Citywide Wayfinding Program
Design Guidelines Planning Process
On September 7, 2010, Planning Commission approved the City of Alexandria Wayfinding
Design Guidelines Manual, with a minor revision to page 92 in Part 3-Appendix. The revised
approved manual is posted below in sections for ease of access.
Phased Implementation
Implementation and maintenance of the Wayfinding Program will be managed by the
Department of Transportation and Environmental Services. The program will be implemented
in Phases. Phase 1 is anticipated for implementation in late 2010, early 2011 and will consist
of parking related wayfinding signs in Old Town.
Background
In September 2010, the City of Alexandria completed the development of a citywide Wayfinding Design Guidelines Manual that will guide the implementation of a comprehensive citywide signage system. The wayfinding system will project a consistent image for the entire city; reduce visual clutter; and promote walking, bicycling, and use of mass transit. A Wayfinding Stakeholder Advisory Group was established by the City Manager to provide input to the City and consultant team and to serve as a liaison to the community regarding the project as it develops. Membership of the group was made up of representatives from business/civic groups and City commissions and boards.
Wayfinding Goals and Objectives
The purpose of the project is to develop a comprehensive wayfinding signage system for the City that will be installed following a phased implementation plan. Project objectives include:
- Develop a vehicular and pedestrian wayfinding system for destinations throughout the City with a focus on the Old Town core of the City;
- Develop a wayfinding system that will create an overall identity for the City, that is compatible with its historic character, and that will also help to differentiate existing and emerging districts;
- Provide signage that will direct visitors to parking lots and garages;
- Provide trailblazer signage for interstate, state roads, and primary bicycle trails, as well as major destinations just outside City boundaries (Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Mount Vernon);
- Reduce visual clutter and increase consistency of City signage;
- Promote walking, bicycling, and use of mass transit;
- Support the developing regional interpretive trail system and reinforce historical and regional trail themes by incorporating regional trails and historic sites into City interpretive signage;
- Integrate Alexandria Heritage Trail interpretive signage (designed previously and partially installed); and
- Address ADA guidelines and considerations in the design of the program.
The comprehensive wayfinding signage system will consist of the following parts:
- City Gateways
- Commercial District Gateways
- Destination Directional Signs (to include historic districts and sites)
- Destination Identity Signs
- Parking Directional Signs
- Parking Identity Signs
- Pedestrian Directional Signs
- Trailblazer Signs
- Interpretive Signs (to include integration of previously developed Alexandria Heritage Trail signage)
- Interpretive Kiosks (Old Town and at 4 Metro Stations (King Street, Braddock Road, Van Dorn Street, and Eisenhower Avenue)
Stakeholder Advisory Group
- Membership list (updated January 25, 2010)
- Attendance: While business at Stakeholder Advisory Group meetings is generally limited to members of the Stakeholder Advisory Group, the public is welcome at all Advisory Group meetings, and public comment is invited at the end of the meeting.
Planning Process and Meeting Materials
June 30, 2010, Wayfinding Open House and Stakeholder Advisory Group Meeting
Mockups Evaluation Phase and Draft Design Guidelines Manual Public Review and Comment Period Complete (May 14 - May 31, 2010)
The public review and comment period for the Wayfinding Design Guidelines Manual is now closed. Thank you for providing feedback that will directly inform refinements made to the manual.
From May 14 through May 31 the City carried out a Wayfinding Sign mockups evaluation phase of a selection of the signs proposed in the Wayfinding program. A total of 9 temporary signs was installed in Old Town using temporary materials. A detailed package of mockup signs and a map of the locations is provided below so that citizens can see the signs that were tested during the ten-day mockup period.
The purpose of full size mockups is to test and confirm appropriateness of the approved concept related to design, color choice, scale, font, and overall style. Other factors to be evaluated are location, mounting issues, ground plane conditions, and legibility of the text. Mockup message content is intended to be generally accurate, but is still subject to review and editing.
The signs were up for the purposes of testing and gathering community feedback. Interested citizens are asked to submit written comments on the web, by email or by mail. Feedback and observations from the mockup review will be gathered and evaluated, and will directly inform the refinements made to the design concepts prior to finalizing the Wayfinding Design Guidelines Manual, which will go to Planning Commission for review in the Fall.
May 19, 2010 6-7:30pm, BAR Joint Work Session -- Staff solicited the BAR's comments on the mockups, the sign program overall, and building mounted parking garage signs.
January 26, 2010. Stakeholder Advisory Group Meeting
April 7, 2009 Presentation to National Park Service on proposed Washington Street sign elements
April 7, 2009 Planning Commission hearing on conceptual approval of Phase 1 signs
April 1, 2009 O&HD BAR public hearing on conceptual approval of Phase 1 signs
March 25, 2009 Stakeholder Advisory Group Meeting
March 18, 2009 O&HD BAR work session
February 18, 2009 Joint BAR work session
February 2, 2009 City Council work session
January 6. 2009 Planning Commission and Boards of Architectural Review Joint work session
January 5, 2009 Community Open House
November 6, 2008 Stakeholder Advisory Group Meeting
September 24, 2008 Stakeholder Advisory Group Meeting
June 19, 2008 Stakeholder Advisory Group Collaborative Community Workshop
May 29, 2008 Stakeholder Advisory Group Joint Community Meeting
April 24, 2008 Stakeholder Advisory Group Meeting
February 27, 2008 Stakeholder Advisory Group Meeting
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