Long Beach Transit Mall station renaming report

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Los Angeles CountyMetropolitan Transportation Authority

Metro

SUBJECT: RAIL STATION RENAMING

One Gateway PlazaLos Angeles, CA 90012-2952

2 13-922.2000 lmetro.net 55

EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEJULY 18, 2013

ACTION: RECEIVE AND FILE REPORT ON TRANSIT MALL STATIONRENAMING

RECOMMENDATIONReceive and file this report on a request to rename the Transit Mall station on the MetroBlue Line.

ISSUEMetro has received a request from the City of Long Beach to change the station named'Transit Mall" on the Metro Blue Line to "Downtown Long Beach. " Metro's PropertyNaming Policy outlines a procedure for seeking community input on station names , andrequires that changes to the names of existing stations be authorized by a two-thirdsvote of the Board.DISCUSSIONThe 2003 Board-approved Property Naming Policy (Attachment A) states that railstations must use names that refer to : a nearby street or freeway ; a well-knowndestination or landmark; a community or district name; or a city name. Proposals fornew names or name changes must be reviewed at a public forum to receive input.The Metro Blue Line 's southern terminal station is currently named "Transit Mall ," sonamed at the line's inception because the location represents a major transit connectionpoint in the area. In a letter dated May 23 , 2013 (Attachment B) , the City of Long Beachrequested this station to be renamed "Downtown Long Beach" in response to acommunity survey conducted by a city councilmember.To be consistent with other recent requests to rename Metro Rail stations , staff willpresent this issue for input at the Gateway Cities Service Council meeting in July, andwill invite other community input as appropr iate . Staff also will assess the cost of


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revising signage, maps and other customer materials at this station and throughout thesystem in connection with a name change .

NEXT STEPSBased on the input received as described above , staff will return to the Board inSeptember 2013 with a recommendation regarding the name change including animplementation plan .

ATTACHMENTSA. Property Naming PolicyB. Letter from City of Long Beach dated May 23 , 2013

Prepared by: Warren Morse, Deputy Executive Officer, Communications, (213) 922-5661

Rail Station Renaming Page 2


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Lynda Byb eeInterim Chief Communications Officer

Arthur T. LeahyChief Executive Officer

Rail Station Renaming Page 3


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ATTACHMENT A

PROPERTY NAMING POLICY

Purpose

Through implementation of this policy, Metro seeks to establish gu idelines regarding the namingof Metro properties frequented by the public that will provide clear transit information to ourcustomers- both frequent patrons as well as visitors and infrequent users . In addition, the policyis intended to ensure timel y, cost-effective and rider-friendly property naming efforts.Properties will be named with the maximum benefit and convenience of the transit system userin mind. Naming will provide customers with travel information in a simple, straightforward andunified way in order to assist patrons in successfull y navigating the transit system andcorrespondingly the region. Property names will reflect the following principles: Transit system context - Names will provide information as to where a property islocated within the context of the entire transit system: property names will be clearlydistinguishable with no duplication. Property area context - Names will provide spec ific information as to the location of theproperty within the context of the surrounding street system. so that users can find their

way around after their arrival and to support system access via automobile drop-off andparking.

Neighborhood identity - Where appropriate, property naming will acknowledge thatsystem stations and stops serve as entry points to the region s communities andnei ghborhoods . S i m p l i c i ~ y Names will be brief enough for quick recognition and retention by a

passenger in a moving vehicle, and to fit within signage and mapping technicalparameters.

Policy PointsI . Property naming will identify transit facilities so as to provide immediate recognition and

identification for daily riders as well as periodic users and visitors. Transit facilitiesinclude rail stations, bus rapidway stations. transit centers, bus stops and other propertiesfrequented by the public. Property names will be identified based on the following:


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Adjacent or nearby street or freeway Well-known destination or landmark Community or district name City name - if only one Metro property is located within a cityIf space permits, property names can be a combination of street system location and wellknown destination, particularly when the street system name may not be recognizable totransit riders and visitors. No business. product or personal names shall be used unlessthat name is part of a street name or well-known destination: or as part of a corporatesponsorship or cooperative advertising revenue contract.

