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HomeMy WebLinkAboutReport - Mail Packet - 2/12/2019 - Letter From Matt Robenalt, Downtown Development Authority, Re: Dda Tactical Urbanism Wayfinding Project Summary ReportWALK [FORT COLLINS] FINAL REPORT TACTICAL URBANISM WAYFINDING INTRODUCTION As an information gathering endeavor of the Fort Collins DDA, the Tactical Urbanism Wayfinding Project seasonally highlighted the accessibility of Fort Collins attractions and destinations from 2016 to 2018. The temporary application of wayfinding signs throughout downtown provided both a practical way to guide visitors and residents to their destination, and also gather user data to help inform downtown decision makers regarding the future installation of permanent wayfinding signage. Visitors arrive down- town through multi-modal means of transportation, which can include automobile, public transit, bicy- cle and as a pedestrian. In the downtown’s predom- inant pedestrian environment, wayfinding is intend- ed to assist visitors orient themselves when making multi-modal transitions from automobile-to-pedes- trian, bike-to-pedestrian, and transit-to-pedestrian. Benefits of an informative wayfinding system help to remove guesswork from a visitors experience, which can also reduce the number of vehicles circulating or “trolling” for parking spaces on the street, and impact the health of both people and the environment. During the summer of 2016, the Downtown Develop- ment Authority initiated a 3-year seasonal pilot proj- ect of tactical urbanism wayfinding. The goal of this project was to promote wayfinding while encourag- ing and showcasing Old Town’s ease of walk-ability through informative signage. Each sign uniquely in- formed pedestrians of how close their next destination was in relation to walking, or sometimes biking. Des- tinations were chosen with the intent not to exceed a 20 minute walk within downtown. Tactical wayfind- ing in Fort Collins was inspired by other cities expe- riences and projects. Walk [Your City], WYC, offers an online web-based service that creates temporary signs, making it straightforward and convenient for cities to affordably test wayfinding alternatives. The sign templates obtained from WYC and used by the Fort Collins DDA were premade 12”x12” squares of coroplast material. Destinations and knowledge of local routes was all that was needed to create signs for the downtown. Not only do the WYC signs point you in the right di- rection with basic directional arrows and estimated travel time to destinations based on either a walking or cycling options, but these signs also provide actu- al directions via Google Maps generated routes. Each sign provides an individual QR scan code, which can be interfaced by the user with their smart-phones to receive Google Map directions and information about the wayfinding campaign. Any user that accesses in- formation through the QR scan code on an individual wayfinding sign automatically generates data for the project administrator’s account at WYC and reveals the cumulative frequency of times users sought infor- mation from the specific destination’s sign. The process of collaboration and planning was crucial to manifest this project in the downtown as a multi- year seasonal pilot project. To make the most informed decisions for sign destinations, the DDA collaborated with the Downtown Business Association and Visit Fort Collins. Members of each organization were in- vited to a collective meeting where affinity mapping techniques and brainstorming took place. The DDA asked collaborators to brainstorm the most important places, features, and sought after attractions through- out downtown Fort Collins. The DDA assessed this data, as well as information from websites such as Trip Advisor and Visit Fort Collins Downtown Infor- mation Center’s visitor directional inquiries to down- town destinations. All this information was utilized to create five sepa- rate categories of wayfinding signs within downtown Fort Collins. Each category was assigned a specific color and distinguished by activity: Shops & Restaurants Visitor Information Parks & Public Spaces Arts & Entertainment Transportation Shops & Restaurants • Laurel St. Shops & Restaurants • Trimble Court Shops & Services • N. College Shops & Entertainment • Pine Street Shops & Dining • Old Fire House Alley • Jefferson St. Shops & Services • New Belgium Brewery • Odell Brewing • Fort Collins Brewery • Snowbank Brewing • Downtown Gift Cards • Oak Street Restaurants & Shops Arts & Entertainment • Downtown Artery • FC Tours • Bas Bleu