Downtown and Regional
Wayfinding Status
Report
Update
Community and Economic Development
Committee
May 20, 2024
Item (d)1
Jessica Zenk
Deputy Director
Department of Transportation
City of San José
[email protected]
Nathan Donato-Weinstein
Downtown Manager
Office of Economic Development and Cultural Affairs
City of San José
[email protected]
Background: Introduction to Wayfinding
Background: Current State of Downtown Wayfinding
Outdated Auto-Oriented Inconsistent
Background: Previous Work
• 2015: Wayfinding recommendations (partnership with
Knight Foundation)
• 2015: Walk [Your City] pilot (partnership with Knight) • 2016: Walking and digital wayfinding map timed for
Super Bowl 50
• 2018: Consultant work to develop comprehensive
wayfinding system for Downtown based on static
totems
• 2020: Pandemic interrupts this work
• 2023: Department of Transportation and Office of
Economic Development and Cultural Affairs begin
exploring renewed wayfinding efforts in Downtown
San José
Wayfinding Project Updates: Sustainable Communities Grant 5 • City received Affordable Housing and
Sustainable Communities Grant to support
Iamesi Village affordable housing project
• Included $180,000 to improve people-centric
wayfinding within Downtown
• Now proposing a quick-deploy tactical
approach similar to Walk [Your City] project
• Funds must be expended this calendar year
Wayfinding Project Updates: MTC Regional Mapping and Wayfinding • Goals: Standardize materials and navigation across 27 cities
• Current focus: Design standards, prototype installation • Pilot phase in 2025-2026
• Integration of QR codes for updated maps and
destinations on mobile devices
Wayfinding Project Update: San José State University
• 40,000 students, 4,000+ staff
• Recent expansion with Spartan Village on the
Paseo (opening fall 2024 with 700+ students)
• Goal of better integrating with/within Downtown
• Funding to support pilot efforts on the Paseo
included in FY 2024-2025 Proposed Operating
Budget
Ad-Driven Digital Wayfinding: Overview
Ad-Driven Digital Wayfinding
Challenges
• Does not form a complete
wayfinding system
• Screens present advertising by
default; wayfinding is secondary
• Placement is restricted by sign
code and Caltrans regulations
• Requires active management
and oversight
• Significant infrastructure
requirements
Opportunities
• Maps can be updated instantly
• Can offer WiFi, pedestrian
counts, and/or environmental
monitoring
• Can be paired with public alert
systems and/or emergency
dispatch
• Potential for revenue
generation and public service
messaging
Ad-Driven Digital Wayfinding: Implementation
Amend the
Municipal Code
Review
regulatory
issues
Vendor
procurement
Implementation,
planning, and
logistics
Active, ongoing
oversight and
management
Ad-Driven Digital Wayfinding: Bottom Line
• May be part of the answer to improving Downtown
wayfinding, but not the complete solution.
• Implementation will take significant time and
resources that are currently unavailable.
• Revenue potential is unclear.
• Improving and augmenting Downtown's static sign
portfolio should not be neglected even as digital
kiosks are explored.
Action Items, pending resource availability
Tactical improvements through AHSC grant
1. Plan and implement tactical
grant-funded improvements to
Downtown’s sign portfolio
2. Collaborate with San José State
University to improve the
pedestrian experience along Paseo
de San Antonio
3. Update the Downtown Walking
Map
4. Conduct a request for
information to better understand
the opportunities and limitations of
digital kiosks.
5. Proceed with sign code updates,
pending staff capacity.
6. Partner with Metropolitan Transit
Commission on upcoming
opportunities