Title: An act relating to transportation system signage using icons and pictograms.

Brief Description: Using pictograms in transportation signs.

Sponsors: House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Hudgins, Jarrett, Sommers, Bailey, Morris, Strow, Nixon, Kenney, Hasegawa, Lantz, Flannigan, Santos, Murray, Wood, Upthegrove, Dickerson, B. Sullivan, Schual-Berke, Cody, Pettigrew, Conway, Simpson, Woods, McIntire, Kagi, Chase, Tom, Morrell and Kilmer).

Brief History: Passed House: 3/04/05, 96-0.

Committee Activity: Transportation: 3/21/05, 3/23/05 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Jacobsen, Vice Chair; Poulsen, Vice Chair; Swecker, Ranking Minority Member; Benson, Eide, Esser, Kastama, Mulliken, Oke, Spanel and Weinstein.

Staff: Kimberly Johnson (786-7346)

Background: Federal, state, and local laws and policies govern the signage required on many transportation facilities.

In most instances, the signage now used to locate major transportation facilities employs internationally accepted symbols and the Roman alphabet. Similarly, urban rail systems use the Roman alphabet to identify stations. Sound Transit translates some ridership information for languages using a different symbol set which include Thai, Khmer, Korean, and Chinese. Signs using the Roman alphabet can be difficult for some international visitors to use. Transit systems in the cities of Calgary and Mexico, among others, use pictograms to provide a basic visual designation of a rail station stop or activities near the transit station.

Summary of Bill: Regional Transit Authorities (Sound Transit) and City Transportation Authorities (Seattle Monorail Authority) are to incorporate in plans for stations signing easily understood by the traveling public, including non-English speaking persons. The signage must employ graphics consistent with international guidelines and programs and must also employ pictograms as a means to identify stations. The signs must comply with federal standards for way finding for persons with disabilities. The sign requirements are intended to apply to new signing and replacement of existing signs.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: The Olympics will bring thousands of people from other nations to our region. This bill will make our mass transit facilities more travel friendly for both travelers from abroad and the many non-English speaking King County residents.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: Representative Zack Hudgins; Ellen Abellera, Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs.