Planning protects your city’s investment
Relatively speaking, conceptualization takes very little time. Design development and planning strategy lasts up to a year, but the assets will be in service roughly 10 times longer. Therefore, adequately budgeting for maintenance and replacement, activities that are assigned to public works 80% of the time, is crucial for full return on investment.
Design consultants require specific insights to ensure the program meets the client’s initial and long-term expectations. We have found that the best way to become educated is to learn from those who work and live there, including public works employees.
The amount of information a consultant will request can be vast. Don’t let that discourage public works from getting involved, though. The steering committee’s work is intermittent and usually revolves around project milestones.
After the kick-off meeting, the designer typically spends six to eight weeks conducting field research and developing “challenge statements,” or environmental, financial, and/or participatory issues that could negatively impact the finished project. A common challenge statement, also sometimes called a problem statement, might address how a limited right-of-way will require specific design criteria to meet the required setbacks. Many committees appoint a single member to answer consultant questions during this stage to avoid bringing the entire committee together.
Assembling the right group of stakeholders from the start ensures a program flourishes. These are the basic skills that must be on a steering committee.
Project Champion. The person whose passion moved the wayfinding concept to formal project status and who understands the overlapping areas of interest the project will affect. It’s usually the city manager or head of the planning or community development department.
City Planner. Important because their job is to envision the city’s future landscape. Their tendency to focus on route continuity and planning strategy rather than feature design also helps ensure any proposal meets real-world regulations. Finally, their knowledge of the city’s existing plans prevents the designer from overlooking the potential impact of ongoing projects.
Community Development. Wayfinding programs can be used to manage housing development and attract new business. This department can help plan for future phases by shedding light on how the wayfinding strategy can reach in to proposed development(s). Usually one of the committee’s most creative resources.
Convention & Visitors Bureau. Key to ensuring the program appeals to an important audience. Provides much-needed insight on how the system can build upon existing marketing efforts.
Residents. Often overlooked because most programs focus on attracting new visitors or managing those who are already visiting. But residents own businesses in your city. They drive/walk/ride through your city every day. Their input produces a program that’s embraced by the entire community. They are also the people who will be most affected by the change in the civic environment.
Next page: Where public works saves money