Theater • Museum of Discovery • Historic Avery House • Creative District • Lincoln Center • Art Lab • Museum of Art • Jazz Alley • Global Village Museum • Center for Fine Art Photography • Lyric Cinema • Community Creative Center Categories & Destinations Transportation • MAX Mountain Ave. • MAX Olive St. • MAX Mulberry St. • MAX Stops @ Laurel St. • Downtown Transit Center • Old Town Parking Garage 1 2 3 4 5 6 9 7 8 10 11 12 13 14 21 15 18 16 17 19 20 24 23 22 25 26 Post Location Map After destinations were decided upon, approval from the city of Fort Collins was needed because the coroplast WYC signs needed to be affixed to poles, posts and other attachment points in the City owned right-of-way. Mea- sures were taken to ensure that the signs did not face any streets to avoid concern over driver distraction, and no wayfinding signs were placed on traffic control signs or poles. Twenty-seven locations were identified to af- fix signs, the signs were designed on the WYC website, and routes were created. WYC’s sign building process is straightforward, and the designer can easily edit the walking and biking routes associated with a given desti- nation.. This allowed the project team to avoid construc- tion inconveniences or any other obstacles that disrupted routes to destinations. 1. Linden & Jefferson St. • Brewery District • Poudre River & Trail • Bas Bleu Theater • Buckingham Park 2. Linden & Jefferson St. • Downtown Gift Cards • Fort Collins Tours • Jefferson St. Shops & Services 3. Linden & Willow St. • Jefferson St. Shops & Services • Gustav Swanson Natural Area • Art Lab • Center For Fine Art Photography 4. The Poudre Trail & Linden St. • Buckingham Park • Downtown Artery • Lee Martinez Park & Farm • Bas Bleu Theater 5. The Poudre Trail & Linden St. • Odell Brewing • Snowbank • New Belgium • Fort Collins Brewery 6. Jefferson & Pine St. • Civic Center Garage • CSU Powerhouse • Pine St. Shops & Dining 7. Walnut & Pine St. • Old Town Square & Fountain • Mason Trail • Fort Collins Tours 8. Walnut & Pine St. • Fine Art Photography • Civic Center Park • N. College Shops & Entertainment 9. North College Ave. • Museum of Discovery • CSU Powerhouse • Lee Martinez Park Destinations 10. Transit Center • City Hall • Larimer County Court House • Global Village Museum • Electric Car Charging Station 11. Laporte Ave. & Mason St. • Armstrong Hotel • Historic Avery House • Historic Birney Trolley 12. Civic Center Garage • Old Town Square • Visit Fort Collins • Museum of Art • Downtown Gift Cards • Lyric Cinema • Oak St. Plaza & Fountain 13. Mason St. & Mountain Ave. • Historic Birney Trolley • Avery House YEAR ONE 2016 The implementation and process of the first year was proven to be successful based off feedback collected from the public, city, and the DDA. However, data aggregated on the WYC website was relatively min- imal due to it being the first year of tactical wayfind- ing, but outcomes were positive. In the first year of the program the signs were installed for just over a one- month period before being taken down, limiting the number of people and duration of engagement with the wayfinding signs. Changes to the second year pro- gram installation were implemented with the intent to promote and increase user participation over a longer period of several months. One hundred wayfinding signs were installed throughout Old Town in August 2016, just in time for the Bohemian Nights at New West Fest. There were five color categories, and most light poles held three to five signs per pole. Upon the initial installation, we were stopped multiple times by pedestrians inquir- ing about the signs and expressing their excitement towards the wayfinding project. With optimism from the people of Fort Collins, Denver 9News publicized a story that showcased the project. The DDA received positive feedback and reinforcement from the begin- ning of tactical wayfinding within the city. During in- stallation in Old Town Square, a new resident stopped to say, “Amazing, I had no idea the Poudre River was so close.” Each year there were a number of signs that received QR scanning activity. This was done through a scan- ning app on a smart-phone. The minimal activity signs received could have been due to not knowing how to use the QR codes and being apprehensive to try. How- ever, we did get some participants. The signs received twelve QR scans the first year. • The Museum of Art 3 • Jazz Alley 3 • The Creative District 1 • Lyric Cinema Cafe 1 • Downtown Transit Center 1 • The Brewery District 3 Arts & Entertainment Transportation Shops & Restaurants 2016 Total Scans 12 YEAR TWO 2017 Another adjustment was made to reduce the number of signs per pole, or attachment locations, to a max- imum of three. This reduced visual clutter while in- creasing legibility, making it more efficient to read all signs. Attachment locations predominantly remained the same, and signs varied minimally to accommo- date route adjustments caused by ongoing construc- tion projects in the downtown. The most beneficial change was an earlier installation schedule. The signs were installed June 26, 2017, forty-six days earlier than the previous year. Installation in June allowed for more activity and use throughout summer months. Forty-nine QR scans were taken from June - Septem- ber when the signs were removed. Additionally, user familiarity with the sign system increased in Year Two and perhaps contributed to an increase in user en- gagement with the signs. One of the observed challenges in 2017 was an in- crease in sign vandalism. Previously in Year One, only a handful of signs were defaced or went missing, and most destruction occurred due to weathering, which was expected for the type of material used for the tem- porary signs. In Year Two vandalism was more preva- lent. Some signs were maliciously removed from their pole, while others were turned around, thus pointing pedestrians in the wrong direction. Others were tam- pered with to face the street. Most often, signs subject to vandalism were defaced by graffiti. When looking toward the future and potential installation of perma- nent wayfinding signage, many of these vandalism concerns experienced with the temporary signs could be alleviated with permanent signs of higher durabil- ity and mounting hardware, and integration into the downtown’s ongoing graffiti prevention program. Eighty-seven signs were installed in 2017. The sec- ond year received higher public engagement and in- teraction. Minimal changes in approach were made during the second year, and were based upon our find- ings and feedback from the year prior. Recognized as unnecessary, certain signs were eliminated that in- cluded signs for the Oak Street restroom which was under reconstruction in 2017, electric car charging stations which turned out to be an uninspired visitor destination, the bike library which was closed, and the Creative District. The Fort Collins Brewery sign was also removed due to new ownership and tempo- rary closure. The tactical wayfinding was useful in providing alternative directions for businesses under construction. The Lyric Cinema’s access was altered due to The Elizabeth Hotel construction , and the main route to Odell Brewing on Lincoln Avenue was also under construction. The DDA was able to collaborate with Odell Brewing in providing an alternative pedes- trian route to avoid the construction and diminish the impact to residents of the Buckingham neighborhood. Wayfinding signs are important because they provide pedestrians with directions they might not otherwise have access to or be aware of. Additional changes to Year Two installation was a reduction in the color 1 31 30 28 27 29 27. Lincoln & Odell Brewing • New Belgium Brewing • River District Restaurants • Snowbank Brewing 28. Lincoln & 1st St. • New Belgium Brewing 29. Lincoln & the Poudre Trail • New Belgium Brewing • River District Restaurants 30. Buckingham & 1st St. • Odell Brewing • Snowbank Brewing 31. Buckingham & Linden St. • Odell Brewing • Snowbank Brewing YEAR THREE 2018 Ninety-four signs were installed on June 7, 2018. Similar planning and steps were taken during execu- tion of the third and final year of the program. Sign locations, color categories, and prior destinations were consistent with Year Two with some new desti- nations added. River District signs were added to en- courage exploration of the area that began to exhibit a critical mass of new business opening in the previ- ous six months. Additional brewery signs were added throughout the brewery district. Buckingham neigh- borhood was experiencing heavy amounts of traffic due to brewery patrons cutting through the neighbor- hood, so the DDA team coordinated with the City’s Neighborhood Services staff to create the best route around the neighborhood. Wayfinding signs were add- ed to the neighborhood perimeter to encourage trav- el along the Poudre River Trail and Lincoln Avenue. Five attachment locations were chosen to add addi- tional signage to. Earlier seasonal installation was proven successful, again, for the final year. The WYC website indicated twenty-six QR code scans from June to September. This was less activity than Year Two but still higher