Design and Location of Signs for Downtown Northampton Parking Facilities 3.2.1992Design and Location of Signs
for
Downtown Northampton
Parking Facilities
March 2, 1992
Prepared for:
The City of Northampton
Planning and Engineering Departments
Prepared by:
The Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
26 Central Street
West Springfield, Massachusetts 01089
This document has been prepared by the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission,
under Massachusetts Department of Public Works contract # 5641 and in
cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration.
Introduction
The City of Northampton, through a joint request from the City Planning and Public
Works Departments, sought the assistance of the Pioneer Valley Planning
Commission to better direct the motoring public to the many downtown municipal
parking areas and the recently completed parking garage.
City officials wanted the Planning Commission to evaluate the current inventory of
parking area /structure guide signs and determine whether better positioning could
improve public access and use of the parking areas and garage. Signs located at the
parking garage facility were also inventoried and evaluated.
Analysis
Study Area
The primary study area included Main Street from the Elm Street intersection up to
and including the Strong Street intersection. The perimeter of this study area
extends from Main Street to the outer edges of the public parking lots located in the
downtown area. (See Map 1.)
All primary access routes into the downtown Northampton area were evaluated for
sign placement, visibility, and effectiveness.
The parking lots for which signage was evaluated include the following. (The
letter /number designations assigned below appear on the attached maps.)
P) Garage (covered)
1 City Hall Lot
2 Roundhouse Lot
3 Masonic St. Lot
4 Depot /RR Station Lot
5 Strong Ave. Lot
6 Hampton Ave. /Old South Street Lot
7) Armory St. Lot
S) Fasano Lot
9) Gothic Street Lot
Methodolov
All main approaches to the Main Street /downtown Northampton area were walked
by PVPC staff. A photolog was taken to capture the visual aspects of the downtown
parking facilities. Sign placement was documented to show their relationship to the
overall study area. (See Map 2).
The most critical factors in effective si nage are (1) proximity to the intersections or
drives where turns must be made and (2) visual clarity of the message being
portrayed. These two factors formed the basis for the recommendations that are
presented in the next section of this report.
Recommendations
A. Directing Traffic
The municipal lots throughout the study area were generally found to have adequate
sign placement. However, the non - standard signs (brown background with yellow
text) are difficult to read from any distance. The graphics on the brown parking
signs visually compete with the message to be conveyed. From a distance, it is
difficult to determine whether the "Main Street graphic" at the top of the sign is part
of the message indicating where to park. As a driver is moving, this distraction may
reduce the time needed to safely enter a street or driveway leading to a municipal
parking lot. The brown parking signs currently used contain text which is located on
the lowest third of the sign face, an arrow (approximately twice the height of the
lettering below it) located in the middle third, and the "Main Street graphic" in the
top third of the sign face. In this configuration, two thirds of the sign face are lost to
the graphics, the central message of the sign is obscured. It is understood that time
and money have been invested in the creation of these signs. However, the use of
high contrast signs would greatly increase visibility to the public. Sign visibility and
contrast is increasingly important in order to meet the needs of a growing
population of elderly drivers.
The "standard" signs used for the parking garage are correct in color and placement.
However, the text size is not consistent with the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control
Devices (MUTCD -1988) standards. The blanks from which the signs were made
are too small to allow the letter P to be five (5) times the height of the remaining
letters. The letter P is what should immediately draw the eye to the sign, allowing
the reader to instantly identify designated parking areas and facilities.
The MUTCD has specific guidelines and recommendations concerning the use of
various signs. The Manual recommends "...the Parking Area sign should be erected
on major thoroughfares at the nearest point of access to the parking facility and
where it can help relieve the local streets of traffic seeking a place to park. In
general, the sign should not be used three or four blocks from the parking area. It
shall be mounted in accordance with the general specifications for the erection of
signs (secs. 2A- 23,24)." According to the MUTCD, "..the parking area sign (D4 -1)
may be used where it is desired to show the direction to a nearby parking area for
use by the general public. The sign shall be a horizontal rectangle of a standard size
of 30 x 24 inches with a smaller size of 18 x 15 inches for minor, low -speed streets. It
shall carry the word PARKING, with the letter P five (5) times the height of the
remaining letters, and a directional arrow (that may be pivoted on center to point
towards 270, 315, 0, 45 and 90 degrees). The legend and border shall be green on a
reflectorized white background." (See attachments - MUTCD.) If guide signs are
located directly on a corner and requiring an immediate turn, the indicator arrow
should be pointing horizontally for right or left and vertically to indicate parking
ahead. (See attachments - "Standard Highway Signs, 1979 ".)
Another alternative is to use the international symbol "P" and directional arrows.
This approach would greatly increase the visibility of the signs, if presented in high
contrast green /white or blue /white combination. It is recommended that all brown
and yellow parking guide signs be replaced with either the standard MUTCD sign
(# D4 -1) or suitable version of the international parking area symbol. If the
international symbol is chosen, it is suggested that the size of the signs be similar to
the standards outlined in the MUTCD. Locations for recommended sign changes
have been identified on Map 2 with asterisks( *). (See referenced map and
attachments).
