Bethesda Trolley Trail wayfinding signage

One of my complaints about the new Metropolitan Branch Trail in DC is that thus far, the signage is almost completely inadequate.


First, the signs don't explain what the "MBT" is is--some signs abbreviate MBT if they are interim trail signs because the city evidently didn't want to pay for larger signs and spelling out "interim trail" and "Metropolitan Branch Trail" required a bigger sign.

Second, on the shared use path section, while there are some mileage-directional signs (I haven't uploaded photos yet) at entryways, there is no explanatory signage, no rules signage, and no what we might call "branding-identity-marketing" signage. Third, at the major entryways onto the trail on L Street NE and M Street NE there is no "trailhead" signage nor signage around directing bicyclists to the entry points.

A few years ago, Toole Design produced a wayfinding study for the Bethesda Trolley Trail in Montgomery County. It's been many months since I've been out to the Twinbrook Metro Station, which is proximate to where the trail begins/ends, and this time, I noticed a new wayfinding sign that is very good.

One side is interpretative.


The other side has a map of the trail and other regional trails--this is really important as it outlines the concept of a regional bikeway network, lists rules for using the trail (including "staying on the right" which I find is a real problem for pedestrians especially but also some bicyclists on the Metropolitan Branch Trail so far), and a discussion about the status of construction for the trail. The graphic identity is strong as well.

All in all they did a good job.

A few years ago, DC did do a tender and got proposals for creating a wayfinding signage system for the Metropolitan Branch Trail. While the winning proposal was interesting, I had some reservations about it (the signage proposal focused more on developing neighborhood specific signage rather than an overall signage concept for a regional shared use path facility). But it hasn't been executed in any case.