engagement and data collected than Year One. Van- dalism in Year Three was minimal in comparison to Year Two, but still consisted of some graffiti and sign removals. Some citizen feedback was given that we hadn’t received before. There was concern with dis- tances to destinations being depicted as minutes of travel time, and that different people walk at different speeds so accuracy could vary from one user to the next. Minutes, as a form of travel time to a destina- tion, was limited by the WYC relationship to Google Maps interface, and distances in mileage increments was not an option. This does not have to be a limita- tion when considering installation of permanent sys- tems of wayfinding signs. Additional Post Locations • The Brewery District 12 • Old Firehouse Alley 5 • New Belgium Brewery 3 • Odell Brewing 1 • Snowbank Brewery 1 • Jazz Alley 5 • Poudre River & Trail 4 • Civic Center Park 3 • Museum of Art 3 • Historic Avery House 2 • Remington Bikeway 2 • Old Town Sq. & Fountain 1 • Old Town Parking Garage 3 • Chamber of Commerce 2 • Old Town Library & Park 1 • City Hall 1 Shops & Restaurants Shops & Restaurants Parks & Public Spaces Parks & Public Spaces Visitor Information 2017 Total Scans 49 2017 QR ACTIVITY • River District Shops & Dining 3 • Oak Street Shops & Dining 2 • The Art Lab 2 • Downtown Artery 2 • New Belgium Brewing 2 • Oak St. Shops & Restaurants 1 • The Elizabeth Hotel 1 • The Brewery District 1 • River District Restaurants 1 • Poudre River & Trail 8 • Historic Avery House 2 • Gustav Swanson Natural Area 1 2018 Total Scans 26 2018 Installation Date Number of scans Most scanned signs CONCLUSION 2016 2017 2018 12 49 26 • Brewery District • Museum of Art • Jazz Alley • Brewery District • Old Firehouse Alley • Jazz Alley • Poudre River & Trail • River District Shops & Dining August 11 June 26 June 7 Lessons Learned Comparative Analysis Challenges Walk[Your City] enabled the DDA to collect informa- tion inexpensively and quickly through the company’s online data collection platform. Important lessons were learned throughout the three-year pilot project. Considering the signs were made of temporary mate- rials, they were easily vandalized and stolen. A more permanent installation with greater durability would help deter these problems. Metals signs, can be easier cleaned of graffiti, and also less likely to be stolen and vandalized due to more durable attachment options. Another challenge within the wayfinding project was increasing the engagement by users with the QR scan code. This could be due to a lack of knowledge about how to use QR codes with a smart-phone, or it could imply that the directional arrows were enough in- struction to get users to their next destination without needing supplemental Google map directions. Opportunities for the Future Wayfinding can create many opportunities for resi- dents, visitors, and businesses of Fort Collins. Col- laboration with stakeholders and knowledge of vis- itor and tourist information needs can create more purposeful wayfinding, and this pilot project and its temporary nature allowed for learning how that can happen in the future. More collaboration can be done between local businesses, organizations, and the city. For example, the DDA worked with Neighborhood Services to design efficient and meaningful wayfin- ding to help avoid undesired non-business pedestri- an traffic through a residential neighborhood; and this success can be implemented on a larger scale for other neighborhoods abutting downtown Fort Col- lins. There is opportunity for wayfinding to coincide with Art in Public Spaces installations, community events, and more. This project helped build support and recognition about how we convey information to visitors and tourists, and that this information must be obvious and not limited by constraints of local tribal knowledge about how to access these special places and destinations in our downtown. We must think about what it means to be a newcomer resident Recommendations In conclusion, this three-year pilot project was re- sponsive to multi-modal transitions through wayfin- ding. The implementation of this project was a pos- itive enhancement during the summer months that encouraged and engaged the community to walk or bike to their next destination. Wayfinding is an easy and efficient way to assist pedestrian navigation with- in Fort Collins and offers a means of experiencing the downtown through an entirely unique perspective as a visitor, tourist or newcomer resident. Operational Considerations Signage Design Considerations The most successful categories of