2. The following criteria will ensure simple. succinct property names that are easilyunderstood and retained by transit riders: Minimize the use of multiple names for a property. A single name identifiable by

the general public is preferred, with a maximum of two distinct names separatedby one slash. For example, Westlake/ MacArthur Park Station.

Minimize the length of property names to ensure comprehension and retention bysystem riders. The property name shall have a preferred maximum of24characters in order to ensure general public and /\DA readability, and fit withinMetro's signage system.

Minimize the inclusion of unneeded words in property names such as ones thatare inherently understood, or added when verbally stating the property's name.Avoid inclusion of unnecessary words that may describe the property's location,but are not part of that location's commonly knovvn name.

3. In consideration of the various applications where the property name will be used anddisplayed, properties may have a Board-adopted official name as well as a shorteroperational name. The official property name would be used for Board documents,contracts and legal documents and notices. The operational name would be used forstation/stop announcements by vehicle operators. and on printed materials due toreadability and size constraints. In addition. the property name may be furtherabbreviated for other operational uses such as vehicle headsigns and fare media.

4. The property naming process will include the following steps:A. Initial property names will be identified during the project planning processprimarily based on geographic location.B. When a project is approved by the Board to proceed into the preliminary

engineering phase, a formal naming process will be initiated.C. Staff will solicit input from cities, communities and other stakeholders on


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preferred property names based on the Board-adopted naming criteria.D. The resulting property names will be reviewed by a focus group comprised of

both transit system users and non-users for general public recognizability.

E. StafTwill return to the appropriate Board committee and then to the full Board foradoption of the final set of official property names.F. The adopted official property names will then be included in any final engineering

bid documents and other agency materials .G. Requests to rename properties after Board action and the release of projectconstruction documents may be considered by the Board. Property name changes

must be approved by a vote oftwo-thirds of the Board members. All costsassociated with changing a property name. including any signage revisions andmarket research to determine ir he proposed name is recognizable by the generalpublic. will be paid for by the requestor unless otherwise determined by theBoard .

5. If the Board wishes to bestow a special honor to a deceased individuaL it may choose todedicate a site to him/her. The act of dedicating a Metro property to an individual shouldbe rare and reserved as a means to honor those who. in the view of the Board, havedemonstrated a unique and extraordinary degree of service to public transportation in LosAngeles County. Such dedications shall be viewed as secondary information with regardto signage and other identification issues. Properties/ facilities frequented by the publicmay not be renamed for individuals.Such dedications are made in the form of a motion presented by a Board Member to theappropriate committee of the Board for review and approval. and then forwarded to thefull Board for final approval. With Board action. individuals will be honored withplaques where space is available.


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ATTACHMENT B

CITY OF LONG BEACHPATRICK H. WESTCITY MANAGER

May 23 , 2013

OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA 90802 (562)570-6711 FAX (562) 570-6583

The Honorable Michael D. AntonovichMetropolitan Transportation AuthorityOne Gateway Plaza Los Angeles, CA90012-2952Re: Renaming the Blue Line Terminus- "Downtown Long Beach Station"Dear Chairman Antonovich:On behalf of the City of Long Beach, I write to request the Metropolitan TransportationAuthority (MTA) rename the Metro rail station and facilities located on First Street,between Pine and Pacific Avenues in downtown Long Beach to "Downtown Long BeachStation".The Blue Line's terminus in Long Beach is located in the City's 2nd Council District.Representing the 2nd District, Councilmember Suja Lowenthal conducted a communitysurvey to re-name this location according to MTA's policy for naming transit centers andfacilities. The community provided over 400 responses and overwhelmingly chose"Downtown Long Beach Station".On May 21 , 2013, the Long Beach City Council voted to request the MTA rename theMetro rail station and facilities located on First Street, between Pine and Pacific Avenuesin downtown Long Beach to "Downtown Long Beach Station" .Given this City Council action , I am requesting the MTA Board approve the renaming .Sincerely,

cc: Metropolitan Transportation Agency Board MembersMayor and City CouncilmembersArthur T. Leahy, MTA, CEO

Documents

Long Beach Transit Mall station renaming report