LTC 245-2006 re: Wayfinding Signage Status Report
It\ MIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
NO. LTC # 245-2006
LETTER TO COMMISSION
FROM:
Mayor David Dermer and Members of the City Commission
Jorge M. Gonzalez. City Manager l\ ~ ~
October 10, 2006 d
TO:
DATE:
SUBJECT: Wayfinding Signage Status Report
In July, 2005, the Mayor and City Commission awarded a contract in the total project amount
of $1,675,713.00 to Gable Signs and Graphics to complete a wayfinding signage program.
Subsequent to the contact award the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) in
consultation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHW A), would not issue a permit for
the new signs unless the City conducted further research and documentation on the legibility
of the desired signage Font.
The Administration authorized the wayfinding sign age design firm, Hillier, to engage the
services of a sub-consultant, to prepare an analytical evaluation of The City's Futura font
acceptability for use on City wayfinding signs. The conclusion of this study was that the
Futura font would perform will perform equal to, or better than, standard highway signage
lettering. After review of the City's analysis, the Federal Highway Administration (FHW A) still
declined to approve the Futura font typeface until the City engaged demonstrated in the field
that the font had adequate visibility.
The Futura font field testing was conducted during the week of March 20-24, 2006 using
temporary signs placed at various locations on Normandy Isle and Normandy Shores. The
research conducted showed that the Futura font typeface provided sign legibility and
recognition distances that are equal to or greater than standard highway lettering.
In May, 2006, the Florida DOT submitted to FHWA an official "request to experimenf' with
Wayfinding Guide Signs, including the use of the Futura font, in accord with procedures
established in the federal Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices. On June 23, 2006, the
FHW A issued a letter approving the experimentation request.
At this point the City must submit signed and sealed drawings in order to receive the permit
to experiment with the wayfinding signs proposed by the City.
It is anticipated that the final, signed and sealed, engineering drawings will be submitted to
the City in the next few weeks. Subsequently, the FDOT permit will be issued in
approximately two to three weeks. The second notice to proceed will be issued following the
acquisition of the Building Department permits by the end of November 2006. The
construction can then begin and substantial completion is anticipated within 150.day~,",bYlI8
mid year 7. 3JI.:LjO S. ~~L:J IJ ^
H/JGGII FHB/FV/LF
ALL\Woyfinding\02 Commission Items\LTC Oct 2006.doc
L'l :01 WV 91 1309DOZ
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