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Miami Beach
March 2006 - The City of Miami Beach is sponsoring a
research project to test the legibility of the Futura
typeface for use on directional signs. When completed, these signs
will assist visitors to find their way to destinations throughout the
city.
The research
project will be conducted using temporary signs that will only be in place
during the week of March 20—24, 2006. The location of the temporary test
signs has no relationship to the planned locations for the permanent
directional signs. During that week, the Visual Communication Research
Institute will conduct the testing by recruiting citizen volunteers to
ride in the researcher’s vehicle and read the test signs. An instrument
will measure the distance from which each sign message is legible to the
individual. This testing procedure is required by the Florida Department
of Transportation to document that the Futura typeface, proposed for use
by the City of Miami Beach, has equal or better legibility than the
standard highway typefaces.
The
temporary test signs will be located on Normandy Drive and 71st Street
because the posted 35 mph speed limit offers the opportunity to test the
sign legibility at that driving speed; and the temporary sign locations on
North Shore Drive and Fairway Drive offer a nearby situation where the
sign legibility can be tested at a 25 mph speed. All temporary signs will
be removed after the testing is completed on March 24.
The
permanent directional signs will be installed sometime in the latter part
of 2006. They will be located only on arterial streets frequented by
motorists such as 71st Street, Normandy Drive, Collins Avenue, Harding
Avenue and Alton Road.
Citizens who
volunteer to participate in this research project will be paid $15.00
each. To be eligible, individuals must be either be 18 to 34 years old or
65 to 80 years old, read English fluently, and have a valid Driver’s
License. To sign up, please contact Phil Garvey, Visual Communications
Research Institute, at 814.237.4619.
For Miami Beach information, contact the Answer Center at 305.604.CITY |