signage included di- rectional queues pointing to sub-districts of the down- town with clusters of Shops & Restaurants, specifical- ly the Brewery District, and Parks & Public Spaces. The destinations in these categories were most visited and sought after by residents and visitors, according to the QR scan code data. This data suggests that the public’s engagement in wayfinding within Fort Collins extends beyond major destinations to include an array of day-to-day activity sites within the downtown. In the areas where the signage was installed, the highest frequency of QR code scans occurred in the historic Old Town, followed by the shops and restaurants of the River District. Future signage installation should consider content that responds to areas with already high visitor and pedestrian activity. Improved quality, durability and permanency of way- finding signs would eliminate much of the impact of vandalism, along with regular maintenance checks and integration into existing maintenance and graffiti abatement programs. Signage Content Considerations A process to determine the best method for conveying distance from the posted sign location to the destina- tion should be undertaken. This process should con- sider whether online map platforms, such as Google Maps, are a useful tool to integrate into the signage, like was available through the temporary WYC signs. Other communities provide good inspiration and practical knowledge for permanent wayfinding op- tions, and these should also be explored. Simplicity and clarity of messaging on the signs is important. The signs should be designed with a strong intent to be wayfinding signs, first and foremost, so they are easi- ly recognizable and conspicuous to first time visitors, and not overtly disguised as art projects that camou- flage key messaging. Acknowledgments Sponsor: FC Downtown Development Authority With appreciation to the following collaborators: • Downtown Business Association • Visit Fort Collins • City of Fort Collins Author: Lauren Riordan Student of Landscape Architecture at Colorado State University Email: lauren.riordan5@gmail.com Phone: 303.317.7030 or first-time visitor experiencing our downtown and communicate clearly, concisely and conspicuously how to get to the places where people desire to go. coded sign categories from five to three to minimize visual distraction and simplify the destination catego- ries. Categories were reduced and destinations com- bined into the following: Shops & Restaurants Visitor Information Parks & Public Spaces • Civic Center Park 14. Mason & Oak St. • Museum of Art • Oak Street Shops & Restaurants • MAX @ Olive • MAX @ Mountain 15. Olive & Mason St. • Lincoln Center • Colorado State University • Chamber of Commerce • The Creative District 16. Mulberry & Mason St. • Laurel St. Shops & Restaurants • CSU Historical Oval • MAX Stops @ Laurel • Lincoln Center 17. Mason & Laurel St. • CSU Historic Oval • Old Town Square & Fountain • CSU Flower Garden 18. College Ave. & Magnolia St. • Remington Bikeway • Armstrong Hotel • Laurel St. Shops & Restaurants • Library & Park 19. College Ave. & Olive St. • Community Creative Center • MAX Stops @ Olive • Global Village Museum 20. Remington Lot Pole • Oak St. Plaza & Fountain • CO Carriage & Wagon • Gustav Swanson Natural Area 21. Oak Street Plaza • Oak Street Shops & Dining • Colorado State University • Bike Share/Bike Library 22. College Ave. at Wagz • Trimble Court Shops & Services • Museum of Discovery • Restrooms 23. Linden St. & Trimble Ct. • Jazz Alley • Poudre River & Trail • Downtown Transit Center • Restrooms 24. Linden St. & Mountain Ave. • Trimble Court Shops & Services • Art Lab • Downtown Artery • Visit Fort Collins • Lyric Cinema Cafe 25. Walnut & Linden St. (2 poles) • Old Firehouse Alley • Brewery District • Poudre River & Trail • Community Creative Center • Downtown Transit Center • Old Town Parking Garage 26. Mountain Ave. at Coopersmith’s • Remington Bikeway • Jazz Alley • Library & Park • Brewery District • Civic Center Parking Garage • Bike share/library • Colorado Carriage & Wagon • Historic Birney Streetcar • Electric Car Charging Stations Parks & Public Spaces • Lee Martinez Park & Farm • Buckingham Park • Poudre River & Trail • Civic Center Park • CSU Historic Oval • Oak Street Plaza & Fountain • Old Town Square & Fountain • CSU Annual Flower Trial Garden • Gustav Swanson Natural Area • Mason Trail Visitor Information • Library & Park • Chamber of Commerce • Larimer County Court House • CSU Powerhouse • CSU Campus • Visit Fort Collins • Armstrong Hotel • Restrooms • City Hall