DCCAH in collaboration with the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) awarded RKW a public art grant to develop an artist-created identity to visually unify the environment along the Metropolitan Branch Trail (MBT). RKW created a comprehensive identity that includes: logo and graphics; signage; wayfinding plan; public art master plan; and public art concepts. Together, the components of this identity will encourage the public to utilize and navigate the 8 plus miles of the trail system.
These wayfinding elements work to identify the trail and visually connect sections when the environment and terrain changes. The trail was broken into segments and zones were established to identify communities along the way. Location specific icons are used to identify the neighborhoods and educate about amenities along the trail. Web enabled wayfinding options were also explored to assist users remotely from the trail. Materials and installation methods are standard and flexible for the diverse site conditions and limited budget.
