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Wayfinding

Pedestrian Wayfinding for Downtown Long Beach

The Downtown Long Beach Alliance is managing the design and installation of 12 new pedestrian signs on sidewalks throughout Downtown. Anticipated to be installed by Spring 2021, there are several desired outcomes that the DLBA has established, in partnership with the City of Long Beach:

1.     Assist visitors with navigating Downtown and enhance the visitor experience, which in turn supports Downtown businesses.
2.     Enhance efforts to create a unified identity for Downtown Long Beach.
3.     Improve pedestrian connectivity within Downtown, particularly between the Downtown Core, the Waterfront, East Village and West Gateway.

This sign program, in partnership with the City of Long Beach Public Works, is a part of the City’s comprehensive wayfinding upgrade which began back in 2016. The DLBA began working with the City of Long Beach to develop a comprehensive wayfinding signage system that includes new gateway entries into the City, signs directing visitors to Downtown parking structures, pedestrian signage and maps to help visitors navigate Downtown, and signs identifying waterfront access points. The new wayfinding system will help promote Long Beach’s identity, make it easier for visitors to find their way around Downtown, and enhance the visitor experience.

Community Vision and Stakeholder Engagement

An extensive outreach effort was made to include a Wayfinding Signage Program Survey, and a series of community workshops for the public to provide input on the factors to consider in designing new signs to be installed in the public realm throughout the City. The outreach was intended to ensure that the design template for these new signs reflects the community’s values and identity, and results in cohesive and functional signage for gateway entries to the City and coastal access, as well as public parking in Downtown.

During the course of the project Downtown stakeholders have had an opportunity to provide input through a series of community workshops, including the July 21, 2016 and April 26, 2017 Public Realm Committee meetings, and an online survey.

DTLB Wayfinding Presentation – April 2017
City-wide Wayfinding Program
Wayfinding Survey Results

Project Timeline

  • June 2016 – Project Kick-off
  • July 2016 – Stakeholder Workshop at DLBA Public Realm Committee meeting
  • Fall 2016 – City-side Wayfinding Survey
  • Fall 2016 – Wayfinding sign design
  • April 2017 – Comprehensive City-wide Wayfinding Sign Program presentation at City Council
  • April 2017 – Pedestrian Wayfinding Program Presentation at Public Realm Committee
  • May 2017 – Finalize pedestrian sign location plan
  • May 2017 – Finalize pedestrian sign message schedule
  • May 2017 – Prepare cost estimates for construction, installation, and sign removal
  • July 2017 – Return to Public Realm Committee to present Final Pedestrian Wayfinding Program
  • December 2017 – Complete pedestrian sign design drawings
  • Fall 2018 – Release Phase 1 RFP for 12 signs
  • Winter 2018 – Contractor selected
  • Fall 2019 – Design Development approved
  • Winter 2019 – Engineered drawings finalized
  • Summer 2020 – Finalize permit, begin fabrication
  • Fall 2020 – Complete punchlist items
  • Spring 2021 – Complete installation