Toronto 360° Wayfinding Strategy€¦ · strategies, systems and products relevant to Toronto. »...
Transcript of Toronto 360° Wayfinding Strategy€¦ · strategies, systems and products relevant to Toronto. »...
Toronto 360° Wayfinding Strategypublic works and infrastructure committee meetingwednesday september 12, 2012
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agenda
1. Introduction
2. Understanding wayfinding
3. Wayfinding strategy
4. Outline business case
5. Next steps
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This presentation summarizes the outcomes of the Wayfinding System Strategy (Phase One) study, which began in September 2011.
The study aimed to establish robust foundations for the development and delivery of a high-quality wayfinding system for Toronto.
fiona chapman Manager-Pedestrian Projects Public Realm Section Transportation Services City of Toronto
phil berczuk Partner-in-charge Head of Design Steer Davies Gleave
introduction
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understanding wayfinding
What is wayfinding?
A wayfinding system makes streets, neighbourhoods and the city ‘legible’, helping people find their way. Wayfinding is more than signs and comprises:
» Signs » Names » Maps » Lighting » Street furniture » Urban realm » Public art » New technology (mobile/ websites)
wayfinding
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understanding wayfinding
Objectives of city wayfinding & signing
Identify and connect places
Build confidence and trust to walk
Reduce reliance on the car and promote multi-modal trips
Stimulate economic growth
Reassure and encourage exploration/ wandering/ discovery
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wayfinding strategy > what we learned
observation consultation research
The Toronto 360° Wayfinding Strategy themes and principles emerged from the project’s three main activities:
General audits
Case study areas
Existing wayfinding
Streetscape
Interviews
Meetings
Workshop
Open House
Policy and guidelines
Best practice review
International experiences
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continuity Multi-modal wayfinding is sporadic and fragmented – it does not operate as a system or a network.
wayfinding strategy > gaps
consistency Signage material, appearance, content and location lack consistency and do not harmonize with their surroundings.
connectivity Most systems in Toronto provide point specific information, and lack information related to their immediate context.
accessibility A combination of location, height, reading angle and material often compromise legibility.
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wayfinding strategy > stakeholder interviews
“wayfinding should motivate people to walk... to discover the city... parks, events, museums... the neighbourhoods”
“Embrace technology... QR codes... digital markers... apps”
“wayfinding should work for all... use pictograms”
“we need to enhance both: a city identity and a neighbourhood identity”
“the system should consider all modes of transportation”
“there should be opportunities for others to contribute to the wayfinding system... BIAs, PanAM,... and to have a legacy”
“we need a map that everybody can recognize... and build upon”
“we need a strategy for what happens in-between areas that do have wayfinding”
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wayfinding strategy > stakeholder workshop & open house
accessibility
connectivity
information hierarchy
leverage partnerships
Easy to understand for all / balance between implicit versus explicit wayfinding / New AODA legislation
Consistent long-term place naming / logical intersection of provincial, municipal and local wayfinding
Leverage partnership opportunities by integrating the Toronto Wayfinding System with third party interfaces
Logical connections for different users and various modes of transportation / legible transitions between modes
Enhance connections between neighbourhoods and destinations throughout the city
modaltransition
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wayfinding strategy > best practice review
A review of international wayfinding systems identified strategies, systems and products relevant to Toronto.
