From 2010-2015, I was the main editor of over 50 printed transit maps/signs posted at more than 20 transit stations throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. This is a Google spreadsheet I created to track different aspects of all of these displays, which are components of MTC's Hub Signage Program (HSP). On this spreadsheet, sign information is organized by hub location, sign type, date, transit agency, and action. All artwork edits are logged through another database and this spreadsheet to keep track of changes made to the maps and to determine the proper schedule for reprinting signs.

Samples of 2 information displays I updated regularly. By 2015, the program had grown from an intial pilot of 9 displays at 3 stations to more than 120 displays at 44 stations, with each set typically replicated 2-4 times within a station and each display localized to the immediate area surrounding the transit hub. The initial map artwork was created by a graphic design consultancy then handed off to us for standardization of the components, regular updating for transit agency service changes, and continued maintenance of the content and artwork. The map files were made in Adobe Illustrator and placed into InDesign template files containing the headers and sidebars.

In order to allow new transit agency contacts to better understand the structure of the Hub Signage Program and the parties and organizations involved, I created this diagram which documents both the structure and the process of the program. The process involves both the manufacturing of new sign cases for installation at the hubs, as well as the creation of local maps and digital artwork for posting in the new cases. Usually these two processes occur simultaneously, or development of the artwork is done independently if sign cases are purchased from a standard supplier instead of being fabricated from construction drawings. Each process goes through multiple phases that include a variety of organizations and stakeholders until construction is completed. The final task is continued maintenance of the installed cases and the content of the displays.

I created this spreadsheet layout in FileMaker to better handle the large amount of data the original Google spreadsheet contained, while also reducing the chance of accidental editing or deletion of records and allowing for secure storage of the records internally.

Since construction of the kiosks and transit information display (TID) cases for the initial project of 24 hubs took place in phases and involved different fabricators, the final manufactured kiosks resulted in slightly different sizes from station to station. By design, the kiosks require polycarbonate sheets that are cut specifically to the proper width in order for them to fully enclose and shelter the interior of the kiosks. Final construction of the installed kiosks also often varied in measurement from the construction specifications. I went to survey the existing and new kiosks at each site to create this diagram in order to keep track of the specific sizes needed for ordering replacements of each kiosk door type. Due to vandalism or wear, some door covers need to be switched out as often as twice a year.

Each agency's stops and routes are shown in a consistent color from map to map and station to station within the Hub Signage Program (HSP). In order to improve color contrast and reduce the number of overlapping colors of agencies shown on the multi-agency Hub Signage Program maps, I created this matrix to determine the agency colors that would fall onto the same maps (by hub) as indicated by the columns. A secondary purpose this matrix serves was to indicate all stations with HSP maps that are impacted by a certain transit agency's upcoming service changes, so that all appropriate edits are made for each round of reprinting.

Once the signs finished printing, I assigned work orders to our maintenance team and prepared the sign rolls to be handed off for posting at the various hubs. Signs are approximately 47" x 47" for the [T]ransit information displays and 50" x 21" for the [K]iosks. After the maintenance team completed their site visits, I logged their returned work order comments into this database so that sign histories can be searched and issues are easily tracked.

Samples of HSP signage in the field.