Description
Wayfinding upgrades improve navigation for pedestrians and cyclists through clear, consistent signage that provides travel distances and enhances route visibility. Implementing wayfinding on a regional scale could include providing consistently branded signage to direct people to CV Link access points and other bicycle facilities, conducting signage audits along bicycle and pedestrian routes to assess visibility, and upgrading wayfinding infrastructure using CV Link Signage and Branding Guidelines.
Implementation Details
- Conduct a signage audit to assess visibility, placement, and consistency.
- Work with a stakeholder group to develop regional and local route systems and identify key destination.
- Upgrade wayfinding infrastructure using CV Link Signage and Branding Guidelines as a starting point, incorporating bilingual messaging and icons for key destinations (e.g., SunLine stops, parks, schools, city centers).
- Facilitate a regional wayfinding program that includes branded signage approved by member agencies for installation throughout the CVAG region directing people to key destinations.
- Prioritize installation of walking and biking time/distance markers at conflict points and decision nodes along corridors.
- Include wayfinding improvements in Active Transportation Plans (ATP) and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funding applications, bundling them with safety and connectivity upgrades for cost efficiency.
- Track installations through regional GIS asset management systems and display updated locations via the regional mobility dashboard and the CVAG open data portal.
- Coordinate long-term maintenance responsibilities through agreements with member agency public works departments.
Mitigation Potential
Wayfinding upgrades can encourage bicycling, walking, and transit ridership, however the impact is difficult to quantify as there is not a lot of research on this strategy. Some cities and grant funding agencies require counts or stated preference surveys to determine the impacts of wayfinding before and after installing wayfinding.
Linked Strategies
Equity Considerations
Implement signage in neighborhoods with limited digital access. Ensure ADA-compliant and multilingual signs, especially in areas with non-English-speaking populations and aging residents.
Funding Sources
Funding varies depending on the extent of the wayfinding, the design including sizing, and whether Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) are incorporated, but typically wayfinding requires less funding than other capital projects. Funding sources include the Regional Active Transportation Program – Riverside Region (Southern California Association of Governments), and the Statewide Active Transportation Plan (California Transportation Commission).
Examples/Case Studies
Ventura County Regional Bikeway Wayfinding Plan
The plan is designed with the purpose of enhancing the overall biking experience within the county by providing clear and consistent signage. This plan aims to improve navigation, allowing cyclists to easily find and follow designated bike routes through well-placed, easy-to-understand signs.
City of West Sacramento and WALKSacramento Wayfinding Pilot Program
This initiative leverages the existing Safe Routes to School efforts to encourage families to walk or bike from school to various parts of the community. The program’s goal is to enhance the overall walking and biking experience for students and their families by providing clear and understandable wayfinding signage.