    });
+    Object.defineProperty(document, 'fonts', {
+      configurable: true,
+      value: { ready: Promise.resolve() },
+    });
+    const callbacks = new Map<number, FrameRequestCallback>();
+    let nextFrameId = 1;
+    vi.stubGlobal('requestAnimationFrame', vi.fn((callback: FrameRequestCallback) => {
+      const id = nextFrameId++;
+      callbacks.set(id, callback);
+      return id;
+    }));
+    vi.stubGlobal('cancelAnimationFrame', vi.fn((id: number) => callbacks.delete(id)));
+    vi.spyOn(performance, 'now').mockReturnValue(0);
+    const add = vi.spyOn(window, 'addEventListener');
+    const ids = ['start', 'profile', 'contact'] as const;
+    const navigation = shallowRef({
+      epoch: 0,
+      source: 'passive-scroll' as const,
+      destinationId: null,
+    });
+    const motionAllowed = shallowRef(true);
+
+    const wrapper = mount(defineComponent({
+      setup() {
+        useJourneySections(ids, navigation, motionAllowed);
+        return () => h('main', ids.map((id) => h('section', { id }, [
+          h('h2', { id: `${id}-heading` }, id),
+        ])));
+      },
+    }), { attachTo: document.body });
+
+    expect(add.mock.calls.filter(([type]) => type === 'scroll')).toHaveLength(1);
+    wrapper.unmount();
+    expect(callbacks).toHaveLength(0);
+  });
 });
diff --git a/tests/unit/sign-controller.test.ts b/tests/unit/sign-controller.test.ts
index 5a2351f..112c60e 100644
--- a/tests/unit/sign-controller.test.ts
+++ b/tests/unit/sign-controller.test.ts
@@ -1,100 +1,176 @@
-import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
-import { nextSign } from "@/journey/sign-controller";
-import type { SignSnapshot } from "@/journey/types";
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
+import { createSignController } from '@/journey/sign-controller';
+import type { SignControllerSample } from '@/journey/types';
 
-const passiveSample = (
-  distanceVh: number,
-  overrides: Partial<Parameters<typeof nextSign>[1]> = {},
-): Parameters<typeof nextSign>[1] => ({
-  source: "passive-scroll",
-  deltaY: 10,
-  viewportHeight: 100,
+const sample = (
+  overrides: Partial<SignControllerSample> = {},
+): SignControllerSample => ({
+  now: 0,
+  source: 'passive-scroll',
+  direction: 1,
+  acceleration: 0,
+  deltaY: 16,
+  viewportHeight: 800,
   crossedBoundaries: 0,
-  candidateId: "profile",
-  distanceVh,
+  candidateId: 'profile',
+  candidateDistanceVh: 1,
+  activeSectionId: 'start',
   motionAllowed: true,
   ...overrides,
 });
 
