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Look out for the big T: new transit station markers are here

Look out for the big T: new transit station markers are here

New T markers will be posted at three Canada Line stations this December. This one is at Richmond-Brighouse Station.
New T markers will be posted at three Canada Line stations this December. This one is at Richmond-Brighouse Station.

Hey hey — look out for big white T signs at three Canada Line stations.

The T signs are our new transit station markers, acting as beacons to help you to spot the location of transit nearby. (The T stands for “transit”.)

They’re planned for the entire system, but we’re putting them up at Marine Drive, Bridgeport, and Richmond-Brighouse Stations first.

So why are we doing this?

Well, the big Ts are part of our new wayfinding standards: that is, a new system of signage and information sharing to help you better plan trips and get around our system. It’s a really big project and we’re still hard at work on it.

As you also probably know, cities worldwide have similar markers to help wayward riders find transit services. For example, London has its famous red, blue, and white roundel logo to help you find transit.

How the Ts work

Artist’s rendering of alternate T markers to be posted near some stations. This is not the finalized location for this sign!
Artist’s rendering of alternate T markers for some stations. This is not the final location for this sign!

The large Ts, which are 1m square and stand 6m tall, are meant to guide you to a nearby station or exchange. Maps inside the transit facility will then help you figure out where you’re going.

But since a tall T beacon isn’t necessarily the best sign for all locations, we’ve also put together an alternate, shorter blade-type marker. It’s slated to have both the T and additional information.

By the way, the maps inside the stations and the alternate marker are also part of our new wayfinding system.

New maps at Richmond-Brighouse.
New maps at Richmond-Brighouse.

These new maps include a simplified regional transit network diagram, which has already begun to appear on the system.

There’s also a diagram showing the routes of buses leaving that specific facility and where to catch them, and a walking map showing destinations that can be reached on foot from that facility, for customers arriving on transit.

And these maps have already been installed at three Canada Line facilities: Marine Drive, Bridgeport, and Richmond-Brighouse.

So what’s next?

One of the new station markers installed at Marine Drive Station.
A station marker at Marine Drive.

Well, for the Olympics, we’re also hoping to get some Ts and other wayfinding signage installed in downtown Vancouver.

However, that project depends on installation and approval timelines — if we aren’t able to put them in by December 31, they will go up after the Olympics.

And for the future, we’re hoping to roll out these wayfinding elements further across the system.

But I’ll keep you posted on that — we’ve got to see just how much our current funding situation will allow us to do.

Let us know what you think!

Please let us know what you think of this signage — feel free to use the comments or the Buzzer’s e-mail address to send in your thoughts. Your feedback is more than welcome, and any questions will be passed on to the planning department for answers.

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