» Philadelphia, USA
» New York, USA
» Bogota, Colombia
» Legible Bristol, UK
» London, UK
» City of London (local)
» Islington (local)
» Legible London (citywide)
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wayfinding strategy > themes
consistency being localsustainabilityinclusivity transition
The system should cater to the needs of all user types
Physical access
Contrast
Accessibility
Technology
Consideration of full life cycle costing and ability to adapt to change
Reduce clutter
Flexibility
Extendability
Future proof
Connecting places and facilitating third party input to enable people to move seamlessly from one mode, system or area to another
Multi-modal
Reciprocity
Route legibility
Fill the gaps
Celebrating and promoting the city and its districts. Empowering community participation and input
Landmarks
Local character
Historic names
Placemaking
Consistent content and presentation is fundamental for effective wayfinding
Hierarchy
Conventions
Positioning
Structures
NOTE: A full description of the themes can be found on pp. 29-35 of the Final Report
gateway totemAt gateways such as transit exits
context totemTier 1 places of interest and significant areas
narrow map totemOther significant places of interest and transit exits
directionalAt intermediate decision points and intersections
interpretativeAt significant historic, cultural and heritage locations
info to go pillarsBy retail clusters and main streets (not decision points)
Signage
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wayfinding strategy > system components
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400m / 5min
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wayfinding strategy > system components
mobile appsOn internet-enabled mobile devices with features such as compass and location-based services
Improve connections, create new legible routes, improve quality of place, and encourage walking and exploration
local area mapsTransition points such as: Bus/Streetcar shelters, Transit stations, PATH, Bixi, Parking lots
pockets mapsAt visitor welcome and entry points to the city (e.g. airports, hotel concierge, convention centres)
Printed Urban DesignDigital
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wayfinding strategy > highways (traffic signs)
Toronto traffic signs are often fragmented and inconsistent.
Lack of continuity between initial appearance of destinations on signs and arrival at those destinations.
Information overload or gaps in information resulting from a lack of general signing and outdated road signage policy.
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wayfinding strategy > highways (traffic signs)
Reduce sign clutter, minimize driver distraction and allow drivers to reach their final destinations as efficiently as possible.
Update identification and directional road signage policy, including selection criteria for signed destinations, and sign design standards.
Define and include numbers for exit approach and turn-off signs.
Advance information sign
Turn-off information sign
Exit information sign
Traffic signs (illustrative examples)
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An improved wayfinding system is expected to deliver the following key benefits:
Increase visitor expenditure by identifying and connecting places—raising awareness of local attractions and increasing confidence to explore the city.
Reduce walk and auto-journey times, increase confidence to walk, promote multi-modal trips, reduce local congestion and greenhouse gas emissions and increase healthy physical activity.
Improve the urban realm, enhance local community identities and stimulate economic growth.
outline business case > overview
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outline business case > costs:benefits
The full roll-out of the wayfinding system is estimated at $7.2 million, giving a total capital cost of approximately $8m
Implementation of a wayfinding strategy pilot for two areas is expected to cost around $0.8m including consultation, implementation and evaluation.
Up to 10 to 15% of the ongoing capital investment is recommended to maintain and renew the wayfinding system.
For every dollar invested the City can expect between 90 cents and $2.40 of transportation benefits
The MAE identified that transportation benefits are expected to increase with implementation of digital and highway strategies.
Significant non-transportation benefits–such as increased tourism spend, employment, environment, health and quality of life–are over and above those quantified in the BCR.
Adding these to the transport case suggests that the investment is likely to repay itself through transportation benefits alone.
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next steps > phase two (pilot) and three
Phase Two moves the strategy into implementation and is designed to be in place in advance of the 2015 Pan /ParaPan Am Games.
east downtown and morningside/military trail were selected among 5 areas as proposed Phase Two pilot areas.
Phase Two evaluation results will verify and update the OBC and more accurately convey the costs and benefits to potential funders of Phase Three—city wide roll-out—which is expected to commence by 2016.
east downtown
morningside/military trail
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next steps > indicative implementation plan
phase twoDetailed Graphic/Product design
PA Sign manufacture and installation
Design testing and prototype
Highway signage strategy
PA Evaluation (pre/post)
Map asset platform (back office)
Stakeholder consultation (PA and global)
Map back-office
Pre/Post Evaluations
Strategy development
Report to City Council
q1 q1q1 q1 q1 q1 q3q2 q2q2 q2 q2 q2 q4q3 q3q3 q3 q3q4 q4q4 q4 q42011 20132012 2014 2015 2016
phase threeSystem design guidelines
Stakeholder consultation (local area)
digital strategy
highway strategy
Artwork output and management platform
Manufacture and installation begin Web/mobile App (generic)
Highway/Traffic sign design Pilot, Ev., Roll
App evaluation
Highway strategy
City Council approval
phase one