-describe("forward-only sign latching", () => {
-  it("latches a first eligible candidate at the exact approach boundary", () => {
-    expect(nextSign(null, passiveSample(1.2))).toEqual({
-      targetId: "profile",
-      phase: "approach",
+describe('clock-driven sign lifecycle', () => {
+  it('advances through exact anticipate, approach, dwell, depart, and cooldown timing', () => {
+    const controller = createSignController();
+
+    expect(controller.sample(sample())).toEqual({
+      targetId: 'profile',
+      phase: 'anticipate',
+      progress: 0,
+      opacity: 0,
+    });
+    expect(controller.needsFrame()).toBe(true);
+    expect(controller.sample(sample({ now: 299, direction: 0 }))).toMatchObject({
+      phase: 'anticipate',
+      progress: expect.closeTo(299 / 300, 10),
+    });
+    expect(controller.sample(sample({ now: 300, direction: 0 }))).toMatchObject({
+      phase: 'approach',
       progress: 0,
     });
-  });
-
-  it("maps the literal approach and pass ranges independently", () => {
-    expect(nextSign(null, passiveSample(0.875))).toEqual({
-      targetId: "profile",
-      phase: "approach",
-      progress: expect.closeTo(0.5, 14),
+    expect(controller.sample(sample({ now: 1_200, direction: 0 }))).toMatchObject({
+      phase: 'dwell',
+      progress: 1,
+      opacity: 1,
     });
-    expect(nextSign(null, passiveSample(-0.05))).toEqual({
-      targetId: "profile",
-      phase: "pass",
-      progress: 0.5,
+    expect(controller.sample(sample({ now: 2_599, direction: 0, activeSectionId: 'profile' }))).toMatchObject({
+      phase: 'dwell',
     });
-  });
-
-  it("uses exact stabilized, pass, and completion boundaries", () => {
-    const latched: SignSnapshot = {
-      targetId: "profile",
-      phase: "approach",
+    expect(controller.sample(sample({ now: 2_600, direction: 0, activeSectionId: 'profile' }))).toMatchObject({
+      phase: 'depart',
       progress: 0,
-    };
+      opacity: 1,
+    });
+    expect(controller.sample(sample({ now: 3_299, direction: 0, activeSectionId: 'profile' }))).toMatchObject({
+      phase: 'depart',
+      progress: expect.closeTo(699 / 700, 10),
+    });
+    expect(controller.sample(sample({ now: 3_300, direction: 0, activeSectionId: 'profile' }))).toBeNull();
+    expect(controller.needsFrame()).toBe(false);
+    expect(controller.sample(sample({
+      now: 3_649,
+      candidateId: 'experience',
+      activeSectionId: 'profile',
+    }))).toBeNull();
+    expect(controller.sample(sample({
+      now: 3_650,
+      candidateId: 'experience',
+      activeSectionId: 'profile',
+    }))).toMatchObject({ targetId: 'experience', phase: 'anticipate' });
+  });
 
-    expect(nextSign(latched, passiveSample(0.55))).toEqual({
-      targetId: "profile",
-      phase: "stabilized",
+  it('shortens approach continuously to 650ms at full acceleration', () => {
+    const controller = createSignController();
+    controller.sample(sample({ acceleration: 1 }));
+
+    expect(controller.sample(sample({ now: 300, direction: 0 }))).toMatchObject({
+      phase: 'approach',
+      progress: 0,
+    });
+    expect(controller.sample(sample({ now: 949, direction: 0 }))).toMatchObject({
+      phase: 'approach',
+      progress: expect.closeTo(649 / 650, 10),
+    });
+    expect(controller.sample(sample({ now: 950, direction: 0 }))).toMatchObject({
+      phase: 'dwell',
       progress: 1,
     });
-    expect(nextSign(latched, passiveSample(0.15))).toEqual({
-      targetId: "profile",
-      phase: "pass",
-      progress: 0,
-    });
-    expect(nextSign(latched, passiveSample(-0.25))).toBeNull();
   });
 
-  it("retains the one latched target while the semantic section advances", () => {
-    const latched: SignSnapshot = {
-      targetId: "profile",
-      phase: "stabilized",
-      progress: 1,
-    };
+  it('holds a completed minimum dwell without scheduling idle frames until the target activates', () => {
+    const controller = createSignController();
+    controller.sample(sample());
+    controller.sample(sample({ now: 1_200, direction: 0 }));
 
-    expect(
-      nextSign(latched, passiveSample(0.1, { candidateId: "experience" })),
-    ).toEqual({
-      targetId: "profile",
-      phase: "pass",
-      progress: expect.closeTo(0.125, 14),
+    expect(controller.sample(sample({ now: 2_600, direction: 0 }))).toMatchObject({ phase: 'dwell' });
+    expect(controller.needsFrame()).toBe(false);
+    expect(controller.sample(sample({ now: 4_000, activeSectionId: 'profile' }))).toMatchObject({
+      phase: 'depart',
+      progress: 0,
+    });
+    expect(controller.needsFrame()).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it('cancels an unreadable sign on reverse and departs a readable sign cleanly', () => {
+    const early = createSignController();
+    early.sample(sample());
+    expect(early.sample(sample({ now: 500, direction: -1, deltaY: -20 }))).toBeNull();
+    expect(early.needsFrame()).toBe(false);
+
+    const readable = createSignController();
+    readable.sample(sample());
+    readable.sample(sample({ now: 1_200, direction: 0 }));
+    expect(readable.sample(sample({ now: 1_500, direction: -1, deltaY: -20 }))).toMatchObject({
+      phase: 'depart',
+      progress: 0,
     });
   });
 