B. Parking Garage Signage
Placement of new "Parking Garage" signs at the intersection of Route 10 and Old
South Street and the intersection of Route 5 and Hampton Avenue would better
direct traffic traveling from the south towards the garage facility. Parking Garage
signs at the approaches to the intersection of Conz and Old South Streets would also
serve well in guiding other northbound traffic towards the garage. The
reconstruction of Old South Street and Route 10 will present a good opportunity to
review, with MDPW, the needed signage improvements for that approach to
Downtown Northampton.
Existing sins at the intersection of Pleasant and Main Streets are located high
above the intersection on traffic signal mast -arms. Moving the existing signs to a
point lower in the line of sight or placement of additional signs may help drivers
better locate and identify the signs leading them to the parking garage.
There are some signage problems at the garage itself. There should be a highly
visible sign, announcing the main entrance to the garage, located at the Hampton
Avenue driveway. Once patrons enter the driveway, they are faced with several
signs conveying conflicting messages.
The first garage entrance, has the following sign above it... "E. JOHN GARE III
PARKING GARAGE". Directly across from this bay is a sign on the ground
indicating that is where people enter for long -term parking.
At the second garage entrance, the sign above the bay reads "LONG -TERM
PARKING ". Directly across from this entrance, the sign on the ground reads
"SHORT -TERM PARKING ".
It is recommended that the "LONG -TERM PARKING" sign above the second
entrance be partially covered to read 'PARKING" or be corrected to read "SHORT -
TERM PARKING ".
Conclusion
In addition to the changes suggested for the parking garage property, it is
recommended that all parking guide signs be standardized and clear to read. With
these recommendations visitors to the City of Northampton should be able to find
easy access to the garage and surrounding parking lots.
Attachments:
Map 1: Study Area
Map 2: Sign Placement
MUTCD: pages governing parking sign placement and design
"Standard Highway Signs, 1979"
International Symbols
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MANUAL
ON
Mle-1989
UNIFORM
TRAFFIC
CONTROL
DEVICES
FOR STREETS AND HIGHWAYS
U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
1988
2D -24
d Ride and direction inform;
The Street Name sign should be reflectorized or illuminated. The legend
contain the local transit log,
and background shall be of contrasting c0101's and should have a white
border.
message and border on a green background.
If used, the local transit loge
In business districts and on principal arterials, Street Name signs should
the top part of the sign abo%,e',
be placed at least on diagonally opposite corners so that they will be on the
the vertical dimension of the I,
far right -hand side o; the intersection for traffic on the major street. Signs
exceed IS inches.
naming both streets should be erected at each location. The_v sh.)uld he
If the function of the parki''
mounted with their faces parallel to the streets they name.
using public transportation, fl!
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on the guide sign. If the functi
at each intersection.
riders, the carpool symbol shoe.
On intersection approaches a supplemental Street Name sign may be
facility serves both functions, 1
erected separately or below an intersection related warning sign. When
11 - �6
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combined with a yellow diamond sign, the color should be a black message
Re°
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important item is that the local;
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R K I N G
the general specifications for tI
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Variable Size 30" x 24"
Flo.
2D -40 Parking Area Sign (D4 --1)
The Parking Area sign may be used where it is desired to show the
direction to a nearby parking area for use by the general public. The sign
shall be a horizontal rectangle of a standard size of 30 >: 24 inches with a
smaller size of I8 x 15 inches for minor, low -speed streets. It shall carry
the word PARKING. `With the letter P five times the height of the
remaining letters, and a directional arrow. The legend and border shall be
green on a reflectorized while background.
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thoroughfares at the nearest point of access to the parking facilil} and
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2D -42 Fes( Area Si;;ns (DS -1
In generai,.the silim, should not he used more than three or four biocks
It is common practice on ru;
from the parkin_ ;,,rca, IT Shall be mounted in accordance % ill; ;he general
re;; areas where a traveler may
specifications for the erection of signs (sees. 2A -21, 24),
desirable to erect word message
permit the driver to reduce spee
2D -41 Park and Ride Signs (I)4 -2)
to stop. Messages such as RE
Park and Ridc signs may be used where it is desirable to direct motorists
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-%RE.4 (1) MILE LE (D5 -3), or i
to park and ride facilities. The signs shall contain the word mess age Park
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STAJNDARD ALPHABET - NUMERAL SERIES FOR SIGN USAGE
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BACKGROUND - GREEN (REFL)
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Semaphore Coin 45
prohibition Signs
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NO INTRY ROAD CLOSED CLOSED TO CLOSED TO CLOSED TO
MOTOR VEHICLES MOTORCYCLES PEDESTRIANS
� N '
NO LEFT IOR RIGHT) Np U TURNS OVERTAKING SPEED LIMIT ENID OF
TURNS PROHIBITED SPEED LIMIT
Mandatory Signs
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DIRECTION' TkAFFIC PARKING �I HOSPITAL MECHANICAL
TO FOLLOW CIRCLE HELP
TELEPHONE FILLING CAMPING SITE CARAVAN SITk YOUTH HOSTEL
STATION
Semophore Code
mommomwaft
A S C D E
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