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Week of May 5, 2008
New signs for new times
Metro's prototype sign offers a new look. | King County Metro Transit is looking to simplify travel for bus riders with new signs that are easier to see, read, and use. This week, you can help Metro by checking out prototype bus stop signs in downtown Seattle and fill out a survey expressing your likes and dislikes about the new signs.The prototype signs are on Third Avenue, between Union and University streets, next to Benaroya Hall. The display will be in place through at least the end of this week. “We are hoping people will check out these signs and see if they provide the information they need to ride our buses,” said Gary Larson, chief of Information Production for Metro. "The signs include the main destinations for each bus route, larger route numbers, the location of the bus stop, symbols for connecting transportation modes like the airport and rail, and Metro's Rider Information number and Web site address." Metro launched a multi-year program in 2007 to invest in an up-to-date design for passenger signs that is more informative, easier to see and use, and more attractive for customers. The plan is to replace the existing 18-year-old signage system with new signs, beginning with those at Metro bus stops. The transit agency is looking to increase customer satisfaction by providing signage that makes it easier to navigate the system – particularly when making transfers between buses or between the different transportation systems in the region. Larson said they also want to provide as much information as possible in the small space available, and update the signage to better fit in with new transit facilities and even Metro's bus colors.
The prototype sign is now installed on Third Avenue between Union and University streets. | Working with an experienced transit sign design consultant, the system-wide revamp started with an assessment of Metro’s current signs and research of signs used by other transit systems in our region and around the country and world. The consultant is working closely with a team of Metro staff representing key groups that plan, produce, install, maintain, and use the signs. The project team is also working with Metro’s customer service staff who answer passenger questions and help confused customers. Community members serving on Metro’s transit advisory committees have also reviewed and endorsed the sign designs.Metro began developing the new designs after testing a preliminary sign style in 2006 along new Route 180 in South King County. Metro is now conducting "real-life" field-testing of the signs and their components to make sure they meet passenger needs and the agency’s goals. The field-testing is a key step before completing a Sign Design Standards Manual, which will contain graphics, specifications, instructions, and other information for planning, fabricating and installing the signs during the next few years. Some of the goals for the new signage are: • Easy to identify, use, and understand with a consistent organization of information and design; • Understandable to both existing customers and new, or infrequent transit users; • Provide useful information that improves the ride, and removes barriers to using Metro; • Meet requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and needs of people who are limited or non-English speaking; and • Simplify information updates and changes, and minimize the cost of updating and maintaining the signs.
The Seattle Mariners are back in town through Sunday, May 11 for games against the Texas Rangers and Chicago White Sox. For the weekday bouts, which are all night games, there is plenty of regular Metro bus service traveling to and from the stadium area. There is also special service to 13 outlying park-and-ride lots after those games. Use Metro’s convenient online Trip Planner to research which routes provide the best connection from your home or office to the ballpark. For weekend games, there is special service both to and from the park-and-ride lots. The fare for special buses is $3 each way. See Metro Online for all the Mariners service details. |
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Potholes must be repaired before roads can be repaved. | Resurfacing county roadways literally takes a “multi-layered” approach, and sometimes residents are confused by what they see on the surface of the road. Right now, there are roads throughout the unincorporated areas that look like patchwork quilts with squares and stripes of new, darker asphalt and temporary lane lines and striping. This not the final surface of the road. These are repairs being made by the King County Road Services Division to badly worn sections of the existing surface where the pavement has deteriorated due to heavy traffic loads. Repairing these areas must be done prior to the roadway being repaved this summer. Once the grinding and patching is done this spring, the paving crews will begin circulating through the county this summer to lay down a smooth layer of new asphalt with freshly applied lane markers. | Subscribe to DOT DashSign-up to receive an e-mail text version of "Transportation Today," along with other significant DOT news by sending an e-mail to us with subscribe King County DOT Dash in the subject line.
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