Wayfinding SignageMEMORANDUM
January 16, 2002
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
Wayfinding Signage System
For the past three years, the City of Dubuque has worked with the Convention and
Visitors Bureau to develop a directional signage system to provide for wayfinding to and
throughout the City of Dubuque. This process has included a 35-member task force
made up of representatives from area hotels, restaurants, attractions, city staff,
education, healthcare institutions and retail businesses. This process has included: 1)
obtaining input from the public and the Iowa Department of Transportation; 2) a physical
review of existing and future sign locations; 3) review of state regulations; and
4) research on workable systems nationwide.
The committee is recommending that there be two major elements to the wayfinding
signage system, a highway system and a City of Dubuque system. The task force is
recommending a system that divides the City of Dubuque into six districts. These
districts would be highlighted on the highway system through the use of blue signs with
white lettering and a universal color icon on the top of the sign. There are
approximately 30 locations on the highway system that will be signed. The Iowa
Department of Transportation has worked with the task force throughout the process
and has given their approval to allow these new signs on roadsides and overhead
structures. IDOT has suggested that Dubuque will be a pilot project for urban center
signage throughout the state.
The task rome has further recommended that the six districts have the following names:
Riverfront, Downtown, Grandview, Eagle Point, West End, and South End. I agree with
all the recommendations of the task force except the naming of the Grandview District.
The main Grandview District signage would occur on Highway 20 at the Grandview
Street exit. However, the proposed Grandview District includes all three of Dubuque's
major colleges, including Loras, Clarke, and the University of Dubuque. One of the
major difficulties in our community is making people aware that we have these
wonderful institutions of higher education available as a resource, not only for their
children, but as an economic development resource when it comes to access to
workforce. It seems to me that we have a golden opportunity to call this district the
College District, thereby letting all travelers on the state highway system know that, in
fact, Dubuque has colleges.
I respectfully recommend Mayor and City Council approval of the wayfinding signage
system, with the modification of changing the Grandview District name to College
District.
Michael C. Van Milligen
MCVM/jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Mike Koch, Public Works Director
CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
MEMORANDUM
January 16, 2002
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
Mike Koch, Public Works Director
Way-Finding Signage System
BACKGROUND
For the past three years, the City of Dubuque has worked with the Convention and
Visitors Bureau to develop a directional signage system to provide for way-finding to
and throughout the City of Dubuque. This process has included a 35-member task force
made up of representatives from area hotels, restaurants, attractions, City staff,
education and healthcare institutions, and retail businesses. This process has included:
1) Obtaining input from the public and the Iowa Department of Transportation; 2) A
physical review of existing and future sign locations; 3) Review of state regulations; and
4) Research on workable systems nationwide.
DISCUSSION
This process has included the identification of a system, which involves signage on
State highways and signage within the City of Dubuque. After compiling the above
information, the task force is recommending a system that divides the City of Dubuque
into six districts. These districts are identified (note attachment) and include Riverfront,
Downtown, Grandview, Eagle Point, West End, and South End. These districts would
be highlighted on the highway system through the use of blue signs with white lettering
and a universal color icon on the top of the sign. There are approximately 30 locations
on the highway system that will be signed. The Iowa Department of Transportation has
worked with the task force throughout the process and has given their approval to allow
these new signs on roadsides and overhead structures. They have suggested that
Dubuque become a pilot project for urban center signage throughout the state. A
sample of the highway signage can be seen on the attachments to this memo. It is our
intent to work with the IDOT to install all signs on the highway system by fall. The signs
along the highways will all be furnished and installed by the Iowa Department of
Transportation at no cost to the City.
The secondary sign system would use colored signs with a unique icon that would be
specific to each of the six districts. As part of the promotion of the districts, the
Convention and Visitors Bureau would produce a four-color mapping system
highlighting the districts, attractions and lodging to complement the signage program.
The system of secondary signs has yet to be established by the Convention and Visitors
Bureau taskforce.
Based upon City Council input, the next step will be to select a consultant to design the
icon elements for the primary and secondary systems. The City will also be working
with a consultant to plot the exact location and description of the secondary system
signs. Once this is completed, the City can go out for bid on the construction and
installation of the signs.
ACTION
The requested action is for City Council to approve the proposed districts and their
name and to direct city staff to proceed with final design for the primary and secondary
system signs.
CC:
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Bill Schlickman, Civil Engineer
Sue Czeshinski, Convention and Visitors Bureau
proposed signage for dubuque
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