Christina Gotuaco

I currently edit over 50 printed transit maps/signs posted at more than 20 transit stations throughout the Bay Area. This is a Google spreadsheet I created to track different aspects of all of these signs, 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 in order to keep track of changes made to the maps and determine the proper schedule for reprinting signs.

These are samples of two of the information displays I update regularly. There are more than 50 overall in the program so far (typically 3-4 per station), each localized to the immediate area surrounding the transit station. The initial map artwork is created by a graphic design consultancy then handed off to us for standardization of the components and continued maintenance.

In order to allow outside parties and new transit agency contacts to better understand the structure of the Hub Signage Program, its component parts, 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 manufacturing and installation of new sign cases as well as creation of local maps and digital artwork for the printed signs posted in the cases. Usually these two processes occur simultaneously, or development of the artwork is independent if standard sign cases are purchased instead of new cases being fabricated. Each process goes through multiple phases that include a variety of organizations and stakeholders until construction is completed and the final task is continued maintenance of the installed cases and the content on the signs.
View PDF

I created this spreadsheet layout in FileMaker to better handle the large amount of data the original Google spreadsheet contained, reduce the chance of accidental editing or deletion of records, and allow 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 at certain hubs. 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. Since final construction of the installed kiosks also often varied in measurement from the construction specifications, I went out to survey the existing and new kiosks 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, graffiti, and regular wear, these door covers need to be switched out sometimes as frequently as twice a year.
View PDF

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. 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 colors that would fall onto the same maps (by hub) as indicated by the columns. A secondary purpose this matrix serves is 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.
View PDF

Once the signs are finished being printed in house, I assign work orders to our maintenance team and prepare the sign rolls to be handed off for posting. Signs are approximately 47" x 47" for the [T]ransit information displays and 50" x 21" for the [K]iosks.

After the maintenance team has completed their site visits, I log their returned work order comments into another database so that sign histories can be quickly looked up and issues are easily tracked.

Samples of the signage in the field.
View PDF