   it.each([
-    ["reverse input", { deltaY: -2 }],
-    ["zero-direction input", { deltaY: 0 }],
-    ["explicit navigation", { source: "explicit-navigation" as const }],
-    ["history restoration", { source: "history-restoration" as const }],
-    ["initial positioning", { source: "initial" as const }],
-    ["more than one activation boundary", { crossedBoundaries: 2 }],
-    ["a jump over 0.75 viewport heights", { deltaY: 76 }],
-    ["disabled motion", { motionAllowed: false }],
-  ])("clears or suppresses signs for %s", (_label, overrides) => {
-    const latched: SignSnapshot = {
-      targetId: "profile",
-      phase: "approach",
-      progress: 0.5,
-    };
-    expect(nextSign(latched, passiveSample(0.5, overrides))).toBeNull();
+    ['explicit navigation', { source: 'explicit-navigation' as const }],
+    ['history restoration', { source: 'history-restoration' as const }],
+    ['initial positioning', { source: 'initial' as const }],
+    ['multiple crossed sections', { crossedBoundaries: 2 }],
+    ['a jump over 0.75 viewport heights', { deltaY: 601 }],
+    ['disabled motion', { motionAllowed: false }],
+  ])('suppresses or clears signs for %s', (_label, overrides) => {
+    const controller = createSignController();
+    controller.sample(sample());
+
+    expect(controller.sample(sample({ now: 400, ...overrides }))).toBeNull();
+    expect(controller.needsFrame()).toBe(false);
   });
 
-  it("does not latch before visibility or after a jump directly past completion", () => {
-    expect(nextSign(null, passiveSample(1.20001))).toBeNull();
-    expect(nextSign(null, passiveSample(-0.25))).toBeNull();
-    expect(nextSign(null, passiveSample(-1))).toBeNull();
+  it('does not impose cooldown when an idle initial sample precedes real passive input', () => {
+    const controller = createSignController();
+
+    expect(controller.sample(sample({ source: 'initial' }))).toBeNull();
+    expect(controller.sample(sample({ now: 100 }))).toMatchObject({
+      targetId: 'profile',
+      phase: 'anticipate',
+    });
+  });
+
+  it.each([
+    ['reverse input', { direction: -1 as const, deltaY: -1 }],
+    ['stationary input', { direction: 0 as const, deltaY: 0 }],
+    ['candidate before the approach window', { candidateDistanceVh: 1.200_001 }],
+    ['candidate already passed', { candidateDistanceVh: 0 }],
+    ['candidate is already active', { activeSectionId: 'profile' as const }],
+    ['missing candidate', { candidateId: null }],
+  ])('does not latch for %s', (_label, overrides) => {
+    const controller = createSignController();
+    expect(controller.sample(sample(overrides))).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it('keeps one target latched when the next candidate changes', () => {
+    const controller = createSignController();
+    controller.sample(sample());
+
+    expect(controller.sample(sample({
+      now: 600,
+      direction: 0,
+      candidateId: 'experience',
+    }))).toMatchObject({ targetId: 'profile', phase: 'approach' });
+  });
+
+  it('resets malformed samples to a finite idle state', () => {
+    const controller = createSignController();
+    controller.sample(sample());
+
+    expect(controller.sample(sample({ now: Number.NaN }))).toBeNull();
+    expect(controller.needsFrame()).toBe(false);
+    controller.reset();
+    expect(controller.sample(sample({ now: 100 }))).toMatchObject({ phase: 'anticipate' });
   });
 });