With Toronto growing in popularity as a tourist destination, a new wayfinding system is getting set to roll out across the city by 2017. As it stands, no centralized, coordinated wayfinding system exists in the city, with only a smattering of (mostly) small-scale, individual projects providing an inconsistent assortment of signage and orientation for visitors and locals alike.

Now, ahead of this summer's Pan Am Games, the City has unveiled the pilot phase of a new, comprehensive wayfinding strategy that seeks to not only help residents and visitors find their way around, but also to foster a friendlier and more navigable urban environment, enhancing the city's accessibility as a destination for both tourism and new business. Earlier today, the pilot project for the Toronto TO360 Wayfinding Strategy was officially launched with an event in the financial district. 

Councillor Jaye Robinson introduces the new pilot project, image by Stefan Novakovic

The City of Toronto has partnered with the Financial District BIA, St. Lawrence BIA, TTC, Pan Am Host City Showcase Program, and Tourism Toronto, to launch the pilot project for pedestrians and transit users in the downtown core. Councillor Jaye Robinson (above), Chair of the City's Public Works and Infrastructure Committee, was on hand to unveil Toronto's first exemplars of the new signage, which aim to be more visible, easily understandable, and pedestrian-oriented than their various predecessors.

The new signage, image courtesy of the City of Toronto

According to Councillor Robinson, City officials are "confident that this pilot project will help us understand how to better identify and connect places, increase the confidence of residents and visitors as they travel, and promote different modes of travel." 

The new signage (above) makes it easier to grasp one's surroundings in the city, telling the user which way they are facing, while highlighting nearby landmarks on the large, easily readable map. Walking times to nearby destinations are also provided, giving pedestrians a sense of scope, and encouraging local exploration. These features (together with a lack of ads) serve to make a potentially disorienting urban environment less intimidating to visitors, while small blurbs and pictures about Toronto's past help contextualize the contemporary city within historical narratives. 

Grant Humes (Financial District BIA) and Councillor Jaye Robinson (Ward 25) unveil new signage, image by Stefan Novakovic

The pilot project includes 16 'totems' (seen above) and 5 fingerpost signs throughout the financial district, with updates to pre-exisitng AdPillars and InfoPillars across the downtown core. During the pilot project, the City will study the strengths and weaknesses of the new program, making adjustments ahead of a city-wide launch.

We will keep you updated on the TO360 Wayfinding Strategy as it evolves, as the upcoming Pan Am games are sure to provide the City with valuable insights into tourist and visitor use. Following the pilot project, City staff will report to Council on the wayfinding strategy in early 2016, with a full program launch expected throughout 2016-2017.