Exit133

July 11, 2013 · Exit133

Wayfinding for Tacoma

The new signs are designed to be visible from a distance. You should start seeing them popping up on Pacific.
The new signs are designed to be visible from a distance. 
You should start seeing them popping up on Pacific.
​Soon you should start to see some new signage popping up around downtown Tacoma. New wayfinding signage will start popping up along Pacific Avenue to direct visitors to destinations including Tacoma’s museums and Theater District.

The new signs come out of an effort to provide more useful, visible, and consistent signage for Tacoma’s various attractions. The public outreach and design processes are complete, and foundation installation is underway for the 11 signs along Pacific Avenue that will constitute Phase 1 of the project. Phase 2 will include the installation of 18 signs at Tacoma’s various “gateways.”

The 13-foot high, large print signs are designed to be read from passing vehicles, with the back decorated with a historic image.

There has also been some discussion of expanding the wayfinding program in the future, to include other destinations such as neighborhood districts, and more pedestrian-oriented signage. 

What kinds of signs would you like to see next? What destinations should be included?

Filed under: Downtown Tacoma, Neighborhoods, City Projects

4 comments

  • Turd in a candy wrapper? July 11, 2013

    It would be nice if the ways people were finding themselves through weren't crumbling, and were safely interfaced with pedestrian traffic before we spent money on pretty signs.

  • Sid July 11, 2013

    It would also be nice if we started to look at other historic parts of our city, like the LINCOLN HISTORIC DISTRICT. We like signs too and also nice sidewalks. Stop dumping all the money downtown please.

  • fred davie July 13, 2013

    In the year 2013 the high rolling out-of-towners who are looking at dropping serious money in Tacoma have smart phones with applications that get them to their destinations. Wayfinding signs are like props from an old movie. Let's listen in on a conversation between 2 visitors who don't have a smart phone: "Garsh Pa, lookee over there. A sign that tells us which way to go if we're wantin to look at one of them new fangled glass museums" "yep Ma. Those Tacomans shore have got themselves one So fisticated town, tarnation. Now let's see if one of them signs tells us where we can get us some chewin tobaccy"

  • Sid July 13, 2013

    Hey, we'll take the signs for the Lincoln Historic District that point the way out of our neighborhood to the drug addicts that plague our park and 38th street. "And you can count, on me, to meet you, in the parking lot after the game."