Koppa and Higgins – BUS ROUTE GUIDANCE INFORMATION DESIGN 1994

Description

The 1994 Design Guide sets practical standards for static route guidance for bus and light rail systems, prioritizing “beginning” riders (elderly, children, tourists, non-drivers, disabled, limited-English speakers). Its core aim is to let prospective riders determine whether transit connects their origin and destination and to provide clear, prioritized, uniform, and highly visible visual information. It identifies ten essential information elements (area geography, places served, closest approach, terminals/transfers/stops, hours, schedules/headways, trip distances/times, stop designation, vehicle identification, enroute guidance) and defines deliverables (street/wall/system/route maps, single-route signs, terminal/transfer/stop signs, interior/exterior vehicle signs). The guide prescribes consistent color-coding, map legends, symbol conventions, typographic rules (prefer sans-serif, minimum sizes, uppercase for short labels), and physical sizing/placement. Signage must meet legibility criteria (characters subtend 15 minutes of arc; e.g., route IDs readable at 200 ft, street names at 75 ft, in-vehicle at 20 ft). It details Sign 1/Sign 2 requirements, terminal signage, exterior/interior displays, remote on-street signs, and summarizes supporting research on map design and cognition.